Mars in Leo squares Saturn in Scorpio exactly today just before 7:06 am EDT. This aspect has been building palpably for at least the last week, contrasting the fiery passion of Mars in Leo with the chillier, potentially stuck quality of Saturn in Scorpio.
You will likely experience this as some form of pressure or drive. It might be emotional pressure, such as experiencing the effects of emotions and desire you’ve denied; it might be creative drive, such as a push to express an idea or bring to completion a project that you started a while ago.
The key to this aspect is the slow, steady burn. Don’t try to storm the mountain or demolish all your inhibitions at once. Take them one at a time; approach your feelings gently, or at least as gently as you can. If you push too hard, you run the risk of burning out. If you don’t apply enough heat and pressure, your energy could fizzle out.
Mars in Leo encountering Saturn in Scorpio is calling for a conscious blend of yin and yang, of assertive change and voluntary letting go of what is blocking your progress.
As this develops, the Moon ingresses Scorpio overnight Sunday into today, having spent the weekend in Libra. Later today, Mercury enters Libra. Anything that ingresses Libra (as the Sun will soon do) gets involved with the longstanding Uranus-Pluto square and will come with events that reveal deeper facets of the times in which we’re living.
For those following the situation in Syria, Mercury ingressing Libra is a sign of ‘news about diplomacy’. But Mercury makes a series of surprising moves over the next week, as it passes through the Jupiter-Uranus-Pluto configuration. That means agreements made now will be subject to some radical revisions over the coming days.
One last astrology item: the Moon eclipsed Venus in Libra Sunday. There’s something here about sussing out the difference between desire and need. If you’ve found yourself in a discussion on the emotional content of a relationship yesterday or today, that would be a topic to bring into focus.
Nilou: Thanks for the story, it was beautiful! I haven’t seen too many ladybugs lately, we’re in a big drought and they’ve gone off to some place sensible.
Lizzy: I have checked out that site now, thanks for letting me know about it. It sounds very beautiful having a terrace near Rome with bees and lizards and geckos for company.
Bette: I’ve seen that book around, I may even have it here already, I tend to buy books and forget I have them.
Crescent Moon Bear
The Japanese folk tale of the Crescent Moon Bear, paraphrased from the version found in Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes:
http://www.catherinesvehla.com/my_weblog/2010/07/crescent-moon-bear-japanese-folktale.html
http://www.catherinesvehla.com/my_weblog/2010/07/crescent-moon-bear-japanese-folktale-1.html
http://www.catherinesvehla.com/my_weblog/2010/07/crescent-moon-bear-japanese-folktale-2.html
My most recent visit was from a ladybird/bug that flew into my left ear a few weeks ago while i was walking back from shopping. I let her fall into my left palm (i didn’t know what it was obviously) and she then flew and settled on the back of my hand and accompanied me right to my front door. I do believe she whispered ‘trust your wisdom and trust your feet’.
So much guidance, protection and blessing for us all.
Lizzy, thank you, for the link; and yes, everyday of bright sunshine is so precious now summer is ending.
Thank you, everyone, for being so hugable.
Thank you, sweet Bette! “…the urban-bound soul longing for the wild world” – you put it so beautifully, that’s me all over! And I feel that eventually I’ll probably end up moving to live in the countryside. I live in a teeny weeny top floor flat – but it has this lovely terrace, visited by many kinds of birds and inhabited by bees, lizards, gekkos, and you can see the Castelli hills, South of Rome, in the distance. I had the possibility to move into a slightly bigger flat for a slightly higher rent, but it would have meant giving up my lovely terrace. When people come and see me. they shake ther heads and wonder why I don’t try and find somewhere bigger – only kindred spirits understand why.
I’ll check out the book you suggested to Hazel – looks great!
Lizzy, so glad you got to see that beautiful red sunset. Such gifts do wonders for the urban-bound soul longing for the wild world. I lived in the city for 36 years, & always resented that I only got to see little slices of sky – never the whole, wonderful above, & never in darkness sufficient to see the stars. I hope you receive more such skies & lovely light. Many don’t notice such things, & I feel they’re poorer for it.
Hazel, the Sun Bear book “Dreaming the Wheel” is a rich resource for information on the meanings/messages from animals, birds, plants, & other natural things, from a Native American spiritual perspective.
“There’s a high spot north of Toronto that I race to, and if you saw the Sun…” What sheer delight, Daniel! Saw a spectacular sunset from my little (top floor) terrace yesterday evening, which tinged everything with a soft red light – made me feel less sore about not being able to get out into nature more.
Lions and tigers and bears… and wolves, oh my! What an amazing bear encounter Hazel! That’s a really big thing when you encounter a wild animal in that way – it really is telling you something. I’m so glad you called the sheriff. be safe out there in your running – that’s the number one priority.
