Dear Friend and Reader:
Planets are concentrating in the water signs. At the moment we have Mercury (still retrograde till July 20) and Jupiter (plus the Sun) in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio, and Chiron plus Neptune in Pisces. There’s an odd point called the Black Moon Lilith in Cancer, along with the North Node of the Moon in Scorpio.
And that’s not all — later in the year, the next solar eclipse is going to be in Scorpio, as will the next Mercury retrograde.
This is a very watery extended moment; it’s truly unusual to have this much in the water signs, and nothing like it has happened for many years. I cannot think of a time since becoming an astrologer when so many slow-moving planets have been in the water signs at the same time.
Starting Saturday, we can add Mars in Cancer to the collection. This adds some substantial heat, energy and emotion (energy in motion) to the grand water trine; it’s a factor likely to make the aspect pattern a much more noticeable presence.
Mars will emphasize the other water planets; they will provide a resonance field for Mars to have its effects. In the sign Cancer, we embark immediately on questions of whether we feel safe or secure. True, those have been present to some extent with Mercury and Jupiter in Cancer, but Mars really pushes the question.
We do a lot of what we do supposedly to make ourselves feel safer. Yet no matter how many locks you have on your door, passwords on your computer, Net Nannies guarding your children from the dangers of the Internet, air bags, organic food, extra insurance and floating airline seats, do we really feel any safer?
Mars is going to stir the pot on the question of whether you feel safe. This is a complicated question in our time of history, with the planet rigged with nuclear bombs, pesticides sprayed on our foods and continual reminders that the economy is a house of cards held up mainly by credit. The question of safety is really an interior one; it’s a matter between you and yourself.
The theme of relationships comes into the picture. In December, Mars enters Libra, and through much of 2014, Mars will be retrograde in that sign — focusing many questions on how we relate to others and whether we feel safe with them. Between now and August, Mars will be making a square to the degrees in Libra where the retrograde will happen — so we will get a preview.
Mars will make a series of aspects this summer, starting Saturday, that are similar to what we will experience when Mars is in Libra. The main difference is that now, we get to take the questions in the most personal way; with Mars in Libra they will manifest in interpersonal or relational ways.
This will be a time to do the inner work to sort out your deeper questions about what makes you feel safe and what threatens you. It’s an excellent time to notice all the ways you do things to feel safer that really get you nowhere — and the approaches to feeling secure that you don’t usually opt for.
This includes whom you choose to relate to, whom you choose to live with, and why.
Simply stated, you will notice things under this transit; small details will emerge in larger form; subtle fears will rise up and show you what they are. In my reading of the charts, these include the fear of being sincere, and not knowing what to do when others are sincere.
But if you stop and think about it, it’s not such a difficult question.
Lovingly,
Weekly Horoscope for Friday, July 12, 2013, #958 | By Eric Francis
Aries (March 20-April 19) — Find the courage and you can accomplish anything. It’s one thing to be headstrong, determined or pushy. It’s another to be brave. Unless you’re familiar with bravery, the distinction may seem like just words, though it’s not — there is a heartfelt confidence in courage; there is the trust that you’ll be able to meet your challenges and not be deterred by your hang-ups. As you discover this space within yourself, you’ll begin to pick up momentum and gather strength from what may seem like invisible sources within you. If there’s a sexual element to this, it’s about a craving to explore in physical reality what you might not even be able to speak about under ordinary circumstances. Your fantasies may lead the way; the courage aspect involves giving yourself permission to go new places with your body and your emotions, with authentic curiosity where this may lead you.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) — One interesting thing about jealousy is that it’s laid on us like a law. Through social conditioning, fear and lack of understanding, it can seem like a gag reflex that’s not subject to any conscious control. You know that’s not true, despite what some people around you may be telling you. It remains your choice to give jealousy its own meaning, which is another way of saying deciding for yourself what power it will have over you. To do that, it would help to understand the nature of jealousy. There is one theory that it’s a veiled confrontation with death, through the potential loss of a relationship. I have another theory: beneath the veil of jealousy is the hottest passion that we’re capable of experiencing — not a flirtation with surrender but a direct encounter with it. You might find it strange at first that the thing you feared the most becomes a way to what you crave the most. In a word, that is healing.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) — You may be ambivalent about what you want, though I don’t think you will be for long. Here is a clue. What you desire is not knowable by a concept in your head; you’ll gain access to it through a feeling in your body. It’s not what someone told you is important to you but rather what resonates in your blood and bones as urgent, necessary and true. You often display a strong protective urge for people close to you — that might emerge, though I suggest you direct that energy into taking care of yourself. Recognize your priorities — including the ones that have proven difficult to bring into focus, and the goals that have been difficult to manifest; choose the most important ones and take action. I think you’ll notice that you’re no longer trying to push something uphill but rather like it’s suspended in water. Take full advantage of a higher-than-usual efficiency between the energy you exert and the results that you get.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You may have no idea what draws other people to you, though you don’t need to understand in order for that thing to work. Indeed, it seems inevitable that it will, yet at the same time you’re likely to feel different, even like a different person. I suggest you keep your emotions closer to the surface of your awareness, be they anger, passion, love, frustration or determination. Transparency is good for you now; burying your feelings will create interference. You’re likely to be someone who was taught to take out your negative feelings on yourself. This was part of making sure you’re available as one constantly in the role of taking care of others. Let your feelings out into the open and notice what you feel. Rather than worry about what others think, observe the results that you get. You’re likely to make some unexpected (and what you might consider strange) discoveries.