The Flow! Week of April 1 – 7, 2012

 

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

Synopsis for the week: How to Cope, No Joke

March may be gone like a lamb, but it’s not a rather happy one. We’ll see if we can improve its mood later in the blog.

This week Mercury goes Direct on Wednesday the 4^th, signaling a return of normalcy with regard to communications, contracts, commerce and computers. As with all Mercury Retrogrades turning Direct, it takes a little while for Mercury to regain his footing, so don’t expect miracles. Mercury may be fleet of foot, but even he can’t quite turn on a dime.

However, as Mercury begins to shift gears this weekend, we leave behind the maddening frustrations of the past few weeks in which many of us may have felt like fools, thinking things were done, only to find out later that they weren’t. Starting this weekend we should finally be able to not only put the icing on our cakes but get to eat them, too. Hoorah!

But just as we get out of Mercury Retrogradeland, Pluto goes Retrograde on the 10^th, and Mars turns Direct on the 13^th turning our little lamb into a raging bull. But more on that next week!

On the whole, things feel somewhat somber. Perhaps it’s all that serious Saturn energy from last week. While we may have thought that the tide had turned, we find ourselves standing knee deep in challenges to our newly won ground. It is as if against all sense and reasonable expectations we stand on the other side of a looking glass at a world turned upside down. Yes, we can hold back this tide, or at least keep it at bay, but the water level is rising dangerously high and it deserves a watchful eye.

Yes, we’re still under the last week’s influence of Creative Living. Yes, we still have the opportunity to shape things according to the new lives we would like to construct for ourselves. But it is almost as if we’ve been pushed to the edge to see how, when, where, or if our psychological dams will crack and go screaming into the sunset like a half-crazed cartoon character.

That’s not to say we’d be blamed for doing so. It’s almost as if we’re being endurance tested for a course we didn’t know we had signed up for. It’s as if our temperaments are being tempered like steel.

I daresay we’ll need them for the struggles to come when Uranus and Pluto start stressing each other this summer and we can use all the temperance we can find.

However far off this summer may be, this week we get a respite, if we’re willing to accept it. Jupiter, planet of expansion, opportunity, and good fortune, is forming a quintile, an aspect of creative consciousness, with Neptune, planet of spirit, perception, and networks.

Putting all of that together means that the power to cope can be found within our own outlook; which is another way of saying that the way to find opportunity lies in the creative manipulation of the fundamental framework of how we perceive our reality.

The idea of creating one’s own reality has become a New Age truism of sorts. It’s an extremely empowering thought, and at the very least begins to open up possibilities that may have been only dimly imagined.

Except when you try and it fails.

Yes, we can go all Yoda and say there is no try, only do, and like Luke become frustrated and despondent when the ship falls back into the lake.

As any artist will tell you, the act of creation is no easy task. But the very first step in the art of creating is perception. Before you can create, you must perceive – and in psychological terms, that’s our outlook.

In a society such as ours, it is easy to become paranoid. So it’s tough to break free of our social culture and shift it to an outlook that allows you to thrive without needing to resort to casting aspersions on others. But it is much healthier spiritually, and it may let you perceive others as they really are instead of how you need them to be. It isn’t easy, but it can be liberating.

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.

It’s all in how you perceive, and that’s the best way to cope.

No joke.

Astrologically, there’s no better antidote to the heaviness of Saturn than the levity of Jupiter. Last week, I introduced you to Saturn from Gustav Holst’s popular masterpiece, “The Planets.” This week is Jupiter’s turn.

Jupiter is by far the most popular piece of the suite, perhaps because it is so breathtakingly joyous. There’s no need for me to describe the music, just enjoy it. And maybe, “Jupiter, bringer of jollity” will bring some joy into your life, and help alter your outlook in that direction. I also encourage you to check out the rest of the suite, Mars Bringer of War, Venus Bringer of Peace, Mercury the Winged Messenger, Uranus the Magician, and Neptune the Mystic. They’re all available on Youtube.

To the Daily Details after our musical intermission!

Sunday, April 1^st

No major aspects

The week gets off to a roaring start with the Moon entering Leo at 1:35am. That should immensely lift any brooding moods lingering from the past couple of days, though it may take a little while before it dispels the last of a drowsy fog. By mid-morning we’re feeling charged and ready to take on the day, so if you have plans or a to-do list, you should be able to accomplish what you set out to do with dispatch. In the afternoon a dark cloud or two may cloud the sunny skies, but by dinner time the mood again improves. As the day wears on, if you find yourself apprehensive of an event scheduled for this week, you simply must have faith in your self to see it through properly. You can do it, just stick to your guns, even if you have to shoot a blank or two to get another’s attention. In the evening, we’re actually feeling a bit rambunctious with greater confidence and a certain swagger to our step. Just remember those Fred Astaire moves mid-week.

Monday, April 2^nd

Sun trine Moon at 1:11am 13º Leo

Sun semisextile Jupiter at 8:34pm

A semisextile is no great shakes, but it may offer an economic opportunity or two if you let your gut be your guide. Asian and Australian readers may want to wait until early afternoon before going on any shopping sprees. In the afternoon, don’t be surprised if a glitch in the guise of a ghost from last week rears its gremlin head, something is bound to go wrong just after lunch. If you’ve made it to tea time in late afternoon without slapping your forehead, you’re in the clear. Nagging is a no-go this evening. Domestic arguments in particular are easily started, so put the kibosh on any personal agendas. Similarly, if you have meetings or social events scheduled it’s best to just enjoy each others’ company instead of pushing them where you want them to go. They’ll come around eventually! Tonight is also good for sitting down and thinking about how you are going to handle the rest of the week, and may find it particularly productive to formulate your thoughts and ideas in a written document, even if you are the only one to use it.

Tuesday, April 3^rd

Sun octile Moon at 5:26am at 30º Leo

Venus enters Gemini at 8:18am

The Moon enters Virgo at 6:53am, and it’s time to get down to business. There have been lots of ideas running around naked the past couple of days, and it’s time to clothe them and put them to work.

Soon after the Moon enters Virgo, Venus traipses into Gemini. She’s put on quite a celestial show the past couple of months, and now ever so gently glides closer to the horizon each night. By mid-May, she’ll be just a fond memory as she travels too close to the Sun to be seen. With Venus in Gemini we grow fonder of our gadgets, if that’s at all possible, and enjoy intelligent conversation and use of language. Our emotions are less earthy and more ephemeral, and may find ourselves falling in love (or at least like) 17 times a day.

Tuesday starts off with some good solid productive energies. Asian and Australian readers would do well to try to close the deal by early afternoon. Europeans and Middle Easterners can do the same by mid-morning, while Americans will have to settle for using it as they sleep.

Otherwise, the morning hours are likely to feel unsettled, particularly west of the Atlantic, as we wonder what yesterday’s events were all about. We may gain a better perspective on things in the afternoon, and as the sun sets we may have a more profound perception of recent events. The evening hours are very productive for working through deep-seated feelings. If you’ve been out of sorts, or feelings as if you haven’t been appreciated, this evening may provide a good opportunity for venting your feelings. Just be careful of too much spleen venting, as that can get rather messy.

Wednesday, April 4^th

Mercury stationary Direct at 3:11am

Jupiter quintile Neptune at 4:00pm

The very early morning hours are likely to be emotionally frustrating. We just don’t understand where others are coming from, and their motivations are opaque. In this case, those readers West of the pond have it better than those in the East. Americans can argue with themselves in their dreams, while Europeans and Asians are likely to do so with real people.

As the day gets going, however, it’s gangbusters all around. Opportunity is likely to rain from the skies like manna from heaven, and just about anything you want to accomplish is favored. Again, attitude and outlook is all important, so try to keep your chin up and look on the brighter side. If you need a little cheering up, wear out the Youtube Jupiter clip!

The evening is ripe for the unexpected. Perhaps a bit of news, note, or email may include an invitation. If so, by all means accept, a good time is likely to be had by all.

Thursday, April 5^th

Venus square Neptune at 6:49pm

We end the productive heart of the week when the Moon enters Libra at 8:32am.  Just before that, we’re likely feel a bit ambiguous toward our accomplishments as others try to push us into satisfying their needs instead of our own. Even so, we’re able to make good progress toward our goals, even if the short term results are less obvious or ostentatious. Sometimes, a day of modest but permanent progress is worth more than one with fireworks that turns out to be more temporary. The key to today’s success is sincerity. If you mean it, and it comes from the heart, you should do just fine.

Friday, April 6^th

Sun octile Neptune at 8:45am

Venus quintile Saturn at 11:59am

Full Moon at 12:19pm at 18º Libra

Today is the Full Moon of Libra, known as the Egg, Pink, Fish, Seed, or Waking Moon. Regardless of what it is called, the Full Moon of Libra is always significant because just as Libra is the sign of balance between two equal halves, a Full Moon is the midpoint of the monthly lunar cycle. This Full Moon offers a way to recover, recuperate and heal any recent wounds and to help put into practice any recent changes in life we have recently decided to make. Particularly if you have recently been through an ordeal, the next couple of weeks are an excellent time to enter a new phase of your life and to put into practice what have previously been long-term thoughts on important subjects. Don’t wait for external signs or signals, the only sign you need is the desire in your heart.

The Full Moon of Libra is also likely to produce some loopy behavior in the psyhically or psychologically less well balanced. Be on the lookout for any erratic behavior you encounter, it may be the forerunner of something that’s best to avoid. Otherwise, a little dinging or winging off the beaten track can be good fun, sparking memories of wonton deeds fondly remembered for years to come.

Saturday, April 7^th

Venus quintile Pluto at 6:48am

Venus square Mars at 4:36pm

Today Venus is in heat, and humans are randy. If you are in a relationship, looking for a relationship, or just looking for a good time, today should be another day for fond fecund memories to tickle your fancy in later years. The key to getting the most out of the day is not to be obsessed with control. Any danger is more likely to be found between your ears than out there, as long as you play safely. If you want a good time, go with the flow and let things happen naturally. There is a lot of high emotional energy in the air, so a disagreement is also somewhat likely. Just try to understand the other person’s point of view, let the snide remark slide, and keep things on an even keel. If you have an event to go to in the evening and your tongue has a pointy tip you may want to file it down before stepping outside. You don’t want a misspoken word to break the spell of what could otherwise be a magickal time.

Next week things get quite interesting as Mars goes direct and Pluto turns retrograde. Come back next week for all the salacious details!

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

The Flow! Week of February 5 – 11, 2012

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. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

Synopsis for the week: Good Guys Rising

Sometimes spring arrives not with cannons, but with the aspiring leaves of a crocus breaking through crusty cold earth. Sometimes an icy heart is melted by a thoughtful word. Sometimes opportunity does not knock but eases in on balanced astrological breezes.

This is such a time.

Some of the news is good. With Uranus in Aries, people are learning how to fight oppression, and fight back against deceitful political ploys by organizations and institutions. Now that the Saturn – Jupiter opposition is over, our economy is beginning to move in the right direction.  Now that Neptune is out of Aquarius people are less inclined to believe unadulterated intellectual excrement.

But that doesn’t mean all of it is.

People are dying for freedom in Syria. North Korea juggles nuclear weapons while dancing on the sword of Damocles of world security. China and Russia are still united in their opposition of the West, and Iran would like nothing more than to lob a missile into the world’s oil supply. And no matter how many times we turn a deaf ear, the anguish of Africa is real.

