Happy New Years eve, everybody! So we made it — another trip around the Sun. Mars squares the Aries point and re-enters Gemini today, inching closer to his opposition to Pluto. I have a mixed bag of feelings as this year ends and the new one begins, albeit symbolically — some would say, it’s just another day isn’t it? In the astute words of the Onion: “What the fuck just happened?” It’s been an intense journey on all accounts; just thinking of the mindless war we seem to be sinking deeper into is enough to fry my brain.

Ever since I announced Jupiter was in my travel zone, I find myself overcome with wanderlust — I was in DC over Christmas, heading to India soon, and a friend just called me an hour ago with an offer for a possible free ticket to Egypt if I choose. I also just got back from visiting Eric in Kingston this weekend; he had invited his dad (Joe) and his wife over for dinner and they were kind enough to give me a ride upstate.

After dinner we were sitting around watching videos on the Onion website and the conversation turned to satire in the media — whether or not it was an effective medium of communication, when what we are dealing with in the world feels like a giant rubber band waiting to snap. Especially so, since what is supposed to be satire is unfortunately more true than what we hear in the news.

Joe observed that there was more apathy in the current and younger generations than there ever was before, with society more geared towards amusement than a making a meaningful contribution to the world we live in. That we could be doing more is hardly a debatable point, but I don’t think the problem lies with any particular generation.

Violence is so common these days, we have to try and avoid it rather than seek it. To be honest, it got so bad that sometime around summer I stopped watching the news. It can make one want to shut out and off — personally I don’t need to know a body count, because to me even one death is too many.

So what constitutes action? How can we say we are part of the solution and not the problem? With the highly charged Aries Point, (a point that illustrates ‘the personal is politcal’), about to be triggered again by the Mars about to oppose Pluto, we are now being called to action. It can be extremely overwhelming to make sense of the world we live in.

But the way I see it, we get to choose how we express our concern for the larger world. Some risk their lives, some write, some serve and some make people laugh. We all have our innate abilities, and not everybody was born to be an activist. This to me is the message of the Aries Point — that we do what we can to make a difference, however inconsequential or insignificant it feels. Even if it means making just one person smile, or listening when someone wants to talk.

As Mars approaches his opposition to Pluto, it’s classic story of an ending and a beginning. We are on the brink of evolution. The Aries Point suggests this is a very personal story and each persons story is a mirror for us all to learn from. The coming year has much in store for us in the way of change, which we can do lot in steering the direction of — we will have the opportunity now.

Looking back on the year personally, I feel a sense of peace and triumph. I have learnt to be more forgiving of myself, and I find this makes it really easy to forgive others. If I am not perfect, how can I expect anyone else to be. There is a quiet knowing, learning and accepting that in reality, I really don’t know anything. All I am aware of is that there is a ‘now’ and this ‘now’, holds the potential for as much joy as it does sorrow. It is my choice that dictates my experience, and every moment is a moment to choose again.

I will probably head out with my friend Cole tonight and try to get into the spirit of things. As I look forward to 2008, I can sum it up to the lyrics of ‘The Wind’ by the then Cat Stevens, playing on my Itunes right now. I wish all of you a happy, joyous, lovey, New Year under the ever charming Libra Moon. Make nice, let bygones be bygones, let’s learn our lessons and move on. Be safe, I leave you with the Oracle and I’ll catch you in 2008!

Love,

Priya

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I am now available for private astrology consultations. Please email me at priya@planetwaves.net to schedule an appointment or for more information. You can also of course email me to say hi!

== Full Aspects

Amor (18+ Pisces) septile Ceres (9+ Taurus)
Moon (9+ Libra) square Sun (9+ Capricorn) - Last Quarter Moon
Eros (26+ Aquarius) trine Hades (26+ Gemini Rx)
Sisyphus enters Scorpio (direct)
Sisyphus (0 Scorpio) quincunx Aries Point (0 Aries)
Psyche (13+ Scorpio) septile Logos (21+ Virgo Rx)
Saturn (8+ Virgo Rx) square Pholus (8+ Sagittarius)
Ceres (9+ Taurus) sextile Pallas (9+ Pisces)
Sun (9+ Capricorn) sextile Chariklo (9+ Scorpio)
Mars (0+ Cancer Rx) trine Sisyphus (0+ Scorpio)
Venus (1+ Sagittarius) sextile M87 (1+ Libra)
Mars enters Gemini (retrograde)
Mars (0 Cancer Rx) square Aries Point (0 Aries)
Vesta (5+ Aquarius) septile Great Attractor (14+ Sagittarius)
Apollo (3+ Leo Rx) trine Hylonome (3+ Sagittarius)
Venus (1+ Sagittarius) quintile Chiron (13+ Aquarius)
Sun (9+ Capricorn) trine Ceres (9+ Taurus)
Mercury (18 Capricorn) quintile Aries Point (0 Aries)
Sun (9+ Capricorn) sextile Pallas (9+ Pisces)
Psyche (13+ Scorpio) square Chiron (13+ Aquarius)
Venus (1+ Sagittarius) septile Arachne (10+ Libra)

== Archive Quote

“Perhaps you liked it better in the dark, though by now, with your eyes adjusted and the landscape of life making an impression on your brain, you’re probably not complaining so much any more. Shifts ranging from the subtle to the not-so-subtle have occurred on all levels and in all directions of your life. Your task now is reorientation, and this means reassessment of purpose and redistribution of time. The phase of fertilization and seeding is now complete, though if you create an atmosphere conducive to growth, you will be quite surprised the gusto with which your creations go from sprout to bloom to fruit. What would be conducive to such growth? Devote your life to working-out, to human contact, and mainly to simplicity — then watch those flowers grow.”

