The Weekend Astrology: Sun opposite Eris

Today is Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. The Moon will continue through Taurus today, then ingresses Gemini at 10:15 am EDT on Saturday, having added its glow to the Venus-Jupiter opposition yesterday. That aspect is exact today at 7:53 pm EDT, but most of us have been feeling it build all week – like a second Full Moon, pushing and pulling us between extremes of values. The week’s primary theme has been oppositions, and they aren’t over yet. In fact the astrology is very much a developing story, and it promises to be interesting.

So far we’ve encountered questions about our tendency to look for ourselves in relationships (and how little that works these days) with the Aries Full Moon; we may have come to some revelations as a result. Venus-Jupiter has us vacillating between attraction and expansion, and begs a careful eye toward overdoing either. There is sexual and emotional tension in the air, which can be exciting. Tomorrow is another one sure to get us reflecting deeply: the Sun in Libra opposite Eris in Aries. While it’s exact Saturday, it’s something we can feel now.

The Sun is strong in Aries – the fiery luminary representing Self in the fire sign of Self. But right now the Sun is in Libra looking back, and it sees Eris: the minor planet of discord, identity chaos, and what feels like fractured psyche. Eris represents the feeling of being alienated, and what we might do to remedy that. We could say Sun-Eris is a bit like looking in a funhouse mirror, but it might not feel very fun. It can be painful to look in the a mirror (real or metaphorical) and not recognize what you see. Such an experience may be disorienting, overwhelming or dissociative – and that’s how many people feel when they look at the world these days.

Many are questioning where we belong, feeling confused, and wondering why it all seems so complicated. On some level, a lot of people understand this confusion and struggle has to do with self-image. So where do you look for your reflection? Where can you get a clear sense of who you are, where you stand, what you’re worth? So many voices are saying ‘look within’, but if your perception of yourself is distorted, then what?

There are other possibilities for Sun-Eris contacts, one of which is experiencing the power of resolving that fragmentation that Eris can represent. We covered this in the edition Calling Home the Castaway Woman.

The personal planets Venus and Mercury opposing Jupiter hold a caution: be aware of an emotional exaggeration effect. That is, the Sun-Eris mirror may show you one thing, and your emotional response might be another. Stay aware when it comes to emotional reactions to what you are seeing. Steady yourself, ground yourself, and if Mercury (newly in Scorpio, also about to oppose Jupiter) leads you into some dark thoughts, explore them without getting attached – and be sure to explore opposite possibilities. After all, thoughts can be changed, and you can change your life. If a train of thought starts heading off the rails, there are tools you can use. For example, if you understand a value (Jupiter in Taurus), apply the value to the situation in question and see where you stand.

There are at least a couple release valves in the current astrology. One that is just warming up is Sun trine Neptune in Aquarius. This is a long one, offering a chance for our outer drive to work with our inner idealism. Heading into autumn, this is a great aspect for the Occupy Wall Street movement and its outlying supporters. It lends energy to creative and healing projects, so start moving on those.

Also, Mars in Leo is trine Pholus in Sagittarius. This aspect asks, ‘What would it feel like without all the pressure to be so special’? We often put the expectation on our relationships that they’re there to remind us we’re special. But that’s a lot of pressure to put on ourselves, let alone on each other. We have value and a place in this world regardless. So this trine gives us some flow, an ease of the pressure, an opening rather than a ‘must’.

Whatever you see in the Sun-Eris mirror, Mars-Pholus asks you to feel how special you already are. There’s no need to impress anyone. All you need to do is notice when others are kind to you and remember how easy it is to extend that kindness back to them and out to others. That’s the best place to see your reflection, anyway: your kindness to others. If you’re struggling even to see that this weekend, perhaps stop trying so hard to measure up to some standard. Start small: that dog you scratched behind the ears; the person you held the door for on your way out of the supermarket; any smile you’ve ever given to any friend or lover.

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