Saturn is about to join Mars Retrograde, and the most effective weapon for dealing with and overthrowing tyranny is organized civil disobedience. Freedom fighters the world over should study the work of Gandhi for some useful insights and methods.

Thankfully, many of us are not personally involved in these struggles, but to quote Eleanor Roosevelt, “Hate and force cannot be in just a part of the world without having an effect on the rest of it.”

Speaking of Eleanor, another favorite quote of hers is, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people.”

She was one of the greats.

Closer to home, there are now two major astrological influences shaping events, Saturn joining Mars Retrograde this Tuesday, and the strengthening Jupiter-Pluto trine that will climax on March 12^th.

First Saturn.

Saturn, in all its glory

Saturn may be the most beautiful planet in the solar system, but can be one of the most difficult to deal with. When everything is going smoothly and you get stopped dead in your tracks, who’s often to blame? Saturn. When you have put all your hope in the ability of your nest eggs to grow, who stunts their growth? Saturn. When you get stopped by the cops for a speeding ticket, who’s to blame? Well, you, but somewhere Saturn was smiling.

Saturn is the planet of responsibilities, duties, and obligations. Saturn obstructs shortcuts and rewards discipline, hard work, and due diligence. Saturn is law, and Saturn is karma. Above all, Saturn is stricture and structure. But it is often by Saturn’s hand that we learn mastery. Saturn makes us sit and do scales on the piano, but master the scales and you master the music.

Saturn is going backwards, forcing us to face our own duties, responsibilities, structures, and karma. It is a time of coming to terms with the consequences of our actions. When Saturn is retrograde, we must sleep in the bed we have made for ourselves. And if you do so with dirty dogs, you’re likely to wake up with fleas.

Saturn retrograde times also usually present excellent opportunities for us to make amends for mistakes we have made. If handled correctly, Saturn retrograde can give us a second chance in areas that we have fumbled in the past. Watch carefully for any overtures from others indicating such opportunities. They may be a gift of epic proportions.

Saturn retrograde times are also often periods in which we reexamine the commitments we have made and the responsibilities we bear. In some cases, it may feel as if our load has become lighter, but don’t be too fooled by that. It is advantageous to look at this as an chance to look at the load from below, and decide what is worth continuing to carry and what is better to jettison. When Saturn turns direct in mid-June, you’ll be grateful for that lighter load.

While Saturn retrograde is apt to prod us to heave a sigh of relief, Jupiter trine Pluto has the force of a strong wind at our back moving us forward.

Pluto is power, transformation, and renewal. As god of the underworld, he ruled over wealth and the resources of the deeps and depths. We don’t call people today plutocrats for nothing. More plainly, not only is Pluto a general influence on our economy as a whole, but Pluto also rules over nuclear energy, oil and other petro-chemicals, and power plants.

Jupiter is the planet of growth and opportunity. He the Santa Claus of the zodiac. He’s the guy who when you’re down and out and have no hope, comes around and pays the bills. He helps you network to meet the right people at the right time, and turns tiny acorns into mighty oaks. In Roman times, Jupiter, largest planet of the solar system was called Optimus Maximus – Greatest and Best. You don’t get any better than that.

Jupiter is coming up trine Pluto in mid-March. The trine is a third of the zodiac, or 120 degrees, and represents balance and an easy flow of energy between the two planets involved. Jupiter trine Pluto times are generally good times, and times in which opportunity can be found without needing to turn over too many stones.

So far, the positive and beneficent sides of the Jupiter trine Pluto energy have been building productively. I am hopeful that it will continue to do so at least through the mid-March time period, and that Saturn retrograde will not impede this buildup. That being the case, make the most of this time. Jupiter-Pluto trines only occur every 3-4 years, and often represent periods in which great progress can be made. Definitely a time to take full advantage so that you can look back on it and smile with appreciative satisfaction!

Before we get to the Daily Details, take a peek at these truly breathtaking high-definition images of the Earth taken by NASA. I have selected the largest images of them I could find because if you open them up, you can truly see amazing detail. Enjoy!

To the Daily Details!

 

Courtesy of Sky & Telescope magazine

Sunday, February 5^th

No major aspects

The Moon is in Cancer all day. Dawn breaks with us a bit befuddled and unsure of the manner we have handled things. Could we have done more? Should we have done less? Did we say what we really meant, and did we say the right things? Doubt flits about our heads like gnats, but there’s nothing really to fret about. Stop making trouble for yourself. These thoughts have less to do with our insecurities than reality. That is, unless you decide to make them real. As the day progresses, our mood shifts. By about 3pm we are feeling our oats, energized, powerful, lively and alive. We’re ready for anything but most ready for a good time. Any parties or social activities done this afternoon should go well, and generate some fond memories for years to come.

 

Monday, February 6^th

Sun octile Uranus at 2:04am

Mercury octile Uranus at 12:01pm

The Moon enters Leo at 5:24am and sets the tone for what could be a pleasant week. We’re in a playful mood and are more interested in fluff than weighty topics. Be careful of getting too distracted by gossip or the antics of the clown in the next cube or you could find yourself caught in an embarrassing situation—and not just with the boss. The Sun and Mercury are very close together in preparation for tomorrow’s conjunction, and both of them make challenging aspects to Uranus throughout the day. That means that computers, communication devices, and meetings are all likely to be disruptive, not act according to plan, and may present situations that make you choose conflicting personal or emotional priorities. You have a reputation to uphold. Making decisions consistent with that reputation will serve you best in the long-run, no matter how enticing the short-term benefits may be.

 

Tuesday, February 7^th

Sun conjunct Mercury at 1:02am

Saturn stationary Retrograde at 6:02am

Full Moon at 19° Leo at 1:53pm

Venus enters Aries at 10:00pm

Today is a very busy day astrologically. The Sun conjunct Mercury gives an extra edge to our minds, thoughts, and tongues. Not only are we able to speak more clearly, but we are also better able to communicate the full extent of our feelings as well. People know exactly where we stand and how we feel. This aspect can tend to also give our words an extra edge, so be careful how you wield your verbal sword today. The Sun conjunct Mercury also means that we’re at the midway point between retrograde Mercuries. We finished the last one December 14^th, and will enter a new one on March 12^th, the same fateful day as the Jupiter Pluto trine climax.

The Full Moon at 19° Leo continues the relatively good mood we have been in since last weekend. Many of us may feel as if we’ve braved a severe storm, and that the worst of it has passed. There are strong indications that this is indeed the case, and let’s hope that that is true. Last Thursday we crossed a “nexus” of planetary spiritual evolutionary energy, and I believe we came through on the good side of things. Stay tuned to future editions of The Flow! for more details!

I can’t pass the day without saying at least a few words about Venus entering Aries. While generally speaking Venus doesn’t quite feel completely at ease in the home sign of Mars, but it does make us more direct in our relationships, less tolerant of coverups, exaggerated mannerisms, or artificial airs. It’s a time when subtlety flies over our heads like an airplane, and when our needs turn toward open, honest, and forthright relationships. Venus in Aries also tends to bring out imbalances and inequalities in our relationships, so be extra careful that you give as much as you get, and get as much as you give, or the playground of Aries can turn into a battlefield.

 

Wednesday, February 8^th

No major aspects

The Moon enters Virgo at 9:32am and it’s time to get back to work. We may have been neglecting our true duties while we’ve been out having fun, and the Moon in Virgo is making us face up to our responsibilities. Actually, with the Moon in Virgo, we start a day in which growth in economic matters is heavily favored. However, there is a caveat, and it is a big one: beware of overextending yourself. If there are situations in which you can advance your interests by using resources in your pocket and at your command, you will do well to use them. If, however, it means utilizing a line of credit, or buying on time, or using others’ resources, this is not the time to make your move. I know, I know, you are confident that you have what it takes and everything will work out fine. But that is unlikely to be the case unless you are one of the fire signs, Leo, Aries, or Sagittarius and one of these planets fall in your second house of finance and resources. You’re here, so take my advice, and don’t extend yourself too thin today!

 

Thursday, February 9^th

Venus conjunct Uranus at 6:28pm

The Moon remains in Virgo all day, and meets up with Mars later in the evening at 9:11pm. Take that as a warning. Most of the day is extremely favorable for any and all kinds of creative activities. If you have writing to do, a website to design, artwork to develop, or music to compose, you just might have a major breakthrough today. Otherwise, the earlier part of the day isn’t particularly bad, but business dealings and economic news is apt to be mixed-up and mixed. Good news may turn out to be not quite as good as people think, and bad news may actually make things turn out better than they think. Take your financial news with a grain of salt today.

The heavy hitting astrologically, though, occurs this evening. Our relationships can range from sparklingly effervescent to downright difficult to control or understand. Beware of hyper-emotionalism in any case. Everyone has their heart on their sleeve, and that special someone may just decide to wipe their nose on yours. Be equally wary of manipulations and power-plays, everyone’s inner Machiavelli comes out to play tonight, too. If at all possible, try not to care too much or make too much of tonight’s antics. The fault, this time, may truly be in the stars, not your dear one’s heart.

 

Friday, February 10^th

Mercury octile Pluto at 5:45am

Sun octile Moon at 11:30pm

The Moon enters Libra at 11:54am, and sets the stage for a very interesting day. The astrological energies today permeate the barriers and divisions of time, space, and consciousness on a variety of levels. Pay particularly close attention to synchronicities, oddities, or experiences of déjà vu. They just might be from spirits trying to knock some clues into your skull. Personal news may feel particularly weighted, as if each word or phrase has particularly important meaning. In fact, that’s a good keyword for the entirety of the day: meaning. The day is likely to have some truly meaningful events, and how you treat that meaning will have an effect on the course of that event. If for example, someone who you have been having difficulty with says something kind, it may be a golden opportunity for rapprochement. If someone makes personal overtures, it may be an indication that they are interested in a more intimate relationship. If you get good financial news, it may be a sign that you should use some of that money to invest in your own future. It is almost like going through the day like a pinball, and each time you make a meaningful connection to an occurrence in your life, your spirit lights up and you rack up good karma points.

 

Saturday, February 11^th

No major aspects

With the Moon in Libra all day we want to connect with others emotionally. If you have somewhere to go and/or someone to do it with, you’ll find that the bonds you have with others particularly rewarding today. However, relating to others isn’t going to be particularly easy today. We’re unsure of what we really or want or need from others, and we seem to trip over our own words communicating these needs. Non-verbal communication is likely to be the most effective, so it’s a day when it is truly best to reach out and touch someone — just so long as they don’t have a restraining order out on you. In the afternoon hours we are strongly tempted by the demons on the darker side of our minds. We have a strong desire to scratch a deep psychological itch that has caused us pain in the past. Be careful! Usually these itches cover deep psychological wounds that have healed enough to not be intrusive any longer, so scratch that itch at your own risk!

Many of us are likely to use this weekend to celebrate Valentine’s Day. However, the astrological aspects are not particularly kind either Friday night or Saturday. Sunday is definitely the best of the time periods for romantic rendezvous, so if you can, plan accordingly!

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Flow! Week of December 11 – 18, 2011

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 to no knowledge of astrology. 

For newcomers, the idea is to consider celestial influences as part of a larger whole, or Flow, must as our weather is influenced by the winds aloft.  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. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Flow!

