Thursday 16 March 2023

Astrology: Spring Equinox, March 20, 2023, Part 2

Brave New World

The difficult Saturn-Uranus square faded at the end of January 2023.  On March 7, Saturn entered Pisces. On March 24th, Pluto enters Aquarius, so the Spring equinox could see significant developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and this period of passage itself could be quite tempestuous. Overall, it can be considered to be the beginning of the more optimistic aspects of the Jovian decade of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle.

Generally the middle ten years of the 20-year Jupiter-Saturn cycle are the most productive (2025-2035) (Now certain optimistic people will attribute the positive upcoming aspects, along with the Saturn in Aquarius energy, to some kind of oncoming hyper-mystical Aquarian theophany, but I will just be giving the traditional astrological interpretations along with observations on the concrete plane).

2020 saw the start of three major cycles with Saturn-Pluto, Jupiter-Pluto, and the Jupiter-Saturn shift into 200 years of air transits.  The new Jupiter-Saturn cycle and a waning Pluto in Capricorn phase coupled with a waning Saturn-Pluto square brought the Covid epidemic, followed by American election protests and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, often causing the sweeping away of non-essential structures in people’s lives , causing to begin this new phase with a more stream-lined perspective.

With Saturn shift to Pisces, the conservative, rigid, authoritarian, energies will ease into more inclusive, open, creative concerns. The big shift of Pluto into Aquarius, signalling an end to a 15-year period that saw the emergence of reform movements such as occupy Wall street, #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, and #FridaysForFuture as well as an increase in right-wing authoritarian government repression, should make way for more progressive outlooks.

We have a very interesting, intense chart (which can also serve as a preview of the whole semester) with a Mercury, Sun, Neptune, Moon conjunction book-ended by Pluto and Uranus sextiles and a Mars square to it. Moreover, it coincides with the New Moon. Besides the Sun, Saturn and Pluto shifts, three more planets will have changed signs within a three-week period (Venus in Taurus, March 16, Mercury in Aries, March 19, Mars in Cancer, March 26) for a total of seven changes between March 7 and March 26. Hang on to your seats folks, we could be in for a bumpy ride!

Around March 16, there was a close Sun, Mercury, Pluto conjunction, to those still active aspects, the full moon joins in for a four-planet conjunction. This will create a strong intuitive, imaginative, spiritual, altruistic mood which can be impractical or disconnected. There is also forceful, eloquent, communicative aspects that bring analytical propensities. To emphasize the powerful passage of Pluto into Aquarius, there is a tight Sun sextile Pluto aspect, that can be considered to summarize the main quality of the chart:

A drive towards realizing your inner self and your life ambitions; cutting through a lot that is unessential; special relationship with an authority figure or teacher, one could get overpowered or “swept away” by another person. Subtle but profound changes within can alter significant relationships; self-respect, personal empowerment, and deeper honesty arises; a time of births and deaths. Group work on conscious awareness, deeper learning, healing; creative change and renewal; motivation to pursue dreams and ideas. (Astrology Café)

So there is a strong impulse to look for deep solutions, deep changes with an altruistic, analytical bent as useful tools. Added to this, Moon (in Pisces) sextile Neptune brings more sensitivity, imagination and a bent for quirkiness and originality. The risk of being overly dreamy, impractical and spacey (conspiracy theories and millennialism predictions can get even more extravagant) is balanced by Mars trine Saturn, that brings some needed focus and concentration.

To this very productive and progressive outlook, two more challenging aspects could bring considerable tension. The Sun, Mercury, Neptune, Moon conjunction is square to Mars, which brings impulsive, high energy, conflictual tendencies that  can make for some feisty Spring Sun in Aries disputes (Jupiter in Aries until May 16 is quite brash, bold and boisterous). Otherwise actions can be productive if channelled productively. Another Pluto aspect, square to Venus (in sensual Taurus), can add passion, jealousy, suspicion and power games in close relationships.

Summary

The Sun sextile Pluto aspect brings a strong impetus for transformation and introspective, to which are added intuitive, and communicative tendencies. Spiritual inspiration can be quite vivid, but with tendencies for escapism and delusion. Deep personal transformations affecting close relationships are favoured. This is accompanied by some volatile energies that could see conflicts, power struggles, surprise turnarounds, and sudden shifts to the oncoming tendency for greater collective impetus to better understand social problems and actively discuss solutions. How this combination of intense, dreamy, quirky introspection with boisterous, outspoken extraversion plays out could make for some picturesque moments.

