Saturn Retrograde in Libra - January 26, 2011

They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb -- but this January trumped that! We began the year with two eclipses (in Capricorn and Cancer) that BANG BANG brought home issues around nurturing of ourselves and others through compassion and care as well as work and routine habits. Those eclipses also challenged us around relationships – what needed to grow and what needed to be pruned. We began the year with a call to put some areas of life in order. It may have felt shockingly numbing if someone left our life or we had to remove someone from our life OR if we were removed from someone’s life.

The question of putting some areas of life in order is also the thrust of Saturn’s lessons. Right now Saturn in Libra has been stationing retrograde, or sitting still before retrograding, at 17 Libra.

Jupiter has transited forward into Aries for its last sweep there for another 12 years. It will cover all of Aries by May. Uranus will enter Aries on March 11th, adding shockwaves -- shocking, surprising, and unusual or unexpected situations and events to our lives. You can expect to hear about and experience changes in communications, the Internet, and governmental leadership.

But most importantly, slowly changing the landscape behind all this is transiting Saturn in Libra, which will station retrograde on January 26th and be retrograde for 4½ months until June 14th .

Whatever took place in your life, whatever lessons you were presented with since September, it will be brought to your attention again and re-addressed so you can gain deeper understanding. In plain language, Father Saturn, the Teacher, is telling you to “get it right” this time, to “do right”, or to “make things right”. Whatever you were resisting, not committing to, running from, ignoring, and fighting is coming to sit in your living room again. For the past nearly 5 months, you have had some time to understand what is being required of you and you have been able to glimpse the future consequences of resisting, fighting, running away or refusing to commit. If you handled things immaturely, you likely have been depressed, been hearing the word “No” as others resist you, and you have found doors shutting and criticism getting louder. Things are likely not working out to be as you would like. The old ways are not working. You must take personal responsibility and create structure and substance in life. The new and mature ways are the only positive direction you can take. You have a choice, but the choice you make clearly will set you on a path that is positive and productive or negative and non-productive.

This Saturn in Libra retrograde period, as with all Saturn retrogrades also demands that we work with what is happening now, not new projects or relationships. It is not a time to “move on”. It is a time to deal fairly, rightly, with commitment, and firmly with issues from your past that have been left unresolved, unjust/unfair or imbalanced. Set firm boundaries and handle past issues rather than start or address new pursuits. You may need to admit to yourself that you acted immaturely in the past and now need to apologize to someone or see if there is anything you can do to make a past wrong right. Maybe someone else must do that in regards to you.

The situation(s) and relationship(s) Saturn in Libra wants you to address will progress after June 14th when Saturn stations direct. In the time Saturn is retrograde you will have opportunity to establish right relationships and situations, re-structure your life to accommodate the relationships and situations “just right” so that they make a perfectly fitted outcome in your life.

Saturn in Libra: Balance for a New Year

Every year in Denmark on New Year’s Eve, the monarch, Queen Margrethe, gives a message to the people. This year was no exception. While the royal family does not take political positions or interfere in the country’s governing body, the Danish Parliament, the Queen is known for some wise words in her annual message.

The planet Saturn has been transiting Libra, the sign of, among other things, relationships, commitment, balance, justice and doing the right thing. Saturn has reached its mid point, and has clearly shown the world the areas in which it needs to get itself back on tracks.

Denmark, is a country which historically built itself up from a poor agrarian country with a few very wealthy and many, many poor people who starved, were homeless or lived in squalid conditions and who had no job or education. Since the 1940’s or so, it created an economic and social model called “flexicurity” which brought a very Libran balance to society – through taxes, everyone is able to have: a place to live; a free education at whatever level they choose and receive both free tuition and additional financial support while doing so; financial assistance (welfare) if they need it; there are private unemployment insurance agencies; unions; pension and support in other ways. An early retirement system originally designed for manual laborers who needed to stop working at 60 and have some years of decent health in retirement, was extended to white-collar (office) workers when they claimed it was too stressful on them to work in an office past the age of 60 a and that they, too, deserved early retirement. The safety net in Denmark is thick and strong. A person does not need to live in a cardboard box under a bridge and eat dog food because he/she does not have money. Children and elderly are cared for – the sign of a civilized, humane and thriving society.

But something has taken a turn for the worst and the scales have become imbalanced. Globalization, which is an inevitable fact even in small countries like Denmark, and the global financial crisis, have hit at the same time that Denmark now has adult citizens who have never experienced anything but prosperity. The divorce rate is 50% and the birth rate has dropped in the last three decades as Danes are increasingly focused on making their homes and themselves look beautiful (Libra!) and that often does not include forming committed marriages (note: people do also live together commonly in Denmark) and working through the problems nor spending money and time on raising a child. As a Danish friend of mine said to me recently, there is an entire generation, born from 1980-1990,who have known such wealth, personally and through their parents, that they think (money grows on trees) and they feel entitled to have anything they want, and lots of it, without having to contribute through working, paying taxes or giving back. They feel a sense of entitlement and a sense of resentment, he explained to me. Egos have gotten out of control.

These two elements have come together in the perfect storm, creating an atmosphere where wealthy politicians (earning approximately $15-18K/month, tax free) with angry, inhumane, arrogant, extremist and discriminatory viewpoints are blaming the poorest in Danish society (welfare recipients, the unemployed, university students, 1st and 2nd generation immigrants, families with children, and the poor who are infertile) for any deficit in Denmark’s finances. Wealthy political conservatives in Denmark have gone to the extreme, making nationalistic cultural demands and calling for more and more financial benefits to be taken away from the poor in the above listed groups because they think it will prevent any higher taxes on those with high incomes. In their actions and veiled words, they accuse the unemployed of being lazy bums who refuse to work and are living an easy life, the infertile poor of wasting money (over 6,000 Danish children were born each year through free fertility services, which ended December 31, 2010) and immigrants from certain countries of tainting Danish society with crime and totalitarianism. At the same time a generation of inward-looking, overly individualistic men and women are reaching the age of 30 and many of them are prolonging their time in university, taking their free university education fleeing to other countries (brain drain and tax drain), not having children, not getting married nor committing to an adult relationship, and do not feel the same sense of obligation to contribute financially to the system that gave them a comfortable life for the first third of their life, assuming they will live to be approximately 90. The scales of Denmark are imbalanced and the war is on!

Against the background of these events, Queen Margrethe gave her annual new years speech on December 31, 2010. Some of the highlights:

We need each other

”Fællesskabet er en stærk kvalitet, som vi skal skønne på, og som vi har brug for, når tiderne er mindre gunstige. Vi skal sammen bruge vores idérigdom, vores flid og skaberkraft. Det er egenskaber vi kan trække på, når vi nu søger at vriste os helt ud af krisens greb. ”(Community is a strong quality that we must appreciate and which we need when times are less favorable. Together we must use our ingenuity, our hard work and creative power. These are characteristics we can draw on when we seek to pry ourselves out of the grips of crisis.)

