Over the last few months a number of couples I know  have split up.  The relationships affected are  not those that you would expect to go under. The people involved have been together for a long time, have created a mutual life and seem reasonably happy.  So why this sudden change?  The answer may be found  in the entry of  Uranus into Aries. Uranus made a brief appearance in Aries in June 2010 where it participated in the Cardinal Cross whose effects are still with us before retreating back into Pisces and re- entered Aries for the long-term on 15 March. Uranus facilitates change and delights in breaking up patterns and structures that have outlived their usefulness. Aries likes change, novelty and adventure. Neither Aries or Uranus are known for their cooperative spirit and are energies that make relationship difficult to maintain particularly if things have gone a bit stale or over-familiar. What they do support is the new and a clear break with what no longer serves individual growth. Iconoclastic  and intolerant of any limitation on freedom of movement, the phrase that best sums up the mood is,  I’ve had enough!’

When individuals have had enough, they leave their relationships, change their jobs, move house or do whatever necessary to escape what they feel is an intolerable situation. On the collective level we can see this working out in events in the Middle East. Unrest in the Middle East is hardly new but what is new about the current situation is the domino effect where a protest in one country leads to an uprising in another and so on. A fruit seller in Tunisia who set fire to himself  when police confiscated his cart, led to regime change to Egypt to revolution in Libya, each incident has sparked a new rebellion next door.  The people in this region have lived under repressive regimes for decades  and have generally put up with it. But no longer.  They’ve had enough. Uranus in Aries is  quick to act and gives people with the courage to do what they  have wished to do for a long time but haven’t dared.  Wishing for things to be better is no longer enough. it is now time to act. Another interesting aspect of this rebellion  is how contagious is it. Revolutions usually stop at the border of the country concerned but in this situation, boundaries don’t seems to matter. This is a force that  overrides limitation. This story is by no means over. As I write The conflict t in Libya continues and it is unclear whether Colonel  Gaddafi will maintain his hold on power or if yet another long-lasting authoritarian regime will fall.

The last  Spring Equinox chart is an excellent indicator of the these times. Following hard on a powerful Full Moon in in the last degrees of Pisces/Virgo, a moon that was the brightest for many years, the ingress of the Sun into Aries must conjunct Uranus.  If we regard this chart as describing the events over the next three months, we are in for a stormy spring. This is not an easy chart and consists entirely of hard aspects apart from an applying trine from the Moon in Libra to Venus in Aquarius. So far events pretty well confirm what the chart indicates.

Looking at the ingress chart of Uranus into  Aries on 11th March we get a picture of what this transit, over the next seven years might bring. There’s good news and there’s bad news. The bad news is   Saturn in Libra, a measured and rational influence but retrograde so tending to over-caution  and a reactionary outlook opposing expansive Jupiter in impulsive Aries. the desire to move ahead in exploration meets with obstruction. The Gemini Moon squaring Mars and Chiron in Pisces—a volatile and unstable configuration—is suggestive of the masculine and feminine principles in crisis. Pluto in Capricorn  squares Jupiter and Mercury indicating established power structures under threat from within by subversion and corruption and from without by protest and revolt.  The good news is the grand trine in air involving the Moon in Gemini, Saturn in Libra and Venus in Aquarius, a mental energy that is creative, innovative, yet practical. The Sagittarius ascendant optimistically looks to the future.

We live, as they say, in interesting times. Times that will be full of innovation, new technologies and intellectual innovation. There will be resistance to this indicated by political and social polarisation. Freedom of expression and action will be emphasis. To some this will feel liberating and to others, frighteningly chaotic. We can expect a restructuring of established government and corporate institutions and this will not without hardship. In the end this will be an exhilarating ride into the future, the nature of which we cannot imagine.

I personally, don’t feel able to make plans for the future because I am certain that whatever plans I make will  be changed by circumstances. I find this place of not knowing, intriguing. My curiosity is engaged and I am on the edge of a great adventure and have no idea of where it will lead. And that’s just fine.

On Saturday, the 19th, the Planetary Game,  a life-sized version of the Game of Transformation in which players walk a path laid out on the floor rather than move pieces on a board began. It is a powerful, collective experience involving over sixty participants and several Guides. While the regular board Game is played to facilitate individual transformation and growth, the Planetary Game encompasses a broader view and has an energetic influence on the world as a whole, hence the name.

The time has been chosen deliberately to coincide with the summer solstice. Solstices are physical and energetic turning points. The path of the Sun crosses from one hemisphere to the other and energy that has been turning outward now turns inwards or the opposite. This solstice is particularly potent as a Grand Cross will be constellated as the Sun arrives at 0° Cancer.

