Monday, February 18, 2008

Tears and Fears

Sun enters Pisces, Venus enters Aquarius


There is no shortage of celestial influence today as Mercury retrograde in Aquarius ends, the Sun enters Pisces and Venus begins its transit through Aquarius.

You computer and car will finally stop malfunctioning and giving you stress, however communication in your relationships may not become easy overnight.

This is because while Mercury retrograde’s strongest influence is done, the shadow is still there until early March AND the Sun in Pisces will increase the emotional sensitivity between you and your special someone AND Venus entering Aquarius signifies detachment and aloofness from emotion.

Let us review the strongest influence I see here, Venus in Aquarius. Independence, lots of space, freedom, individuality and separatenes -- these are what Venus in Aquarius seeks in a relationship. Situations that allow for these characteristics are the ones where relationships flourish for the native with this placement. As a transit, this can be challenging and it may feel as though your partner is leaving you -- or you may want to leave your partner.

Do you know someone who has Venus in Aquarius? There is a significant sexuality issue here. This planet-in-sign indicates that in a prior lifetime the person experienced some sort of sexual abuse or misuse, most likely forcibly locked into sexual unions against their free will. This was very traumatic. Now in this lifetime, there may still be some trauma around sexual issues (for example the person may experience rape or molestation at an early age). They may have trouble forming pleasurable sexual relationships as an adult. They may have trouble comfortably touching someone of the opposite sex (if their orientation is heterosexual) or may feel awkward and anxious about being touched, hugged or kissed. They are likely to be sexual late bloomers.

Aquarius is a sign that seeks truth, humanitarianism, independence and is very progressive in its approach to life. Yet, it is also imbued with a hidden sense of caution because it is co-ruled by Saturn. For Venus in Aquarius people there is a need to seek attention for being unique - being The Rebel. This is the polarity of Leo creeping into the Aquarius personality. Aquarius likes to shake up the mix! They like to be known for speaking existential "truths". They can also be rather voyeuristic about other's sexual and romantic lives, wanting to openly discuss the details of the other person's life because it is a "radical" approach to such an intimate issue (and because talking about sex and relationships covertly excites them by stimulating their mind)....but detaching and hiding when it comes to revealing their own private sexual and romantic details!

Warning!! A relationship with a person who has Venus in Aquarius may not feel like much of a relationship at all. There is a fear of the emotions and detachment is common. Detachment may be good (looking at things from another perspective) or bad (running from feelings and BSing intellectually about emotions). These people also typically do not form close personal romantic bonds until later in life than most, if they form them at all. Examples of this are feminist Gloria Steinem, who married for the first time at age 60, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey (who did experience childhood rape and became a teenage mother), is in her 50s and has had a long-term relationship with partner Steadman Graham, but states traditional marriage is not something she wants in this lifetime.

Some other notable people with Venus in Aquarius include: Simone de Beauvoir, Umberto Eco, Carlos Castaneda, Erica Jong, Edward Albee, Ellen DeGeneres


Sun in Pisces
This annual occurrence brings a strong influence of emotions and sentimentality to life. Intuition is especially heightened and decisions are made that include consideration of feelings. Pisces is also a creative sign.

In terms of relationships, expect that your partner or you may be more aware of emotions than in recent times. Feelings will be taken into consideration and will be voiced in conversations. There is a desire to merge, to be at one, to be in synchronicity with the partner; conversely it hurts when it does not happen.


Double Dolphins in Electrified Water
So how will these two influences work together? The Double Dolphins will be swimming in the waves of electrified waves. You could find yourself with the urge to merge and just as you get close your partner shocks you with an electric bolt of detachment of aloofness that leaves you stunned and feeling alone. Or you could be the one who is unable to cope with the emotions in the relationship and you put up an icy wall of electricity that shocks the other person away from you. Maybe you even throw some lightning bolts out of fear (disguised as cool *rational* anger or being "too busy" to relate to/talk to the partner) if you get frightened enough of your or your partner's emotions.