”Når vi ser, hvordan andre bliver stadig dygtigere, skal vi ikke lade os skræmme af det, men lade det være en spore for os. Vi må ikke stille os tilfreds med det, vi engang var dygtige til, men fortsat bruge den blanding af individualisme og sammenhold, som har bragt os langt.” (When we see how others are improving, we must not let ourselves be intimidated by it, but let it be a spur for us. We must not content ourselves with what we once were proficient in, but still use the mix of individualism and unity that has brought us this far.)

”Kriser og vanskelige tider har Danmark kendt mange af i tidens løb, men vi er sammen kommet igennem dem, og alle har været med. ” (Crises and difficult times, Denmark has known many of over the years, but we got through them together, and all have been involved.)

We have become too egoistic

"Men er der i disse år tegn på, at vi er blevet mere egoistiske, at vi er blevet tilbøjelige til først og fremmest at kræve ind og sikre os, at vi hver især får det vi selv mener at have krav på? Er vi ved at blive mistroiske overfor hinanden og tillægge hinanden mindre pæne motiver? (But is there in these years indication that we have become more selfish, that we have been prone to first and foremost to withdraw and make sure that we each get what we ourselves believe we are entitled to? Are we becoming distrustful towards each other and ascribing to each other less pure motives?)

The moral crisis is more serious than the economic crisis

”Så er det ikke alene en økonomisk krise vi befinder os i, så er det vore holdninger, der er ved at komme i skred. Det er en krise, der kommer snigende og som kan forgifte vort forhold til hinanden. Så er vi ved at sætte noget over styr, som kan være uopretteligt.” (So it is not only an economic crisis we find ourselves, then it is our attitudes that is slipping. It is a crisis that is insidious and can poison our relationships with each other. In this way, we are putting something at risk, which may be irreparable.)

”Den krise, der så at sige kan måles og vejes, som man kan sætte tal på og tegne kurver over, er ikke nær så alvorlig, som hvis det er vore værdier og holdninger, der vakler. Den økonomiske krise vi nu står i, skal vi nok finde vej ud af på kortere eller længere sigt; men vi skal ud af den med anstændigheden i behold og uden at sætte fællesskabet over styr.” (The [economic] crisis, which, so to speak, can be measured and weighed, as one can quantify and graph curves, is not nearly as serious as if it is our values and attitudes that falters. The economic crisis we now face, we will find our way out of in the short or longer term, but we must find our way out of it with our decency intact and without putting the community at risk.)

We have forgotten the basics

”I løbet af det seneste par generationer har samfundet udviklet sig sådan, at vi kan leve mere og mere trygt, både økonomisk og socialt. Vi har vænnet os til frit at kunne vælge og vrage i stort som i småt. Vi har fået det så godt, at vi næsten har glemt, at vore valg også har konsekvenser, og at ikke alle livets vilkår kan vælges til eller fra." (Over the past few generations, [Danish] society has evolved such that we can live more safely, economically and socially. We have become accustomed to freely picking and choosing the size of the fine print. We have had it so well that we almost have forgotten that our choices also have consequences and that not all of life's conditions can be turned on or off).

Committed interdependence is necessary

”Vi mennesker lever i gensidige afhængighedsforhold. Det gælder i dag, som i går og til alle tider. Tidligere stod det måske mere klart, dengang man levede i de små landsbysamfund, hvor mange opgaver måtte løses i fællesskab, og da flere generationer ofte levede under samme tag, og enhver havde sine opgaver at varetage over for hinanden. Det var et afhængighedsforhold, der var tydeligt for enhver. I dag har vi overladt til samfundet at klare mange af de forpligtelser, som engang var hver enkeltes opgave. Ofte går det så vidt, at vi helt glemmer eller overser, at samfundet jo egentlig er os selv, og at det slet ikke kan fungere, hvis vi ikke hver især gør en indsats og føler en forpligtelse over for såvel vore nærmeste, som for dem vi ikke lige løber på i det daglige.” (We human beings live in mutual dependence. It is true today, as yesterday, and at all times. Earlier, it was perhaps more evident when people lived in small villages, where many tasks had to be solved jointly, and when several generations often lived under the same roof, and all had their tasks to perform for each other. It was a relationship that was obvious to everyone. Today we entrust it to society to handle many of the obligations that were once each individual’s task. Often it goes so far that we completely forget or overlook the fact that the society is really ourselves, and that it does not work if we do not each make an effort and feel a commitment to both our loved ones, as well as those we do not have contact with on a daily basis.)

Freedom and prosperity = compassion

“Vi har opnået en frihed til at forme vort eget liv, som tidligere generationer aldrig har kendt magen til, og det skal vi skønne på. Men vi bør også huske, at ingen kan klare sig selv helt alene. Derfor skal vi også passe på det samfund, som vi kender som en tryg ramme om den enkeltes udfoldelse, og have øjne og ører og hjerte åbne for vore medmennesker.” (We have achieved a freedom to shape our own life that previous generations have never known the likes of, and we appreciate. But we should also remember that no one can fend for themselves alone. Therefore, we must also take good care of the society which we know as a safe setting for personal development, and have eyes and ears and hearts open to our fellow man.)

****************

This message reflects the meaning of Saturn in Libra. Denmark is not the only country facing the same issues. Other European countries, the USA etc are dealing with economic and moral (attitude) crisis. The theology of scarcity is running rampant and the haves are blatantly and rapaciously taking from the poor, the unemployed, children, elderly, the uneducated, and the sick. However, the fight is a hard one because the universe is determined to break down and break what does not work and restructure society (Saturn) to bring balanced relationships.

As more people seek to take from those who should not be taken from, more imbalances and shortages will come and society will not function well. It is an absurd pipe-dream to think that you can achieve financial balance and prosperity in any society by depriving some people of educations, healthcare, housing, and quite simply, the same human dignity you desire for yourself. It is only in restructuring societies in a balanced manner that there will be peace and prosperity.

The scales must be balanced.

In the USA, in every state, there is a department responsible for weights and measures. It ensures that scales are telling their true weights and containers are holding the volumes they say claim. Sometimes some people cheat and things are not fairly measured, weighed or distributed. That means sometimes adjustments must be made, and those who are stacking things in favour of themselves must be corrected. Saturn has that responsibility, showing us where we must bring balance to relationships on a large-scale (country, community etc) and small scale (marriage, neighbors etc).

How long will it before certain people in our world admit that our global economic crisis is only worsened by an attitude crisis or what some would call our collective moral bankruptcy?