Chief Niwots Son gave great advice – there’s masses of stuff if you go onto google.
You’ve probably already found this – one of my favourites which i’ve posted here before:
http://www.shamanicjourney.com/display-category/100-0-30/power_animals_totems_spirit_guides
This doesn’t have much to do with astrology, but if you care about bears, then go to http://www.bearsforever.ca and watch the video. Then do what you can to support the campaign to end trophy hunting. The grizzly bear hunt opens tomorrow on BC’s Central Coast. Every fall, trophy hunters load their guns into jet boats and bush planes, headed for the Great Bear Rainforest. Let’s try to change their minds.
Thanks! I jog in the mornings and a couple of times there has been a strange man driving out on the road, kind of stalking. Yesterday morning he pulled his car over, got out and was looking for me to come run by. I saw him fist and hid in the trees and when he started acting even weirder, by pumping his fists and kind of muttering, I ran like a rabbit cross country. So when I saw the big bear looking in at me later in the day, my first thought was he was kind of a protector guy, good energy watching me. I’ll check out google and see, thanks again! P.S. I called the sheriff and reported this weirdo and his car and they will post an extra patrol. And I’m going to schedule my run a half hour later in hopes that if he’s out earlier, at least I won’t be. And I have pepper spray. Can’t count on a bear to do EVERTHING.
Chief Niwots Son, thanks for the Bear hug! And I apologize to you that I was a total cycling speed demon today. Actually can I retroactivate that apology? And what’s the opposite of retroactivate? 😉 It’s the only time other than composing that I completely soar. There’s a high spot north of Toronto that I race to, and if you saw the Sun…. I feel blessed. I’m also sex deprived but that’s another less amazing story……..
Hey gals- let google be your friend. I searched “bear symbolism” and “wolf symbolism” and found multiple sites, reading through a few shows that you can find the common elements from several sites and come away with a good understanding of these potent animal symbols.
Bear- the first human/healer, strength, power.
Wolf- Cunning, freedom-loving, loyal.
Hazel1, I had a similar experience to that with a wolf in Yellowstone Park several years ago, only no glass in between. She/he was coming down a trail I was going up. I’d not thought of it for some time, tho the experience was electric. There’s nothing quite like it, is there? If you hear of a reputable source, I’d be interested in doing my own research.
Off subject here, does anybody know a good site to read about the symbolism of bears? I had a bear right in front of my window yesterday and he and I looked at each other through the glass and he/she went off to the north. I got a feeling that it was a good visit from him, but I wondered if anybody knows any more than that. Sorry to go off subject.
Mars is squaring Saturn you say? That explains my feelings about driving around town today, and the questionable maneuvers of my fellow drivers.
thanks Nilou! You’re very awesomeness too!
Er, Daniel – In my world your awesomeness is all shiny-new and ready to go (quiet on the inside), with heavenly dreams, and fantastic music to chill out to….maybe it is deja vu – i see you – or maybe it is a migraine….mine or yours though?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB78QcQ6S-8
I have kinda felt this aspect thought the whole weekend and it’s one of those things I’m not going to push or beat myself up about. But the pressure hit me as depression. I am really trying not to focus on what I don’t have and I’m very trusting about where I am, and I did a great balance of short meditations and productive home cleaning to get my energy up. But every now and then I’d just come to this spot where I felt like I wasn’t making any progress – which of course is unbelievably wrong. I just seem to be outside everything and everyone, in my own bubble. It’s as if I’m energetically on a different mode, that no one sees me. And while I agree that “the bubble” experience is completely valid and healthy at times, the pressure was this desire to “get on with it already!”.
Am I having deja vu? Oh god, it’s astro deja vu! Or maybe just a migraine…
If someone needs a little cash, be sure to give it. This is the dance aspect that gives back. Mercury is on the neighborly gesture at 30 Virgo. Quote from Brian Blovee -“Imagine an old woman who pays not the slightest heed to the day to day complaints and stories of dozens of children, grand children , friends, neighbours and so on, only to be the one who is truly present when the chips are down.” yes I just loaned another $100. I always seem to have just enough, so no complaints.
If Mars were to have “rings” around it, the way Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune do, do you suppose his energies would be interpreted differently? That thought occurred to me while watching a History Channel program about where and what is meant by the rings around planets that (we are conscious of) do exist. The Ring Lovers in the field of astronomy hope to find them around Pluto and even objects further from the Sun. This made me wonder if it has anything to do with the human ability to “see”, just as “discovering” Pluto, Chiron and the many other new centaurs, etc., symbolize humanity’s readiness to see further, or have greater comprehension.