This Week’s Synopsis: Backfield in Motion

This week Mercury goes Direct on Tuesday, the 13^th. If you feel like you’ve been running a race in reverse, Mercury’s Retrograde is to blame. On Tuesday, Mercury’s celestial transmission shifts into Drive, and we begin to move forward again. It takes Mercury a couple of days to get back in the swing of things, kind of like recovering after a binge on the booze, and he needs a few days to figure out how to coordinate those winged feet again. The overall effect of this on us is a lot of activity swirling around us, but we’re more of a spectator than actor.

Otherwise, however we’re in a bit of the astrological doldrums. It’s a bit of a snooze until next Sunday when we have an annoying little tiff between Venus and Saturn, at which time we’re about as likely to get on other’s nerves as look at them.

The doldrums don’t mean that nothing of importance is likely to happen, the last time we were in a spot like this, back in May, Obama caught Osama bin Laden. It’s just that without major aspects occurring this week, the energies are running more or less on auto-pilot, so that whatever has been set in motion remains in motion until another aspect comes along to influence it. Kind of like Newton’s first law of motion.

Then, too, remember that it is certainly possible that while the planets above aren’t aspecting each other, they are aspecting you, in which case your week’s pass of snooze is revocable. It’s always wise to know how the planets above are affecting the planets within!

There is the Geminid meteor shower Tuesday night (see below if you’re interested), but the Moon is likely to wash out all but the brightest meteors. So it, too, is a bit of a non-event.

Next week things pick up. The 20^th is a gangbuster of an astrological day, and we have the Winter Solstice, Yule, Hanukkah, the Ursids meteor shower, and the New Moon of Capricorn on tap.

I hope you are all enjoying this holiday season, and on to the Daily Details!

Sunday, December 11^th

No major aspects

We start off the week with the Moon entering Cancer, and our frazzled nerves get a chance to sort themselves out and settle down. With yesterday’s Lunar Eclipse, our circuits are overloaded with the various jangled energies of our daily affairs, so if you’re feeling a bit like a fried egg, sunny-side down, you’re not alone.

As Sunday morning dawns, we’re sensitive, irritable, and cranky. We’re just tired of the same-old, same-old, and it feels like the holidays are only adding extra burdens and responsibilities instead of joy. So much for the holiday spirit! As morning turns into afternoon our moods improve, and we find ourselves smiling, even if a few of those smiles are through gritted teeth. Yes, there are things we’d rather be doing, but it’s all part of fulfilling our responsibilities to each other, and that in and of itself is quite an accomplishment.

The afternoon’s bump of good cheer isn’t very long lasting. By evening, we’re back down in the mouth, and not a little resentful of our lot in life.  Though it doesn’t help much now, by mid-week all this gruff and grump will be all but forgotten in the fogs of the past.

Monday, December 12^th

No major aspects

Monday should be an improvement over Sunday. We’re at least more back where we expect to be, and are able to act on the important items in our life and accomplish what needs to be done with relative ease.

If you feel as if you have been fighting a battle of wits, or a battle with nitwits, or involved in a swirl of miscommunication, there may be good news around noontime. Things straighten themselves out, people understand the situation better, and there’s a bit of relief all around.

The evening we’re not at our social best. If you were thinking of putting on a tiara or top hat and traipsing about town, you may want to reschedule your plans. We’re back to being moody, sensitive, and sore, so if you do have a social function to attend be sure to bring your best smiley face mask to avoid causing a scene.

Tuesday, December 13^th

Mercury turns Direct in motion at 5:43pm

The morning hours are for the birds. If you can find a birdcage, bring along some bird seed and climb in. Warpaths, psychopaths, and jack-boot footpaths seem to be all the rage, and in the way of everyone else’s path. If a birdcage is not an option, just keep your head down, look busy and try to stay out of trouble. If you have any work or communications to submit to others, please read them carefully before clicking the send button. Twice!

Once the Moon enters Leo at 1:48pm, the militarism marches into the sunset, not to trouble us for at least a little while. As we peek our noses up off the battle-scared plain you’re entitled if you feel like doing a little happy dance of good-riddance to bad rubbish. Our moods improve, and we actually feel as if we want to do good things with good people, so any evening get-togethers, meetings, or social events should go well.

Wednesday, December 14^th

No major aspects

Yesterday afternoon’s good moods and feelings continue. With the Moon in Leo and Sun in Sagittarius, we’re all a bit in the mood for some thrills, spills, and exciting entertainment. There’s also the possibility of using this fiery energy to pump ourselves up and let go of some of the nagging niggling fears we’ve been carrying around in our psychic baggage. Let the fires of transformation burn them away!

It is also likely that our political leaders may feel their fiery oats and leap to center stage of our political theatre and provide us with more entertainment than we would care to bargain for. In which case there may be a hook pulling them of that stage after the Moon enters Virgo on Friday.\

By the way, if there is a financial matter you have had in the wings but have been waiting to act upon, initiating action today could put to use some favorable energy for manifesting your hopes, dreams, and/or designs. If there is something like that on your agenda, buon fortuna!

Thursday, December 15^th

No major aspects

Good food, good spirits, and good moods are all around us today. Of all the days of this week, today is likely to be the best. The morning hours are excellent for taking care of business items and/or finishing up the work of the week so you can goof tomorrow.

The Moon enters Virgo at 7:58pm and as the sparkling effervescence of the Moon in Leo wears off, we may feel the urge to take stock of where we stand and what we hope to accomplish this holiday season. There is still much to do and put into action those plans we’ve been hatching all month and this weekend coming up should be the perfect opportunity for making it all real. With the Moon in Virgo, we’re more willing (and able) to follow through with the detail necessary to create what we want the way we want it.  As the day ends, we feel as if there isn’t anything we can’t do – and for once, we’re right!

Friday, December 16^th

No major aspects

I don’t know about you, but for me, Fridays lately have been a bear, with fangs and talons honed razor sharp. While the overnight hours are likely to be unsettled, as day breaks, the energies vastly improve. The key to today is similar to yesterday’s – attention to detail. Make sure all the details are settled before assuming an item is complete. Make sure that you have done everything you can and that all of your requirements have been met, and you should be able to enjoy your weekend.

Friday evening is a wonderful time for relationships, particularly sexual ones. If you are in a “friendship” and would to flip it to a “relationship,” tonight should be tailor made for your intentions. Just sprinkle a dash of charm in your bumpety-bump and the fireworks you get won’t be in the sky. Just play safe, and know what you’re getting into before signing on any lines, dotted or otherwise!

Saturday, December 17^th

No major aspects

The Moon remains in Virgo all day. The Moon in Virgo isn’t exactly known for fun and games, but it does provide just the right balance to today’s energies to help you make the most of the day.

Social events in the evening should be delightful, entertaining, and fun. People will be seeking to make a good impression and feel free to expose their more tender, and better, side. Sympathy, understanding, and champagne all around, what more could anyone ask for?

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

The Flow! Week of August 28 – September 4, 2011

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. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

This week’s synopsis: O Fortuna!

Before we get to this week’s synopsis, a bit of meta housecleaning. Frequent fellow friends and fans of the Flow! should note that the tagline for the blog has been changed, and information about me in the About Me section has also been updated. If you like them, thank Krystal for the suggestions! (Thank you, Krystal!)

Also of note, is the wealth of other articles, tips, and images that pepper this blog. It is my hope soon to categorize these to make them easier to find. In the meantime, searching around the archive may reveal some delightful easter eggs. Readers may not be aware, but one of my images of Uranus is perhaps the most popular post of the blog, consistently getting about 20 hits a week. Personally, I have no idea why, but I suppose that one should be grateful to the Google Gods in whatever manner they deign to direct the flow of traffic to the Flow!

Which, I also suppose is about as good a segue as I can devise to talk about this week’s most significant astrological event: Jupiter goes Retrograde on Tuesday, August 30^th.

You can read some earlier posts about Jupiter here, here, and here. And read a rundown of what Jupiter in Taurus means for all the signs here. (See why I need to do some housecleaning?)

But essentially, if there is one factor in a chart that indicated fortune, it is Jupiter, planet of expansion, growth, and opportunity. Rich, kind, generous, jovial (sic) uncle, meet Jupiter, your star in the heavens.

And on Tuesday, he starts moving backwards in retrograde motion. Yuck. It isn’t as if these are particularly prosperous times anyway, so the thought of the planet that might help bring a return of better financial times moving backwards is not particularly savory.

Or…is it?

When we mostly think about retrograde, we think of Mercury. And, Mercury retrograde times are not particularly joyous affairs no matter what shade of meaning we wish to give to the word “joyous.” Obstructive, obstreperous, obstinate, miscommunicative, and dysfunctional come more readily to the mind when thinking about good ol’ Mercury in reverse gear.

To better understand retrograde motion, we need an image of the solar system. You would think that 468 years after the publication of Copernicus’ heliocentric theory that models of the solar system would be easy to find on the net, but such is not the case. One of the problems is that to show any resemblance of scale means that the inner planetary orbits all get smooshed to a smudge. I found one with Japanese origins below as Figure 1 to give you an idea. My apologies for it being so large.

The first thing we need to understand is that there are two types of planets. Planets closer to the Sun than us, and planets further away. In astronomical terms, these are classified as inferior and superior. This isn’t editorial commentary on their self-esteem, but their relationship to us.

Because of Kepler’s delightful laws of planetary motion, inferior planets move faster than we do around the Sun, and superior planets travel more slowly.

The second thing we need to understand is that when planets are moving retrograde, we are actually closer to them than when they are moving direct. This is shown in Figure 2 below that works for any of the outer, superior, planets like Jupiter.

So one possible way to make the most of Jupiter retrograde is that to take advantage of the nearness of our relationship we should focus on those things that are closer at hand than those that beckon from afar. Concentrate on those things that are immediate, primary in importance to your success, and with those that you have been working on for some time or have some personal connection. Put the long-distance plans on the back-burner, and bring to the forefront those things that are unfinished, dormant, and waiting for a fresh take.

As for Jupiter retrograde not being quite as annoying as Mercury, perhaps it is worthwhile thinking of it in a novel way.  On the freeway, as we travel forward at a moderate 65 mph if a motorcycle blares by us at 90 mph it is often annoying and unsettling. However, when it is our turn to pass a noisy, trudging, belching truck going slower than us, we feel a satisfying sense of relief.  Perhaps on the freeway of life, passing a plodding planet might likewise be a more pleasurable experience.

One can only hope.

Jupiter will be retrograde until Christmas. Perhaps if we attend to our tasks at hand and wave politely instead of flipping him the bird as we pass him by, there may be a nice gift under the tree. May it be so for you and yours!

And what could be a better gift or indication of fortune than an entire planet made of diamond? Known as J1719-1438, a team of scientists believe that a pulsating binary star turned one half of the team into an ultra-low mass carbon white dwarf…or in lay terms a diamond the size of a planet. Located at 21º of Sagittarius on the ecliptic, you can read more about it (along with a link to the scientific citation) here.

Before getting to the Daily Details, I want to point out that while I was not able to find anything on Youtube to properly display the solar system, I did find an interesting video titled, “You are here” that is worth sharing. It is a bit long, but very much worth the time!

To the Daily Details!

Sunday, August 28^th

Sun trine Pluto at 8:11am

New Moon at 6º Virgo, at 8:04pm

First of all, our thoughts and prayers go to those on the east coast enduring the wrath of hurricane Irene! May you all be safe and sound with as little disruption as possible!

The Moon is in Leo and Irene has certainly been hogging the spotlight. The Moon moves into Virgo at 11:13am and may trim her sails a bit.