The T-square involving Pluto in Capricorn squaring Saturn in Libra/Virgo and Uranus and Jupiter in Aries/Pisces has been with us since last year. It is a tense configuration, the basic energy of which is that a  new awakening (Uranus) is coming in but traditional structures and thought forms (Saturn) are in resistance. Meeting these energies are the forces of destruction and renewal (Pluto). This transformation coming through the Earth sign of Capricorn occurs at the most fundamental, physical level. Jupiter in conjunction with Uranus is also part of this story and amplifies the energies.

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is highly symbolic of these energies. The accident (Uranus) creates a crisis deep underground (Pluto). The organisation responsible, BP, is trying to solve the matter using conventional methods (Saturn) and it’s not working. This brings up questions for the future of the company in general and in a broader sense the viability of Capitalism an an economic model in the long term. After all, if the environment on which we depend is destroyed, no economic system will help us.

The upside is that Uranus and Jupiter can provide new ways of dealing with these crises if humanity has the courage, imagination and flexibility to embrace  such solutions. It means creating new structures through which to work. It means a reorganisation of the power dynamics between business, government and the people as a whole. There will be resistance from negative Saturnian energies but if we engage with the wisdom and experience of Saturn we will be able to understand and do what is necessary for our own survival.

As this T-square will be transformed into a Grand Cross by the Sun, the symbol of individual consciousness at the solstice, this suggests that it is human consciousness and awareness that can provide the solutions to the various problems that we face.

In the Planetary Game we are working with the following purpose:

We intend to cultivate a spirit of partnership with the Sacred in the areas of
ourselves
our relationships,
our work,
our collective structures
nature and the environment

allowing and bringing forth new patterns  of consciousness and expressions of wholeness.

The current astrological conditions make this this a very appropriate purpose.  It encapsulates very well what could be the best and highest  expression of these planetary energies. We who are involved with the Game of Transformation, like to think that the energies generated in the Planetary Game affect not only the participants but the wider world as well in a way that is  beneficial and healing.

The Game of Transformation that I have been involved with for a long time is a wonderful tool for helping people move through the impasses that confront them in life.  It’s difficult to explain how it works as it’s very complex. So complex, in fact, that you need a guide to see you through it and keep you informed of the rules and what you can and cannot do. The guide is known as Game Overall Director or G.O.D. You get the picture. Pieces are moved around a board. There are cards, to draw, Insights and Setbacks, that give directions. Divine Feedback on Free Will actions, levels to move through and much more. To get a flavour of it, imagine this last week being played out on the board by three prominent political leaders.

Playing the Game…

All players enter the Game with a purpose which begins with the words ‘I intend’. Our three players have the following purposes.

Nick: I intend to take as many seats as possible from those two old dinosaur parties.
Dave: I intend to form the next government. So there.
Gordon: I intend to hang on to power by all possible means.

Play has been going on a while and it is now Nick’s turn….

Nick has landed on a Synergy square. He gives the example of how he put himself and the Liberal-Democrats on the map in the debates. Good example. Everyone moves nine squares. Nick lands on an Insight that says: “Take personal responsibility. Choose where you move for the next three turns.”

Dave was headed for a Miracle square but because of the Synergy he landed on a Setback which was: “Can’t say no. Don’t want to say yes. When was the last time you felt cornered.”

Gordon is in Sanctuary. On his last turn he landed on an blank square and used his Free Will to go to a Miracle square. His Miracle allowed all players (except Dave) to  move up level and do something with progressive rainbows. But Divine Feedback said: “Go to Sanctuary and listen. Return to the path only by landing on a Guidance square or a correct Intuitive Flash.” In the Synergy, however, Gordon did land on a Guidance Square and returns to the path.

Nick chooses to go to an Insight: “Your chance to be G.O.D? intuit now if this is appropriate. If yes, Insights all round. If no, all other players take Setbacks”

Nick decides that it is appropriate for him to be God. He tosses the coin and it’s  ‘Yes.’ Insights all round.

Nick’s Insight: “It’s OK that it’s taking as long as it’s taking.”
Dave’s Insight: “You accepted the unacceptable.”
Gordon’s Insight: “Fun and Mystery Card. Take a card from the other deck now.” He takes a Setback: “Your suggestion was rejected and you freaked out.”

Dave lands on an open square but has rolled a Service on the dice. He chooses to serve Nick. Nick says it would serve if he and Dave can take some time for personal sharing to clear up some of their differences. This they do.

Gordon is back on path rolls the dice and moves to a Dark Night of the Soul. (His plying piece is shrouded in black, he puts on dark glasses and withdraws his attention from the Game and goes within.)

(Nick and Gordon are wearing purple ties. Heading for the Unity Level? Dave is still wearing blue.)

Nick wants clarification on his purpose so chooses to go to a Setback: “You say one think very eloquently and do another very elegantly.”

