Time for an update – things are shifting!

Saturn has just turned direct, Mars is out of his shadow zone, Mercury (and then Venus) are about to move through the sensitive area of the skies that runs through the cardinal square and Jupiter has just changed signs. It’s definitely time for an update and a fresh look at where we find ourselves now.

Saturn will have been really digging deep into what issues need to be addressed and where we need to put in the effort in our lives. Digging into the depths of Pluto and the psychological and political undercurrents that are there is often hard work, but Saturn is strong, solid, and if any planet can really get to grips with these issues, confront them and ensure they are steered into something constructive, it’s Saturn. So the past weeks, since the Sun opposed Saturn in the second week of May, has brought much to chew over and many issues have been highlighted which we will get the chance to deal with over the coming weeks as this heavy-hitting planet moves back over the areas which bring these issues to light. By the end of October he will be done and moving onto pastures new.

Pastures new…

Meanwhile Mars has moved out of his shadow zone – he is done with backtracking over issues and is now focusing on spending his energy on looking out new horizons. Scorpio is beckoning to Mars, he is just moving through the last degrees of Libra where he isn’t all that comfortable – other people make too many demands on his energy; things take too much time, discussion, compromise – this still needs to happen in order to make sure recent positive developments aren’t broken, but soon (soon!) Mars will be in Scorpio where he feels freer to spend his energy, where decisions can be made and acted upon quickly and where projects can move forwards without too many people trying to get involved and delaying things.

Watch towards the end of July as Mars sensitises the point where the Sun and Venus will reach their superior conjunction. This happens in November and marks the end of the Venus cycle and the start of the new one and Mars moving over that point can highlight what that cycle is closing down and also what it will initiate.

Meanwhile Jupiter has moved into Leo where he will remain until August next year. Both Jupiter and Leo are optimistic and expansive – Jupiter in a philosophical and jovial way, Leo in a generous and regal way. Sometimes these energies work well together and sometimes they bring out a spirit of competitiveness whereby each one tries to do the other. This can lead to physical ailments, inflammations, sprains, and also to problems caused by over-spending, trying to win approval and demanding recognition and acknowledgement. To make the most of Jupiter in Leo you need to ensure you have a strong core of self confidence that doesn’t need approval from others and that is happy to get involved in projects as an equal participant – even if you do know best it’s best to show this through example rather than instruction. For those in positions of management or leadership this can be a great time provided you are generous, inclusive and respectful in your leadership style without being patronising or dogmatic.

This could be you if you don’t watch the Jupiter in Leo tendency to over-indulge.
Image from War and Peas:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Peas-Michael-Foreman/dp/1842700839

Colouring the mood of all these major changes are the movements of the smaller, inner planets starting with the opposition to Pluto that Mercury has just made. Mercury is moving through Cancer and so coming into stressful contact with the heavies involved in the cardinal square – Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. We can expect some challenging communications – or we can expect to be making some challenging communications over the next few days. It is likely to begin with a sense of there being power struggles or undercurrents, especially at work or in relation to authority. Later in the week the challenges come about as a result of tensions between a sense of what others need and a desire to take a ‘me first’, more rebellious attitude. Uranus has recently turned backwards himself so it is likely that these communications or messages reinforce some thinking going on recently about getting the balance right between putting ourselves first and thinking about those to whom we owe some kind of duty of care, some sense of responsibility.

Meanwhile the Sun moves into Leo and connects with Jupiter expanding that sense of optimism I wrote about above – the end of the week is a great time for creative, fun activities, playing with children, performing, entertaining. If the sun is shining have a picnic, go out to a concert or just go out and play with the kids! (Maybe even channel some of that potentially fractious Mercury energy into a fun water pistol fight – just so long as you are prepared to clean up the mess yourself J).

One last thing to watch at the moment – Venus is casting a rosy glow over things, making a flowing connection with mystical, magical Neptune, this is the stuff that dreams are made of. Enjoy it but don’t take it too seriously because by the end of the month Venus is bumping through the cardinal square herself – it’s an opportunity to have realistic dreams become more concrete, but if you’ve made for yourself an unrealistic little bubble then it is likely to be burst. The trick to making the most of it is to enjoy things for what they are right here, right now without expectations and then what travels into August with you will be the lasting stuff.

 

Make the most of it! I will be back as soon as I can with more.

Bring on Neptune and a rosy-glow

Another shift in energies is upon us – not as dramatic as the shifts that accompanied Saturn’s move into Scorpio back in October, but notable nonetheless, and they don’t really work in harmony with one another, so might need a bit of extra attention from us. First of all, tomorrow evening (21:51GMT) the Sun moves into Sagittarius, bringing some relief from the heavy Scorpio energies that have been around for a while now. Once in Sagittarius the energy of the Sun starts to light up our interest in far horizons, distant cultures, adventures and philosophy. It is a far more expansive and outward looking energy than Scorpio, where for the past month the Sun has been interested in digging deep and exploring intense experiences.

On the other hand, Venus, who has been happily keeping the peace and being diplomatic in Libra is poised to enter Scorpio, only a few short hours after the Sun leaves. So while the Sun is starting to look at far horizons, Venus starts to dig deep and get intense. Venus is not at all comfortable in Scorpio, it makes her feel vulnerable and threatened. With Venus ruling all things to do with relationships, beauty, art and finances too we can expect things to start getting a bit deeper and more demanding around these issues. You might also find people are a bit more prickly or defensive than usual, especially the people you are closest to – or maybe it’s you who’s feeling like that. Either way, the best approach is to be patient and not over-react, that way you get the benefits of Venus’s deep insight while she’s in Scorpio without triggering her insecurities too much.

As the Sun and Venus both move signs they move into aspect with Neptune in sync with the Sun squaring Neptune and then Venus trining Neptune less than two hours later. Neptune is now going forwards and enjoying being at home in dreamy Pisces – this could frustrate the Sun who wants to get active and get real while Neptune just wants to waft around. Unfortunately it’s a good aspect for people who want to pull the wool over your eyes – and while Venus is also getting all dreamy-eyed and wanting to escape the more unpleasant side of life this makes it more possible for liars, cheats or con-artists to slip past your guard. Of course not everyone right now is like that but it’s best not to make any lasting decisions, not to commit to anything that seems too good to be true (it probably is) until the rosy glow has lifted a bit. Instead use the time to get inspired, get spiritual or cosy up to a loved one, or loved film, or loved book etc.

This could be a great time for anyone involved in the arts – the square to the Sun is very creative and the trine from Venus brings a harmonious vibration. It’s really great for creative work, problem solving and also, with the Sun in Sagittarius, the ruler of higher education, good for anyone involved in academic work or professions such as law or publishing. Make the most of this time – it’s a lead in to some pretty heavy-hitting and long lasting aspects that begin only a day after the Sun and Venus contact Neptune and may well set the scene for years to come. More on them next!