The Sun (Self) trine (harmonious) Pluto (power) may provide rather substantial help to the day’s events (wherever you may live, and whatever the weather) as it boosts our ability to make things go smoothly and make our intentions real. People are less likely to squawk about doing what is necessary, as for the most part they are able to understand the broader situation and not become a burden or get in the way. This aspect also makes it more likely we do the right thing at the right time to take care of matters and prevent small situations from developing into something too big to handle.

The New Moon occurs in the evening, in the Sabian Sign of “A Child’s First Dancing Lesson” in the section of the zodiac symbolized by one’s character. Therefore, this New Moon time, which will last for two weeks as the Moon grows in light should be a time during which we come to understand our own and other’s character better.  We are likely to encounter situations in which to some degree some aspect of our character is tested, revealing what the nature of that character truly is. This can be an extremely enlightening period if we pay attention and recognize that what we are seeing is more real than the facades and personas that we usually encounter from others. Paying particularly close attention to political leaders at this time may underscore more about them than reams of editorialized news.

Monday, August 29^th

Venus trine Jupiter at 11:48pm

The Moon remains in Virgo all day, and Venus, also in Virgo makes nice to Jupiter in Taurus. This aspect is likely to help us feel more generous, compassionate, and kindly toward one another, prodding us to be a little bit more concerned with how we might help each other than take advantage. Too bad this aspect doesn’t occur more frequently! Venus trine Jupiter brings out our better dispositions and also makes it easier for people to get along collegially. If there is a favor you need to ask of someone, today might be the best day of the week to do so. Just make sure that all your affairs related to this favor are in order, because if there’s one thing a Virgo Moon detests it is messy affairs!

Tuesday, August 30^th

Jupiter turns Retrograde in motion at 2:18am

The Moon travels into Libra today at 11:25am, but in spite of Libra’s usual influence of bringing harmony and balance to things, yesterday’s sweetness and light turns dark and dour, especially in the evening hours. There is likely to be an unsettled feeling to the air as the day progresses as we feel more doubtful, insecure, and unsure about our Selves and the future. It is possible that you may have been feeling that things were progressing in a certain direction only to learn that things may not continue along that same path, there may be unexpected developments, or you may find out something that causes you to pause. All of which is likely due to Jupiter retrograde, and should be part and parcel of the need to refocus and rechannel your energies into more pressing or potentially prosperous matters. As they say, when one door closes another opens, so be on the lookout for any new doors opening your way. They could be significant steps for your future success!

Wednesday, August 31^st

No major aspects

We say farewell to August today with a mixed bag of lunar aspects. The Moon stays in Libra all day, but the conjunction of the Moon with Saturn around mid-day leaves us feeling sluggish and restless, and that’s without taking into account the post-lunch slump.  The time between the conjunction with Saturn and the Moon square Mars around rush hour we are likely to feel peevish, petulant, and unproductive. Nothing satisfies, nothing feels good, and nobody else seems willing to help. If you can spend the afternoon in your cube or office without encountering a soul, you’ll avoid being bothered or bothering others. Later in the evening when the Moon sextiles Mercury, we feel more open, communicative, and sociable. Talking with someone you trust about the day’s activities might be just the thing to dispel any lingering mental cobwebs and the insecurities they represent.

Thursday, September 1^st

No major aspects

The Moon moves into Scorpio at 11:48am. Oftentimes the Moon in Scorpio is a depressing downer. However, it is unlikely to be so this time. Many of the other planets are well disposed to Scorpio, and so we may be able to experience the rarer positive side of this astrological influence. The Moon in Scorpio is generally a time in which we come face to face with our views and beliefs about our lives, and we are in many ways compelled to live out their truth and appropriateness. And when the Moon in Scorpio is well aspected, it can help us realign these feelings about things in a way that is insightful, profound, and empowering. Often these insights are only available through techniques that delve deep within the self, such as meditation or journeying. But for this period that the Moon is in Scorpio, it may be that these thoughts naturally occur to us as we go about our daily routines. Therefore, during this time pay close attention to your thoughts and feelings and any alterations they may provide to your innermost beliefs and views – they may be a rare gift that can save you oodles of time or money spent with a therapist.

Friday, September 2^nd

Sun trines Jupiter at 8:59pm

Today’s aspects are almost singularly beneficial. Not only is the Sun trine Jupiter a harbinger of opportunity and good feeling, but the lunar aspects are all helpful as well. Early in the morning at 3:40am the Moon sextiles the Sun giving us a lift in the self-esteem and self-confidence categories. At 4:51am the Moon opposes Jupiter, and while oppositions can often be difficult, the opposition between the Moon and Jupiter is generally indicative of too much of a good thing, making us feel more buoyant than might otherwise be the case – but who’s going to complain bitterly about that? As we approach noontime, the Moon sextiles Venus opening up our hearts and filling them with beauty, pleasure, and affection. We feel more lovingly toward others and find it easier to have our own emotional needs met. This makes it a wonderful time for making plans with friends or loved ones, as you are both easily able to agree on what to do and find solutions that are satisfying to everyone. In the evening as the Moon trines Mars, we are able to execute our plans with dispatch, and have enough energy left over for a nightcap.

Saturday, September 3^rd

No major aspects

The Moon enters Sagittarius at 2:03pm. Usually the Moon in Sagittarius is party time, and if you have a party scheduled, may it be everything you hope it should be! However, for many of us, this morning is likely to be a rather confused and hectic time. Avoid making decisions until later in the day when we are able to think more clearly and more options become available. Being out and about involved in activities that require a bit of adventure or exertion are favored, as are those that likewise involve sports. Summer is coming to a close, and we should take advantage of the lingering beauty all around us.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

The Flow! Week of August 21 – 28, 2011

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. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

This week’s synopsis: No Picnic

Thursday, August 25^th, Mars (our energy, drive, and ambition) squares off against Saturn (brick wall), leaving lots of mangled moving objects in its wake. This is definitely not the week to go rushing about wildly, flitting about aimlessly, or running off half-cocked. If the cock o’ the block doesn’t get you, the cops will. I expect the buildup for this aspect to begin as the week begins, and to last through most of this week.

Mars is still in Cancer, so much of our energy is focused in how we feel and satisfying our inner needs. Mars in other signs may climb mountains, forge steel, and face combat fiercely; Mars in Cancer cuts out doilies and builds nests. With the dynamism of Mars turned inward, he becomes a great defender, but isn’t much for going out and conquering brave new worlds.

Saturn is in Libra, the sign of balance, harmony, justice and the law. With Saturn here, the songs of Libra are the stark rhythms of techno and icy cool syncopations of New Age music. And especially when Saturn inhabits the sign, what we mean is the letter not the spirit of the law. If you don’t say, “May I?” it’s back two spaces, do not pass go, and do not collect $200.

With Mars in Cancer and Saturn in Libra, we are intuitively aware of this dynamic, and few souls have the stomach for facing the music should they misstep. This tends to generate an attitude of biding one’s time, waiting for a more auspicious moment, and turning one’s quest to slay inner dragons.

One can make progress during this time if one is careful, prudent, and thoughtful. Make sure your work is thorough. Make sure you follow protocol and instructions to a tee. Secure your nest and the foundation it is built upon, and watch your back – Mars square Saturn tends to bring out the snakes in the grass.

And the ants.

For some reason, Mars square Saturn also tends to bring out those who annoy the crap out of you, as if see how many straws it takes break your back and cause you to do something you might regret.

That’s the main hazard of this time – doing something you’d regret in a saner time.

Certainly, no picnic.

The best use of this energy is to use it to overcome obstacles, face challenges head on, and to push push push like a bulldozer through the log-jams in your life. It may not be easy, it most likely won’t be fun, but it can be singularly productive if you have been feeling frustrated, thwarted, and obstructed by forces beyond your control. You have most of the week to devise a plan, think about it, and put it into action as this energy reaches a climax in the very early hours of Thursday. If you time it right, the Mars-Saturn square, Mercury Direct, and the New Moon on Sunday the 28th can be a one-two-three punch KO that leaves an old Self behind, and leaves the field fresh for the start of a new.

Help arrives on Friday when Mercury goes Direct, and like a white knight it helps to discharge a lot of the frazzled tension between Mars and Saturn. Mercury Direct will bring a greater understanding to the activities of the week, and help you put them in a better perspective. But, you really don’t want to have anything to put in a better perspective, do you?

Mind your peas and queues. (kathunk)

Venus enters Virgo until September 14^th, and not to add salt to any wounds (or more bad news to an already gloomy forecast) but Venus is not a very happy lady in Virgo. No, not at all.

You know how kids run around and spread their arms wide saying, “I love you this much?” And how adults, older, wiser, and smugger, walk around thinking that you can’t quantify love? Venus in Virgo can, down to the micrometer.

Venus here tends to be bring out our pickier, prissier, and pissier sides and rarely turns down an invitation to match wits in a debate. She is fastidious, obsessed with diet and nutrition, and loves to count the calories of her yogurt and rattle off every antioxidant in a blueberry.

On the other hand, she’s good to have around for chores. She’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty and will coax you to spruce up, clean up, and fix whatever is broken around the house. She may even lend you a helping hand if you ask nicely.

Venus is great here for handling money, and can help you get your finances in order if not improve them outright. She also adds a tad of psychological insight to our thinking, so if there’s a nagging problem that has been puzzling you, by the time she enters Libra in mid-September you may find it behind you. And speaking of problems, Venus in Virgo symbolically adds just a pinch of sugar to our medicine.

Venus in Virgo obviously, does have its benefits. She is more restrained and less uninhibited than she may be in Aries, Leo or Sagittarius. But she is handy to have around and more than willing to lend a hand. Just while she’s handing you the Lysol don’t ask how much she likes you unless you’re willing to hear an honest answer.

Lastly, on Tuesday the Sun enters Virgo. Happy Birthday Virgos!

To the Daily Details!

Sunday, August 21^st

Venus opposed Neptune at 6:41am

Venus enters Virgo at 3:11pm

Just before saying sayonara to Leo, Venus opposes Neptune and casts a misty, cloudy web over the weekend’s activities. We feel a bit sluggish, lazy, and unmotivated. We’re less inclined to be out and about, and even when we are it almost feels like we’re sleep-walking on a deserted island. Our energies are a bit withdrawn, brooding, and not much in the mood for high-energy interactions. This will change when the Moon enters Gemini at 5:53pm, but by that time, it’s a little late in the weekend for rambunctious activities. As the Moon settles into the sign of the Twins we become slightly more communicative, open-minded, and engaged in the world around us. But by that time, it will be time to get ready for the work week ahead!

Monday, August 22^nd

Sun opposed Neptune at 4:28pm

All of the Mondays in August are fairly well-aspected, giving a welcome boost to whatever activities we have planned for the week. Today is no exception, except that the same lingering moody, brooding, listlessness continues until this afternoon. Save the more energetic work for later in the week. When planets adversely (squares and oppositions) affect Neptune like this, we often feel as if we are walking around in a fog. This feeling is caused by a heightened level of inner, more spiritually oriented communication occurring between our inner selves and non-waking levels of consciousness. These times are beneficial for soul-searching, inner journeys, meditation, and problem solving. Even if there isn’t anything particularly gnawing on your mind, this energy can help with healing, put things in better perspective, gain a better understanding of life, and help you feel more whole. From Sunday until Wednesday morning, pay close attention to your dreams, idle thoughts, and synchronistic events as they can all be important messages from your intuitive side.

Tuesday, August 23rd

Sun enters Virgo at 4:21am

The Moon is in Gemini all day.

