By Len Wallick
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Had a difficult time getting a straight answer lately? Are things harder than they should be? Are they selling you up but never closing? Are you waiting for that one piece to fall into place? Is it down to the best you can do? Welcome to Anarectica. Where we deal with what comes up while we wait for things to come through.
The last few days have seen the Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune queuing up in the last degrees of their respective signs. With just those six one could recently find every angular aspect commonly discussed in this space. The conjunction, the semi-sextile, the sextile, the square, the trine, the quincunx and the opposition. All within two degrees. All at the same time. Sounds pretty. In practice, the word cluster has come to mind.
Beginning this morning, that’s all gonna change. By this time tomorrow it will have changed a lot more. Blazing the trail, as it has since before the Vernal Equinox is the planet Venus. By the time you read this, the lesser benefic will have made good its ingress into the Cardinal sign of Cancer. In doing so it sets off that by now familiar phenomenon for Planet Waves readers, the personal and political as one.
This has been going on since Pluto moved into Capricorn back when we were kids. It continued over the last two years with Uranus approaching Aries and Saturn wishy-washing between Virgo and Libra. It will continue in the coming weeks as Jupiter joins Uranus in the first degree of Aries while Pluto and Saturn tag up at second and third.
Can you say “bases loaded” boys and girls? And wait until you see who comes to the plate. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Today it’s Venus on pointe and that’s a big shift.
Normally the Venus transit in Gemini is light and more than a little sweet. Time for a chat or even a heart-to-heart. The context this time around, however, has been more like jive talkin’ over the ulterior motives. Duplicity concealing hidden agendas. One could reasonably conclude that it has left us cynical and even jaded but also deprived. There is a hunger for the genuine and the authentic. There may even be a fear that those qualities are nowhere to be found.
Venus in the sign of Cancer brings those needs and vulnerabilities to the surface. Will they be met and assuaged or will they be exploited? Likely somewhere in between. Time will tell. The edge is sharp. We start with the question of where each of us will choose to put our energy, what our focus will be. Stay aware of that and the Venus transit in Cancer will not only be navigable but will also yield some personal knowledge that will soon come in handy for your public life.
Of course the second big transit is the Sun into Gemini. This took place last night or early this morning, depending on where you live. This is a second chance for the sign of the twins. Another chance to shine a light between the lines and see the truth. Another opportunity to accentuate the positive in our discourse. Another way to look at things that will allow us to move on. And move on we must.
We feel the pain of being torn from our attachments; the sorrow and despair of knowing that it’s as tough as many of us have ever known; the fear of not knowing just how bad it is, or will get. We can’t dwell there, not for long. If we are to survive, we must be aware of our state of mind. We must know what thoughts to cultivate if we are to sustain. We must have a vision of where we want to be if the not-so-veiled opportunities of our time are to be availed of.
That’s where the Sun’s transit of Gemini can help us serve each other. This is not a time for a voice in the wilderness. This is not the place to waste our breath on deaf ears. This a conversation of the twins, in the light of day. Soul mates sharing and caring for each other. Open minds to complement the open hearts represented by Venus next door.
And just as Sol changes signs, so will have the Moon, not an hour before, into Virgo. There to reach a square aspect that denotes the first quarter, halfway between the New and Full phases. Three luminary milestones in a few hours’ time. Two transits and an aspect. That does not happen every day. Indeed it is auspicious. In order for our intellect to remain supple, our bodies must remain healthy. Take rest generously. Take food judiciously. Breathe consciously. Appreciate the precious gift of drinkable water.
Should that last sentence stir your right to anger, know that it is not only a righteous but timely response. For this morning, Mars, fresh out of seven months confinement in its retrograde cycle, makes the meaningful double aspect with which we will conclude. At the same time Mars trines Eris it will be squaring Sedna.
Planet Waves readers have already received a lot of information about Eris. Indeed, this is her time. The outcast woman of the ancient world come home to rule as the harbinger of our individual and collective identities in the post-modern world. She would do well, however to make room on the throne for her paleolithic sister from the sea, Sedna.
In her treatise on the Taurus New Moon last week, the Finnish astrologer Kirsti Melto made the Sedna conjunction her focus. Of all the things we know of that orbit the Sun, Sedna is the furthest out with the longest orbital period. It makes Eris seem like the girl next door, it’s so far away.
As distant as the astronomical object is in space, so is the ancient myth in time. The Inuit people have dwelt in the arctic regions for thousands upon thousands of years. Adapting both culturally and physically, they knew the wisdom of existing as part of their environment rather than seeking dominion over it. The unlikely but abundant source of their survival was the cold and icy sea. Sedna was the daughter tragically sacrificed to that sea for the sake of her father’s survival. There she became goddess supreme. From there she demanded to be acknowledged and heard. The Inuit people know this and honored her for the sake of their own survival.
Just as Sedna called the Inuit from the cold, dark depths of the Arctic Sea, so she now calls us from the cold distance of the Oort cloud, the borderline between our solar system and the rest of our galaxy. In an averse semi-sextile to Eris and a square to Mars are expressed the anger and alienation that our own planet must certainly be feeling towards its most precocious children – us.
