By Len Wallick. Link to Len’s article on the Pisces New Moon.
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With the exception of the Moon (now in Aries) and perhaps Mercury (about to be in Aries), a grand cross in the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, made mostly of minor planets) is still holding strong — but the atmosphere has changed, and the energy is clearly shifting in the direction of the new season.
Yesterday was the Pisces New Moon, another influential turning point of winter. This has helped shift the momentum forward as Mars gradually — very gradually — picks up speed after its long retrograde this winter.
Today the Pisces Sun overtakes Uranus to exact their annual conjunction. This is yet another experience of ‘expect the unexpected’ astrology, and the last big turning point of winter — highlighting the unpredictable nature of Uranus, which opens the way for creativity, passion and for us to change our minds. We usually have a really difficult time doing this.
Today there is a Moon-Venus conjunction in Aries, which is definitely different in tone than a big alignment in Pisces. This is self-conscious, even self-aware, with some of the surprise energy that Venus (like Uranus) can deliver. Today is a day to surprise yourself and do what you didn’t have the courage or self-esteem for yesterday. The alignment in Aries is warming up the sky for the Sun’s arrival there Saturday.
Making a close opposition to Sun/Uranus, a dwarf planet called Makemake in Virgo asks how it got this way. Do we really want to be this mentally stuck? Or is that just how humans are?
Speaking of getting unstuck. With Pluto moving forward into Capricorn while Saturn continues its retrograde towards one last touch of Virgo, it would seem that their square aspect is in separation; that the story is over. That would be short-sided thinking. Saturn is retrograde and will square Pluto one more time, on Aug. 21.
In the case of aspects involving the outer planets, the usual orbs of influence go out the window. They are much longer than any old astrology book ever said. In truth, something like a square between Saturn and Pluto will have effects within 15 degrees of orb. This is a time-lapse photograph of what is essentially a single event exacting multiple times but never out of function. Like the heart in Celine Dion’s song, this square goes on, and on and on.
Like the cardinal signs upon which it is focused, it ebbs and flows in counterpoint with the mid-points of the fixed signs.