Who's Your Daddy? (Saturn in Libra for Aries)

The news is out that Saturn has ingressed the sign of Libra. We had a small taste of it for six months from the end of October 2009 until mid-April 2010. The sign of The Scales will be its temporary home for a 25 month journey.


We know it will affect people with Sun, Moon, Ascendant or Saturn in Libra very strongly and specifically in some area(s) of life. But what about people with Sun in Aries, the sign opposite Libra? Will they escape the maturing, structure-breaking and rebuilding lessons of Saturn? To answer that question with a question:

“Who’s your Daddy?”

Saturn. Saturn is your Daddy. In fact, Saturn is your Big Daddy.

Saturn will be dealing in great part with people who have Sun in Saturn, focusing shaping their identity, and with people who have Saturn in Libra, focusing on restructuring and balancing their relationships and partnerships in life. BUT, Saturn, like any parent with multiple children, will be hard at work teaching people with Sun in Aries about themselves.

When Saturn transits opposite your Sun, you are likely to find yourself disillusioned and disgusted with some aspect of your personality, with an important person in our life and/or authority figures, or with your personal plans and achievements. If you have not been managing your life effectively, the ego boosts that previously came your way are no longer forthcoming and confidence can be hard to find, which will be very frustrating for an Aries.

You may feel isolated socially. You must learn to rely on yourself and not resent it.

You may feel but more likely be blocked from advancing in the way you envisioned in your chosen career or life path. It is time to create and consider a Plan B and perhaps also a Plan C and trust that the benefits will one day be visible, even if it is several years later.

While Big Daddy Saturn in Libra opposes your Sun in Aries, ego boosts will not seem to be forthcoming, or if they are, you will likely not perceive them in that manner. You may be forced to tighten your financial, social or emotional belt, limiting your expression. Your physical energy is likely to be low. Even mechanical things around you (your car, your household appliances) may breakdown unexpectedly and more often than normal. Problems with skin, bones and teeth are likely to arise.

Your work income or business may be cut or disappear – or expenses may increase – and you must learn to make changes to adapt, whether it is to find a new source of (additional?) income, to make changes so as not to end up without enough savings for lean times, to change your loaning and borrowing practices or to learn to live on less and spend less.

If things or people leave your life, it is likely because the connection between you was weak, or they somehow no longer serve a healthy purpose in your life. Are you disgusted to the point of no wanting to associate anymore with your brother or your friend? Do you finally realize your marriage is a sham but you have been going through the motions? Now is the time to take slow, deliberate steps to deal with these relationships and make a decision, which could be to break ties. Taking a slow and steady approach to life is necessary now.

Big Daddy Saturn is expecting you to take the time to examine your previous commitments in relationships, work and other areas, to make improvements, to make hard but mature decisions and to be more efficient. It could mean big, significant changes or simply fine-tuning of processes you have already begun. Pushing too hard will likely lead to frustration and setbacks. You may feel drained, discourage and most commonly, depressed.

A word about depression: It is vital you take precautions to STAY AWAY FROM THE DARK SIDE!! There are so many things you can do: get an energy lamp and use it daily, start talking regularly with a coach or therapist, exercise at least 30 minutes per day (even if only a brisk walk), lower or eliminate your consumption of nicotine, alcohol, and drugs.

Aries is symbolized by The Ram and The Warrior. Aries people want to courageously take the lead and go head-first into challenges, pushing through solutions. But when Big Daddy Saturn is opposing your Sun sign it will hardly be possible to do so – and can at times be absolutely impossible. Saturn is one competitor you have no hope of defeating. You will recognize the wisdom, do the right thing and win OR fight, resist and do what you want to do and lose. The key is to remain in the reality of the situation or relationship, not attempt any shortcuts, and do the work. Do the right thing. Pay attention to the details, go slowly and accept that you cannot “beat” these lessons with sheer brute strength. You will end up bloodied and will lose confidence in your strength. The next two years are when Sun in Aries people must practice being lovers, not fighters.

Because this is a Saturn in Libra transit opposing your Sun, it is highly likely the loudest message you Mr./Ms. Aries are getting from Big Daddy Saturn is about the need to BALANCE your life. If you have been singularly focused on work or sports or self – and especially if you are single – it is important to examine your life and see in which area of life you are overcompensating for lack in another area(s) of life. Are you single and a workaholic or workaholic/sportsaholic who has no permanent partnership? If so, life will suddenly be quite lonely, no matter what you do to try to fill it with late nights at the office and sports games with friends. Being the Lone Ranger many no longer work well for you and

In short, yes, just as Big Daddy Saturn will be telling many people experiencing their Saturn Return at about age 29, he will be telling many Sun in Aries people it is time to commit to marriage!

Take it easy on yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically while working on self-improvement. Big Daddy Saturn will be proud of you and you path to being a stronger you and you will know it because the evidence in your general life, relationships and work will show it. The results of your changes will not always be immediate, but eventually they will be visible and produce solid, measureable, lasting rewards.


Barrett

Saturn in Libra has arrived!

Greetings friends!


On Wednesday, July 21, 2010, Saturn, the Cosmic Parent and Lord of Karma, left the constellation of Virgo and transited into Libra.

The planet Saturn concerns karmic issues (what have you done or not done, because it is coming back to you?!), restrictions, losses, responsibilities, , structures and challenges. The constellation of Libra is about relationships, egalitarianism and equality (two separate things), love, marriage, legal matters, balance, working with others, partnership and sharing. You must build relationships, teams and partnerships which allow both parties to benefit and which bring growth to your life. If you have a relationship which is not calling and challenging you to grow, it will come apart by the end of the transit. We must learn to work together and our approach to projects must reflect that spirit of sharing. Saturn will work hard on those with Asc, Sun, Moon, Venus or Saturn in Libra until October 6, 2012.

If you have any selfish habits where Libran areas are concerned, Saturn is the planet that will break you down and force you to change and do the right thing OR you will have to choose to suffer losses, pains, and worse. What will YOUR choice be? Saturn does not play games -- you WILL do the right thing or spiral into some negative things. It is time for people with the above-listed Libra placements to get real and get busy with the realities of their life situations. You can drink alcohol, take drugs, and procrastinate if you like, but Saturn will not release you until you have gotten the message and you WILL not be the same after it is done with you. WHat you do or do not learn, how you do or do not grow, between now and Ocotber 2012 will deterimine your next 30 years in that area of life. If it is a Saturn Return for you -- whoaa! All I can say is get it right NOW. Don't end up on the other side of 30 messed up, depressed and suffering because things will just go downhill from there.

If you need a specific consultation on how Saturn in Libra is likely to affect you, or a Saturn Return consultation, send me a email.

