Astrology Journal
Written by Pam Younghans
Photo: The "Courage" card from the Osho Zen Tarot Deck
THIS COMING WEEK is one of the biggest weeks of the year, astrologically speaking. And that's saying a lot, given that we've already been through two eclipses and the Venus-Sun occlusion.
The main event is, of course, the Pluto-Uranus square we've been talking about for the last few weeks. This is one of those events that has effect far beyond the date the aspect is exact, so we've been working with its influence for a while now. Still, the week before and the week after a major aspect is exact often hold the most energy and information for us to work with.
IF YOU ATTENDED last week's teleclass, you know that in addition to talking about the planetary influences for the next six months, I also pulled a tarot card to help us anchor into the greater meaning and intention for each month. For this, I used one of my favorite decks -- the Osho Zen Tarot.
The card I pulled for the last two weeks of June is shown at the top of today's Journal. (If you receive this journal as text only, the image is of a flower growing out of rocks.) The title of the card is "Courage," and here's part of the interpretation:
"The seed cannot know what is going to happen, the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that there is the potential to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed...But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving...The sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why.
"The flower shows us the way, as its passion for life leads it out of the darkness and into the light. There is no point fighting against the challenges of life, or trying to avoid or deny them. They are there, and if the seed is to become the flower we must go through them. Be courageous enough to grow into the flower you are meant to be."
When this card came up in response to my request for guidance for the last two weeks of June, I thought, how perfect. Above all else, perhaps, we need Courage as we go through the challenges of the Pluto-Uranus square -- especially those of us who are working directly with the effects through transits to their natal planets.
PLUTO AND URANUS are the two planets most notorious for initiating life changes and breaking us free from the structures and restrictions that have become too comfortable -- and therefore have begun to stifle our potential.
Even if our external lives appear fairly stable right now, most of us are aware of the underlying feeling of uncertainty, of being on the edge of chaos at times. And, for those whose life experience is in full reconfiguration mode right now, stability can seem a distant memory.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES of any Pluto transit is that it asks us: "How do you respond to life when it seems to no longer be within your ability to control?" In providing circumstances that seem uncontrollable, Pluto pushes us to find true empowerment -- which is defined NOT by having control or power over everything in life, but by having the internal strength that is not toppled by external events.
And, the challenge offered by any Uranus transit is the question: "What do you need to change, to do differently, so that you can start to live life more authentically, more independently, and in ways that release you to be your Full Genius Self?" To help us find that answer, Uranus often seems to create chaos, so that we get thrown out of our usual wagon-wheel ruts and learn to create new roads to travel.
THESE TWO PLANETS are now together in the sparring ring. And, since they are in square aspect (90 degrees apart), they are each pumped full of adrenalin and eager to prove their points.
Each is pushing the other to deliver its best "one-two punch." The result is that many of us are moving more quickly along the road to empowerment and liberation than we might have consciously chosen, given the opportunity.
THE OTHER MAJOR INFLUENCE this week comes from Saturn, as the ringed planet completes its retrograde phase and comes to a standstill next Sunday. Whenever a planet slows to change direction, its influence is increased.
The confusing part about this is that Saturn's influence is nearly opposite in effect to the Pluto-Uranus energy. Whereas the latter two planets are eager to point us toward change, Saturn is conservative and tends to prefer slow movement or even none at all.
So, depending on which planets are working with your chart directly, you may either be selling everything and moving to Los Angeles, or you might be feeling uninspired and wondering why you don't have the energy or can't see clearly what to do next.
And, if you are lucky enough (!) to have all three planets working directly with planets in your natal chart right now, you may feel that you have one foot on the train and the other foot stuck on the platform. Uncomfortable and a bit scary, to say the least.
EACH OF US is working with this combination of influences to some extent, whether or not our natal planets are directly affected. Transiting planets are always moving through one of the houses of our charts -- it's just that the effect is magnified if our natal planets are also engaged.
If you are feeling Saturn more strongly right now, you are probably feeling some frustration, even bordering on depression for some. Saturn is all about getting us to be realistic and responsible, and wants us to drain the last bit of lesson out of any issues that have arisen.
If this is true for you, you've probably been working with the core issues since last October-November, when Saturn first crossed 22 degrees of Libra. And, the issues may very well involve themes related to the sign of Libra: relationships and partnerships, legalities and fairness, and interpersonal harmony or the lack thereof.
THE GOOD NEWS is that as Saturn starts moving forward over the next few weeks, some of that feeling of "being stuck" should start to ease. If we've learned whatever lessons Saturn has required of us -- if we've been good students, responsible and disciplined -- we can usually rely on Saturn to say "good job, well done," and provide us with glimpses of the sky after we've been too long in a basement without windows.
Over the next three months, as Saturn completes its journey through Libra, many remaining issues will be supported in finding resolution, especially in the Libran areas mentioned. And, since Saturn helps us manifest our reality in physical terms, we may also find projects and ideas gaining more solid form as well.
Blessings,
Pam
NorthPoint Astrology Blog: For additional metaphysical perspectives, please visit http://northpointastrology.blogspot.com/ -- I look forward to your comments! To Subscribe to the NorthPoint Journal: If you have been forwarded this issue of my NorthPoint Astrology Journal and would like to receive it directly every week, please click here. Then, scroll down to the bottom of the webpage, fill out the subscription form, and click on Submit. To request a personal astrology reading, please e-mail Pam at pam@northpointastrology.com. Or, see the "Readings" page at www.northpointastrology.com to learn more. Please feel free to share this NorthPoint Journal with people you think may enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including our contact and copyright information. Copyright NorthPoint Astrology 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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