Making Do

By Len Wallick

“If the Super Bowl is the Ultimate Game, why are they playing it again next year?”
— Duane Thomas

The Sun takes 365 days to go around the 360 degree circle that is the zodiac. That’s the baseline for astrology and everything else is in comparison to that. Once a year during this circuit Sol will conjoin with Saturn. It’s not rare like Jupiter-Uranus conjunctions in Aries or Pisces. It’s not exceptional either. The Sun bumps into everything on your ephemeris while taking a lap.

So what is it about this year? You can feel it. It’s been coming on for days, at least. Eric felt compelled to write a short but cogent blog about “The highlight of this week’s astrology” just this last Monday, and he’s a busy man. Perhaps we should start with the highlight’s of Eric’s highlight.

There were three salient points. The first had to do with your work and authority. Notice that relationship. Most of us feed, clothe and shelter ourselves by devoting our time and energy to someone else’s satisfaction. Eric’s point was to be present to the mutuality of the relationship between employer and employed. It makes sense because Saturn has to do with authority and what each of us do to fit in to avoid being ostracized to society’s fringes. Then again, if everybody said “no, I’m not going to work anymore”, on the same day at the same time well, the tables would turn. That’s why certain natural substances are against the law, by the way.

Second, the “do or die” feeling of a deadline. Actually, probably, a lot of deadlines. The recommendation here was to avoid putting any more on your plate during this aspect. To focus on doing well what you already have. That makes sense because Saturn is also about limits and focus.

Finally, working on, or at least paying attention to pressures to restore balance in our lives overall. This makes sense because Saturn is in Libra, where it is exalted, for the long haul now. Libra is energy perhaps more active than most folks give it credit for. From this perch it is more about attaining balance than being so.

Hopefully this is a fair and thorough reiteration of the ideas Eric was advancing. You have also read about four times this week that Saturn passed the lunar nodes. Leaving the cardinal T-square behind yet continuing in the spirit of creating a new paradigm, even while moving on to different business.

But what of the Sun? Must have left that hot piece of dim sum for yours truly. After all, old Sol is part of this conjunction too. So, appropriately the “high light” is where your faithful curmudgeon will pick the ball up and carry it a spell. So, again, what is this conjunction with Saturn all about this time?

In astrology, the Sun is dominant. Sure, a zodiac is terra-centric because that’s where we are. But the greater luminary calls the tune. Eclipses — what’s bigger than a solar eclipse? It burns a hole in the wheel that everything passing by falls into for years afterward. If one were to begin explaining astrology, you could do a lot worse than starting with an eclipse.

Symbolically, the Sun can represent the self as it is consciously created, expressed, and known by others. What you put out there that reflects back. It also represents leaders, kings, presidents, the one every body recognizes. The one who finishes first and is remembered for it. Or in the story where John the Baptist realized “oh, it’s you, here let me get you a towel.” That’s the feel of it. All earthlings know the Sun when exposed to it. It is that it is.

Yet, in astrology, it’s not exempted from the influence of the sign and/or house it occupies. Its influence is mediated, tempered, even transformed by spatial and angular relationships to the other objects on a chart. And that’s part of what is about to happen. When the Sun conjoins Saturn today (or tomorrow, depending on where you are), its relationship with a certain class of planets will enter an interesting period between now and shortly after the Capricorn solstice.

The class of planet referred to are called the malefic. As in the word malice. In traditional astrology there are benefics and malefics. Sort of like there are cherubim and seraphim among angels. One brings the good news, the other brings the bad news. The malefic are the bad boys. Nothing personal you understand. Realistically, it’s not always bad. Unpleasant-tasting medicine can often do wonders to improve your health and disposition. The advice you don’t want to hear is often what you need to heed. What you don’t want to do can be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Still, the malefics are not the most pleasant company. Some days, Mars would just as soon spin on you as look at you. Saturn can be cold enough to make brass monkeys remember how to run. Those are the two malefics of classical astrology. In more recent times, Pluto has been counted among them. One has yet to see a convincing argument against that. Or could you see Pluto skipping along scattering flower petals?

Didn’t think so.

After today and until the first week of February 2011, right about the time of the Super Bowl, the Sun will be in between malefics. First in between Saturn and Mars with Pluto on the far flank. Then between Pluto and Mars with Saturn going deep. Wouldn’t you know there is a name for that, and the word is besieged. That means the Sun’s style is due up to be cramped for the next four months or so. So, you may be asking yourselves, what’s up with that?

To start of with, anyone with birthdays between today and the fourth or fifth of February should not bet on football. Send your money to me instead. But seriously folks, a lot of Libras, most Scorpios, Sagittarians, Capricorns and some Aquarians are well advised to prepare for an ego bruising. To repeat, that may not be such a bad thing. To the best of one’s knowledge, nobody ever died from an insulted ego and if it does not kill you, you are bound to bounce back better than before.

Also, the next four months may be a bit rough, even dangerous for Libra political leaders, Scorpio heads of state, and Sagittarian household names. Capricorn sports heroes should be careful about getting caught with their pants down. Aquarian prima ballerinas should tape their ankles. Divas should gargle a lot no matter what their sign, ascendant or moon.

But you know, a world full of impaired egos could be just what the doctor ordered. Imagine celebrating your birthday like hobbits do. Gifting your friends instead of the other way around. Imagine thinking of what others want and need, first thing in the morning, last thing at night. Imagine service and fidelity to other human beings as your path to joy. It’s easy if you try.

That does not mean it’s going to be easy to make do. If ever we were sent up by synchronicity for a winter of discontent, this would be it. Just to say, try it on. Your intent need not be extinguished, only dedicated and devoted. Sure, it may take some getting used to, putting your beer and pretzel money in the Salvation Army kettle, but how about every other weekend? Somebody sure could use it, you know that.

Offered In Service