Spring 2003

Uranus: Times they are a-changing!

Uranus has just moved from the sign of Aquarius into the sign of Pisces (March 10^th).  Uranus spends seven years in each zodiac sign so this is a big shift in mass consciousness.  When Uranus moved into Aquarius seven years ago, communications and technology took off.  Uranus revolutionized the way we operate.  Everything from shopping to dating to working was transformed by the Internet.  Desktop computers and cell phones, a novelty back in 1995, are de rigueur today.

Aquarius is an air sign.  Air signs represent mental activity, communications, and information exchange.  We can now transmit information quickly and cheaply.  So what will Uranus in the water sign of Pisces bring? Water signs represent the emotions and interpersonal connections.  The first shift we will likely notice is the diminishing of collective interest in using technology for information and more of a focus in revolutionizing our emotional and spiritual lives.

Most of us have very little understanding of how to have a healthy relationship with our feelings.  It’s not taught in school and certainly not addressed in corporate America.  Most of us have not grown up in families that fostered a healthy connection to feelings either.  Michael Moore’s documentary called “Bowling for Columbine” is enormously popular now.  He explores the question “what makes America so violent?”  He postulates that we are a fearful people.  But fear alone does not make for violence.  As a society we are emotionally stunted.  We do not know how to feel strong feelings without acting them out or repressing them.  Both extremes are unhealthy.

We’ve become a nation that turns to prescriptions, street drugs and alcohol to deaden and escape feelings.  Pass out the Prozac for the adults’ depression and Ritalin for the children’s hyperactivity! Our attitude towards feelings is that they are an unwanted disease rather than the beautiful wellspring of inner guidance and creative life that are an integral part of our humanity.

Our individual and societal emotional disconnection has led to a loss of moral values, an inability to build fulfilling relationships and communities, and a loss of spiritual direction.  With Uranus’ seven year passage through the sign of Pisces, the collective consciousness will change course and begin to abandon its idealization of the intellect and unbridled material ambition in favor of exploring the realm of emotions, community building, art, spirituality, creative expression, intuition, dreams, symbols and the imagination.  There will be advances in our understanding of connection between emotions and the health of the body.  Our technology may be put to use exploring and measuring the effect of thoughts on health & feelings.  Science could enable us to learn how to read auras, balance chakras, and validate energy healing.  New drugs can be created to wipe out diseases.   New inventions could decrease our economic dependence on oil.  Technology could also enable us to make discoveries in our oceans that could radically change our world.  Don’t laugh, what seems fanciful today could be commonplace in seven years. 

In my last newsletter of 2002, I wrote about the shift in the Ages from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age.  Uranus is the ‘great liberator” of the zodiac.  Its passage through the sign of Pisces will free us from the remaining negative vestiges of the Piscean Era: religious fanaticism and martyrdom, the polarization of good vs. evil, the imbalance between the masculine (intellect /achievement) and feminine (emotions/relatedness) dimensions of life.  We will be able to move more rapidly into the Aquarian Age after Uranus sets us free.

There is also the potential for disruptions in our oceans such as tsunamis caused by underwater earthquakes.  There can be more flooding and accidents at sea, including oil spills.  Uranus likes to shake things up and is very unpredictable.  Another dangerous side of this Uranus transit is the potential for increased drug experimentation and addictions.

In the area of your birth chart where Uranus is transiting, you can expect change.  Ultimately, Uranus at its most positive, frees us from limitations and shakes us out of a rut so new growth can occur.  The best attitude to have is to cooperate and look around and see what needs change and take the required steps.  If change is foisted upon you, trust that it is for the better and see how you can make the most of it.  For those of you with Sun signs of Pisces, Virgo, Sagittarius and Gemini, these changes will be significant.  If you were born at the beginning of these signs the changes are now underway.  If you are born at the tail end of the sign, then you will feel the impact more in 5-7 years.  

These four signs just finished a difficult transit of Saturn-Pluto over the last couple of years. It may seem like the universe is picking on these signs.  If you were born under these signs, take heart.  Whatever lessons and tests you’ve been experiencing, are becoming less burdensome as Saturn moves into the sign of Cancer in June.  The energy of Uranus feels very different from Saturn-Pluto.  Saturn Pluto feels like being between a rock and a hard place – no room to maneuver.  Uranus creates movement, space and encourages new opportunities.  

Saturn:  Trying times for the US and the Presidency

The US was born on July 4^th.  We are a Cancer Sun sign nation.  When Saturn moves into Cancer in June, our nation and its president will be experiencing some serious tests.  The Sun in a nation’s chart represents its leadership.  Interestingly, President Bush is also a Cancer, born on July 6^th.  In the fall of 2003, Saturn will makes its first direct hit on both the US Sun and George Bush’s Sun.  

Saturn transits bring heavy responsibilities, awareness of weaknesses, and the pressure to correct those weaknesses.  Any weakness in President Bush’s character will come to the surface.  If he takes responsibility and acts with integrity, he will come through this challenging period matured and strengthened.  The same goes for our Nation.  If, on the other hand, the response is to avoid facing facts and placing blame elsewhere, there will be more serious consequences.