To all you Virgos (and people with significant personal Virgo placements) who came through the last five years of eclipses in Virgo, coupled with Saturn in Virgo -- congratulations on making it through!! Now you can rejoice, assess what you learned and use it well over the next decade before 2036 when Saturn returns to that sign.

Blessings

Barrett

The Death of Michael Jackson

Dear Readers,

I am, like I am sure millions of people are, absolutely devastated by the sudden death of Michael Jackson. This morning I find myself blasting Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson songs over and over while doing a walking/grieving dance and sobbing. "I'll Be There". "ABC". "Dancing Machine". "Billie Jean" "Bad" "Human Nature"..... I must grind, shake, sway and sing to wring out the sorrow and the anger.

He is one of the persons I have feared for in the 49-52 year old Chiron Return age group under Chiron in Aquarius because I know when there is too much pain.....too much blocked and unexpressed emotion at this time of life, you are a very high risk of a (fatal) heart attack. The Chiron Return time is when you can either get to leave your legacy or you get taken out of this realm.

Ohhhhhh, I grew up listening to and watching him and his brothers. He is older than me and I dreamt as a little girl that he would somehow find me and dance/sing me away to someplace wonderful.... I remember when the "Off the Wall" album debuted on TV, nearly 3 dozen of us jammed into one living room to watch the screen. We knew we were seeing groundbreaking history!! And when he moonwalked on the Motown special...."Billie Jean" and "Thriller"......This was a mindblowing, extraorindarily talented genius.

This man MADE the musci channel MTV.

This man was an incredible humanitarian.

And how my heart broke over the year as I watch him get embroiled in those tragic child molestation situations, various lawsuits and financial troubles and surrounded by people who did not help save him from himself. Where were his famous friends? Why didn't any of them forcibly get him private psychological help? Celebrities have ben foribly put into treatment for things? Oh my god how crushing this was because I could see it standing in the way of all the good with which he was gifting the WORLD with his music, his entertainment skills, his business acumen and his philanthropy.

I was also troubled by people's fascination, as gets done to Virgos often,with his virginal lifestyle and apparent awkward and very private sexuality and intimate life. It was no one's business who he was having sex with and how, outside of a community need to address anything involving children, of course.

It was not hard to see he was in turmoil, with what was happening with his body...from the surgeries and changes of skin pigmentation to the accidents that broke bones and set his hair on fire...and the dramatic weight loss.

I recognized, as another Virgo what it is like to be gifted and have people be jealous and do anything they could to try to make you out to be an imperfect, deeply flawed and worthless individual when humanitarian and compassionate goals at at the core of you. I have had other intuitives, and telephone (and only telephone, never in-person) callers be absolutely disgustingly vicious to me because they could not bear it that I am both a beautiful and talented woman who get many blessings in life as I journey. These people felt they had to lie and make up reasons to attack me or to try to minimize my success. I learned to keep to myself, focus on the best me, refine my talents and be very selective about who I let into my personal life. I learned to ignore nasty false criticism in the form of Internet feedback when I realized it was not actually "real". I primarily do success coaching and private astrology consultations now because I am D*** good at it (I am sure that is upsetting some folks that I can be honest and say that aloud) and I can be very selective about working with people. I can choose to spend my time with people who are honestly looking live their best life. I also keep a small inner circle of real friends and guard my private time so I can rest and have leisure.

I recognized long ago Michael Jackson was showing all the characteristics we Virgos show when we can no longer take the horrific pain of other people's machinations, criticisms, gossip, and cruelty: The Virgo becomes very withdrawn and eccentric, separates from anyone who could cause pain, has very little trust in people except for perhaps innocent children, and pours their emotions into some artistic talent such as music, writing or painting.

Astrologically, there are lessons to learn here from natal and transiting Chiron, and transiting Neptune and a few other things in his cart. But I will come back to it when I can compose myself....

For now.....you can search my blog for the Chiron in Aquarius two-part series to give you some clue......about a natal wound in being different from others/unique/unusual. Other clues I can give you right now are about Neptune, Neptune in Aquarius, Aquarius in general, Saturn in Virgo and Virgo in general.

It collectively and individually angers me that Michael Jackson was beaten up in this lifetime for not fitting into this world so he did the best to create a world he could live in...but in the end, it appears the distress of it all wore out his body, stopped his heart and killed him on the eve of his legacy-leaving tour. I should note however, the already has left us a great legacy....

But, we - WE in the human community -- helped develop the weaker aspects of Michael Jackson with our insistence that the unusual different and exceptionally talented are unacceptably weird and open for derision and criticism. Clearly he had childhood wounds and some of us did all we could to make him feel more pain with our criticism and gossip. While Michael Jackson had to take responsibility for his actions (and I am angry that he did not just steer clear of children) -- we are all connected and that pain and sorrow blocked up in his heart did not happen in isolation!!

In a very real sense I am glad he is dead and no more will be here to live such a pain-filled life anymore. I am deeply sad that his genius will not gift this world in new ways. But, yes truly, and not as a trite saying, rest in peace Michael Jackson.

So there.......I must go finish my grieving dance and come to terms so I can look at this astrologically for you.

Barrett

A Planetary Recipe for Fear

For several months we have had a transiting opposition of Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces. While at first I thought this might bring some struggles with rigidity and taking fixed positions in government etc., what I have come to see is something even more insidious: FEAR.

As I work with clients, talk with friends and acquaintances and read or listen to the news what I hear is fear. People are terrified the entire world is about to come crashing down on their heads and they are acting badly because of the fear.

Saturn in Virgo is manifesting as a desire to have the details taken care of but a fear that the excess being revealed by Uranus in Pisces will destroy everything. While the excesses being revealed under Uranus in Pisces are horrendous (especially financial excesses) cracking down rigidly in fear and hoarding or not helping those who ask for your help -- and criticizing them -- is not the way to handle things well. Criticism is a response of fear. It is a fearful attempt to erect boundaries by drawing lines in the sand in order to stop feeling powerless.

Fear can destroy you by winding you up internally with mental obsessions that become physical pains. You cannot think straight so you cannot make good decisions and the bad decisions that result throw you into deeper fear.

Like former President Roosevelt once said, all we have to fear is fear itself. Fear is actually the biggest problem you have.

Let go of the fear!

Start intentionally breathing deeply and planting your feet on the ground. Eat as well as you can afford and regularly. Drink plenty of water. Stop listening to, watching and reading the news if it is upsetting to you. You can actually live your life without being caught up in a constant news stream of negativity. What god does it do you to hear over and over during the day that there was a mass killing, a bank failed and more houses are being foreclosed upon. Take my word -- you already know these things are happening in the world so stop obsessing about it. Read some positive books and watch positive TV shows or listen to positive radio programs. Find a good DVD like "The Secret" or "The Pink Panther and fill you mind with positive thoughts and relaxation. Take a 30 minutes walk once a day.