Dave lands on an Insight gets the Ego Radiance of Success. His example is that his sitcom, ‘Nick ‘n Dave do Downing Street’ has landed a five-year TV contract and will shortly be made.

Gordon uses his Free Will to come out of the Dark Night. Shares that he has reordered his priorities, will leave his job, spend time with his family and do good works. He can now move up a level, but as the next level is ‘Enlightenment’, he has to take his Feedback first and can only move up if it’s favourable. It is—”Divine Pleasure with the way you handled this one. God blesses you abundantly and with great pleasure.” This is positive so he can move up to Enlightenment. Gordon bursts into tears and so does everyone else.

Nick chooses to go to another Insight: Major Initiation! This is big. The pattern he is leaving behind—the political wilderness. What he is looking towards is uncharted.

END OF GAME

(Nick and Dave walk off hand in hand, eager to explore their new relationship)

Here is an afterword  to my  previous post on the election. The election has turned out pretty much as I thought except I overestimated the size of the  Liberal Democrat popular vote. But with Neptune being so prominent, you never really know. So now what?  I cast another chart to see what the astrology revealed about the next step. The cart is  for 11:45 on the  May 8th. The time is not significant in terms of the process but not being sure which was the most significant moment, I chose a time when I became aware of  the process and felt a strong desire to know the outcome. Since then events have moved on but no decision has yet been made on who will form the next government, so I will continue to work with this chart. As I write, the Conservatives and Liberal-Democrats have had  talks about a possible alliance  and there is a deadline for Nick Clegg to decide if he will work with them or strike a deal with Labour.  He has a deadline of tomorrow evening to decide.

There is a Leo ascendant, appropriate for questions of power and leadership. Mars is on the Ascendant, indicating conflict and contention. There has already been plenty of that as there are strong feelings  in both parties that compromise on key issues like electoral reform is unacceptable, even to the point of demonstrations outside Lib-Dem HQ. Unheard of!  This is not a compromising chart. The Sun, the chart ruler, is in the 10th house and representative of the role of prime minister. It’s in Taurus which is intercepted indicating that it is not, at the moment, within reach.  That will change very quickly when the last degree of Aries gives way to Taurus showing  that the change in government is imminent.

Three options are possible—a Conservative Lib-Dem alliance, a Labour-Lib-Dem alliance and a minority Conservative government. Can the chart show which it will be?  Gordon Brown is still the prime minister and  is represented by 10th house ruler, Mars. Aries is about to vacate that cusp indicating that Brown is on his way out. Mars, however, is prominent on the Ascendant which makes me think that he is not quite as irrelevant as may appear. Cameron, as his opponent, is shown by the 7th from the 10th—the 4th house represented by Venus. He is a Libra so that is an appropriate assignment. it’s harder to determine Clegg’s significator.  He is also indicated by the 4th house but he can have neither Venus or Mars (Scorpio is intercepted in that house) as they have been spoken for. He will have to be Pluto as co-ruler of Scorpio. Pluto is in Capricorn (Clegg’s birth sign) as as the one who holds the balance of power in this process, it fits.

There is no direct connection between any of the three principals. The Moon, however, shows us what will happen though the aspects it forms as it moves through its sign. The Pisces placement reveals a fluid and emotionally charged situation which unfolds as follows.

What has already happened

Moon conjunct Chiron: All parties wounded by election result. Nobody did as well as they hoped.

Moon sextile Mercury:  Mercury is retrograde. The people have spoken but the message is unclear. The sextile suggests that a hung parliament is an opportunity, not a disaster. Mercury in Taurus is stubborn and being retrograde, it’s direction is unreliable. Nothing that takes place until the 11th when it goes direct, can be relied on.

Moon sextile Pluto: Clegg came third but he holds a powerful position. This is a big opportunity for him and maybe a chance to get what the Lib-Dems have always wanted—electoral reform.

Moon quincunx Mars: Contact between Brown and Clegg. An inharmonious aspect that doesn’t lead to anything.

And now….

Moon square Venus:  Talks between Lib-Dem and Conservatives. The square shows their  strong ideological differences and makes partnership unlikely and undesirable but the square is in mutable signs ans so, is flexible. Cameron as Venus in Gemini is keen to make a deal.

Moon sextile Sun: An excellent aspect. Perhaps some kind of agreement is reached between the Lib-Dems and Tories and at least we will know who the prime minister will be. The people will be happy with the outcome.

Moon conjunct Jupiter: it continues to look good. The markets will be reassured when something has been decided.

Moon opposes Saturn: But  it’s not really as good as it looks. Opposition from Saturn, the reality planet, blocks this apparently happy outcome. Virgo loves detail. Saturn rules the civil service. Perhaps they will be somehow involved or the party faithful on both sides cannot accept a compromise.

Moon semi-sextile Neptune : Back to square one. More confusion.