The best possible scenario? That you and your partner both use the next three weeks until March 10 to articulate the emotional issues in your relationship, come to a compromise about any problems and learn to respect that there are times for emotions and times for rationality in an intimate relationship. The key is BALANCE.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse: February 20/21, 2008

This year has been a very active one astronomically, with significant movements: Saturn in Virgo retrograde, Mars in Gemini retrograde and then stationing direct, Chiron and Venus in Aquarius, a New Moon solar eclipse in he constellation of Leo and now, a Full Moon total lunar eclipse in the constellation of Virgo is occurring on February 20/21, 2008.


February 21, 2008 1º53’Virgo 4:27 am CEST


At exactly 4:27 am CET the Sun will be moving opposite the Moon through the constellation of Pisces 1º53’. The Earth will align exactly between the Moon in Virgo and Sun in Pisces, blocking the light of the Sun to the Moon. For astrological purposes, because it is so close to the next degree, it is considered to be at 2º Virgo. Those with planets between 28º Leo through 5º Virgo will be most affected, as will the life areas covered by those houses in a person’s natal chart.
To calculate the times when it will occur for you, here are some time zones: 10:27 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the east coast of the Americas, 7:27 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) on the west coast, and 03:27 Universal Time (UT) and 4:27 am Central European Time (Copenhagen, Brussels).

When Full Moons occur we are more emotional and during a lunar eclipse it is magnified. We become more creative and artistic; our spirituality and intuition are also heightened and we are more emotionally connected to people and situations. We can feel quite stressed because of this change in emotional environment. However if we do not resist what is causing us to “feel deeper” we will open new doors of possibilities and opportunities. The stress can feel like a crisis – and in Chinese philosophy, a crisis is a combination of chaos and opportunity. What began at the New Moon now comes to fruition at the Full Moon.

You can expect that an old phase of your life or some part of it is coming to and end. It is likely that something new began within five days of the solar eclipse on February 7 (so that would be somewhere between February 2 and February 12). However, because eclipses are so strong, there can be significant events as late as two weeks after the eclipse. Where the solar eclipse fell in your chart will receive more attention until the total solar eclipse in Leo on August 1, 2008. That solar eclipse on February 7 is the primary area in which you will need to focus; this lunar eclipse on February 21 will be the secondary area of chaos/opportunity and will give you insight as to what hidden or repressed areas you must release into the open in order to grow in the direction required by the solar eclipse. This lunar eclipse will highlight events where it falls in your chart until the partial lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 16, 2008.

For example, if the solar eclipse on February 7, 2008 fell in your 1st house, you are being called to balance individuality and independence and the self with partnership, marriage, and/or business relationships – to become balanced in your dealings with and consideration/inclusion of the “other”. Now, this lunar eclipse will highlight what you are really valuing and what you expect from a partner on a very intimate level, either sexually, financially, of psychologically – or any combination of the three areas.
For many single people with a Leo Ascendant, it was a time of coming into close contact with a genuine marriage or life partner and the lunar eclipse in Virgo occurs in the 2nd house and will highlight anything that must be recognized, acknowledged, changed, transformed, and/or healed in order for the marriage/partnership to take place. There could be a change from icy singlehood with financial struggles and sexual wounds or celibacy to a deeply caring, warm and very healing sexual relationship with a partner who balances out your finances and who becomes your marriage partner. It could even be that YOU are healing for that partner in those same ways!
Saturn in Virgo retrograde is in close orb to this eclipse, giving it an energy that means there will be an air of caution, common sense, slowness of movement and decision. Taking responsibility and doing things in a responsible manner will be a strong part of whatever happens during this eclipse.

Mercury retrograde in Aquarius is ending just before this eclipse, so there will be a chance to communicate in a more articulate fashion and matters which seemed confusing or stagnant in the three weeks previous will now begin to be clarified. People with a Sun in Aquarius, in particular, may find they can finally say what has been on their minds/what they want concerning relationships, work and finances. Now is the time when Sun Aquarius people may find they want to initiate healing by opening up to a partner or potential partner by getting in touch with and voicing the feelings they have been detaching from in the past months.