– Eric Francis, Planet Waves Oracle, Mar 01, 2000, Pisces - Monthly

Exactly a year ago as Pluto made his first conjunction to the Galactic Core in 248 years, we saw the execution of Saddam Hussein. Yesterday, saw the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. No matter how intense the astrology, news like this is always a shock. The highly charged Aries Point is beginning to send out it’s shock waves, and will continue to do so until we get the message. What the implications of this situation and its effects will be on our currently extremely fragile world only time will tell.

But for now, if there is anything we can be sure of at this moment politically or personally — change is certain. As Mars approaches Pluto, we will soon see this story is far from over.

Overnight, the Moon entered Virgo and over the next two days will make a series of powerful aspects to major and minor planets. On a personal level, Luna in this mental earthy sign will hopefully be a welcome respite from any intense yearning and turmoil we’ve been through. I keep saying this because I look around me and I see people are really not having an easy time. We are still coming down from the energy of an extremely potent Full Moon that brought many emotions to a boil.

Over the next few days as the Moon passes through Virgo it trines the Mercury, Jupiter and the Sun in Capricorn. Trines can be easy aspects but the danger is in letting them slip by. To really make use of this energy we need to put in a little effort. There is potential now for a deep strengthening of bonds, if we can swallow our pride and decide to work together.

Saturday, as the Moon trines Mercury, she is also approaching an opposition to Uranus in Pisces; Mercury sextiles Uranus later that night. Letting go of critical tendencies — in ourselves and others, is the only way to happiness at the moment. The alignment is awakening an explosion of feelings, inspiration and creativity from a source deep within. Creative pursuits can actually begin to take concrete shape now if we focus our energies right; and is this involves matters of the heart, its time to put down our defenses and talk it out. If we allow it, passion will find it’s tongue and this time around it can actually be coherent and effective.

On Sunday, the Sun trines a retrograde Saturn in Virgo giving us much needed solidity in this time of upheaval. This is a chance to resolve some buried issues in an effort to move forward successfully. We can look forward to some much needed grounding, from a familiar source as long as we are willing to listen with compassion and work with ingenuity.

Also on Sunday, Venus ingresses Sagittarius trining the Aries Point and forming a quincunx to Mars. In Scorpio, Venus has taken us on a slow tour into the depths of our hearts, drenching us with sexually charged energy. Hopefully this trial by fire has shown us the purity of real love and compassion that transcends all adversity and darkness. It may have felt like drowning at times but hopefully we have gathered some pearls from our journey to the bottom.

Like the phoenix rising, Venus now enters Sagittarius allowing our hearts to soar once again. As she trines Aries Point, we are likely to see an outpouring of grief over Bhutto’s assassination. But the alignment to Mars is likely to cause a bit of friction.

Venus desires freedom, while Mars is churning up our need for security and bringing to the surface all our insecurities. We need to be careful of saying something we don’t mean just to get a reaction. Sensitivities are heightened, and in our defensiveness we can be just as hurtful to another. We automatically assume the worst case scenario sometimes, without really listening to what another is trying to say.

As someone recently said to me “If only we men and women wouldn’t by default assume the worst of each other, or of the situation. Why can’t we assume or hope for the best?” We need to tread gently in our intimate relationships right now. Don’t allow past resentments to interfere with your current opportunities for freedom. With all the other supportive alignments between the Moon and other planets, we can actually reach a break through if we try.

Our past is our past and does not dictate the future, it is time we opened up our horizons. Venus in Sagittarius is re-birthing the fire in our spirit opening us up to a more evolved state of being. In spite of all the tension and reasons to worry at the moment, we should soon start feeling undeniably more optimistic about everything that seems to be currently looming as a dark shadow.

– Priya Kale, NYC

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I am now available for private astrology consultations. Please email me at priya@planetwaves.net to schedule an appointment or for more information. You can also of course email me to say hi!

==Full Aspects

Moon enters Virgo (direct)
Mercury (12+ Capricorn) sextile Psyche (12+ Scorpio)
Vesta (3+ Aquarius) sextile Hylonome (3+ Sagittarius)
Venus (27+ Scorpio) quintile Nessus (9+ Aquarius)
Pandora (9+ Scorpio) opposite Ceres (9+ Taurus Rx)
Pallas (8+ Pisces) quintile Galactic Center (26+ Sagittarius)
Sun (6+ Capricorn) septile Hidalgo (15+ Scorpio)
Mars (1+ Cancer Rx) septile Ceres (9+ Taurus Rx)
Mars (1+ Cancer Rx) square M87 (1+ Libra)
Ceres stations direct (9+ Taurus)

== Archive Quote

“The Sun is now in your opposite sign Aquarius which is emphasizing the most important relationships in your life. Yet many planets are about to arrive in Aquarius which means new people new circumstances and new opportunities. There are challenging busy days ahead. It’s a good thing you’re so talented at holding your center and remembering who you are; these are skills that will come in handy over the next few weeks. Yet I reckon from all this activity that you’re about to learn something truly extraordinary about yourself; a major discovery is on the horizon. It’s most likely to come through someone you meet and respect greatly.”
– Eric Francis, Planet Waves Oracle, Jan 26, 2005, Leo - Daily