Moon conjunct Uranus: Uncertainty is cleared by an outside force that no one was anticipating. There is a  crisis leading to a surprising end.

It’s a bit of a cliffhanger, this chart. It describes the process but hasn’t really given us an answer as to who and how. Mercury turns  direct at 11:26 pm on the 11th so I presume that Clegg’s decision deadline is before that. It would be better if he could wait as anything decided now could easily be overturned.

There is another reason why Clegg should be careful of working with Cameron. If we look at their composite chart, there are a lot of good things in it. All those nice trines in Fire from Jupiter to Sun, Venus and Mercury. Very positive and hopeful. They could work together well, however, the composite Mars, tightly sandwiched in the Pluto/Uranus conjunction, opposing Saturn is explosive.

Here my guess as to what might happen.  No lasting deal will be made between the Lib-Dems and one of the other parties. The Tories will form a minority government. A crisis will occurs, possibly financial, that will compel something completely new in how the government will operate. What might that be? What if all three parties worked together as they did during  WWII. That would be something.

The General Election is almost here and the outcome is not at all certain which makes this the most interesting election in ages. I am interested enough to cast a chart for the event and see what light it can cast on the outcome. I drew up the chart for London at 10:00 pm, the time when the polls close and the outcome has been determined.

There is some contention here.  Mars in Leo is square the Sun in Taurus and opposes the Moon in Aquarius. These aspects, however, are separating  so the contention is in the past and most likely  represents the competition between the three main candidates to prevail over the other two.

More significantly, the Moon in Aquarius, representing the people, is applying to a conjunction with Neptune. This is suggestive of a certain amount of indecision and unclarity among the voters, many of whom will not have made up their minds until their hands are actually hovering over the ballot paper. The Moon in Aquarius, the sign of social equality, the theme of ‘fairness’ will strike a chord and the party that appears to offer it most strongly will get the votes.  There is likely to be some confusion over how the vote actually went. Miscounts, recounts, lost ballets are quite possible and already there have been allegations of voting fraud in some area. For this reason there may be a delay in learning what the final outcome is.

And the winner is….

Can the chart tell us who will win? Not with any great certainty but it strongly suggests who won’t. Using traditional techniques, we have to give Gordon Brown, the serving PM to the 10th house. Virgo is on the Midheaven and Mercury represents him. It doesn’t look too good. First of all, 29° is on the cusp. This is the final degree and indicates that he’s on his way out as Libra will shortly move into that position. His significator, Mercury is retrograde which weakens him and  a retrograde Saturn close to the Midheaven does not help either. A trine to Pluto gives an injection of power which has been revealed in the intensity of his campaigning in the last few days. That may have helped him but is not likely to win it for him.

What of the opposition? As the 7th house from the 10th, the 4th house indicates the opposition. 29° Pisces is on the cusp, so Jupiter rules. Jupiter is exalted in Pisces and so is in much better shape than Brown’s Mercury. Jupiter also rules the Sagittarius ascendant which presides over the event as a whole and so identifies with, and supports the opposition.

We have two serious contenders, Nick Clegg and David Cameron. So which one does Jupiter represent? We could allocate Neptune as co-ruler of Pisces to one of them and if  Cameron as the major contender is Jupiter and Clegg is the unknown factor, then Neptune is appropriate for him. The Moon is moving to a conjunction with Neptune which shows that the voters like him and ndicates that he has a real chance but before the conjunction perfects, it forms a semi-sextile with Jupiter. This is a beneficial but weak aspect and could mean that not enough voters will stay with Clegg. The chances are that Clegg will win the popular vote but not get enough seats to form the next government.

Change is never what you think it will be

The interesting thing here is that Jupiter is moving to a conjunction with Uranus. This will not perfect until the planets enters Aries and so does not necessarily refer to Cameron. Whoever wins, however,  whoever wins, will preside over a period of  quite extraordinary change. (See my last post.) This will not be so easy as Uranus and Jupiter are moving to opposition with Saturn, ruler of the status quo. Saturn bring us in touch with reality and the necessity for spending cuts will make fulfilling election pledges difficult for anyone.

It is also interesting that both Cameron and Clegg were born in the mid-sixties and have the transformative and revolutionary  Uranus/Pluto conjunction in their charts. It has always been my view that this generation are destined to instigate a profound and radical transformation over our social and economic structures, and most importantly, our relationship to the environment.  Incidentally, both are have a transit of Jupiter over their Saturn in Pisces. Clegg and Cameron are born only four months apart and have similar outer planet positions. Either could step into the Saturnine role of prime minister.

Finally the chart shows a closing sextile between Venus in Gemini and Mars. After the fight to win, this suggests peace and cooperation. We may end up with a coalition after all. The question is between whom? All permutations are possible. On this Neptunian note, I’ll finish for now and add a PS when the results are known.