Tuesday and Friday are definitely the better business days of the week. Today is favored for messages, news, communications, and for working with others to get things done. We understand our roles and functions very clearly, making it easy to go about completing whatever tasks are at hand. The day’s energies are also excellent for discussing and making plans, working on schedules, paying leftover bills, and minding any lingering financial matters. If possible, take a friend to lunch, you may find it improves your mood so much you feel better all week. Whatever it is you do today, expressing yourself more completely should come more naturally. After the weekend’s focus on Neptune, we are likely better aligned physically, emotionally, and spiritually, which can often make it easier to accomplish our goals.

Wednesday, August 24^th

No major aspects

The Moon enters Cancer overnight at 3:31am. Mid-morning and early afternoon we are apt to find ourselves scrambling to make sense of things and accommodating ourselves to changes of plans and other unexpected challenges. If you find yourself in this kind of a situation, it is best to try and handle matters on your own as others may be prove to be difficult, obstreperous and imperious. If you do need to get other people involved, try to be compliant and willing to accept responsibility for any errors on your or your people’s behalf. However, the rest of the day is fairly well aspected for relationship matters. Spending time with good friends, going out to meet new people, or spending time online searching for a new special someone may all be fruitful, enjoyable, and full of delectable surprises.

Thursday, August 25^th

Mars squares Saturn at 3:48am

Venus trines Pluto at 4:12pm

This is D-day of the week. Today is likely to be the climax of the week’s activities, and may require patience, prudence, and perseverance. Give yourself plenty of time to get wherever it is you need to be and be on the lookout for crazy-ass drivers. Newton’s laws of motion are said to apply to objects as large as cars, but today they seem to block, obstruct, speed up and come out of nowhere without any rhyme or reason. Be careful out there! People are also apt to be extremely sensitive, so be sure that what you say is what you mean and vice versa. They are also likely to take offense at otherwise innocuous turns of phrase, so if you feel any tension from others also make sure your choice of words is wise. The best use of today’s energies is if there is something in your path hampering your success today may just be the day that the dam breaks and you are able to move forward again. The late afternoon Venus Pluto trine adds a dash of fate or destiny to the day’s proceedings and more than a smidgeon of sexual heat and intensity. All in all a day in which many a karmic scale will be reset – may your load grow lighter!

Friday, August 26^th

Mercury turns Direct (forward) at 3:03pm

Happy Women’s Equality Day! (and may every day be Women’s Equality Day!)

The Moon enters Leo at 9:09am, and it may feel like you’ve been given a Get Out of Jail Free card. It is likely to have been a long slog of a week, and today’s energies feel considerably liberating. The Moon in Leo is always ready with party hats and confetti, so the energies are favorable for a bit of letting loose. Mercury going Direct will help sort things out and help them move forward again, which is a relief for one and all. Some of the actions taken earlier in the month may need to be revisited, but all in due course. Bottled up information and mixed-up news may finally get straightened out, and we begin to understand where we stand more clearly. Business dealings of all kinds are favored today, as are meetings and negotiations. However, if you need to sign papers or commit to any legal matter, it may be best to wait until the beginning of the week after the New Moon and Mercury has more time to build steam heading Direct in motion.

Saturday, August 27^th

No major aspects

The Moon is in Leo all day. In the early hours of the waning Moon in Leo we are likely to feel a bit overly confident and self-indulgent and may find ourselves doing and saying things that are more bragging than bravery. Respect your Self, respect others, and don’t overdo it! Temptation weaves a wicked web and sings a siren’s tune. Heeding that call is likely to be more trouble than it’s worth, no matter how big a hangover you’re willing to endure in the morning. As the wee hours of the morning fade to memory, the rest of the day is very well favored for finishing up chores and tending to things you’ve been meaning to do but never felt you had the time to manage. A little planning in the morning will go far speeding you through the day. And if you’re lucky enough to be on vacation or just going about enjoying things, today should fit in nicely with whatever plans you have in mind.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

 

 

The Flow! Week of April 17 – 23, 2011

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. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

This week’s synopsis: Sucker Punch

This coming week is front-loaded with a handful of astrological energies that are likely to be rather difficult for even the best of us to deal with easily. Don’t even try patience, it won’t be worth it. Need peace and quiet? That’s when your neighbors will decide to have a block party next door. Set up the perfect date? Expect a change of plans. Expect? Heck, you can rely on it! And if definitely, beyond all doubt, you do not want to hear from cousin Hilda? Betcha she calls this week. Twice.

And the more you need whatever you want, the more you can depend on the universe frustrating you to get it. Everything this week is going to take more time and effort to accomplish. You may even have to do the same thing more than once to get it done. Unexpected delays, obstructions, challenges, limitations, and surprises are going to litter the week like confetti.

So, get in line, buy some popcorn, and try to be amused by the grand folly of it all. We’re all, one way or another, gonna get sucker punched this week one way or another. If you can smile by the end of it, you deserve an extra cookie for dessert!

The week kicks off with the Full Moon of Aries/Libra at 28° of both signs at 7:44pm. This is a potent, powerful Full Moon, and the symbolism indicates a significant test of how well you have your ducks in a row. Yes, you may have been making some big plans. Yes, you may have gotten some new things started. Yes, things are looking like they may be turning around—

But, have you done your homework?

We’ll see! If things go more smoothly for you than I’m indicating this week, you’ve turned in your assignment and gotten an A. Chances are, you have spent the extra effort to ensure your preparations are sound, that you have discussed what you want to do with others and they are in agreement, and/or that you are willing to let the past fade into distant memory and not watercolor the canvass of the present with its morbid hues.

Another piece of this Full Moon’s test is whether or not your life is in balance. Are you spending too much time at work? It may be time to balance that out with some R & R time. Are you soft-pedaling your life and letting things slide? You may get a wake-up call and need to shift into high-gear. How are you treating others? How are you letting them treat you? Are you taking more than you are giving or giving too much of yourself? all of this is part of the message of this Full Moon, and over the next two weeks it will present you with various situations that question all of the above.

Ace these tests, and there may be some hefty rewards in your future!

After the Full Moon does its work, organizing its energies for your various tests of balance and emotional sanguinity it slithers into Scorpio, amplifying the intensity of all our emotions. Happiness turns to giddiness, anger becomes bombastic volcanism, and disappointment leads to the road of depression, and headaches become migraines..

And right after that two-day dose of celestial cheeriness, Mars and Saturn tiff off at each other in an opposition on Monday morning. Mars is the planet of our ambition, aggression, drive, energy, and ability to fight for what we want. It is the gas pedal of the zodiac. Saturn is the planet of our duties, responsibilities, obligations, inhibitions, obstructions, challenges, and is the keeper of our karma. It is the brake pedal of the zodiac. Oppositions are affairs in which each planet pushes on the planet it is opposing to take on a bit of its meaning. Therefore, during this aspect, Mars forces us to face challenges or obstructions we have been avoiding. Saturn obligates us to take action or be more aggressive – or wind up as roadkill. It’s a bit like driving with a foot on the gas pedal and brake at the same time. You go forward, if at all, slowly and deliberately and about ready to spit nails by the end of it.

Which, by the way, is very Mars-Saturny: spitting (Mars), nails (Saturn!)

Speaking of automobiles, on Tuesday, the day after the peak of the Mars-Saturn opposition, motor meets mouth. Mars (motor) conjoins with Mercury (mouth.) So, not only do we not know when to put our mouth in gear, we also don’t know when to shut up, which increases the possibility that another means of locomotion, the foot, also meets mouth. For god’s sake (and yours!) a vow of silence or entering a nunnery may be the only way to totally avoid trouble on Tuesday. If neither of these approaches is practical, at least try to make sure that your brain is in gear before putting your mouth in motion.

After this astrological turbulence, the Flow of the week becomes a bit smoother after when the Sun enters Taurus and Venus enters Aries. Both tend to balance each other out and take the sharpness out of some of the more aggressive combative energies we have been suffering with lately.

Finally on Saturday, Mercury goes direct and things return to normal, for now. My favorite image of Mercury direct (at the moment) is the old THX ad that used to begin movies in which the letters THX fall down and a droid comes out and repairs them. That’s Mercury direct for you!

This week is also a week full of holidays.

Palm Sunday is Sunday, the 17^th; Passover begins at sundown on the 18^th, and runs for 7 days, the first and last days being the most holy; Mohammed’s birthday is on Wednesday, April 20^th; Good Friday is Friday, the 22^nd; and Earth Day is also this Friday, April 22^nd.

Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate! And Beltane is coming, Beltane is coming!

On to the Daily Details!

Sunday, April 17^th

Full Moon at 7:44pm at 28° Libra/Aries

The Moon is in Libra most of the day until 11:19pm when it enters Scorpio. While it is in Libra building up to the Full Moon, expect people to be sensitive, needy, cranky, and moody. Little things are blown out of proportion, emotional needs outweigh reasonableness, and nobody seems to want to play nice. And while everyone is acutely aware of their own emotional needs their attitude is to heck with anyone else.  If you are on the brunt end of some harsh words please don’t take it personally, it is just the internalization of some very difficult emotional energies in the air that are just a wee bit too much for the other person to handle. Considering the Full Moon and lead up to the Mars-Saturn opposition on Monday, Sunday is likely to be a great day for sticking to routine and avoiding sensitive topics. Pour coffee. Prepare food. Idle chatter. Clean dishes. Repeat until sleep.

Monday, April 18^th

Mars opposed Saturn at 9:02am

If I had to pick one day this week to call worst , it would be Monday. On Monday we’re nervous, anxious, and furtive expecting shoes to fall from the sky. Chances are, you’ve already handled the worst of any incoming shoes, but you may need to clean up any debris. Not that that is a particularly pleasant task, but far far more pleasant than the crap you’ve been dealing with the past few days. As with most of this week, the key to survival without a series of migraines or a nervous breakdown is don’t take these things personally!

I don’t mean to imply a Get Out of Jail Free card for your interpersonal relationships, either, however. What trouble you wind up causing is yours entirely, and you are entirely entitled to whatever feedback and kickbacks you get. But, be equally sure that any anger or negativity thrown your way is deservedly yours. You just might be standing precisely in the path of another’s nail spitting. It doesn’t make the pain any less real, but at least you know the source of it isn’t intentional!

Tuesday, April 19^th

Mercury conjunct Mars at 7:59am

Today heightens the nervous furtive energy of the beginning of the week and also adds a dollop of anger and resentment into the mix. It is difficult today to understand others’ motives, so it’s best to not even try beating your head against that wall. You’ll find out in due time what’s up when the other person ready to spill the beans with you. Part of the frazzled nervous energy of today may be channeled into the communication sphere, whether that be harsh words or just lots of them. Everyone has something on their mind, and whatever it is seems to prevent them from focusing on the task at hand. The battle is probably not worth the fighting just let the scattered energies take you where they want to Flow. You just may find yourself in serendipity land making useful discoveries or meeting helpful people you might not otherwise meet!

The Moon enters Sagittarius at 11:50pm easing the tension a bit and lifting our moods, and this week it may be a truly welcome relief. My only concern is that it is just a drop of color in a bucket of otherwise blasé white paint.