Where you place your focus is important. The power of focus is the key to success, peace and prosperity. Calm focus helps bring solutions and solutions is what is needed. Use the energy of Saturn in Virgo to make plans and the energy of Uranus in Pisces to break out of old inefficient patterns and do a new thing -- so you can get a new result.

Now is the time you can get your finances straight, learn to budget and get your spending under control, change habits, confess to the excesses (be they financial, sexual, emotional etc) and set things on a better path. Now is the time to make decisions instead of sitting on the fence and doing nothing -- because you now know that doing so only causes more problems and more fear. Once you make a decision to move forward instead of going backwards, you have a new and exciting beginning.

Isn't that what being an evolved human being is all about?!

Do a new thing today! Be a new creation!

Yes!!

Saturn in Virgo: Truth-telling or “Would you Like some Fries with That Gossip and Lies?”

The New Moon in Cancer is approaching and Water sign lunations always bring emotions and the issue of truth to the surface. Typically, I see cover-ups, direct lying, lying through omission of facts or information, and secret plotting or plots revealed which were planned at a precious Water sign lunation.

However, I have noticed it has been more intense since Saturn cruised into Virgo. Saturn in Virgo appears to giving us the opportunity to look at our integrity and the integrity of others when it comes to telling the truth, listening to the truth and discerning what is the truth. It is a time when truth is being shown to not be a relative as some of us would like it to be.

I know that as a Virgo, I am eccentric. I analyze and do not care who likes it or not; I have opinions and I do not care who likes my opinions or not; I can be hermetic and focus on myself without worrying about what others think; I like eccentric people and have a major fondness for quirky Uranian men (i.e. Aquarians). I know that I am good at what I do and for better and sometimes worse, that great skill comes across as maddening perfection to some and irritates the hell out of them or makes them jealous. I know that I highly value the truth, and lies can turn me ice cold towards a person, no matter how close we may have been.

Lately I have been dealing with someone who thinks I do not realize that they are trying to manipulate me into a compromising position with lies and deceit to serve their own purposes. The lies the person has told me have been extreme and this person thinks I am unaware. The person wants to get closer to me, but fails to realize that the more lies that are told and the longer the lying continues, the more the door is shutting on our friendship. In fact if things do not change in the next 48 hours, I will not be bothering to connect with the person again. Shame….I have known the person for over 5 years.

In addition, over the last 10 months since Saturn entered Virgo, there was a juvenile and cruel game of false lies and gossip in my periphery that nearly destroyed someone. What was saddening about it was that it was not children doing it, rather it was adults, some of whom are pushing 30. I spoke to them on several occasions about acting responsibility by quashing the gossiping and lies when they heard it and by not participating implicitly through silence, but they did nothing. In the end it negatively affected an entire group of people.

Truth is not relative when it comes to talking about what people have done or said or not done or said, and about people themselves. You are either speaking the truth about the person or not. You are either gossiping negatively about the person or not. You are either building up a life or trying to tear it down and destroy it. There is no opinion or perception. The things you listen to about other people – you know when it is gossip and negative. You choose to either perpetuate it or not by hanging with those who do it. You lie to yourself when you claim you have nothing to with it or that it is “not your fight”. That is not living in reality. People have been burned alive at the stake on bonfires, beheaded by guillotines and hung to death from trees by lynch mobs based on gossiping and lies.

Any observations about truth-telling, gossip and lies in your life and community since September 2, 2007?

Gaining and Losing Me, Uh-huh!

Saturn has not been in my 1st house as it travels through Virgo; however, today I was very shocked and happy to learn that without dieting, I have lost a tremendous amount of inches.

In June 2006 I bought a pair of low-waist jeans I could not get higher than my KNEES. Oh, it was sad.

Today I was organizing my armoire and took them out,deciding to see where they were on me now, exactly 2 years later.

They slid up my legs, over my thighs and hips, zipped, clung to my butt and hung loosely around my lower waist. I had to put on a belt.

Talk about mind-blowing!

I promptly went out for a long walk on the most populated street I could find.

Heehee.

I realize now I have been eating a lot less food, and eating healthier. I realize I cut out a lot of high fructose corn syrup, pork, gluten/wheat, sugar and white foods (like white rice, potatoes and flour). I also drink nearly 2 liters of water per day and eat a good amount of fresh fruit. I eat beef (I lurves red meat!!) 2-3 times per week.

Are you a Virgo who has lost weight during this Saturn transit?

It is also more than losing weight; I have lost some parts of me that were reluctant to put my body out there, reluctant to see myself as a woman who is as attractive as I really am. In working so hard these past 10 months I changed my eating habits, eating less food, and focusing on getting things done in my life, while dealing with critics and crazies, and reorganizing. The reward? Slimmer knees, thighs, and a thinner more shapely but as well as a smaller waist.

Hard won weight loss. Hmmm.

Thirty years ago, when Saturn last transited Virgo, I remember being slapped on the butt by more than one relative and being told that I was "getting fat". On response I felt so hurt, felt so ugly, came to believe I was unattractive to boys, and let myself be defeated by the criticism as a young girl, that I began overeating and eating badly (not only foods not good for me, but huge amounts, sometimes until my stomach hurt). I never saw that I was a beautiful and curvaeous young girl, and I turned inward trying to make myself perfect while beating myself up with food for not being "perfect" (pencil thin).

Now, I am shedding that protective layer, having come to quite a comfort with my curvaceous body, my full breasts, my butt, my thighs, my womanly goddess shape. Whomp!! There it is....

Uh-huh!!

Saturn Moves On....

By this Friday, June 27, Saturn will finally be off the Virgo Sun of those born in the first 3 degrees of Virgo (August 23-26), not to return for three decades. It has been a LONG hard journey and I have not heard of any Virgos with a 0 Virgo-3 Virgo Sun who had an easy time of it. Many went into hermit mode, into seclusion after the going got too rough and/or nearly impassable. Some gave up. Others have battle scars.

How are you feeling now that you have survived?

What did you learn these last 10 months?

How is your health?

What and who have you released?

What and who have you committed to -- to your surprise or relief?

Reefer Madness

As the planet Saturn traverses through the constellation of Virgo health issues are coming up for intorduction and review. Rules and regulations (Saturn) about health (Virgo), especially the health of women and by associaiton their children, are in the news. Since September 2, 2007 we have heard about reviews of drugs and hormones used to treat menopausal women. Now the federal government in the USA has released a report in which is it proclaiming a message it sent in 1936 under the polar transit of Saturn in Pisces: marijuana among teens causes depression adn mental illness. It is

Reefer Madness!!!

