Today at 10:48 pm EST, the Sun ingresses Sagittarius. The Sun’s palpable move into ‘cosmic’ fire sign Sagittarius may come as a genuine relief for many. No offense, Scorpios — this last month has been fertile for deep, regenerative, emotional processing. It’s just that not everyone is as well equipped for deep-sea free diving as you are.
That said, the Sun’s current square to Neptune in Pisces isn’t exactly the most straightforward aspect. Sun-Neptune squares can make it hard to discern your emotions (or what you’re really emotional about) clearly.
With the Sun in Sagittarius, consciousness tunes in more strongly to the spiritual/philosophical/religious big-picture angle of existence. That would be great, except squares prompt action, and Neptune (especially in Pisces) can make it hard to recognize what would actually be best to do.
Do you act on your lofty beliefs, or do you act according to how you feel? Are your passions about your beliefs in balance, or are you getting a little zealot-y about them — with a touch of denial regarding how well you’re walking your talk?
Enter another planet: asteroid Pallas in Virgo, making a mutable-sign T-square with the Sun and Neptune. The wide-open Sagittarius Sun square Pallas in the mental, detail-oriented sign Virgo asks whether the ‘big picture view’ (or your lofty philosophy) is at odds with (or more compelling than) the on-the-ground details.
With Neptune — the planet of drink, drugs and denial — in the mix, we find the perfect illustration in recent news about politicians (Pallas) behaving badly (or hypocritically) while drunk and high. Toronto, Canada’s, mayor Rob Ford has been caught on video smoking crack, going on drunken tirades, and generally behaving like an entitled ass — one astonishingly unabashed example.
The other is U.S. Rep. Trey Radel (R-Florida), who voted in September to mandate that welfare recipients get tested for drug use to qualify for assistance. Guess what? He was sentenced this week after getting busted last month for possessing cocaine. In his apology, he says a struggle with alcoholism led to his making “an extremely irresponsible choice.”
By no means is mentioning of Ford and Radel intended to make light of addiction. It is, however, an illustration of what this T-square can look like when one gets swept up in the story one is telling and neglects to do a reality check. There’s an earth sign in this configuration for a reason: it needs some grounding in tangible facts and details.
Also worth noting is that at the moment of the Sun’s ingress to Sagittarius today, the Moon is in Cancer conjunct Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius. Black Moon Lilith (a calculated point related to the Moon’s orbit) is nearby. Cancer is the Moon’s home sign, and Jupiter is exalted there — giving a moister, more empathetic touch to a Sun in a sign that can need a lot of ‘personal space’ to pursue its path.
Overall, Moon-Jupiter offers optimism, compassion and the potential to overindulge; Black Moon Lilith reminds us to recognize the full diversity of our feelings, even the darker or ‘inconvenient’ ones. They’re part of what helps us to see the actual trees making up the forest we’re so caught up in.
We will finally be able to blow and not be tracked down by the lightning of the passion, a trip to view? reinvent the dream?
Venus with sextile my March times this square to Neptune to the Sun, which can speak of remoteness, of distance and will be quickly replaced by the Trine to Uranus, waouhhh
Thanks Amanda 😉
@Salamander, that’s so wonderful. I can feel you really put yourself out there fully, & for the effort to come back to you in such a validating way is good for all of us to see & appreciate. I’m so grateful for you sharing your process here. Be incredible; I suspect you’ve got it in there.
@strawberry Thank you for the congratulations and the well wishes. I’ve used the delays constructively, and I’ve been rewarded.
@Judith Gayle
While former senator Mike Gravel used the filibuster with constructive intentions in the 70s, the Republicans are not. So if this simple rule change will allow government to function, help me get the job I want without any limitations, and keep my job when I get one, then I’m happy.
@strawberrylaughter
Yes, I did get the internship, and it was the best interview I have ever had. Now I’m doing my best to work hard, get the qualifications I am missing, and finally reach a paid full-time job.
internship? (grrrr, no edit function!)