Wednesday, April 20^th

Sun enters Taurus at 3:18am

Sun sextilesNeptuneat 1:44pm

Venus enters Aries at 9:06pm

Today is a slightly busy day astrologically as the inner planets begin their end-of-week two-step do-se-do. The Sun enters Taurus (like it does every time this year), and slows down the rambunctious energies just a bit. There’s been a lot going on lately, but very little of it has settled in and taken root. Over the next month or two as other planets join the Sun in Taurus, our plans will begin to gel, establish themselves, and become more evident. It is important that we let them take form in their own manner, as forcing them to conform to our vision of them often has the effect of stunting their growth. Like children, our desires develop best when given a good dose of independence!

Venus doesn’t particularly do well in Aries. It isn’t that she isn’t capable of handling the job, it’s just that she adopts an Amazon persona. Sometimes that is good, but we have been so awash in aggressiveness, others asserting control, combativeness, and strife, that it doesn’t really help that there be a female component to all the Marsy testosterone permeating the air. I’d expect, though, that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi may take center stage on the Democratic side of the fence, and for Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin to do the same for the GOP between now and May 15^th when she enters Taurus. It is also possible that more and more of the public becomes involved in political activism during this time. If that is the case, it is likely that many a politician’s clock is going to get cleaned, regardless of gender, and regardless of political party! (Although I suspect that male Republicans may bear the brunt of these attacks.)

Thursday, April 21^st

While Monday may be the worst day of the week, Thursday is likely to be the best. Our spirits are high, our moods are good, and we’re feeling more confident, adventurous, competent, and just a teensy bit fortunate. If you have an important meeting to schedule, Thursday may be the best day to do so. If you have a day to plan to start a venture, starting it today before 10am could be give you an astrological wind at your back. Today is also a good day for relationships of all kinds, but particularly romantic ventures, and to go out and get what you want. Today’s energies are also good for going shopping in order to make that kind of decision about an important purchase. Just try not to sign any contracts until Monday after Mercury goes direct!

Friday, April 22^nd

Venus conjunct Uranus at 7:29pm

I love Venus conjunct Uranus periods, especially when they occur on the weekends when we can enjoy them! Venus is our emotions, our empathy, our ability to relate to others, and represents the feminine side of our sexual energies. Uranus is sparkly, fizzy, spontaneous, ingenious, and adventurous. When the two of them get together, we feel like tripping the light fantastic, and letting ourselves truly enjoy each other’s company. Tonight is an excellent time to plan a romantic rendezvous, date, or night on the town. We’re more willing to let our hair down during these times, but sometimes these same times give us a morning hangover. So please be sure that you play safe and not take unnecessary chances. The thrill of a moment isn’t worth a lifetime of regret.

Fortunately, some of the more rambunctious energies are dampened this weekend as the Moon enters Capricorn today at 3:24am. We’re all become a bit more cautious, reserved, and serious when the Moon is in Capricorn, and when this happens over the weekend it usually indicates that it is an excellent time to take stock of what needs to be done, take care of chores around the house, tidy up, or do some spring cleaning.

Saturday, April 23^rd

Mercury goes Direct at 3:04am

Hooray! Mercury finally goes direct, and we can be rid of some of the pesky issues we’ve been dealing with. If you have been caught in the web of this past Mercury retrograde and have a broken or misbehaving appliance, computer, or other device, now is the time to get it fixed. The day’s astrological energies do not point to a great deal of fun today. They are somber, serious, and have us challenged to face some important issues in our lives. Some of these issues could come from our own internal feelings and intuitions, and some of them may be forced on to us by others. Whatever the source, don’t let them knock too much of your self-confidence out of you. Yes, your confidence may take a hit and Sunday be rather blue, but the things you hear over the weekend may turn out to be incorrect, and by Monday the world is looking considerably brighter, cheerier, and more fortunate.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

The Flow! Week of December 26, 2010 – January 1, 2011

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.

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

This week’s synopsis:  Happy Holidays!

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays, whatever holiday it is you happen to celebrate!

The Sun is now in Capricorn.  From here on until the Summer Solstice, the days get longer as the Sun inches ever so determinedly northward.

We are in the Crystallization process of Capricorn.

Crystals form in nature when like atoms coalesce into regular patterns forming a three-dimensional lattice structure based on the bonds between them.  Some crystals allow light to pass through, or refract it to produce a wide variety of optical effects like a rainbow.  Some crystals have special energy conducting abilities ranging from the scientific piezoelectric effect to the effects of New Age crystallology.   Ice, snowflakes, salt, gemstones, and quartz are all crystals and are useful for their very unique and particular properties.

But if crystals are formed by atoms forming patterns in a lattice structures, what about what is arguably the most vital “crystal” of them all – our own DNA?   Our very DNA is a pattern of atoms and molecules combined in particular ways.  And moving beyond the individual, many creatures behave in patterns based on the communities in which they live.

Crystalline stones, crystalline genes, crystalline beings.  Perhaps there is more truth to “I sing the body electric” than even Ray Bradbury thought!

The key attribute of crystals of all sorts is order. Order in the structure, order in the pattern, order in each of the components.  Is it no wonder that Capricorn celebrates diligence, discipline, and duty and why its keywords are practical, pragmatic, and perseverance?  Or why Capricorn is the sign of governments, institutions, countries, bureaucracy, and corporations?

Order, structure, and responsibility.  These are the tools for building perfect crystals.

When lots and lots of good perfect crystals have been created, they can be used to create even bigger meta-structures that create communities and gestalts with even greater capabilities.  And beings with greater capabilities can serve greater purposes – which is the TRUE nature of Capricorn.  To form things that can be used for greater purposes.

It’s like Capricorn builds the individual nodes, PC’s, or devices.  Aquarius comes along and turns them into a network to serve its purposes.  And then Pisces takes the good, tosses the bad, and prepares for a new cycle.

I’m getting ahead of myself, but there you have it…the functional purpose of the last three signs of the zodiac, and we are at the time of year of the beginning of it all.

To be sure, the Sun’s annual passage through this portion of the zodiac is not enough to cure the common cold, or land people on the moon, but it does give an added boost to those engaged in the work of the time.

And what is that time for us now?

This is the time of being the best you can be.  Give a little extra effort, get back great returns.  Be a little extra nice to people, even assholes, and however they treat you in return – you feel better about yourself.  And that’s the truly important part of this time of year – to brush yourself off, stand tall, and bravely move forward into that new year.  Because magicians of all sorts know very well, that starting something well is a good omen for it turning out well.

Next year is going to be an extremely important year.  During 2011 we have Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune all changing signs – and each change alters the energies we experience in our everyday lives.

Originally, I had hoped to give an account of 2011 in this week’s edition, but I have been a bit too busy with other obligations, so that will have to come next week.

But a bare outline of the major events –

• January 4 – Jupiter conjoins Uranus
• January 22 – Jupiter (re)enters Aries
• March 11 – Uranus enters Aries (ooo!)
• April 4 – Neptune enters Pisces (double ooo!)
• June 4 – Jupiter races through Aries and enters Taurus
• July 7 – Jupiter trines Pluto
• August 4 – Neptune (re)enters Aquarius
• October 28 – Jupiter trines Pluto (reprise)

Next week – what it all means!

For now, though to the Daily Details!

Sunday, December 26^th

Sun conjunct Pluto at 5:04pm

Happy Boxing Day!

The Moon is in Virgo all day, so it’s a good day for organizing leftovers and dealing with any post-holiday depressions.  We’re not as likely to be a victim of furious mood swings today, but are more focused on the needs of the moment.  In fact, with the Sun conjunct Pluto, we feel good about our Selves, what we have done, and what we have to look forward to.  We’re neither optimist or pessimist, but realist on where we stand in our own individual universe and if there are changes that need to be made, we feel confident we will have what it takes to meet those challenges and overcome any obstacles in our way.  All in all, as good a day as you could have asked for Christmas!

Monday, December 27^th

No major aspects

Last Quarter Moon at 8:18pm

The Moon enters Libra at 9:38am.  The Libran Moon accentuates our relationships and urges us to get out of the house and mingle with others.  It also makes us a bit more sensitive to how others treat us and better aware of how we would like to be treated.  Often, Libra Moons are good times for trying to reset a relationship balance, but today’s aspects are a bit iffy in that regard – better to wait until later in the week when things lighten up.  Today people are likely to be edgy, ballsy, and sarcastic.  More interested in playing an angle for personal advantage than in being helpful or anything less than a pain in the ass.  This time around, just let them be and try to stay out of the way and keep all sharp objects under lock and key!

Tuesday, December 28^th

No major aspects

Today isn’t much of an improvement over yesterday until the evening when the Moon sextiles Mercury at 7:11pm and we get a brief reprieve as the channels of communication open up.  If you have family staying or are staying with family and it’s beginning to feel like you’re wearing sandpaper underwear, this evening is a good time for making amends and exchanging those undies for something more comfortable.  If you have a point to make that you’ve had bottled up inside to keep the peace, this evening might not be a bad time to bring it up and get it off your chest.  Tonight is also a great night to see a movie or hang around with friends – just keep the conversation light and breezy and things should go fine!

Wednesday, December 29^th

Mars squares Saturn at 7:28am (yuck)

Mercury goes Direct at 11:21pm (yay!)

Ooh, what a little McNasty to occur in the middle of the holidays!  Mars is action, energy, drive, push, and getting things done.  Saturn can be obstacles, delays, obstructions, unexpected challenges, frustrations, restrictions, and slowness.  Mars square Saturn is very much like driving your car with one foot on the accelerator and one foot on the brake.  And in this car, the brake most often wins.  Just to add an extra dose of torment, the Moon enters Scorpio at 12:50pm so not only are we ready to jump up and down with anger, angst and agita, but know it not going to help.  This aspect is usually indicative of endings, so it is not a good time to start anything new. If, however, there is something that has been bothering you or causing you trouble lately, now is the time to give it (or him, or her) the ol’ heave ho.

The saving grace of the day is that in the very late evening Mercury goes Direct.  Hallelujah, brothers and sisters!  If you, yes you, have been the victim of cruel computers, pestilent PC’s, twitty tweets, wicked webs or wifi, enervating emails, or confounding communications get on your knees and say a prayer of thanks to Mercury this evening, because your day of salvation is at hand!

Thursday, December 30^th

No major aspects

In spite of the fact that the Moon is in Scorpio, the aspects are fairly good.  We feel energized, capable, secure, and strong.  As we wind down this year, we are looking forward to the year to come.  It’s a good day for making plans and setting things into motion.  Today is definitely the kind of day that if you put yourself out just a little, you may be rewarded substantially.

Friday, December 31^st

No major aspects

This has not been an easy year.  Whether it was financial, career, or relationship issues, it was a very busy, stressful, and hectic year for many of us.  So to help alleviate the burden at 5:22pm the Moon enters Sagittarius and livens things up just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations.  The days aspects in and of themselves are fairly smooth and easy flowing, so plans for the evening should transpire without too many a glitch.  But people should be in a very hearty celebratory mood tonight as we ring in the new year.  Spirits will be high, flowing, and drunk.  May all your spirits be friendly spirits!

Happy New Year!

Saturday, January 1^st

No major aspects

I don’t know about you, but moving into 2011 feels like tossing our old shoes with holes in the soles and putting on a new pair of sneaks.  Let’s hope the good feelings continue!  The days aspects are great for relaxation, regrouping, and recovery.  Let us look forward with promise to the new year and let us hope that it is a substantial improvement over the year just past.

Next week a look at 2011 for each of the signs!