Pluto returns to Capricorn on June 11 and returns to Aquarius, in January 2024. Afterwards, Neptune enters Aries – 2025, Uranus enters Gemini – 2025. Between 2025-2028, the optimistic Jovian phase of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle will reach its height with some positive outer planet sextiles and trines before the more stern Saturn phase ensues around the Jupiter-Saturn opposition in 2030.

For the coming semester

April 20 Total Solar Eclipse in Aries

May 5 Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio

May 16 Jupiter moves into Taurus

May 17 Jupiter square Pluto

June 11 Pluto Retrograde enters Capricorn

June 19 Jupiter in Taurus sextiles Saturn in Pisces

 

Current Planets in Signs 
 
Sun in Aries  March 20-April 20, 2023.
In Aries, the Sun is enthusiastic and spontaneous. We are motivated by the desire to conquer. We are more impulsive and have the urge to initiate.

With the moon in Pisces, individuals are very sensitive, and they often lose themselves in the problems and feelings of others, towards whom they are extremely receptive. They are imaginative beings, and may seem to get lost in their own fantasy world at times.
Mercury in Aries  March 19-April 3, 2023.

We are less concerned with objective viewpoints and explanations, and more concerned with reaching a decision…quickly! Our thoughts and ideas are pioneering, and we tend to speak more spontaneously and directly

Venus in Taurus March 16-April 11

In Taurus, Venus is naturally very sensual, content, and possessive. We seek security and value those things that are long-lasting. Our appetite for pleasure is strong.

Mars in Gemini Aug. 20-March 25
In Gemini, Mars is versatile and flexible but not especially determined or focused, it’s an excellent period for diversifying our interests. We know how to maneuver things to get our way. We use words to charm and express anger. We’re very talkative, and animatedly so
Jupiter in Aries Dec. 20 - May 16, 2023
In Aries, Jupiter urges us to make our own opportunities, to believe in ourselves, and to take charge of our lives. Faith in our ability to reinvent our lives and to move forward with confidence in spite of any “failures” or other challenges we may be leaving behind is strong during this cycle. We enjoy competition as it pushes us to do better. We live in the “now” and quickly seize opportunities. Negative manifestations include a too narrow focus, a me-first attitude that can be insensitive, failing to consider others’ points of view and leaving opportunities behind as a result, over-confidence, not learning from past mistakes, and a lack of objectivity.
 Saturn in Pisces March 6, 2023 – May 24, 2025

Quietly working hard can be a real strength of this position. We’re learning to allow ourselves to be creative and imaginative. We’re also capable of considerable effort and hard work in support and service. It’s easier for us to put our ego aside in order to get things done.

Uranus in Taurus  March 6th, 2019-June 2025
We approach money and personal possessions in new ways and learn to free ourselves from certain material constraints. Innovative ways to make ourselves comfortable emerge. We’re less inhibited about expressing sensuality. There can be abrupt changes with money, valuables, possessions, and income that lead to a reshuffling of priorities or values. Income might come from non-traditional sources or ventures. In general, we’re bringing progressive ideas to the world of business
Neptune in Pisces  Feb.2, 2012 –March 30, 2025
Your vision of an ideal world may center around compassion, mercy, empathy, service, sacrifice, intuition, artistry, or spirituality. This Neptune sign position is especially sensitive, intuitive, and imaginative. It can also be rather escapist!
Pluto in Aquarius  March 23rd - June 11th
During this long-term cycle, we will likely confront issues of control and power related to individuality, equality, friendships, and group associations. We can be on a quest to distinguish ourselves for our progressiveness, scientific minds, ideals, humanitarianism, or unique qualities. It’s also a time when we seek to change and overhaul society through science, inventions, and the mind/ideas.  
 