It was financed by a church group, produced and released in late 1936 under Saturn in Pisces. The original titled was "Tell Your Children". Shortly thereafter in 1937, still under Saturn in Pisces it was retitled "Reefer Madness".

If you have never seen it, it is in the public domain and you and get a copy of the black and white film for about $1-$5. It showsteenagers getting involved in murder, becoming depressed, committing suicide, having (horrrors) pre-marital sex and getting raped and quickly becoming mentally ill....all because of marujuana.

There is one memorable scene where a girl who has smoked it become crazed while playing the piano...faster and faster and faster.

I used to show this film at church as an icebreaker to talking about drug use in our senior high group. It never fails to get laughs and start conversation.

A film called "Cocaine Madness" was produced shortly after this. These two and some other films on marijuana and drugs in general were mass produced by the US federal government at that time as propaganda in the drug war of that time.

Here is a link to the article about it: Reefer Madness.

How much effect do you think this old/new claim of marijuana and mental illness will have?

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.

New Moon in Capricorn - January 8, 2008

What an extraordinary New Moon to start 2008! If you are ready to make the most of 2008, now is the time.

This is the best New Moon of 2008 for goal-setting, initiating projects, and making serious commitments for successful achievement.

This first New Moon of 2008 is framed by strongly supportive placements. This year the Sun and Moon in Capricorn are joined by faithful, expansive and optimistic Jupiter in Capricorn, so there is support for believing in the plans you are making. Saturn, which rules Capricorn, is in retrograde in Virgo at present, bringing both a demand for and a tendency towards detailed, careful focus and thought in all our decision-making. On this New Moon there are also two energies alongside Capricorn working to boost the effects of this New Moon, and they come from Sagittarius and Aquarius. Venus and Pluto in Sagittarius lend optimism and faith to your goals. This is because Venus Sagittarius (the heart of generosity) and Pluto in Sagittarius (transformation through growth) highlight our personal goals and their connection to the evolution and quality of the future of humankind. A line-up in progressive Aquarius empowers it even more: Mercury (progressive thinking), Chiron (awareness of wounds and healing), and Neptune (spirituality). This energy adds a visionary ability to dream and see beyond the materials as you are setting your goals. Mars in Gemini has slowed in its current retrograde motion and we are all feeling the effects of it as we find ourselves more carefully watching what we communicate and how we communicate it. Uranus in Pisces is forcing us to stay shockingly focused on the global environment and peacemaking by presenting us with the shocking news of how our consumption affects our planet Earth.

Fear:
The archetype of Capricorn is the Sea Goat, which is actually the mountain goat. Mountain goats climb steep hills with a sure steadiness and do not fall off the side of the mountain. They eventually reach the top through determination. Capricorn qualities are: big-hearted, deeply caring of others, desirous of motivating and teaching others, possessing of stamina, committed, focused, driven, courageous, hard-working, responsible, goal-oriented, a strong leader, and loyal. Capricorn is also ruled by Saturn, a planet with a strong reputation, even among those who do not know a lot about astrology.

Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is classically associated with conservatism and fear. Yet, fear can actually be a great motivator. Capricorn is the sign which best symbolizes the ability to identify fear, overcome it, and attain success because of it, not in spite of it. Use this New Moon to acknowledge your fears, and face your fears in a positive manner. Make fear a life coach who motivates you to success.


Fortitude:
Like deceased musician James Brown was the hardest working man in show business, Capricorn is the hardest working sign in the zodiac. A realist at heart, Capricorn defines itself by being a self-sufficient and dedicated worker who keeps an eye on the goal and never wavers from it. With its ruler in detail-oriented and conscientious Virgo, this New Moon is the time when you must get real about your goals. No more empty promises of accomplishing something once you get this or that other things or future fantasies. Under this New Moon in Capricorn, focus on what you can obtain now:

1. Brainstorm what you want to achieve, write the steps you must take to achieve it and then commit to patiently following each step no matter how hard it is and no matter how long it takes.
2. Take the work you can get now and trust that it will be the right step in getting your dream job in the future.
3. Work with what you have now and stop fantasizing about what you do not have but wish you did.

Finances:
Saturn, deeply connected to tradition and security, does not like to take risks. This New Moon empowers some profound intuitive internal thought about what you actually need to achieve financial success and security. We are told we cannot make a good financial living doing what we love. The truth is you will be financially secure as well as spiritually and/or creatively successful if you believe in yourself and work hard at what you love. You must be judicious about spending, and do without or do with less. We must make the sacrifices necessary to not follow the crowd.

The occurrence of Sun, Moon and Jupiter in Capricorn trine (a favorable astrological aspect) Saturn in Virgo translates into a prime opportunity for setting achievable and successful realistic financial goals and eliminating excessive spending. This is the New Moon to create a BUDGET and a commit to it. Capricorn spends conservatively, shrewdly and sometimes not at all. Do you really need the thing you are about to buy? Is it beyond your basic housing and shelter needs? How can you spend less and what do you really not need? If we are honest what ourselves, it is many things.

How can you do this? Start practicing Zen and the Art of Shopping to become conscious of your consumption of materials things. Be aware of how you are mentally and physically when you shop. Pay attention! As yourself:

1. Do I really need this?
2. What other ways could I use this money I am about to spend?
3. Can I put this money away for my future instead of spending it now?

Future Growth:
This New Moon in committed Capricorn is the New Moon to dedicate yourself to becoming responsible for your emotional and spiritual growth and the enlightenment our human community on Earth. The threat of global warming is real, as is destruction through the heartless, thoughtless, arrogant warfare based on discrimination by class, race, and ethnicity. A very few constantly take from the masses so that poverty is at nearly everyone’s doorstep through uneven distribution and over-consumption We must awaken and cease these things or for humankind there will be no future.

Full Moon Rising:
The two weeks after the New Moon, the Moon waxes to a Full Moon in Leo on January 22, 2008. This means that NOW is the most advantageous time to build the energy of your intentions. Plan to start taking take action on your New Moon at the Full Moon in Leo.

Saturn in Virgo: Danish Male Priests Believe Women are Tainted

Research done by a major Danish newspaper reveals that a significant number of female priests in the state church (Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church) are harassed by their male colleagues. But worse than that, the research reveals that there are Danish male priests who actually believe women will TAINT them with their touch and make them unholy! Keep in mind the time we are in: Saturn (restrictions, oppression) in Virgo (women, women's issues).

According Denmark's "Politiken" newspaper, more than half of female priests have experienced gender discrimination. Almost 60 per cent of the country's female priests have been told by their male counterparts they were not fit to wear the clerical collar because of their gender. The women priests had met with this form of criticism several times throughout their career. The study found that only a small group of up to 15 per cent of male priests discriminated against female clergy. However, they were a vocal minority. Some male candidates for the Danish priesthood refused to be touched by female priests during ordination, believing them to be tainted.