Wishing you all a wonderful week!s

 

The Flow! Week of September 12 – 18, 2010

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. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

The synopsis for this week: The Paradigm Shifts

Like a slowly ticking clock, the planetary energies shift this week is ways both big and small.  Mercury and Pluto both shift course and go direct early this week, Mars enters a home sign of Scorpio mid-week, and we end the week with the possibility of some fireworks as Jupiter and Uranus meet up on Saturday.  Will they be sparklers, duds, roman candles, or skyrockets?  Let’s take a look and see what we can scry.

Mercury goes direct on Sunday at 4:08pm, and we are released from the recent bondage of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and misplaced articles.  If you made a mistake or two the past several weeks, you’re in good company.  Mercury in its own sign of Virgo has been stirring up all sorts of celestial mischief, and chances are you and I have been his target more than once.  As he goes direct, it’s as if Jupiter comes by and takes away his widdle slingshot, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

Pluto goes direct next, on Monday, at 9:35pm.  Pluto’s direct effect is a bit more subtle.  Since April 6^th, Pluto has been retrograde, making progress more difficult, exacerbating political dialogue, and forcing us to direct our attention toward inner transformations.  Many of us who have felt this effect of Pluto can vouchsafe that we are different, if not better than we were when the retrograde period began.  For some, it has been a time of internal emotional cleaning, for some a time of rebirth and renewal, and for some a time of significant life decisions that will allow for a new era of life to begin.

As I review what I wrote for Pluto turning retrograde back in early April, it is particularly apparent that as Pluto moved out of the Sabian Sign of Birds Singing Happily (5-10º of Capricorn) and back into An Indian Chief Demanding Recognition (1-5º Capricorn) we did, indeed, lose much of the economic progress we had achieved.  That being the case, Pluto will return to the Birds Singing Happily part of Capricorn in early December and remain there for much of 2011.  Perhaps with a longer stay, economic recovery will be more long-lasting.

On Tuesday, at 3:38pm, Mars enters Scorpio, one of the two signs it is at home in, the other being Aries.  Mars shares his Scorpio domicile with Pluto, in what must be an immensely intense, sexy relationship as the two planets known for hot, steamy, sexual intensity share the same space.  This growing sexual intensity in the sky is not lost on the rest of us, making us all a tad hotter and often a shade redder in the face.  People are more easily aroused, combative, and manipulative when Mars is in Scorpio.  And if ever there were a time to follow the maxim: keep your friends close and your enemies closer, it is now.  Mars is sharp as steel, of sword, mind, and tongue.  Scorpio has a stinger, and knows how to use it.  You do the math.

Mars in Scorpio does have it upside, besides the sexual stuff.  It adds little extra energy and perseverance to everything you do and is an excellent time for plowing through obstacles, resolving emotional entanglements, forming plans and strategies, and getting an overdue health checkup. 

We have a few days to cool down (though with Mars in Scorpio until October 27^th what that means is a bluer shade of hot) until Jupiter again meets up with Uranus on Saturday at 6:07pm.  It isn’t the only major celestial event that day, as our studly boys Mars and Pluto sextile at 7:46pm offering the perfect opportunity that any fireworks seen in the sky might be mirrored in many an orgasm of the physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual variety.  Rarely is one able to break through trouble or thrust into bliss quite so salaciously.

Whew!  Now, I need a moment to cool down!

Before we get to the Daily Details, this week is a holy week for both Jews and Hindus.

The Jewish New Year period began last Thursday, ushering in a holy period that lasts for ten days, ending Sunday, the 19^th on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  The day is set aside for repentance, fasting, and intense prayer to god.

For Hindus, this past Saturday, the 11^th, marks Ganesh Chathurthi, the first day of a ten day celebration honoring Ganesha that ends on the 21^st on Anant Chaturdashi.  During the Ganeshotsav festival, colorful models of Ganesha are celebrated and on the final day are immersed in water to symbolize a ritual parting of the Lord in his journey toward his abode, taking the problems and misfortunes of his devotees with him.

That both often occur in late Virgo and early Libra is astrologically significant.  The latter part of Virgo is all about aligning the Self with body, mind, and soul which can also be said to cleanse it of “sin,” preparing one for the Transfiguration of early Libra.  The Transfigured, reborn, and renewed Self is then ready to fulfill its purposes and destiny later in the cycle.

And finally, I hope you are all enjoying the sight of Jupiter in the evening heavens.  He is a vigilant guardian of hope, optimism, and growth and protector of the inner planets of the solar system.  Because of his large mass and high gravitational field, he draws into himself many stray comets, asteroids, and other flotsam that might otherwise wend its way into our orbit, that might potentially harm us or our neighbors.  I always feel a wave of comfort when I spot him in the sky.  He is the bright star facing east after sunset, and will remain in the night sky until early spring. 

One of the most fascinating astronomical sights is watching the moons of Jupiter in a small telescope or binoculars.  You can actually see them swirling around the multi-hued disk of the planet.  Perhaps one of the weeks that are less eventful, I can devote to some of the more interesting moons of the planets.  Some of them have quite a story to tell, and some may hold secrets of epic proportions!

To the Daily Details!

Sunday, September 12^th

Venus sextiles Pluto at 3:41am

Mercury goes direct at 4:09pm

Romance is in the air!  So is pollen, but that’s romance of a different phylum.  If you’ve been feeling more horny than usual, and feel as if you could make love to a lamppost, blame it on the Venus-Pluto sextile early this morning, especially with the Moon in Scorpio all weekend!  The aspect not only adds to our libidos, but adds an extra layer of charisma to the proceedings.  People feel more attractive, more sensual, and more passionate and are more willing to share of themselves with others.  All of this combined with Mercury going direct could lead to some interesting encounters that could develop into events worth a remembrance!

Happy Grandparents Day!

Monday, September 13^th

Pluto goes direct at 9:35pm

The first work day after Mercury direct is apt to have its share of fits and starts.  Things seem to fall into place, and then they fall apart.  But wait, maybe the first go-round was right after all, and then maybe it isn’t.  Hopefully, all’s well that ends well, but with both Mercury and Pluto changing direction in the sky and the Moon entering Sagittarius at 5:52am, anything is anybody’s guess.  Best advice?  Let matters take their own natural course, don’t push too hard, and try to give others a chance to explain before rushing to judgment.  Patience may be a rare commodity today, but like Ben Franklin said, “He that can have patience can have what he will.”  So there!

Tuesday, September 14^th

Mars enters Scorpio at 3:38pm

Mars has been chafing in Libra since July 29^th.  It is relieved to be on its home turf today.  In Libra, Mars feels often pulled in opposite directions, like putting your foot on the gas and brake pedals simultaneously.  And for many of us, moving forward has been a slog of advancement with a heavy dose of obstruction.  Libra, sign of the balance, just gets thrown a bit out of whack with the heavy handed energy of Mars.  It’s a bit like giving the job of holding the scales of justice to a Roman Centurion.  No, you don’t want to do that!

Mars is far, far more comfortable in Scorpio.  A water sign, Mars can heat up those waters like a hot tub, and like a hot tub those warm comforting waters can serve to soothe and invigorate at the same time.  Sometimes, though, like a hot tub, it tends to make us hot headed, and that’s the main thing to watch out for with Mars in Scorpio.  Temper.  Tempus may fugit, but temper is a fugue.  And sometimes, our tempers can get us into hotter water than we can handle.  Until the end of October, meditate, practice yoga, take long walks or deep breaths, or drink lots of cold refreshing drinks…but try to keep your temper within bounds!

Wednesday, September 15^th

No major aspects

The Moon enters Capricorn at 1:30pm, and with the planetary activities of the past couple of days settling in, today may be better for business interests, but Friday actually has the best aspects of the week businesswise.  With the Moon now in Capricorn, don’t expect your boss to wipe your nose or take you lunch, but she or he could very well be there for you in a pinch. 

There’s a mishmash of lunar aspects today that give it the potential to be a pretty messed up day, interpersonal relationships excluded.  People are apt to be cranky and off-balance and find it difficult to get their bearings throughout most of the workday.  The only saving grace is that our relationships with others are likely to go smoothly.  From this perspective, it looks like a great day for hanging around the water cooler kibbitzing, and a not so great day for getting work done.

Thursday, September 16^th

No major aspects

The Moon stays in Capricorn, and squares its ruler Saturn in the wee early hours, so workwise, the day will improve as it goes along.  Economically, there is not much change, but the next several days, culminating around the equinox on the 21^st could have strong ramifications on our mid-term elections.  People’s attitudes about things have been all over the map, and there may be a coalescing of feeling that could hold until November.  Whether that is good or bad remains to be seen, but the potential for significant mood-shaping news is there.

For the rest of us, not running for Congress…the day is likely to be a constructive one.  Our heads are in a better place, we find it easier to concentrate on the larger tasks ahead, and we feel more confident in our ability to accomplish them.  Large projects are favored, and now that Mercury and Pluto are direct it’s time once again to think of contracts, purchases, implementing projects and scheduling important appointments.

Friday, September 17^th

No major aspects

But the lunar aspects are quite favorable.  Especially during the working hours, we feel confident, capable, inspired and optimistic.  Not bad for a Friday!  It should be the best day of the week for transacting business, getting projects done, and finishing up the work of the week.  Some hanging threads and loose ends that have been vexing you this week may get tied up satisfactorily today.  There’s also likely to be a feeling of accomplishment in the very air, which is a great way to begin a weekend!

Yom Kippur begins at sundown and ends tomorrow at sunset.

Saturday, September 18^th

Jupiter conjoins Uranus at 6:03pm

Mars sextiles Pluto at 7:47pm

The Moon enters Aquarius at 12:35am, and the mood turns a bit more festive.  We’re feeling good about the weekend ahead, and if you have plans to get together with friends or relatives, or attend a meeting or fair, the energies are favorable for a good time. 

At least as best as might be expected during these difficult economic times.  You don’t need me to tell you the economy is bad.  The last time Jupiter and Uranus were conjunct was on June 8^th, when the possibility of a recovery felt more real, and will reform it again on January 4^th, 2011.  Very often the second occurrence is a reversal of the first, only to be reversed again after the third pass.  While it is unlikely that the economy will show signs of significant improvement by early January, it IS possible that we could have a better than expected holiday shopping season.  That would be good news indeed!

For us now, it feels more bust than boom.  It feels as if optimism is a struggle, and as if hope itself might be an illusion.  These are not small aspects, and the historical importance of them is significant.  Similarly, there are major changes going on within US that will have an enormous impact on our individual futures. 

Since this post is already growing long (sorry, but there’s just so much going on!) let me just say that the one guiding star, if you will, that you should follow is to follow that which you feel fulfills you.  I know it sounds like a late-night infomercial, but it happens to be true.  This aspect occurs in the very end of Pisces, the part where we cast off everything that isn’t true to the essential core of our being.  Jupiter is the planet of good fortune.  Uranus is the planet of change.  If you want your fortune to change for the better, you need to heed what they are saying.  Opportunities like this don’t come often, so it is best to take advantage of them while they’re here!

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

The Flow! May 9 – 23, 2010 (special edition)

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 start with the slowest moving forces, as they are the most foundational, and work up to the swiftest, as they are the most fleeting.  If any of the material is unfamiliar to you, it is probably unfamiliar to others as well, please leave a comment so that any questions might be answered. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

Greetings faithful friends and fans of The Flow!  This will be a special two-week edition of the Flow!   published just slightly tardy.  Regular weekly updates will resume on in two weeks on May 30^th.

The synopsis for this special two-week period is See-saw at the edge of the world.