@Salamander, did I hear you say you got the internship: Congratulations!! Well done; I’m super happy for you! 🙂
I’m betting that the e-brake on filibuster is a dam-breaker and a sea-change, Fe … and while it well could bite one party or another down the road, it was ALWAYS extra-constitutional and designed for rare usage; not as an obstruction tool to bring the nation to her knees.
I always wonder — when this question comes up — what Obama’s tenure MIGHT have been, without filibuster (and the Republican oath to keep him from accomplishing a damn thing.) Think back to when Dubby and the boyz had full control of everything and the Dems hesitantly used the filibuster (occasionally as tradition dictated) and to no avail; the Pubs pushed past the Dems as if they were the stupid step-children living under the stairs FOR YEARS.
I also think, now that it’s been settled for nominee’s, it will eventually bring an up/down vote on all legislation. Filibuster was always just a technique to put a little time on the books and seems to me we’re pretty much out of time at this point. At least four years late, if not more. Time to get something done. It’s gonna get REALLY interesting.
I am glad that the Sun has ingressed into Sagittarius, I feel like I have more energy to be out in the world (which coincided perfectly with the first day of my internship).
Well, as far as ideals are concerned, with Uranus and Pluto challenging my Neptune, I have lessened the intensity of any beliefs that were irrelevant to my immediate life. I’ve decided to just focus on having a career in harmony with my values, and I’ll be positive about it.
I feel less hung up about my beliefs compared to several months or years ago because I am finding ways of putting them into practice in the path towards my career.
The Scorpio period really did make me get in touch with the fundamentals of myself, which is helping me make better decisions now.
Inconvenient? Well, maybe for people with day jobs. Actual trees crows and squirrels are daily characters in my story. Songbirds join in whenever I play guitar outside. Learning how to talk to crows. Ya know, being ‘homeless’ isn’t so bad as long as I refrain from cursing myself with guilt for not playing white man’s game right. I know, my skin is pale, but I suck at being a White Man.
Amanda, I really like the photo. Thx for sharing it.
Amanda, I really appreciate your breat-down and build-up of today’s aspects. It’s so helpful to have your brain and heart broadcasting your take on the daily transits here.
Smailing, thanks for your take on Pallas and Athene. Transiting Pallas is conj natal Athene who trines natal Pallas on my MC. That same transiting Pallas opp natal Sun. Your idea of her armoured in nakedness goes a long way toward new perceptions. I like it.
Fe, ya – saw that…good question; breakthrough set for backfire or one of those much needed Changes? After E’s discourse on JFK and void-of-course Suns…..not sure. 🙂
Hey all astrologers:
Harry Reid has called to change the filibuster rules of the Senate, allowing the Senate to approve the President’s judicial nominees–finally. This is, as the article says, “historic”.
Do we have a breakthrough moment that could backfire on us in the future? Or is this a change that’s long been needed, finally busting through?
oops — just realized i had “am” instead of “pm” for the sun’s ingress time today. that has been fixed. sorry for any confusion!
Maybe its Pallas-Athene who can show us how to recognize and represent fully, who and how we feel and are. Athene is often seen and ment as “political” and/or strategic and brainy. But she herself decided to put the name of her friend Pallas – a young, playful, vulnerable, mortal being and the daughter of seagod Triton – in front of her own name. Could it be that we should see her as armored in nakedness? Her alter/older ego, the headborn Athene (881) is still somewhere else in the skies, joining Saturn and Karma in Scorpio at the moment. While Pallas-Athene in Virgo, for me, seems to be the complete, mature, balanced (wo)man, fitting in the big picture not only Sagittarius is looking and longing for. And the perfect friend to do some squaredance with, these days.
Yes, I second Len’s comment. Thank you, Amanda!
Amanda: Thank you for showing us the way to a practical reality check (with real-life examples to learn from) as we begin to wind up the current season. Thank you especially for your concise and cogent take on Black Moon Lilith.