These are young Danish men (20s and 30s) with this belief, which hails back to Tertullian, a mysogynist early bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He decreed that men should not have sexual contact with women because women contain a tainting fluid with them and when a man's penis came into contact with it through sex, they would be made unholy.

As long as discrimination exists in the Church it will exist in secular society.

Wonder what the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church will do to combat this baseless, false theology in the seminaries and churches in Denmark?

Interesting note...although people are automatically registered as members of the state church in Denmark. memebrship has declined so severely that hunderds of church were closed in the last couple of years and more will probably close due to lack of attendance. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church ahs become irrelvant for many people, expecially the under 50 crowd, in Denmark.

The Saturn Return

When we turn 18 or 21 we are considered in many societies to be adults. We make changes and start crafting the life we believe we should live. But then we reach our late 20s and things begin to change. Our carefully made plans, our marriages, our careers and our sense of purpose begin to crumble or blockade us. We begin thinking that perhaps we have not done all we should have or could have done to grow up – now we are faced with the choices we have made. This is all no surprise to an astrology consultant. Why? You see, in astrology this is one of the most important times of your life – your arrival at adulthood, called the Saturn Return. It occurs for everyone between ages 27.5 – 30.

This period occurs when the planet Saturn completes its cycle through your natal chart and returns to the sign it occupied when you were born. You will feel it even more intensely when it arrives at the degree it occupied when you were born. Now you will make choices that bring old situations and relationships to an end and open the door to new opportunities and connections. The U.S. Census Bureau lists the highest divorce rate between as occurring between ages 28 - 30.

Very typically this is a challenging time when things that you realize things you once held dear now have no meaning for you. You may have married in your early 20s and now that marriage no longer works because you and your partner are not the youths you were when you you’re your vows. It is a time of inward examination and reflection. It can be a time of isolation and loneliness. It is also the time when you can steer your course towards the role in the world that you always wanted to have. What do you want, need, and desire? During the Saturn Return you gain clarity about that and take actions to make it happen. Your friends and family may not understand your need for solitude and your more serious nature, but it is quite normal.

You should be aware though, that if you find yourself being depressed and unable to begin to navigate in any direction for an extended period of time, it is wise to seek an astrology consultant, a psychotherapist or counselor. Depression can result form resisting that messages that the Spirit it trying to send you. Your natal Saturn sign and house is an indication of what you must change at this time in your life and what possible challenges you could face as you strive to mature into an adult. This maturity involves defining yourself in your own terms, but within a structure of society that allows you to move forward.

First Saturn Return

It is not surprising that at the first Saturn Return many people divorce someone they wed years before, choose to marry for the first time, have a baby, buy a home, return to school, change careers and do something that is relevant to your sense of purpose, or get serious about saving for the future.

Vincent Van Gogh evolved from a minister to an artist during his first Saturn Return. Sometimes people do not change so drastically, but will undertake a new direction or specialization within a chosen field.

If you have been planting seeds for several years in alignment with your values, the Saturn Return can be a time of reaping the harvest. Your efforts bear fruit. William Faulkner published his first novel at age twenty-nine. Drew Barrymore took a break from acting because she found fulfillment in being a very public political motivator of young adults in a move to encourage them to take on the adult responsibility of voting.

If you have been fulfilling someone else’s expectations and working in a career that has nothing to do with your inner calling, this is the breaking time. Things will begin to feel stagnant and dead. It is not surprising that you may even get terminated from a job before you decide toe pursue your true dream. Becoming an entrepreneur at this time is quite common. This is only a very difficult time if you are resisting and trying to stay stuck in your habits. You will find all that is extraneous to your life being pruned, so that you can grow stronger, live longer and live well. It will take perseverance on your part and no small amount of hard work, but it will be profitable.

Relationship Redux?

Intimate relationships and family relationships are significantly affected by the Saturn Return. Most married people will question their commitment. If a bond is healthy, based on mutuality, interdependence, and honesty, it will likely pass the test and continue for many years. The couple may decide to take on the responsibility of becoming parents. However a marriage begun before the partners knew themselves and their values is likely to end in divorce by the time the Saturn Return is complete. On the other hand, relationships that start during this period may have a "fated" or "karmic" quality about them. In family relationships, if there is a parent-child relationship or sibling connection that is not based on mutual respect for each other as adults, now is when the big confrontation will occur. If the importance of acknowledging each other as individuals and adults occurs the bond is made even stronger; if not, estrangement is likely to occur and may remain this way for decades.

The Heat Is On

You have heard the story about the science experiment where a frog is placed in a jar of water and a flame is lit beneath it, and the water slowly gets hotter. Many times the frog will sit there, not even realizing it is going to die because it will boil to death. Since you were born, Saturn has been slowly turning up the heat. You felt its heat at age seven. Then you felt it again at 14 and 21. Have you been laboring at a “Joe job” that brings you money but no fulfillment? Have you been working in a career that is what your family expects of you but is not the unusual, risqué profession that would bring deep satisfaction to your soul? Are you living in fear and trepidation at the unknown future ahead of you if you change? Well, now at age 28 the water in the jar is about to boil – will you jump out of the jar and start heading in the direction that better suits you? Will you remain in the jar and boil to great injury or death? This is a time of life where disappointments and frustrations are positive indicators of what needs to be removed from your life. It is a positive indicator of growth.

“Who am I?” is what you ask during this time. Anxiety, insomnia, irritability, depression and anger may be on a constant circuit in your life at this time as you try to discern a path. If you stop and realize that you are at a turning point in your life and that it is quite acceptable – no, mandatory – that you are disturbed enough to take extra time to think about yourself and your life and the new way you want to live, you will come out of this time period with much wisdom.

The Second and Third Saturn Returns

Saturn governs responsibility, practicality, seriousness, maturity, limitations, and structures. Integrating these characteristics is necessary for a successful Saturn Return. Resisting and remaining mired in inappropriate relationships, careers and situations can leave one spiritually bereft, psychologically depressed and emotionally hopeless on the other side of age 30. Learn the lessons of Saturn the first time. Should you not, the SAME problems will come knocking on your door during your second Saturn Return at about ages 56 – 58. They will not only knock, they will barrel past you and sit in your living room and you will have an even harder time than you did in your first Saturn Return because now you are stuck in your ways. If you live long enough, you will get a third Saturn Return at age 84-86. Handle it right the first time and this third and final one (given the current human life span) will be a breeze – you will be an incredibly wise person who is valued and sought by others as a teacher and mentor.

Virgo and Aquarius: A Relationship of the Mind

It has been a significant time for me as of late.