References 

Tuesday 14 March 2023

Astrology: Spring Equinox, March 20, 2023, Part 1, Review

For the Winter Solstice chart, I wrote:

The next semester should be less intense than the previous, but a passionate combative tendency remains. There could a fair amount of strange, surprising events, with a good share of light-hearted moments, possibly leading to creative, positive solutions.
To give a few examples of how that general mood played out, we have Greta Thunberg, who was involved in some curious incidents over the semester. There was a curious Twitter exchange with MMA practioner David Tate. There was also a most curious ‘staged police detention’ theory, and an equally curious exchange with Rebel News reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Curiouser and curiouser indeed, although I do think the police have improved their Greta removal techniques in a recent Norway protest.
Moreover, the ever-quixotic Peter Gabriel, ended speculation about an oft-announced new album by releasing first new material in over two decades. No exact date release date for the album has been given, but three songs have been released so far, all released on the day of the full moon
. Additionally, Prince Harry released his autobiography, which could quite possibly be the weirdest book ever written by a royal. In the US, another president has been leaving his files at home.
Although not as numerous and dramatic as the previous semester, there were still a few significant protests, notably in Peru (over deposition of former president Castillo), Israel (over 80,000 Israelis protest against Supreme Court reform), Brazil (Bolsonaro supporters), France (retirement age pension eligibility), and Greece (major train derailment). In Canada, the results of an inquiry into the Ottawa trucker convoy occupation revealed a comedy of errors.
 
Furthermore, a rare 50, 000 year-cycle comet appeared in the skies and a major earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria.
As Saturn entered Pisces on March 7, 200 countries agreed to a legally-binding treaty, the UN High Seas Treaty to protect marine life in international waters, which cover around half of the planet’s surface, have long been essentially lawless. There was also some recent heavy flooding in California and Australia, as well as a major storm, cyclone Freddy, in Malawi.

Wednesday 8 March 2023

Astrology: Pluto in Aquarius, March 23, 2023

Abridged version  of an article by Anne Whitaker https://anne-whitaker.com/2022/11/28/march-2023-to-november-2024-plutos-slow-final-grind-from-capricorn-to-aquarius/

March 2023 to November 2024: Pluto’s slow final grind from 
Capricorn to Aquarius…
 

  • Pluto enters Aquarius on 23 March 2023
  • Retrogrades into Capricorn on 11 June 2023
  • Re-enters Aquarius on 21 January 2024
the big shift from an Earth era defined by the 20-year Jupiter/Saturn cycles traversing the Earth element from 1803, to an Air era beginning with the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction at 0 Aquarius on the Winter Solstice of 2020, then running for around two hundred years. (i)

Pluto will emphasise this momentous era shift by first entering Aquarius in the spring of 2023, following on his long sojourn in Capricorn from the spring of 2008 which kicked off with a devastating world banking crisis. Also – in 2025 Neptune enters Aries, for the first time since the onset of the American civil war in the 1850s, ushering in a Fire/Air period for the next number of years.

Aquarius is the sign of the human collective, symbolising an energy driven to pursuing and promoting ideals regarding how we should be moving forward in order to create a fairer, more equal world. It is a highly rational, technology and future-oriented, “Let’s get together to make the world a better place”, kind of energy. 

As such, we should see some major developments at all levels as power (Pluto) shifts towards The People, away from plutocrats, oligarchs, and from politics rooted in gaining material power and control through exploitation of planet Earth’s diminishing resources, towards (in theory!!) more equal world-wide sharing of power derived from an Air-based technologically expedited economic system. Also, the development of wind and solar energy is likely to accelerate with Neptune’s shift into Aries from 2025 onwards. 

Pluto’s last sojourn through Aquarius (1778–1798) brought with it sweeping changes in social order and public rights, including: the ratification of the American constitution following the USA’s breaking away from Britain’s colonial control, the rise and expansion of the Industrial Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the publishing of ‘The Vindication of the Rights of Women’ by Mary Wollestonecraft. 

None of this was accomplished without The People or individuals in one way or another rising up against prevailing regimes, rules, or ideas perceived as being outdated and oppressive. So we can expect cultural, social, political and environmental upheaval to gain momentum as Pluto shifts into Aquarius and the Capricornian penchant for collective coercive control socially, politically and environmentally is severely challenged. We are very much seeing this right now, with recent uprisings in Iran triggered by the death of a young woman in the custody of the so-called Morality Police still ongoing, and widespread public protests triggered by three years of stringent covid restrictions right across China. These protests are largely being spearheaded by the young…

What we really need in tomorrow’s Aquarian world, though, is a radical change of attitude. Essentially, as one astrologer I was reading recently so succinctly put it, it is ‘…time for us to figure out what it means to be human and how to live together on this planet without fighting over everything…’ (ii)  

What, then, of the wider picture, especially regarding Russian President Putin’s increasingly disastrous-looking attempt to land-grab and control Ukraine, currently looking like the feistiest, bravest nation on the planet?

