Today is Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. The sky is presenting us options in how we handle ourselves in our encounters with others – we would do well to consider them carefully and choose consciously. On one side of the zodiac, Venus is entering Aries; from the other, Mars is making an uncomfortable aspect to its mythological sister, Eris.
Venus in Aries can be challenging. But today Venus is on the Aries Point – that special first degree of the zodiac in which the personal and the political have a particularly symbiotic relationship to each other.
As if in preparation, recent events served up a helping of women’s health issues in the news, via the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood brouhaha over breast cancer screening funding to clinics that also provide abortion services. The incident has had a bonus effect of getting the issue of women’s health – and the war against it – into millions of households. It completes the loop from personal space out into ‘the world’ and then back into personal space again.
Uranus (in Aries) and Pluto (making a square from Capricorn) have been keeping the Aries Point warm with revolutionary/evolutionary energy. What does it look like when Venus joins in? Well, one image is that Venus joins the revolution one orgasm at a time. Self-loving could change the world (just ask Betty Dodson, whose video about her famed bodysex workshops was just released). Betty has been working since the 1970s to help women understand – and love – their bodies. Forty years later, with right-wing factions in the U.S. ramping up their efforts to de-fund health services for women and keep teens in the dark about the sexual power of their bodies, Betty’s work is as critical as ever. Sex is still a widely misunderstood and feared topic for many; transmuting that fear is a delicate procedure best done with empathy – a form of love.
What about Mars? It is retrograde in Virgo, making a quincunx to Eris in Aries. A quincunx is almost an opposition, but is one sign off. It asks us to negotiate between the two (seemingly external) sides of the equation, continually readjusting our position, but generally the point of resolution resides outside the quicunx.
Now and for the next few months, we have the god of war expressing his drive inwardly instead of outwardly in a potentially self-critical sign. It can be a useful placement for moving forward with therapy and other inwardly focused processes, with awareness.
With Mars in an awkward aspect to Eris – goddess of discord and identity chaos — there might be a feeling of not even being able to locate a unified self to criticize, which could be frustrating. If you do find yourself stuck in self-criticism, it can begin to leak out toward others in dysfunctional, self-sabotaging ways.
In either case, be aware of taking out that frustration in so-called ‘passive’ ways toward others. If you think you’re on the receiving end, open up a dialogue instead of responding in kind. The best first step in that is, again, empathy – toward yourself, and then toward the other.
We each have Venus and Mars in our charts, and we also have some choice in how we express them. More importantly, we possess creativity and empathy, two qualities embodied by an easygoing and useable sextile between Neptune conjunct Chiron in Pisces and Jupiter in Taurus. These aspects are tailor-made to assist us in finding solutions, workarounds and allies even when we least expect them; you’re invited to bring them along with you to the revolution.
Looking for insights on how this week’s astrology affects your personal Sun and rising signs? Eric Francis interprets the signs every week, every month and every year. Weekly and monthly horoscopes are in Planet Waves and Planet Waves Light. Annual readings are in a special edition called Revolution. Revelation. Reality Check.
Btw, Amanda? You are fabulous; your writing is clear, on-message, and from the heart. Don’t despair about what you’re going through: descents are messy, confusing, gut-wrenching and painful. But what you bring back with you can be priceless.
“So I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse”. How funny zerosity . my dad used to tell me that story too! And it always cheered me up…
@ Amanda… I’ve said this before, probably a year ago or so… Your writing/presence here is one of the reasons I keep coming. Genuine and all that rare stuff.
As for this post… I am directing 17 people in this year’s v-day monologues. I sat in my living roomquestioning the sanity of taking all 17 when I had originally hard-line determined to take 10-12 after “auditions.” But how do you turn people away in such a project????? I don’t, obviously. SO there I was with 17 names, some of whom I couldn’t even place with faces anymore. I had 60 monlogues spread out all over the floor.
I decided I could do this.
I ended up with 17 names on 17 monologues. Had a great first gathering with food and shit.
Then started with my first one-on-one sessions. That was Monday. I’ve sat with 1/3 so far. Each basically came to me saying they didn’t know what they could do with the piece because they could not relate AT ALL. Etc Etc. By the end of the 45-minute sessions of just hashing through the pieces, and talking about them, each had told me that they had experienced the material in that particular monologue. At first I was breathless with the sheer responsibility involved in bringing out a generosity to audience / vulnerability / humour / trusting me etc etc etc. The whole trip of experience.
I don’t know how to explain this very well. But astrologically, Venus crossing over into Aries passed my Chiron rx 20 seconds off. Grand water trine – Chiron in the 8th / Cancer Sun in the 12th / Scorpio Vesta-Neptune… And a kite with my Cap moon.
I will do this. Daily for two months. I hope I am equal to it – for all their sakes.