I have taken nearly two months from writing anything here. It’s been a good thing to do. When I set up this site, I was determined to write once a week or, at the very least once every two weeks, then felt very guilty if I failed to do so. Posting became one of those onerous tasks that just had to be done—difficult if there was nothing I wanted  to say. The most oppressive was the weekly transit page that I wrote every Saturday night, no matter how late it was or how tired I felt.  God forbid that the page should go up on a Monday rather than by Sunday morning!

No one made me do this, I wasn’t obligated to do it and I wasn’t being paid to do it so who was this tyrant standing over me saying ‘you have to do this’. Me, of course. With an ascendant in Virgo and Saturn on the mid-heaven, I feel a  strong obligation to do what I say I would do, even if the person I said it to was only me. This may seem admirable to some  but when obligation takes all the joy, creativity and spontaneity out of an activity, what’s the point? There is no point, if it’s not fun. Rebellion against the Saturn/Virgo influence was needed.

For this reason I welcome and embrace the forthcoming Jupiter/Uranus conjunction. I love this aspect. It promises freedom, surprise, spontaneity and adventure. I also have it in my chart  and it’s a good antidote the the Saturn/Virgo thing.  Jupiter and Uranus are about to meet and I am all anticipation as to what it will bring.

The planets are now both Pisces but will come exact at 0° 18? Aries on the 8th June. Nothing speaks of new beginnings like zero Aries, the starting point of the zodiac. For the aspect to occur just there means an enormous influx of expansive and iconoclastic energy. This one will not pass unnoticed and we can expect the sweeping away of seemingly permanent structures and ingrained attitudes in an invigorating sweep-through that open the space up to something different.

A Black Swan election, maybe

Uranus has a strong affinity with the what is called the Black Swan problem in philosophy which is concerned  with the appearance of something that has never been seen before. That is, in a world of white swans, black swans do not exist until one is seen. It is a problem because then it becomes inconveniently necessary  to reevalute our conceptions and beliefs, at least regarding swans.

The concept was popularised by Nassim Nicholal Taleb in the book of the same name in which  he talks about Black Swan events which can be defined as: 1) being surprising, 2) having a huge impact and, 3) seem obvious after the event. These events are purely Uranian. They are shocking because the information needed to predict or anticipate them isn’t available. With the event comes the information and then it all seems quite obvious.  These events catapult us out of our complacency and into a new way of seeing the world. The addition of the Jupiter energy, expands and intensifies these qualities and brings with it an optimistic and philosophical element. These two planets work rather well together in bringing in new consciousness, new ideas and broader horizons.

We do not have to wait until the 8th June to feel its influence. the effect can already be seen in how the British General Election of May 6th is unfolding . British elections are usually dull, predictable affairs, at least compared with their  American  counterparts. The two major parties more or less take turns winning while the third party, the Liberal Democrats complain that their popular vote never translates into enough seats and because of how the voting system is structured they don’t have a hope in hell of ever holding power.

This time, however, it is different. The outcome is neither certain or predictable. The Lib-Dems are doing very well in the polls, due largely to the good impression made by their leader, Nick Clegg.  He is young, energetic and has attractive policies. More importantly he seems to offer something new and different and people, made cynical and tired by politics as usual are longing for that.

That the Lib-Dems might form a coalition with one of the other parties is not a Black Swan event. This has happened before and would not bring anything that different but it would be Black Swan is if they won outright. That would be a perfect manifestation of Uranus/Jupiter. Will it happen? If I knew, it wouldn’t be Uranian. But whoever forms the next government will do it under the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Aries and that will mean radical change of some kind. The election chart is really quite interesting and somewhat contentious  but that is worth a post of its own.

As individuals we are likely to see something new come into our lives from a direction that we do not expect.  This may be welcome or unwelcome but it can not be ignored. House placement may give a clue to how this will play out for each individual. As for me, it’s in my eighth house—transformation—something must die so the new can be born. I hope it’s all that rubbish I’ve collected over the years and haven’t got around to getting rid of as well as the kind of crap in my head that turns creative excitement into heavy duty obligation.

Currently, Venus is conjunct Uranus in Pisces and that has got me thinking about Uranus/Venus romances. If you think about it, Uranus and romance don’t really belong in the same sentence. Uranus is not a relationship planet. It is  concerned with expressing individuality, non-conformity and originality. Freedom and independence are the main impulses and any effort to restrict these usually inspires rebellion. Uranus does things its own way without too much concern for what others might think or want. ‘My way or the highway’ is an appropriate motto. Cooperation and compromise are not  Uranian strong points. The qualities  needed for successful relationship are in short supply with Uranus. Yet the planet is often prominent by transit or natally when intense and compelling attractions occur. Why should this be?