‘…And yet, you don’t need Putin’s birth chart, actually, to see which way the wind is blowing, though. Pluto (power) in Capricorn (the man at the top) is finished on March 24th, 2023. This is the end of an era when plutocrats (which Pluto represents in astrology) who are the top goats on the mountain (Capricorn) fall off – as the mountain itself collapses…’  Jessica Adams, 3/3/2022, (iii)

(i) See the P.S Windows to the Future section of my recent collection “Postcards to the Future”(August 2021), including ‘Waning and waxing crescents: windows to the future’ (first published in The Mountain Astrologer Dec 2020/Jan 2021)pp 365-380

(ii)https://jessicadavidson.co.uk/2021/06/07/pluto-in-aquarius-the-evolution-of-society-and-technology/

(iii) from Jessica Adams’ Twitter post of 12 September 2022

(iv). “The old order changeth, yielding place to new…” from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s great epic poem Morte d’Arthur, published 1842.

Thursday 2 March 2023

Astrology: Saturn in Pisces, March 7, 2023

An abridged article by Clarisse Monahan,   Fri, 10 Feb 2023 https://www.russh.com/saturn-in-pisces-march-2023/

until February 2026

For the past six years, Saturn has been relatively happy in the two signs it rules, Capricorn (2017 to 2020) and Aquarius (2020 to 2023). During these jaunts, the Taskmaster has been able to live its best life: controlling and restricting things; disciplining wrongdoing; streamlining and eliminating inefficient processes from the workplace; surveilling our words and world via technological incursion.

Unlike the rigidity of Saturn+Cap+Aquarius, Pisces is a mystical and mutable sign with little interest in rules, schedules, or keeping appointments. It’s about long meditation in search of Samadhi, or losing oneself in the gaze of a soulmate; its politics are communistic; it lives in a commune; and it finds value in the skein of New Age affirmations, which curl like a loose shawl about its shoulders.


In almost all respects, we have in these two energies deep opposition. Saturn is cold and dry, Pisces watery and emotional. Saturn strict, Pisces soft. Saturn indicates subtraction, Pisces addition. The major cause for these differences, of course, has to do with the fact that expansive Jupiter rules over the Fishes. Saturn (lack) and Jupiter (abundance) represent our two cosmic titans at loggerheads.

The eternal jostling of these two planets have played out with particular fever pitch the past few years. In 2021, for example, Jupiter spent nearly 12 cold months in cold Saturn-ruled Aquarius. We all know how that year went: Jupiter debilitated and locked down, like the rest of us.

In 2022, however, Planet Luck moved over to Pisces–where it’s in rulership and has power. Saturn, meanwhile, stayed in the Waterbearer. And we saw, with the liberation of Jupiter in its home sign, a year of expansion, but also excess, as inflation reached madcap levels.

Saturn is going to be debilitated in 2023 and beyond in the emotional waters of Pisces.

We supposedly dislike Saturn but we secretly need and want it in our lives. The problem is that it will be functioning more like a confused step-dad for the next few years–not knowing where its authority lies, while enervated amid a slightly unruly and messy house.

Weaker Boundaries

Too much feeling for a friend turned enemy or lover. We used to long for the days of emotional freedom and connection back when Saturn entered Aquarius, and social distancing became normalised. Now with Saturn playing a weak hand, we could be feeling emotionally suffocated by others–or we ourselves might be coming across as suffocating.

The Rise of Hydropolitics

there could be intensified issues over the next couple years related to hydropolitics–who gets water, who doesn’t; who gets to use waterways and consequent disputes over territories at sea.  A related issue could be water getting more unruly–more flooding, storming.

Fake News Flash

we can expect intensified disputes over what’s real in media and political spaces. When we asked earlier if it was a good thing that the Disciplinarian was going to be debilitated, it’s around questions of what’s real that we are most concerned.

Spiritual Discipline

For those spiritually inclined, Saturn will help add discipline and structure to your yin yoga practices and meditation retreats. Spirituality without structure is just navel-gazing.

Saturn, Editor

Overly bloated ideas for stories, poems, advertising, scripts, screenplays, dissertations, political pamphlets could get winnowed down by Saturnal presence in the Fishes.