Amanda: don’t despair. You are sooooooooo appreciated by the PW community.
I am reminded of something my father often said: Cheer up. Things could be worse. So I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse.
But, ya know, it’s all a matter of perspective. I’ve made a descent or two before, and looking around is good, but I promise not to stare, or gape.
Be: thanks for the heart-ening perspective that is balm to the soul.
All: thanks. Just thanks for sharing experiences and wisdom, as well as the uncertainties. Each reading here at PW is a gift of learning.
JannKinz
Be, your view is nothing short of penthouse. Thank you.
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Thanks Be, Maeve, HS, all of ya. This blog and all your posts are so great, what a fantastic exchange – what a great bunch you all are. I just sent healing to my dear sick friend – and it came through that it was going to be a really tough ride – but that he would make it. Usually the ‘messages’ that come through are right – I trust and hope they will be this time too…
“I have had (!) a pattern of causing myself additional injury because of not thinking and just _doing_ and doing something I have no business doing. Which, in itself, is a large part of the lessons I learned last year. I need to remember to _respond_ instead of =react=.”
equally applicable to the mental/emotional/communicational spheres, i find. and how.
maeve — thanks for the insights and reminders. i’ll have to look back to last year for specifics, though i think i already know some of the same shit that was an issue then still is — probably one reason the fire is feeling hotter now, and scarier.
speaking of other cycles: chiron is applying to conjoin my MC and a couple minor planets i have there (aka major goddesses). i’ve been thinking back to late ’93 – early ’94 to suss out some other personal material i’m apparently cycling through, related more to Chiron and the goddesses. but it looks like ol’ Chiron is really demanding my attention to my MC, too.
I’m wondering if a wider and unique perspective would benefit us in this post-full-moon period. As we have completed the last of the 3 transpersonal planet ingresses, and all the personal planets having made major aspects recently to those outer bodies, you might wonder, like me, how they might be explaining this special period of time to us through their contacts with the personal planets.
You see the 1st ingress of Pluto to Capricorn through the recent 2nd ingress of Neptune to Pisces took just a few days over 4 years. From Jan 26 2008 through February 3 2012 has been a reorginization period for our world and most likely, a message from the Universe to prepare for something way different.
Beyond our individual selves, our countries and societies are experiencing massive upheavels. When Pluto entered Capricorn in January 2008, the north node was conjunct the U.S. Sibly natal Moon. Think of that. At that time Jupiter and Saturn were trine, Venus had just completed her new cycle with a conjunction to Pluto, Mercury in Aquarius was sextile Mars in Gemini and the media was falling in love with the race to be the first woman or first black President of the U.S.
Flash forward to now when Neptune entered Pisces ending the trans-personal planets’ transitional period. Jupiter was now opposite Saturn, Venus and Mars were opposed too, Mercury and the north node were sextile and the media was focused on the absurd. The north node was conjunct the U.S. Sibly natal ascendant. Remarkable.
We Americans have a reputation for feeling entitled and with the awesome coincidence of having our country’s natal Moon and Ascendant so featured for this specific and historical time period, it might just confirm that belief. Maybe we are to play a very important Global or even Universal role in the coming years. You could be very instrumental in what will happen on Planet Earth in the foreseeable future.
For the next 6 years when this combined energy pattern begins to disintegrate, first with Uranus leaving Aries, followed by Pluto leaving Capricorn, and Neptune’s final exit from Pisces in 2026, we could be called on, as a country, to forge the way (once again) to a higher plateau of civilized Man. This puts our lives as individuals into a whole ‘nuther place, as part of a transition from the same ole, same ole, to something extraordinary. But we have to be prepared and we have to change; mentally, emotionally and more than likely, physically.
I’m quite positive we will be looking at the personal planets and how they mirror what’s happening in our lives in a new and expanded way very soon. The effects of our individual experiences, as reflected by astrology, will be taking on a greater meaning if we can only lift our sights and find the broader picture we will be part of. It might even start to make sense to us; why we lose loved ones and why we face innumerable challenges. There is a plan and we are part of it; as a country and as individuals. Well, it is a Leo Moon afterall!
be
I love that quote Sarah.
Also, “there might be a feeling of not even being able to locate a unified self to criticize, which could be frustrating. If you do find yourself stuck in self-criticism, it can begin to leak out toward others in dysfunctional, self-sabotaging ways. ”
There is certainly this sense of paralysis in deep introspection or therapy, esp processing the results of therapy. I asked my mom about this the other day. She said basically, lighten up a bit, know that you aren’t perfect and that’s okay. I don’t have to fix everything tomorrow. In lightening up one can find very accessible self nourishment, and nourishment is a big key to healing. I realize this is simplistic, but it helped me.