The last time Saturn entered Cancer was August 1973.  Nixon was President and Watergate became front-page news.  On August 8^th, 1974 just as Saturn reached 13 degrees Cancer, the exact location of our nation’s Sun, Nixon became the first President to resign.  Nixon’s biggest mistake was not necessarily the Watergate break-in.  It was his failure to not take responsibility for his actions.  He refused to be humbled, he lied and tried to escape the consequences of his actions.  I firmly believe that if Nixon had used this incident to examine himself and correct his character, the consequences for his professional life would not have been so drastic.

President Roosevelt died in office during the previous transit of Saturn in Cancer in 1945.  President Bush’s health or life could be in danger.  He was elected under the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction year of 2000, what is known as Tecumseh’s curse of the US Presidency.  The only US President elected in a “0” year NOT to die in office was Ronald Reagan though he came close to being assassinated.  

President Bush and the nation are clearly headed for trying times.  As I write this newsletter we are on the brink of war with Iraq.  Even if this war ends quickly, there is still more stress on Bush and the nation over the next couple of years.

The Months Ahead: April-July

We’ve just come through a difficult moon wobble which ended on March 18^th.  March 19^th through April 25^th is a clear window of time to make decisions and to launch new projects or make significant life changes.  Of course don’t initiate something important during the moon void times which are listed on the website.  Another astrological rule of thumb is to avoid starting ventures on a full moon and schedule them for after the new moon instead.  April’s new moon is on April 1^st (this is an especially strong and favorable new moon because it is nicely aspected by other planets).  So the first week of April move full speed ahead.

April’s full moon is on April 16^th.  On April 20^th, Easter Sunday, there can be some additional world difficulties as the planet Mercury conjuncts the node of Mars.

Mercury turns retrograde on April 26^th until May 20^th.  Prepare in advance for this retrograde period by backing up computers and putting new plans into motion before the retrograde.  During the retrograde review all projects and correct mistakes but it’s best not to sign new contracts or initiate something of importance.  Get regular car maintenance before the retrograde. There tends to be more delays, communications mix-ups, traffic snarls and technological glitches during Mercury retrograde.  It’s a good idea to phone ahead and confirm all appointments.  

If you have to move forward or hold an important meeting during the retrograde, April 28^th and 29^th are the most positive days.

May is a difficult month.  Not only do we have Mercury Retrograde until the 20^th but also there is a moon wobble beginning May 6^th which lasts until June 17^th.  Moon wobbles reflect a more chaotic time in world affairs.  People are more emotionally reactive.  Small incidents turn very quickly into major incidents. During moon wobbles, it’s best not to confront others.  Do your own emotional processing and after the moon wobble period is over, you will have a better chance of being heard without causing an over-reaction.

May 11^th -15^th and May 23^rd - 27^th are astrologically intense.  There are volatile aspects during these periods so try and schedule yourself lightly on these days and avoid traveling if possible.

There is a lunar eclipse on May 15^th and a solar eclipse on May 30^th.  Eclipses often signal major turning points in world events.  They magnify or bring to light all that is happening.  Things often look worse simply because we become more aware.  Ultimately awareness is good because then we can see what needs changing and we have more clarity to make better decisions.  Wherever the Gemini solar eclipse falls in your chart is where you will be gaining more clarity in your life.

If you were born within a few days of May 30^th, this Solar Eclipse will have a more powerful impact on you.  All areas of your life will be in the spotlight over the next year.  You will see all that is and is not working.  You must take proper care of your body, as this cycle will also bring to your attention the ways in which you have not been taking care of your health.  It’s a good idea to get a physical and cleanup your act in terms of diet and rest.  If you are a Gemini and smoke, this is especially horrendous.  Gemini rules the lungs and the consequences for a Gemini who smokes can be much worse than some of the other non-mutable signs.

As we move into June we are still experiencing the Moon Wobble energy until June 17^th.  On June 3^rd Saturn moves out of the sign of Gemini and into the sign of Cancer for a 2 1-2 year stay.  The Sun Signs of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra will be undergoing a testing phase.  Saturn may not be easy on you but if you take responsibility for everything that arises in your life over this next couple of years and work through the obstacles, you will mature and set a solid foundation for the long haul.  If, on the other hand, you blame others and try to escape problems, you will reap even more difficult consequences.  Act with maturity and integrity and you will reap the harvest at the end of this cycle.

June 9^th, 10^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th have some difficult aspects so these are “doing less is more” dates.

Mars moves into the sign of Pisces on June16th and will spend an unusually long time there- 6 months.  The Sun signs of Pisces, Virgo, Sagittarius and Gemini will be very busy during the second half of the year.  You can get a lot accomplished or you can short-circuit if you don’t focus and pace yourself.  With Mars moving through the water sign of Pisces everyone will be feeling their emotions more strongly.  Mars will be hitting some sensitive points in the zodiac creating the potential for more violent actions in the world.  We all need constructive outlets for our feelings especially anger.  Hitting a punching bag, whacking a tennis ball or primal screaming are all activities that get the emotional energy out of the body.  If we hold on to this energy we can become sick or accident-prone at best or attract violence or become violent at worst.  

When the Moon wobble ends on June 17^th until July 29^th is the next good window of opportunity to move forward on new plans and decisions with the exception of moon-void periods and the dates I listed as difficult.

In closing, I want to remind you to focus on the good things you wish to create in your life and to fill your days with the things that bring you more joy.  Spring is a time of joy – the beauty of new life blossoms around us.  By carrying peaceful thoughts and joy, you affect those around you and uplift the vibration of the planet. 

© April 2003