So then – if rings were to be discovered around Mars in the future – what or how would that change our understanding of Mars in astrology? Would he still be our drive to act on something without benefit of thought? Would he become more mysterious or veiled in some way? Might we learn that Mars could blend in with other energies (represented by outer or inner planets) in such a way that his raw, unique and obvious (as they are presently) attributes, unmistakably Martian such as in aggression, would not be considered threatening? Would those attributes be so subtle (diffused) as to imply an approach rather than an attack? If so, then wouldn’t that symbolize change in the nature of human beings?
For example, today Mars squares Pluto. He also is conjunct the Moon (at this very moment) and he also trines Klotho at 7+ Sagittarius who symbolizes a new “life thread” or beginning. If a trine suggests ease in the energy blend then a new beginning would be easy today. Since a square suggests difficulty then today’s square (were Mars to have rings) might mean that a new (Klotho) approach (Mars) to transformation (Pluto) not easily arrived at, but not necessarily a violent clash, could be reached. Perhaps – in time – we might see further and have greater comprehension. Perhaps we might even see rings around Pluto.
be
So far, this day is being a true nightmare.
Thank you Eric for the advice of not trying to demolish the mountain all at once, because the temptation is strong.
Love.
APROPOS OF MERCURY ENTERING LIBRA:
Congress Was Denied the “Secret Details” Regarding the Alleged Chemical Weapons Attack
By Robert Parry
A U.S. congressman who has read the Obama administration’s classified version of intelligence on the alleged Syrian poison gas attack says the report is only 12 pages – just three times longer than the sketchy unclassified public version – and is supported by no additional hard evidence.
Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also said the House Intelligence Committee had to make a formal request to the administration for “the underlying intelligence reports” and he is unaware if those details have been forthcoming, suggesting that the classified report – like the unclassified version – is more a set of assertions than a presentation of evidence.
“We have reached the point where the classified information system prevents even trusted members of Congress, who have security clearances, from learning essential facts, and then inhibits them from discussing and debating what they do know,” Grayson wrote in an op-ed for the New York Times on Saturday.
“And this extends to matters of war and peace, money and blood. The ‘security state’ is drowning in its own phlegm. My position is simple: if the administration wants me to vote for war, on this occasion or on any other, then I need to know all the facts. And I’m not the only one who feels that way.”
As I wrote a week ago, after examining the four-page unclassified summary, there was not a single fact that could be checked independently. It was a “dodgy dossier” similar to the ones in 2002-2003 that led the United States into the Iraq War. The only difference was that the Bush administration actually provided more checkable information than the Obama administration did, although much of the Bush data ultimately didn’t check out.
It appears that the chief lesson learned by the Obama administration was to release even less information about Syria’s alleged chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21 than the Bush administration did about Iraq’s alleged WMD. The case against Syria has relied almost exclusively on assertions, such as the bellowing from Secretary of State John Kerry that the Syrian government sure did commit the crime, just trust us.
The Obama administration’s limited-hangout strategy seems to have worked pretty well at least inside the Establishment, but it’s floundering elsewhere around the United States. It appears that many Americans share the skepticism of Rep. Grayson and a few other members of Congress who have bothered to descend into the intelligence committee vaults to read the 12-page classified summary for themselves.
Rallying the Establishment
Despite the sketchy intelligence, many senators and congressmen have adopted the politically safe position of joining in denunciations of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (where’s the downside of that), and the mainstream U.S. news media has largely taken to writing down the administration’s disputed claims about Syria as “flat fact.”
For instance, the New York Times editorial on Saturday accepts without caveat that there was “a poison gas attack by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime that killed more than 1,400 people last month,” yet those supposed “facts” are all in dispute, including the total number who apparently died from chemical exposure. It was the U.S. white paper that presented the claim of “1,429” people killed without explaining the provenance of that strangely precise number.
The New York Times editorial also reprises the false narrative that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria’s Assad are to blame for the absence of peace negotiations, although the Times’ own reporters from the field have written repeatedly that it has been the U.S.-backed rebels who have refused to join peace talks in Geneva. [See Consortiumnews.com’s “Getting Syria-ous About Peace Talks.”]
Nevertheless, the Times editorial states, “it was the height of cynicism for Mr. Putin to talk about the need for a Syrian political settlement, which he has done little to advance.” One has to wonder if the Times’ editors consider it their “patriotic” duty to mislead the American people, again.
Increasingly, President Barack Obama’s case for a limited war against Syria is looking like a nightmarish replay of President George W. Bush’s mendacious arguments for war against Iraq. There are even uses of the same techniques, such as putting incriminating words in the mouths of “enemy” officials.
On Feb. 5, 2003, before the United Nations Security Council, Secretary of State Colin Powell needled some intercepted quotes from Iraqi military officers to make some innocuous comments about inspecting weapons sites into proof they were hiding caches of chemical weapons from UN inspectors. Powell’s scam was exposed when the State Department released the actual transcripts of the conversations without some of the incriminating words that Powell had added.
