Dear Friend and Reader:

Pluto is in the news today. Several planets are making aspects at once, which is going to let out a little of that Plutonian force like tapping a nail into a shaken-up keg of beer.

As you can see from the aspect list below, there are a lot of aspects many days. The system we’re using, created by a friend in the UK, tracks about 100 planets of various shades, and provides what is called an aspectarian. The list does NOT include aspects made by the Moon; it only includes what are called “mutual aspects,” that is, aspects between bodies orbiting the Sun, and a few fixed points in space such as the Galactic Core.

Scanning the list, Pluto comes up three times today, one of them being in an aspect everyone (as in all astrologers) will see — Mercury square Pluto. Mercury has made a number of squares the past few days. This is deeply introspective and it’s a reminder to keep things that way — and to keep them light, in the interpersonal world. One of the problems with squares is that we can experience them inwardly, and then if the pressure is too intense, project them, mainly as inconsistency.

So the thing to do with Mercury squares is work them out for yourself. Get clear, and then be clear when you communicate. This is particularly true where Pluto is concerned. In other words: how much are you coming from fear, and how much from creativity?

It will be interesting to see how horoscope writers handle this particular aspect today, particularly given that it’s in the powerful cardinal signs, suggesting that it is time for action of some sort. Of course, the rest of the newspaper will be pretty interesting too.

Eros trine Pluto is a reminder that the underlying subject matter driving the equation of one’s life forward is generally erotic in nature. You don’t have to advertise this, but you have to know about it. In other words, you need to understand your motives, so that you’re in touch with your motives. The idea is, if you want to be happy, balanced and moreover effective, don’t allow yourself to be unconsciously driven by deep, dark motives; rather, pay attention to those motives, so that you will be the boss of your own mind and not the other way around.

This is pretty much the game of astrology. Its detractors say it’s about “fate,” but actually you could not get further from the truth for most astrologers — though I will admit that quite a few of them are indeed confused, because of the allure of astrology’s supposedly predictive powers. Within certain limits, astrology can be predictive, but that has to do with the talent of the practitioner and his or her alignment to Spirit. It has very little to do with astrology itself, since you could just as well use coffee grinds.

What astrology offers is a coherent map of consciousness and in effect, a diagram of the options we have open to us. Most of those options are on the level of ideas.

Note that Mercury is opposite something called M87 at the same time it is square Pluto. (We’re working on getting the new version of Word Press to connect to the article with an illustration of M87.) This is a big amplifier. It is the THING that is on the Aries Point. Many astrologers have noted that the first degree of Aries works like a planet. Most of them don’t know there is a fixed point right there, in the form of a huge galaxy on the ecliptic, i.e., the path of the Sun.

Speaking of the Sun — it, too, is aspecting one of these galactic points, called the Great Attractor. This is another one that 99% of astrologers pretend is not there. But this is a little like visiting New York City and pretending midtown Manhattan is not there. The Great Attractor is invisible, far from our galaxy and drawing toward it the Milky Way and a million other galaxies.

A trine from the Sun will open up some of that potency to public (and personal) availability.

Today should be a pretty interesting day. Listen to what you hear, and pay attention to what you say.

Thursday 03 April 2008

Chariklo (9+ Scorpio Rx) septile Pluto (1+ Capricorn Rx)
Mercury (0+ Aries) sesquiquadrate Hidalgo (15+ Scorpio Rx)
Eros (1+ Taurus) quincunx M87 (1+ Libra)
Amor (20+ Aries) sesquiquadrate Hylonome (5+ Sagittarius Rx)
Eros (1+ Taurus) trine Pluto (1+ Capricorn Rx)
Sun (13+ Aries) quintile Hades (25+ Gemini)
Venus (26+ Pisces) quincunx Sisyphus (26+ Libra Rx)
Sun (13+ Aries) sextile Nessus (13+ Aquarius)
Mercury (1+ Aries) opposite M87 (1+ Libra)
Mercury (1+ Aries) square Pluto (1+ Capricorn Rx)
Sun (14+ Aries) trine Great Attractor (14+ Sagittarius)
Mars (11+ Cancer) quintile Asbolus (29+ Aries)
Atlantis (23+ Libra Rx) septile Saturn (2+ Virgo Rx)
Saturn (2+ Virgo Rx) semisquare Varuna (17+ Cancer)
Venus (26+ Pisces) square Galactic Center (26+ Sagittarius)
Mercury (1+ Aries) sextile Ceres (1+ Gemini)
Amor (20+ Aries) quintile Kronos (2+ Cancer)
Uranus (20+ Pisces) sextile Sedna (20+ Taurus)
Sun (14+ Aries) trine Ixion (14+ Sagittarius Rx)

May 30, 2002 - Scorpio - Weekly

Are you grieving the loss of the original woman you once were who you may have sacrificed to goals you did not really want or were forced to give up in order to survive in the world? The fact that you can feel at all is evidence that she is still alive within you for she is the part of you who feels. Yet for her to find full expression in your life you must not be afraid to become her entirely and surrender to her necessities and desires. This holds true particularly among your friends who are the people who often limit who we are the most. Her primal wound is really about judgment and the fear of judgment and yet she is in all truth blameless. For the men: can you stand a real woman in your life? Can you give her the room and the freedom to BE?

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