What I have observed is that Uranus is active when it is time for a breakthrough in a person’s life. When that happens Uranus is capable of using love  to bring that change about. Once that has happened, the relationship often ends or totally transforms.

A Uranian love story

As an example, here’s a woman who has been married for about 20 years and has grown children. The marriage isn’t perfect as the couple aren’t that compatible. He is Scorpio. She is Sagittarius. He is controlled and likes a well-ordered life. She is sociable, spontaneous and fun-loving. Nevertheless, they’ve worked on their differences and the marriage is good enough. Separation has never been considered.

In her late 40s, transiting  Uranus conjuncts her Venus and she meets a man. A man who is considerably younger than she is, is a seldom-working actor and as unlike her husband as it is possible to be. She is powerfully attracted to him and though she has found other men attractive in the past she would never dream of doing anything about it. But under the Uranus/Venus influence she does and embarks on an illicit affair.

It’s exciting, guilt-making, is something different and gives her a lot to think about. And what she thinks is that she needs to leave her husband. Not because she expects to live with her lover. She knows that is not an option. It’s because she feels constrained in her marriage and unable to express herself and be truly who she is. the affair highlights just how restricted she feels. It is the need for autonomy and independence rather than love that is moving her. Eventually she tells her husband everything and they separate.

The affair petered out shortly afterward but that’s alright with her. The man was, after all, a bit immature. She got her own flat, learned some new skills, started a new career and was happy to be on her own. She never divorced her husband. He did not want the marriage to end and she respected that and would not divorce him unless she met someone else she wanted to marry—which she hasn’t to date.

In a final Uranian twist she and her husband are reconciled and now have a better relationship than before. They don’t live together and don’t plan to. They recognise their differences and realise that their preferred life-styles are not compatible but they spend time together and are very good friends. She no longer feels intimidated by him and can be herself in his company.  Some relationships need more space than others to flourish and Uranus can often show us that.

Finding our potential through love

I know many other stories of Uranus-influenced relationships but they all have a common dynamic: the time has come for a relationship to change. If it does so from within itself, all well and good. If it cannot not or will not, change will be forced on it by the agency of a third party or other compelling interest. Another scenario is the single person who is unaware of, or unable to express some talent or aspect of themselves. They meet someone who brings that out in them. The relationship may not last but the new awareness does. Uranus breaks down the structures and attitudes that hold us captive and prevent us from becoming fully ourselves and sets us free. Sometimes that’s painful and difficult but it’s always exhilarating. With Uranus change can happen when we least expect it—just like that!

I think the quality of Uranus is summed up in a recurring dream I have: I am in a house that I have lived in for a long time. I discover one or two or more rooms that I never realised were there. I feel exhilarated that I have all this extra space that I didn’t know about. I wonder at myself. How could I have lived here so long and not realised that this was here. The dream ends with a sense of wonder and possibility. That’s what Uranus does. It introduces us to what has always  been there and when Venus is involved it may mean that we need someone else to open that door for us.

Every week or so a few of us here at  Findhorn  meet in the sanctuary to do what we call World Work. This is a meditation that focuses on a troubled world situation or an influential person on the world scene that we feel could use some help. We do not try and change  that situation or the actions of the people involved. Instead we aim to contribute support or bring in a quality that may be helpful.

Last night we focused Obama, his family and staff with the aim of providing protection against the large amount of negativity that is directed towards him. We did not attempt to to subtly influence him in any way. The purpose was to hold a space where he can do his job without disturbance from hateful energies.

This particular method of working inwardly comes from the work of David Spangler, a spiritual philosopher, whose ideas were very influential in Findhorn’s early days and whose books and courses are still followed by a number of people here.

Meditating with friends for a common purpose is very pleasant. We all know each other and are mostly women of a certain age. I like that too. Women fully come into their spiritual power when they reach their post-menopausal crone stage. The group isn’t restricted to crones and there are a few younger women and even an intrepid male or two. But mostly it’s crones. Dorothy Maclean, the last surviving Findhorn founder, now 90, always comes.

Still, every time I go the thought comes into my mind that this is all very well and we can feel very good about doing it but does this, or any other form of prayer or meditation really have an effect on physical situations? The problem is that you cannot see a connection between this activity and what actually happens. David, who is able to experience the subtle realms, believes it does. The mainstream materialist viewpoint doesn’t accept the existence of these levels and say it’s rubbish.  I know it’s not rubbish but I have my uncertainties. What we want to  believe and actually do believe are sometimes two different things. I believe (or want to believe) that physical reality follows consciousness and intent rather than the other way round which is the mainstream way of looking at it. If I do believe that then I must accept that activities such as World Work have a real result.