Amanda, Huffy, and the rest of y’all in this boat – “I just don’t know why it all seems so damn hard, even when i think i’ve gotten the hang of things”.
It’s hard either ’cause the hang-of-things you’ve developed is being fire-tested and challenged to use your new hang of things in the face of old habitual responses, or it’s not quite the right way to do it and you’re being given time to hammer your blade out a little better (not necessarily more straight, but better for the situation).
I’ve been dealing with this A LOT lately. In all its forms. And they’ve all got their little tricksy bits. Both will better you in the end. There is (usually) a method to the madness.
Say, for the first one (fire-tested) – my lower back is still healing from the car accident last year. I have had (!) a pattern of causing myself additional injury because of not thinking and just _doing_ and doing something I have no business doing. Which, in itself, is a large part of the lessons I learned last year. I need to remember to _respond_ instead of =react=. I need to respond with the learning and lessons I have absorbed, instead of reacting with decades-old habits. The more I do this, the easier things will be. The more I don’t, the more pain I will be in. My body may be forcing the issue a bit, being Done with the Chinese herbs I was taking for back pain. My safety net is ME, and nothing else. And I damn well better act like it.
*blink* I wasn’t expecting that. Ahem.
Anywho, it seems like a lot of what’s going on right now is echoing things that happened last year. Remember your lessons from the last year (or whatever your cycle is) and with that filter, look at what is being difficult now. Can you apply your new learning to help you through the morass of now?
Sarah – “And if you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss tells you it’s rude to stare…” I laughed out loud in my cube at work. Thank you for that. What a little reminder of balance.
Amanda – “cuz yesterday felt more like a break*down* than a break*through*.” My brain immediately thought, break down like car break down, which further speaks to your forward motion being stopped, but for what cause? What do you need to do/prepare/have with you before you journey on?
“I just don’t know why it all seems so damn hard, even when i think i’ve gotten the hang of things”. This is exactly what happened to me, dear Amanda. But I think it’s just part of this whole damned process! You hang on in there too! xxx
Have you noticed that Venus is always in 1 of these 4 signs every December 25 (Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius), never in another sign – dating all the way back into antiquity & into the far flung future? Unless Ophiuchus is reintroduced to the zodiac, I don’t see this pattern changing.
Descent into the Underworld, time for Self, walking a return path to one’s origins–all relevant to me as I move through mid-winter and approach my birthday in a few days. It’s long been a tricky moment, this annual passage. My desire since New Year’s has been to hibernate. Trying to balance the more authentic impulse within that desire with the need to be present in the world, in my daily life, is an ongoing challenge. Riding the Dragon indeed. May all of us who navigate this part of the trip find some measure of balance…
Thank you for catching the timing of events with Venus on the Aries Point. Thank you for revisiting the yod of January 7 (remember – Venus conjunct Nessus sextile Eris and both of them Quincunx Mars?), part of the “point of resolution” for that yod is still available, you know. Finally, thank you for not forgetting the saving grace of Jupiter sextile Chiron and Neptune – that’s not only the empathy but the validation an encouragement we all need at this time.
Amanda: Please take heart and accept the validation and encouragement that Mysti and i (and others) have been continuously offering, avail yourself of that sextile.
Amanda, I will venture that squares for women who are still having fertile lunar cycles are more challenging than any male astrologer can imagine. I remember in my mid-thirties twigging to the fact that my *crushing* days were not during oppositions (my quincunx’ed birth chart was somehow an innoculation) but during squares.
I still have no clear idea why those 90º transits were such eggbeaters, but they were.
It’s probably scant solace as you are massage your sore heart/mind muscles. I’ll be up there before the end of the year, and we’ll talk *seriously*.
You are doing amazing work for PW, and for yourself in the process. I don’t want you to just ‘hang in there’; please accept my congratulations on your hard-won evolution as a writer in the last year. This is great foundation work, and I’ll bet you soon notice what you are going to build over it. (Just look to Bucky Fuller for softer angles, eh?)
Much love.
M
mysti — i certainly don’t envy you your headache (and hope it has vanished), but i think wrapping my head in roots might have been the way to go. “big day for course corrections,” indeed — i’m just not sure i’ve managed to truly correct anything. even without the root-wrap, it sure is dark in here & hard to see.
yesterday’s full moon-sun-mercury was exactly square my sun — as in, within 3 arc minutes. i was told that rare configuration could be a recipe for a breakthrough if one is in contact with one’s ideas and one’s mind is relaxed.
well, apparently i am not and mine was not — cuz yesterday felt more like a break*down* than a break*through*. now i’m left wondering if i have what it takes to make the journey toward clarity. i just don’t know why it all seems so damn hard, even when i think i’ve gotten the hang of things.
anyway — thank you for the community. sarah, huffy, mysti & all — hang in there.
with love —
Dear mystes – thank you so much for your words. It is hard to describe the descent, so when I meet someone who responds with a knowing nod, and offers wisdom, I am full of gratitude. I’ll look, and hear, out for that, and trust that I’ll know it when I encounter it.
xxx
Thanks Mystes. You’re right – full moon spotlight’s exactly what it was. Hope you’re feeling loads better.