Then, on Aug. 30, 2013, when the Obama administration released its “Government Assessment” of Syria’s alleged poison gas attack, the white paper stated, “We intercepted communications involving a senior official intimately familiar with the offensive who confirmed that chemical weapons were used by the regime on August 21 and was concerned with the U.N. inspectors obtaining evidence.”
However, the identity of the “senior official” was not included, nor was the direct quote cited. The report claimed concerns about protecting “sources and methods” in explaining why more details weren’t provided, but everyone in the world knows the United States has the capability to intercept phone calls.
Reasons for Secrecy?
So, why didn’t the Obama administration go at least as far as the Bush administration did in putting out transcripts of these phone intercepts? A reasonable suspicion must be that the actual words of the conversation – and possibly other conversations – would have indicated that the Syrian high command was caught off guard by the Aug. 21 events, that the Syrian government was scrambling to figure out what had happened and why, that the intercepts were less incriminating than the paraphrase of them.
That fuller story might well have undercut the U.S. case for taking military action. So, the administration’s white paper left out conversations reflecting the Syrian government’s confusion. The white paper didn’t even bother to put in the actual quote from the one “senior official” who supposedly “confirmed” the chemical weapons use.
Indeed, although the white paper states that its conclusions were derived from “human, signals, and geospatial intelligence as well as a significant body of open source reporting,” none of that intelligence was spelled out in the unclassified version. It is now unclear how much more detail was provided in the 12-page classified version that Rep. Grayson read.
In his op-ed, Grayson wrote, “The first [unclassified version] enumerates only the evidence in favor of an attack. I’m not allowed to tell you what’s in the classified summary, but you can draw your own conclusion. On Thursday I asked the House Intelligence Committee staff whether there was any other documentation available, classified or unclassified. Their answer was ‘no.’”
So, what is one to make of this pathetic replay of events from a decade ago in which the White House and intelligence community make sweeping claims without presenting real evidence and the major U.S. news outlets simply adopt the government’s uncorroborated claims as true?
One might have thought that the Obama administration – understanding the public skepticism after the disastrous Iraq War – would have gone to extra lengths to lay out all the facts to the American people, rather than try to slip by with another “dodgy dossier” and excuses about the need to keep all the evidence secret.
President Obama seems to believe that “transparency” means having some members of Congress interrupt their busy schedules of endless fundraising to troop down to the intelligence committee vaults and read some pre-packaged intelligence without the benefit of any note-taking or the ability to check out what they’ve seen, let alone the right to discuss it publicly.
In my 35-plus years covering Congress, I can tell you that perhaps the body’s greatest weakness – amid many, many weaknesses – is its ability to investigate national security claims emanating from the Executive Branch.
Beyond all the limitations of what members of Congress are allowed to see and under what circumstances, there is the reality that anyone who takes on the intelligence community too aggressively can expect to be pilloried as “unpatriotic” or accused of being an “apologist” for some unsavory dictator.
Soon, the troublesome member can expect hostile opinion pieces showing up in his local newspapers and money pouring into the campaign coffers of some electoral challenger. So, there is no political upside in performing this sort of difficult oversight and there is plenty of downside.
And once an administration has staked its credibility on some dubious assertion, all the public can expect is more of a sales job, a task that President Obama himself is expected to undertake in a speech to the nation on Tuesday. That is why the Obama administration would have been wise to have developed a much fuller intelligence assessment of what happened on Aug. 21 and then presented the evidence as fully as possible.
In the days of the Internet and Twitter – and after the bitter experience of the Iraq War – it is a dubious proposition that the White House can rely on national politicians and Establishment news outlets to whip the public up for another military adventure without presenting a comprehensive set of facts.
———–
Robert Parry is an American investigative journalist. He was awarded the George Polk Award for National Reporting in 1984 for his work with the Associated Press on the Iran-Contra story and uncovered Oliver North’s involvement in it as a Washington-based correspondent for Newsweek. In 1995, he established the liberal leaning Consortium News as an online ezine dedicated to investigative journalism. From 2000 to 2004, he also worked for the financial wire service Bloomberg.
Major subjects of Parry’s articles and reports on Consortium News include the presidency of George W. Bush, the career of Army general and Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell (with Norman Solomon), the October Surprise controversy of the 1980 election, the Nicaraguan contra-cocaine investigation, the efforts to impeach President Clinton, right-wing terrorism in Latin America, the political influence of Sun Myung Moon, mainstream American media imbalance, United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the presidency of Barack Obama, the influence of Sarah Palin, efforts to rewrite history, and numerous international stories.
Parry has written several books, including Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & “Project Truth” (1999); Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq (2004); and America’s Stolen Narrative: From Washington and Madison to Nixon, Reagan and the Bushes to Obama (2012)
Thank you, dear Eric, for this precious advice.