Cats have the answer

When in doubt I think of this. I have a magnificent, leonine, marmalade cat called Galahad. I’ve had him since he was a kitten. In fact I had reserved him and his sister before they were born. I loved them both but Galahad and I had a special bond.

Once when I had to go to the States for a month, I found someone to house sit and take care of the cats. I had been gone about two weeks and was at my sister’s in Detroit and one afternoon there was a phone call from the house sitter. She told me that Galahad had been missing for eight days! She hadn’t let me know before because she kept hoping that he would come back. But he hadn’t.

I was devastated. I was 4,000 miles away. What could I do? I feared the worst. Galahad did not usually go wandering. He always stuck close to home so something was very wrong. And it was. The house sitter had confessed very appolgetically that she had gone away for a week and left  someone else in the house to take mind the cats. This did not please me for a number of reasons and it obviously hadn’t pleased Galahad. He did what cats do if they don’t like something. He took off.

I lay on my  bed overwhelmed with grief and loss. I really loved that cat. I wanted nothing more in that moment than that he should be safe and come home. I very strongly felt his presence.

About twenty minutes later the house sitter phoned again, elated. Wouldn’t you know it, Galahad just walked in the door, looking good and as though nothing had happened. He heard me.

It was proof enough that if one’s mind is 100% focused on one thing, without distraction or conflict of  intent, the limitations of time and space can be overcome. It is easier when it is personal and where there is love, to find the pure, laser-like focus that produces results.

I understand now why spiritual disciplines strive towards achieving single-mindedness  or no-mindedness, for it gives one the ability to find that intensity even when personal love or strong desire are not present.  World Work, with a disciplined mind does works, I am sure. I’m just not that good at it yet.

Like many others around the world, my thoughts have been with Haiti and the dreadful catastrophe that has befallen it. One of the poorest and least equipped nations to deal with a disaster of such magnitude. It is not that Mother Nature targets these countries in particular. It hits them harder because they  cannot afford to disaster-proof themselves and so are more vulnerable. An earthquake of this magnitude occurring in San Francisco will cause buildings to  sway, there might be a few casualties and that would be that. Not so here. The loss of life has been huge and the suffering unimaginable. What can the astrology of this event reveal? I do not believe that planetary aspect movements ’cause’ anything but they do reflect synchronistically what is going on and will provide extra information.

A harsh history

Haiti has always had a violent and troubled history. Originally a French colony, the move toward independence began in 1791 with a slave rebellion. The enslaved Africans in Haiti were treated with more than usual brutality. The policy being that it was fine to work them to death as there were plenty more where they came from. It was a truly efficient slave state and  immensely profitable to its owners. The rebels, who had very little to lose, were as ruthless as the slave owners and eventually prevailed. In 1803, the last French troops left the island, leaving behind the first independent black-led nation. The chart below ( he Book of World Horoscopes, Campion, Aquarian Press, 1988) is for 1 January 1804 when the Act of Independence was signed.

The actual hour of the signing is not known so we cannot be sure that the Aries ascendant is accurate but given the violent history of the country, it very likely is. Ruler Mars squares Saturn and sextiles Pluto indicating problematic power relationships. Misrule, corruption and inefficiency have been hallmarks of Haitian government most of the time and exploitation by foreign powers did not cease with independence. Another difficult aspect is the opposition of the Moon, representing the people, to Pluto the transformer. The people there have always lived under Plutonian influences—’Papa Doc’ Duvalier who headed the country in the 50s, whose reign of terror was a real low point. The current event fits in well. And yet, despite all this, The Haitian people have managed to create a culture that is vibrant, joyous and full of life. That also, is Mars and Sun with Pluto. Resilience and life is spite of everything.

A really bad day

For reasons not relevant here, 12 January was for me personally, one of the most unpleasant days I have had for a long time. Clearly, it was far more unpleasant for the Haitians. I did wonder what was going on astrologically before any news of the earthquake reached me.  The chart below cast for the event does not look any more catastrophic than many others. Cancer rises and there is a big line up in Capricorn. Some astrologers associate cardinal signs with earthquakes. The Moon is separating from a square to Uranus and a sextile to Neptune. Both planets are also associated with earthquakes. I find the most significant aspect is Saturn near the cusp of the 4th house. The 4th house is the root of the chart, the underground part where all the hidden stresses are. The squares to Pluto and Mercury in earthy Capricorn is a very strong significator.

It is notoriously difficult to predict or find definite indicators for natural disasters. Possibly because the original cause may occur well before the outcome can be seen. The tectonic plates could have been crunching away days or weeks before the actual quake. Scientists have never got the hang of it, so how can astrologers.