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You have exceptional insight into the nature of reality right now — both your own and that of other people. It may not be in your nature to volunteer information where it hasn’t been asked for, though where it has been asked for is another question. If you’re in question about this, ask yourself exactly why you know what you know, and what purpose your powers of observation might be intended to serve. If your answer is that they are for you alone, I suggest thinking a little deeper. The service aspects in your chart are especially powerful right now, and you don’t need to be the personal beneficiary of your own goodwill. Indeed, it seems appropriate that you consciously take at least some action every day that is offered for the benefit of someone else with no thought of a direct payback. If you’re hesitating, I suggest you ask yourself what you’re holding onto.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Take some time and observe the dynamics among your friends. Your social environment is changing about as fast as you can keep up with it (probably a bit faster). It’s never been quite like this, and it is presenting you with nothing but opportunities. To see them for what they are will require thinking differently. To do that, it’ll help to see the world in a more creative way, seeing possibilities that others would overlook and most of all thinking bigger than you usually do. By bigger I don’t mean going from the 16-ounce size to the 24-ounce size; I mean by orders of magnitude. Go beyond ‘doing anything is really cool’ to seeing your limits and then seeing beyond them. I don’t think that these ideas are going to come directly from others, though you will see something in the patterns of how others relate, what they say and how their thoughts bounce off of one another.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — This is an unusual moment of achievement for you. By that I mean that despite any doubts you may have, over the next few weeks through the end of the year, you’re likely to accomplish at least three things you might have previously believed were highly unlikely or even impossible. Don’t worry about how you will get to your end goal. I suggest you not be especially concerned if you don’t even have one of those — rather, focus on your direction of travel. I suggest you take the trip one conscious, tangible step at a time. Look for modest, obvious objectives, and focus on doing what you do better rather than faster. Pacing is essential — there’s a lot of pressure from Mars about to come into play, which might feel like pushing you to pick up your speed. You will get your best results with a slow and steady pace despite any deadlines you might face. As you move through this territory, an obvious and very significant goal is likely to manifest for you, and you will know exactly what to do.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Your traditional ruling planet Mars is about to enter Cancer, joining many other planets in the water signs. Meanwhile, the mighty Saturn in your birth sign has recently stationed direct. Between these two developments you’re likely to feel that the universe is not only more cooperative but actually shows responsiveness to your creative power. Focus on the positive, including feelings, desires and images. If you have to vent some steam or some spleen, write an angry letter to God or go to your therapist’s office and let it out there — then move on quickly. This is one of those times when what you focus on will increase, which is why I am suggesting you focus on the positive. You can do that thing where you view problems as opportunities; you may notice that it’s strangely effective. That’s not a magical result as much as it is a creative one. If you’re confronted with a problem, take the occasion to solve it on a systemic level and let it point you to a greater achievement.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Some element of darkness, doubt or shadow will emerge with deep sexual or emotional passion. Therefore you don’t need to be surprised if and when it does — though it would help if you know how to handle yourself. Step one is don’t go into denial. Step two is don’t blame yourself or anyone, just stay with the feelings involved. Step three is remember that these feelings are flexible and therefore subject to change. The mind has a way of making what is now seem like it’s permanent — especially when it comes to emotions. Remember that the feeling body is associated with the element water. Water flows easily; it always seeks balance; it has a way of permeating anything. The only time that’s not true is when it’s frozen, which is unlikely — you’re likely to be feeling a healthy dose of heat over the next few days and I suggest you let it thaw anyplace chilly, and explore the results as you melt the stuck places in your soul.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Mars arrives in your opposite sign Cancer on Saturday, and that’s a message to get used to people having strong feelings about you. Since we live in a time when it’s considered appropriate to panic when someone looks at us, I suggest you open up and be ready for some strong reactions to your presence. Most of them will be positive; some you might need to deflect. But energy is energy, and it’s coming your way. Timing factors indicate clearly that this influx will come into focus between now and July 27, at which time it will not wane but rather increase. This is the time to be present in your environment and the extent to which you’re a focus of interest, rather than trying to hide in your room. What could possibly lead me to think you might do that? Perhaps it’s something in your chart; perhaps it’s something about our moment, wherein confidence is at an all-time low.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You’re entering what may be the busiest month of your life so far. It will be up to you to make it one of the most productive. While you’re likely to feel the impulse to take immediate action, I suggest you take the next week or so and develop a plan, or at least a focused list of priorities. Some items on that list will lend themselves to movement now, and if you’re planning carefully you will notice that some will require preparation. And I think you will notice that one objective or goal stands high above the rest, and you are likely to know about it now. I suggest you organize yourself around your highest priorities and then work in descending order, coming back to that basic structure when in doubt. The thing to avoid is being driven by your emotions. Let them have their place — and make sure that your motto in these days of your life is ‘mind over matter’.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — I can remember no time in my work as an astrologer where the planets were more favorably aligned for Pisces than they are now. It would be fair to call this a visionary moment. Your two ruling planets, Jupiter and Neptune, are in excellent shape, placed in water signs; Mars is about to ingress your sympathetic water sign Cancer. Many other factors are adding up to something truly special. There is one factor that you alone can bring, which is the courage to take risks. I could rant endlessly about our society of wimps who are afraid to make eye contact or have a conversation in person, but I will skip that. The risks I suggest you take are mostly human — stating clearly what you feel, without glossing over the important parts; engaging people you’re interested in rather than waiting for them to come to you; and giving yourself direct permission to ignore the ‘rules’ and express yourself boldly. If you can do these things for yourself, you will open the way to miracles.