First, Saturn in Virgo has been socking it to my Sun in Virgo.

Second, I told The Dane clearly and plainly of my interest in him and he did not run.

And finally, I have learned that I was right. The Dane is an Aquarius.

In fact among his placements, he has Sun and Venus in Aquarius, a Moon in Gemini, and Saturn in Libra.

I was doubly right -- he is coming up on his first Saturn Return in late 2009. His 1st and 7th houses are large, encompassing 63 degrees and three signs. His self vs The Other is where most of his focus is in life. If I have calculated his chart corrrectly, Saturn is already transiting his 7th house and his Saturn Return will occur in this house of marriage, partners, and open enemies. Oh this is going to be a challenging relationship, journeying with him to and, maybe through, his Saturn Return. Already, I can see the changes: the tiredness, the increasing depression, the significance of a relationship in his life right now, and really, always.

My Leo Ascendant and Virgo Sun are in his 7th, and my Pluto is in his 7th cusping his 8th house by seconds and my Mercury in Virgo occupies his 8th. Whatever the relationship it is destined to be an intense one. So far we have had some rather long conversations, with me doing most of the talking. We talk ALOT and seem to agree on amny subjects and enjoy sharing perspectives.

Right now we are also dealing with an intense situation with involving third parties outside the relationship, including his Sun in Virgo (10 degrees) male friend who is very critical, insecure and cowardly mutual acquaintance. This one is going to be trouble I can tell as we live in a land where culturally the men are generally quite passive with women and can tend to listen to their male friends more communicate with the woman to whom they are relating. The Dane's Virgo friend is soon to experience his Saturn Return and is living with a Sun in Virgo woman he complains about at times. I have heard him comment at various times about not being able to quietly have a hangover because he lives with her. I have lsuspected they will marry before the end of 2009 or break up rater hard. This very critical Virgo tells The Dane to stay focused on his graduate studies (they are writing a master's thesis together) and not get involved in a relationship (which would mean, do not get involved with me). In our conversation last night, I laughingly commented that to The Dane that he is already married to this guy, that he has a wife.

Because I am older than a child, my natal Mercury Rx in Virgo is now direct as a progression. Otherwise I might find it very inhibiting to talk to The Dane. However I am talking up a storm when I am with him -- sometimes amazing myself at the amount of material I have to share in a given conversation. In some sense this is surprising and I am waiting for the challenge one day as his natal Saturn in Libra Rx is in my 3rd house of communication and specifically, opposite my Aries Moon. What effect will he have on my communication with others? My communication with people of foreign cultures (opposing my 9th house). My writing? My conversations with him? Legal issues? I see possible spicy or tense conversations on the horizon.

For now, The Dane keeps me mentally and verbally on my toes. Hmmm, I could get to like this one.

Midlife Transition - The Saturn Opposition

If you have made it to or past age 40 you have most likely experienced most of the midlife transits. Midlife is hallmarked by four major transits of the outer planets. These are:

Transiting Pluto square natal Pluto

Transiting Neptune square natal Neptune

Transiting Uranus opposite natal Uranus

Transiting Saturn opposite natal Saturn

Because the orbit of each planet differs, these aspects will occur at different times for each person. Some generations did not experience them until they were more solidly into their 40s, but as of the writing of this article, they are occurring as early as age 36. To discover when these aspects are in effect you should sit down with an astrologer for a consultation.

To summarize the nature of the planets and their midlife transit effects:

Uranus brings sudden shocks, changes, upsetting issues situations and the unusual. Where Uranus sits natally, is transiting and rules is where you need to exercise more individuality and independence.

Neptune's nature is to confuse and obscure reality. You can end up feeling as though your existence and accomplishments up to now are worth nothing. You are faced with questioning yourself and working through things an emerging with a new spiritual connection - or you could escape reality buy delving into obsessions and addictions with sex, drugs, alcohol or lying.

The nature of Pluto is transformation, destruction and control in order to create something authentic. Where you have been playing around and not being serious, you will get serious now because everything will come to ashes around you and you will need to rebuild.

When these three outer planets have finished their wild ride with you, serious Saturn joins the fray for the final lesson around the age of 44/45. This transit, the Saturn Opposition, is the focus of this article. The nature of Saturn is limitations, restrictions, structures, discipline, reality and resistance. These are challenging, difficult and often painful situations in our lives. We may suffer from depression, repressed anger, physical illnesses (especially bones and teeth) due to the heavy responsibilities we are carrying in life - family relationships, work situations or attempts to pursue an authentic life. Mental illness is possible if a stable base cannot be formed in life. This is where astrology works! By being conscious and knowing where Saturn is in your chart you can make beneficial changes.

The Saturn Opposition at midlife is a time to re-examine the concerns of the house(s) through which Saturn is transiting, where it resides natally and what house it rules. Saturn is The Teacher and the best way to be successful with this transit is to be a willing pupil. The first Saturn opposite Saturn aspect occurred at about age 14/15, the Saturn Return at approximately age 28/30 and now a second Saturn opposite Saturn aspect is occurring at midlife. As Saturn oppositions begin we re-evaluate and makes changes. At age 44/45 it is time to re-evaluate the past 14 years or so since your Saturn Return. What have you accomplished since age 28 that is true and authentic and can be built upon as you advance through your 40s and into your 50s? Ages 44-59 can be the most productive and creative of your life.

Saturn builds structure and is all about reality. The coming 14 year period can be very productive if you have cleared away the rubbish which has accumulated - literally and figuratively. Are their possessions and people who no longer serve you well? Have things come to the end of their usefulness or has a relationship gone as far as it will go? What is blocking you and posing as an obstacle? Ask yourself which situations in your life are limiting you, frustrating you, and blocking your efforts? What is it that you cannot accomplish with things as they are? This is where you need to build a new, more solid structure.

Remember that midlife is about YOU. It may mean you must leave a dead marriage (divorces are common at this time), end a high-stress job and take up a profession that pays less but has more satisfaction, or you may choose to get married for the first time and have a child. Many woman have delayed marriage or their life path is one where marriage was not to occur until their 40s. Now they are ready for a new phase of life that will include finding an egalitarian love relationship and raising children as confident, educated, responsible mothers.

The Saturn Opposition and all the transits of midlife are a time of chaos. Chaos is crisis and opportunity. Beyond the crisis, they are an opportunity to cleanse our souls, and strengthen our minds and bodies. If we are willing pupils through the entire process, especially the Saturn opposite Saturn aspect, we will emerge from these approximately seven years as wonderfully transformed, mature and responsible persons.

If you are between 36-45 and would like a confidential consultation, please send an email to lbdkcoaching@gmail.com with the subject line "Midlife Transition"