Funny. I looked at the page and read: Love a Reply. Okay.
Huffy, yesterday was a big one for sudden course corrections. Which is why I stayed home with my head wrapped in roots all day! Not sure the headache route is any more fun, but seems like your manifestation of the Full Moon spotlight will take you to some interesting territory. Salud!
Speaking of roots: Sarah, a helpful mantra for me while making the Descent has been: This is the path to my origin. This is the path to the cauldron out of which I was conceived and born. This is the path to the core. Your true name corresponds to all of that, and if lucky, you’ll find the auditory or visual equivalent when you get there. You’ll know it when you find it, it has no ‘similarity’ – it looks like nothing else, it will be an haecceity, an utterly singular item without twin or echo.
This process you are in is *precious*. Even when it is slicing you open and counting the rings, it is precious. Stay dark.
Ehg… Huffy, just read of your friend’s affliction. Geez… Cancer~it’s like a cold now, just seems to be going around. I hope your friend can make the hairpin turn. Not to be cavalier, but from what I can see, some of the Best are sliding on outta here. (Not that we who are left are small potatoes. It’s just changes the composition of how we can carry on the Great Work.)
Yours in the Fullness,
M
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I mean ‘Saturn’ going retrograde in Libra! – and there’s also my natal Mars in Virgo, like JK – so I think I unconsciously combined the two!. (not a good astrology student, I…). xx
Thanks dear Sarah! They’ve just found out that my friend’s leukemia is really acute (ugh). Am putting all my faith in the power of love, prayer and science.
Too funny, Sarah. That’s getting printed and going on the refrigerator today.
JannKinz
Yes, time to look around, zerosity. Although I do love this humorous qualification that I saw on a friend’s post on facebook, which I think might hold some truth about allowing rather than fixating:
“And if you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss tells you it’s rude to stare…”
~ Ben Nixon
🙂
Thanks, Sarah, for the observation that this Mars Rx is “time for my Self.” With a natal Mars in Virgo and a Virgo ascendant, I am feeling the chaos inside. ‘Tis time to free fall and descend to reclaim Self. And, as Robert Wicks observed in “Riding the Dragon” – while I’m down there I might as well look around.
Thanks, PW. Can’t drink my morning coffee without the Daily Astrology Blog.
JannKinz
Dear Huffy – I’m thinking of you too.
Though the ‘back seat’ is only ever temporary, alas…
Thanks Sarah dear – think I’m on the same descent – and will let go and fall too. And I’ve just found out that my best friend’s husband has leukemia – so suddenly my self-concern has taken a back seat, as often happens in such cases.
Coffee, pain au chocolat, and Daily Astrology – what a delicious combination first-thing in the morning. 🙂
I think I know where I am … been here before, not that that makes it any easier. I am in a descent to the goddess of the underworld to fetch some lost pieces of me. God, it isn’t easy. It is down-right terrifying at times. But to fight it is to fight myself and so I am choosing to let go and fall, fall, fall. This is a descent I make on my own, no matter who is in my life, and I just hope that they can understand. This is my Mars Rx time — this time for my Self.
— S
I can’t thank you enough for today’s blog. In fact it was the first thing I looked at when I turned on the computer, in the hope to find comfort, and comfort I found. I couldn’t belve it when I read this “With Mars in an awkward aspect to Eris – goddess of discord and identity chaos — “there might be a feeling of not even being able to locate a unified self to criticize, which could be frustrating. If you do find yourself stuck in self-criticism, it can begin to leak out toward others in dysfunctional, self-sabotaging ways… If you think you’re on the receiving end, open up a dialogue instead of responding in kind. The best first step in that is, again, empathy – toward yourself, and then toward the other”.Yesterday I was on the ‘receiving end’. I got an email from a friend who I’d had lunch with on Monday – I’d really enjoyed the lunch. and thought we’d got on really well. But I received this email saying he needed to talk to me about ‘communication problems with me’. He’s not a close friend I might add, and I think I know where he’s coming from. But the email came out of the blue like a slap on the face with a wet fish. But thanks to your words I can choose to react with empathy towards myself and him. Mars going retrograde in Libra has felt like the gears meshing on my bike – almot throwing me off it – when I’d been cruising along quite nicely thank you. And Sarah’s heart and swords loom large. Will go and re read that now. Thanks guys! xxx