A special note: for some people, the solar eclipse heralded the removal of a male from your life; similarly, this lunar eclipse may herald the removal of a female from your life, or conversely, if you are female, if may herald your removal from a male's life (remember, you may want to remove yourself from some male's life if you now realize it is your best path). You may want to lay low, keep things emotionally light, or take the week off and have some space in order to avoid unecessary arguments.
I do know some people who take a few days of vacation alone or intentionally avoid email, the tephone and generally avoid people when eclipses come that touch significant points in their charts.
Keep your eyes open for the lessons – and write me about any changes which occurred for your on or about February 7, and coming up, on or about February 21.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Solar Eclipse: February 7, 2008

One cycle is ending and another beginning, with a strong humanitarian flavor this month. That is because we are experiencing a solar eclipse at the beginning of the month.


February 7, 2008 17°44`Aquarius 3:56am EST


A solar eclipse is when the Moon is exactly between the Sun and the Earth and blocks the light of the Sun from the Earth. Solar eclipses are very powerful New Moons and are the harbingers of important endings and beginnings. The effects of a solar eclipse are equal in years to the number of minutes the eclipse lasts. The immediate visible effects of the eclipse can be seen in intervals of six months for a period of two years. You get an opportunity to break an old pattern and see a metamorphosis of your life that brings growth and healing.

The New Moon begins at 17°44 February 7, 2008 and the solar eclipse occurs at 3:56 am EST at 17°56 degrees of Aquarius. Peole with Sun signs in the fixed signs (Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, Scorpio) will be most strongly affected, as will those with Aquarius and Leo Ascendants. Those with Leo Ascendants will especially see a difference in their partnerships marriage and business relationships and dealings.

With Mercury retrograde, Chiron and Neptune also in Aquarius, those people who are Water-Bearers are experiencing a time when it is crucial to heal the body, spirit and mind. The opportunities to do this are now presenting themselves. If nothing has alreayd begun to occur or does not occur within three (3) days of the eclipse, they will within six months. Now is the time to work on healing the sexual wounds that have prevented full and healthy sexual expression and left you feeling wounded about your body and about sharing your body with another person; now is the time to release the thoughts that are hindering you from contributing all you can to the world in terms of your brilliant progressive mind; now is the time to open your spirit to the forms of spiritual expression from which you have been hiding...keep your mind open to science but also open up to astrology, intuition and other religions which have mystified you.

Change is the keyword when eclipses occur. One primary way eclipses affect humankind is in relationships. It is very common that the relationship which breaks on an eclipse or within a week of it, is permanently broken. It means it is time to release. However, the relationship that comes together and begin at this time will stand strongly for the future. It may all leave you feeling like your life is out of control, but really it is not; it is that you resisted change in the previous months and finally it has been forced upon you.

The house where you have Aquarius will indicate that areas of life that will be most affected for you. The one exception is if you are an Aquarius – as it will have an overall affect on you. Here is a brief synopsis of how it will affect the various houses:


The house where you have Aquarius will indicate that areas of life that will be most affected for you. The one exception is if you are an Aquarius – as it will have an overall affect on you. Here is a brief synopsis of how it will affect the various houses:

1st/7th : You are being called to work on the balance between self, independence and your parternship/marriage or your business relationship.

2nd/8th: You are being called to work on the balance between your earned income and join tinfances or taxes, and inheritance. It is also about striking a balance between what you value and what your partner values or what you receive (or do not receive from your partner); it is also about a psychological and intimate balance with a partner and/or about sex.

3rd/9th: You are being called to balance long-distance travel and/or educational pursuits. You may return to school or find people from different cultures are very important to your life.

4th/10th: You are being called to balance home and family with your career/vocation and public reputation outside the home.

5th/11th: You are being called to balance issues of children, risk, individuality and creativity with group expression and participation.

6th/12th: You are being called to bring balance into health, work and service. If there are any secrets occurring I your life that prevent this, or any covert behaviors or thoughts on your pat, they will come to light and unless dealt with honestly, you will find yourself confined in some way (hospital, mental institution, jail/prison, or loss of job which results in being forced to stay home)