Compare and contrast

There are interesting correlations between the earthquake chart and the Haitian national chart. The most striking thing is the similarities. The earthquake chart has four planets and the North Node in Capricorn, the Haiti chart has five planets in Capricorn. Saturn in both charts are only a degree apart in Libra. Transiting Saturn forms the same squares as Saturn in the Haiti chart. The Neptunes are in square and Pluto conjuncts Haiti’s Mars. It was an accident waiting to happen.

If this synastry has the whiff of destiny about it, is there anything here that that brings a positivenote for this unfortunate country?  This disaster has turned the eyes of the world on Haiti and a huge outpouring of aid and support is on its way. But beyond that, the similarities  in the two charts indicate that Haiti will attract more international attention in general and that perhaps the aid will continue in a spirit of support for a struggling nation, rather than exploitation as in the past. Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron fall in the 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes in the Haiti chart. That bodes well.

And finally, here is a composite between the two charts. Perhaps Capricorn really is an earthquake sign. The Moon in Scorpio at zero degrees suggests a new beginning after destruction. The rebuilding of a nation perhaps.  I will leave the reader to make of it what s/he will!

Mars retrograde can catch one unawares. With most of the other planets you know where you are. Mercury retrogrades three times a year and the planets beyond Mars, regularly retrograde just before the first trine to the Sun and turn direct just after the second, a period of about five months every year. Mars and Venus, however, do not follow such clear rules and while there is a rhythm to these retrogrades, it’s not immediately apparent.

Mars goes retrograde about once every two years and two months and this will happen on 20th December at 19°42?. Leo. What might this retrograde bring?  The nature of Mars is to push forward and  going back or retreating  is not in its character, particularly in Leo. If we imagine Mars as an army, in Leo it is an army of show and pagentry, knights on horseback, banners flying, chivalry and honourable combat. This army looks very impressive though much of that may be show. It attacks with  battle cries and explosions and retreats  equally noisily. And so it is when Mars turns retrograde in Leo.

Just before everything seems to be going swimmingly. Confidence is high and projects move along rapidly and then—Whamo!—it all goes pear shaped. One reason for this is that, unlike the other outer planets, Mars trines the Sun before the retrograde and there is a lot of energy and excitement generated, especially in Fire, which suddenly isn’t going anywhere. This may not necessarily be a bad thing. Mars is an aggressor and when it turns retrograde that aggression can be defused. That is useful when the retrograde stops our opponents but frustrating if it also stops us.

How does the retrograde affect you?

Our individual Mars cycle is a period of about two years during which Mars returns to its natal position and how the retrograde affects us will depend on which part of the cycle it occurs in. At the beginning of the Mars cycle there is often a burst of energy and urge to start a new project or new phase in our work or love relationships. Mars cycles are usually externalised and involve action on our part. At the first quarter the new enterprise will have developed but an adjustment will need to take place. At the opposition the project will have fully developed and at that point it will be clear if it is successful or not. At the second quarter there is another adjustment and then the matter is completed before that start of the new cycle at the conjunction.

When the retrograde occurs immediately after the start of a new cycle, possibly passing over the conjunction point, it can happen that a project that started very promisingly gets  bogged down and doesn’t go anywhere. This can  be enough to make one give up completely but those who know some astrology will realise that they just have to hang in there until Mars goes direct again. It is not wise to judge the viability of an enterprise during a Mars retrograde.

If the retrograde occurs near the opposition, it is likely that the cycle turns out to be about something quite different than  initially envisaged. The new focus may or may not be more interesting than the original impulse but can also lead to confusion and indecision about what is really going on.

It can be problematic if the retrograde occurs  in the last quarter. Someone in this position may be gearing up to start something only to find that this new start is premature. There turns out to be more old business to clear away than originally thought. If action has already been taken and bridges burned, you can find oneself in a very awkward position. You may be ready for the new but the new is not ready for you. Timing is everything and it’s easy to get it wrong under a Mars retrograde.

Mars retrograde does not have to be a disaster. If you know it’s coming it can be put to good use—to review, revise and regroup—and an opportunity to fix errors and change direction. To benefit from it you should  prepared to step back a bit, be patient  and review the situation.

This Mars retrograde will be quite intense as Mercury in Capricorn will also  retrograde six days later. Both communication and action will be slowed down. On the world scene it may be expected that there will be some looking back in military matters. It is interesting that as the retrograde approaches, the British government is holding an inquiry into why the country entered the Iraq war and no very good reason seems to be found. At the same time, Mr  Obama is planning to send more troops into Afghanistan, a move unpopular with his supporters, and  possibly not the best idea under a Mars retrograde. Doubtless his motive is to try and bring an end to this ongoing conflict, however, any kind of surge under a Mars retrograde is likely to end badly. If they must go, hopefully it will not be until Mars turns direct again in March 2010.

It’s just as well that the holiday season is approaching and the best way to spent it is to get cozy by the fire with your nearest and dearest, keep your head down and take some time out until the New Year.