We are about to experience a colossal cosmic event with the opposition of Jupiter and Saturn on May 22^nd at 10:38pm.   This event occurs fairly regularly at 20 year intervals, and has significant impact on our economic cycles.

Jupiter is the principle of expansion, growth, opportunity, grandeur, and throwing money around like there’s no tomorrow.  It is big, big, big!  Big-hearted, and has big dreams.  It supersizes hopes, dreams, McMansions, drinks, and fries.  It never saw an economic bubble it didn’t like.  But like steroids that also might fall under Jupiter’s domain, there are risks associated with unfettered growth, and some of the aftereffects of the burst of a bubble can be painful.

Saturn, on the other hand, is abstemious, focused, disciplined, miserly, and watches over each penny as it is spent or earned, always balancing the books with every carefully noted transaction.  While Jupiter may expand, Saturn constricts and contracts, and watches over every contract to ensure the terms are met.  Saturn does not spend on credit.  Credit is the invention of Jupiter.  Saturn spends only on what it must, and in a manner it knows it can trust.  When Jupiter’s bubbles break, Saturn is there to sweep up the mess.

Right now, Jupiter and Saturn are moving at opposite ends of the zodiac.  Jupiter at the very end of Pisces, and Saturn is right at the very end of Virgo.  Jupiter is swiftly speeding headlong into Aries, and will cross the line into that sign on June 6^th, sparking a whole new economic cycle of growth.  Saturn, as a much slower-moving planet, will not reach its next sign of Libra until July 21^st, and it will usher in a new cycle of balance, order, justice, and transformation.

Astrological oppositions are odd affairs.  Sometimes one planet gets the upper hand, only to give way to the influence of the other planet.  Astrologers like to think that they do so until a balance is reached.  But actually, I believe that especially between Jupiter and Saturn is that what we are witnessing is the transition from the transition from an economic model that we have had at least since the Bush years of the turn of the millennium that gave rise to the various economic bubbles that have burst, and the birth of a new era that is more controlled, more balanced, and more fair. 

Jupiter’s entrance into Aries virtually ensures that the birth of this new economic order will be swift, energetic, headstrong, and fiery.  Stay tuned to this blog for future reports on its development!

But that isn’t the only major astrological event ahead for these next two weeks.

On May 11^th, at 3:27pm Mercury goes direct.  YAY!!!  This has been one of THE MOST difficult Mercury retrograde periods in recent memory.  During this time, we have had nothing but delays, disruptions, mis-communications, computer glitches, and a host of mechanical and human bizarreness.  I will not weep its passing!   Usually, retrograde periods are marked by backwards behavior of all sorts, but this one has felt like going backwards in glue.  I’m sure it will take time for us to shake off all the remaining effects of this retrograde time, but the real world couldn’t return fast enough starting on Tuesday.

On Thursday, May 13^th, at 6:04pm, we have the New Moon of Taurus.  I suppose because they are not visible, unlike Full Moons, New Moons have no names.  But if I were to give this new moon period a name, I’d call it the Jewel Moon.  The place in Taurus that this New Moon will occur, is symbolized by a Jewelry Shop.  Yes, it’s true that all sorts of jewels are to be found in a jewelry shop, and perhaps we will be lucky enough to experience a gem of an event happen during this moontime.  But the true meaning of the jewelry shop isn’t so much that of obtaining a bauble or two, but of understanding the value of those things in our lives most dear to us.  And that can be the greatest jewel of them all.  Because whether it is relationships, careers, goals, or dreams, once you know how much they means to you, you can better understand what it will take from you to make the most out of them.

On Monday May 17^th,  we have both a square between Venus and Jupiter at 3:57am, and a sextile between the Sun and Jupiter at 5:41pm.   Astrological squares are spats, but a square between Venus and Jupiter is like fighting with marshmallows.  Considering the early morning time this one occurs, it is likely to add a bit of good natured one-upmanship to your dreams.  So, if you dream Sunday night that you tell your boss to go to blazes, you have this aspect to thank for experiencing such a delightful fantasy!  The Sun-Jupiter sextile could provide us with a new opportunity, a more hopeful outlook, or get an important task or project finished.  People should be more cooperative, more willing to work together, and more easily understand each other’s point of view.

On Tuesday, May 18^th, we have a hodgepodge of aspects.  At 1:18am Venus squares Saturn, and we feel sluggish, cranky, and dour.  After Monday’s good feelings, late Monday night – early Tuesday morning leaving feeling like we gorged on Chinese food for dinner and are hungry for more.  The best thing for this aspect, is a warm glass of milk, or fine wine, and head to bed without taking your mood too seriously because the rest of the day is likely to be an improvement.  At 3:14pm, we have a trine between Venus and Neptune helping us unwind any tensions experienced earlier in the day, and topping the day off is an excellent trine between the Sun and Saturn, giving us the resolve and determination to wrap up the day’s work well, make significant progress on important projects, and a feeling of having accomplished far more than we feared heading into the day.

Wednesday, May 19^th, is another hodgepodge day of mixed aspects.  The day gets off to a start in which virtually anything strange can happen, as the Sun squares Neptune at 11:16am and reality takes a vacation.  So don’t be surprised if you feel like you suddenly stepped into the set of Alice in Wonderland.  People are apt to behave strangely, have strange thoughts, and otherwise act like they’re auditioning for the job of clown.  This is compounded by another bizarro aspect between Venus and Uranus at 12:42pm adding to the circus-like antics of the day.    Just about the only people who seem to be able to hold on to their heads, hands, and other parts of their anatomy are Tauruses and Capricorns as Mercury comes to their rescue with a trine to Pluto at 11:44am in their signs.  If you find yourself wandering around the hall with a quizzical look or your head in your hand, look for the nearest Taurus or Capricorn, they’ll be to put you back together lickety-split.

Also on Wednesday, Venus enters Cancer at 6:05pm, trending people to feel less attracted to the technical, analytic and abstract, and be more compassionate, understanding, and sympathetic.  It’s time to put away the iPad, and take out the cookie dough.

Thursday at 2:46pm, the Sun sextiles Uranus, adding a bit of spice, novelty and originality to the day.  Sextiles to Uranus often bring out our more adventurous, eccentric side so it’s a good time for experimenting with something new, brilliant, or exciting.  While perhaps not potent enough of an aspect to make you want to start jumping out of airplanes, it could be a good time to break out of stale routines and old habits you’ve been trying to change.

The last astrological aspect of note is the entrance of the Sun into Gemini at 8:34pm on Thursday, May 20^th.  Happy Birthday Gemini, and much more to come on that when the Flow! returns in two weeks.

Have a great couple of weeks!

The Flow! January 10 – 17, 2010 Edition

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 start with the slowest moving forces, as they are the most foundational, and work up to the swiftest, as they are the most fleeting.  If any of the material is unfamiliar to you, it is probably unfamiliar to others as well, please leave a comment so that any questions might be answered. 

If you like what you see, please share it with friends!  If you would like to get email notifications for when The Flow! is updated, or have a private question please email me at skywatcher888@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

The Flow! is updated every Sunday.

Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.

Synopsis:

We are in for quite bookendish week.  It starts off well, and ends well, but in between we have a couple of doozies watch, Saturn retrograde and an Annular Solar Eclipse in late Capricorn.

First up, though, is an apology of sorts.  On Friday, January 8^th at approximately 5pm on my way home from work, my formerly trusty car passed into the great beyond.  The transmission went kaput and the vehicle plutzed.  Funeral services and viewing hour arrangements are as yet incomplete.    Therefore, I have had to hoof it and have less time than I usually have or would like to prepare this week’s edition of The Flow!  So please forgive the brevity of this week’s report.

The details:

The week gets off to a VERY pleasant start.  On Monday, the Sun and Venus conjoin at 1:05pm.  It’s like Brangelina, Bennifer, or Tomkat…a union, at least in theory, of harmony, balance, sweetness, love, bliss, eternal happiness, and err, umm, well you get the picture.  It isn’t a very long-lasting, or particularly potent (they have other things on their minds) but it is a wonderful time for doing something nice for someone you care for, making a sales pitch, or taking someone to lunch.  Bon appétit!

On Wednesday, at 7:58am, our Karma Kop, Saturn goes retrograde in early Libra.  Unlike Mercury retrograde, Saturn retrograde is more of a relief.  And for those of us with planets in early Libra, Capricorn, Aries, or Cancer, it’s like someone has been screeching their nails across a blackboard, and then they suddenly stop.  The relief will not be immediate, it takes Saturn, slowpoke that it is, a while to build up a head of steam and head out of Dodge, but by mid-February those of us who have been under pressure lately should begin to feel a lightening of the load.  This does NOT mean, however, that it is time to kick-back, throw yourself in the Lay-z-boy and toss down a few brewskis.  No.  There’s a REASON why the Karma Kop has been hot on your tail, and he’s going into reverse to give you some breathing room to figure it out and/or make amends.  Doobies who take Saturn up on this opportunity will have a substantially easier time of it when he returns in early September.

It can be particularly difficult to understand exactly what Saturn is up to.  But the simple rule is this, if you’re having difficulties and they imply discipline, work, responsibility, or taking care of things then chances are Saturn is on your tail.  If you respond with indifference, fear, procrastination, or brushing it off, Saturn will get out his thumb screws and make Torquemada seem like a piker.  Ultimately, if you look deeply enough into your psyche or your past, you’ll find SOME unresolved issue regarding the situation.  Solve the issue, and instead of Torquemada, Saturn turns into the Lone Ranger and rescues you from your plight.  But only if you do your best Dudley Do-Right.

On Thursday, at 11:11pm, we have an Annular Eclipse of the Sun at 26º Capricorn.  See map below, from NASA.  An annular eclipse is when the Moon is a bit too far away for totality and appears smaller than the Sun, leaving a small ring of sun shining through the black orb of the Moon.   This eclipse occurs at a particularly interesting part of Capricorn, a place in which the focus is on secret meetings and making plans for large groups of people.  It would, therefore, not surprise me if there were to be some news later this week out of the Health Care Reform negotiations going on in Washington.  Eclipses rarely bring good news, and this is not a particularly well-aspected event.  However, with Venus sitting squarely in the general field of the eclipse (viewers of the eclipse may be able to see Venus if it gets dark enough) so that it is possible that a woman may play an important role in the proceedings.

Like all solar eclipses, they are relatively long-lasting events.  I would also not be surprised to see people band together to form movements to pursue their particular points of view.  This eclipse is apt to intensify the feeling that together we can accomplish much more than we can individually, and that sentiment may take the form of organizations to pursue an agenda. 

On Friday, Mercury goes direct at 8:52am.  Hooray!!  It’s now safe to turn on your mobile devices and walk around the cabin.  But please keep your seat belts fastened!  With all these major events this week, turbulence in The Flow! can occur at any time. And, often times, a Mercury retrograde period is at its strongest just before it is over.  Be careful out there!!

Previews of Coming Attractions:

Yes, well, we have the second installment of Bill’s Amazing Astrology Cures, along with an update and lengthier material on how best to use them.  But that may have to wait a few weeks, because right on the heels of this Solar Eclipse we have some very significant events in store in the weeks ahead.  I anticipate that the installment will be published in mid-February when The Flow! has settled down and is much calmer.

On the 17^th, Jupiter enters Pisces and races through the sign!  The following week, on the 29^th, we have a very important opposition of Mars, and then that next weekend, on the 31^st, Saturn squares Pluto.  As my grandmother would say, oy vey!!

Have a great week!