Is it really necessary for us to assume the role of being the infection of this world? Is it really possible for this planet to respond to us as if we were? Sedna knows. The mythical fate of the child sacrificed so that the parent might survive is part of that ancient knowledge. But so is the abundance that, paradoxically, the cold and dangerous realm of Sedna can yield. We are in no position to argue. It’s time to listen. Either that or face the biggest shake-up of them all, a new order of which we will not be a part.
Offered In Service
Memory Echoes — thank you for your kind words. You are more than welcome and I continue to hold you in a warm hug of consolation.
Moonrose69 — I also send healing grace for your grieving. Your last post had me in tears. I too had a wake up call as my Mother slowly departed her life. How true it is to realize that only love matters and that when we die we take nothing with us but we hopefully leave a legacy of loving.
I would also like to send a song reference. My Mother died eight years ago and I think I have may have mentioned a song that pulled me out of despair once before on the PlanetWaves blog. I’ll take this opportunity again to send it out there and I would like to dedicate it to Memory Echoes and Moonrose69 and to all who are grappling with the wild emotional ride of the death and loss of a loved one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX75O2Z5nTo&feature=related
MemoryEchoes, thanks for the song reference. And the book I mentioned won’t necessarily be helpful in working through guilt as it’s a writing about the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes. Maybe reciting the prayer would help though, or if you have a Christian background then understanding that guilt serves no purpose might be helpful too. The book may help in those ways.
As for me, I had already been through a huge grieving process over my mom. I had to let die the notion that my mom would ever be the mother that I ‘needed’, when a child or even as an adult. So I grieved that, in huge way, over many many months. Had to process the anger first though, which I didn’t even know was there until it erupted. And when I went to my mom’s bedside and she was so very weak and frail and really out of it, any remaining remnants of anything outside of love and acceptance of my mom as she is/was completely fell away. In that instance I knew that it really is true that when it comes to life and death only love matters.
My mom recovered from that scary moment and I had three wonderful weeks of tending to her, and caring for her, and she gave me little gifts here and there in her own way and I was finally able to receive them because I wasn’t looking for, wanting, or expecting something else. When my mom passed, I had two more huge releases of grief, from deep inside, and took one more step into adulthood and being my own caregiver. I have moments still here and there when emotions unexpectedly bring tears to my eyes, and I hold my mom close to my heart and compassionately hug her for all that she never had or received herself, for all that she kept buried inside behind her own ‘putting on a happy face,’ and for all that she did give me that I was finally able to recognize as such.
Anyway, read the Secret Life of Bees, also by Sue Monk-Kidd, if you haven’t already. One thing I took from that book was the notion that we have to be our own mothers.
And don’t beat yourself up. For anything. So many of us have had enough of that from someone else – so walk a new path. Be kind, forgiving, gentle. With yourself. Be the mother to yourself you would want to be for your own child, if you have one or would ever. That’s what our culture I think is missing most: the all-forgiving love-you-no-matter-what you’re-perfect-in-my-eyes everything-will-be-ok come-here-and-let-me-hold-you compassion of the feminine. Of a mother.
It was pretty funny. Now. That when I was going through my own struggles and my mother issues came up I also saw the world in that manner, that the world has mother issues too. How could I see anything different?! But I also think there’s validity there.
Again, best wishes and prayers for you on your path. It’s worth the walk.
xo
Patricia MoonRose
moonrose69: I wish I had the words to thank you for your beautiful response. I don’t. The best I can do is direct you to Gillian Welch’s song “I Dream A Highway Back to You.” I found it on lala (after a google search popped it up) and can’t seem to copy the url to give it to you here. There are many layers to the song, and whether or not you’re a fan of countrified music (think Ryan Adams, not Merle Haggard), the lyrics and harmonies are gorgeous and speak to me. May the power of the song ease your pain and soothe your heart through your time of grieving.
And the prayer you reference … uffda (the Norwegian expression of amazement) (no, I’m not Norwegian) … the cords of guilt threaten to strangle me at times. I will keep these lines close to my heart as I track down that book.
hazelf and shebear13: I am incredibly grateful for your words of condolence and comfort and the love streaming out behind it.
I am so pleased to encounter you all here. Grateful. And humbled.
Glad to hear others have read that book. It was truly timely for me, but during those times it seemed as though every book I read was! Many synchronicities occurring. Thanks for the mention of “The Heroine’s Journey”, shebear13. I’m about done with my current book so I will seek that one out.
I have seen Amma, The Hugging Saint, the last several years, always near or on my birthday. Such the epitome of a mother who loves all her children — and she considers everyone her children — and has done so much good for so many in the world. But with the females that rise up in our country to have some large public influence, they still are so very male-like — Hillary Clinton comes to mind — where the emphasis is on the mind, and not the heart. Or the emphasis is on the body, and not the heart (as in an incredible athlete), again, speaking publicly.
With the rise of small and local farming comes one return to the feminine on a large scale, but we’re still lacking a public figure. And I wonder if that’s important to have? A role model for young ladies, perhaps some old too. For one reason, to help transcend mother wounds that can run so very deep.
MemoryEchoes, I lost my mom too, early last month, and although not to suicide, it still hurt. It just plain hurts to lose one’s mom. My heart goes out to you and I pray that you find solace in good memories and loved ones still here with you. I pray your healing is gentle and timely and whole. I pray for your peace and your mom’s peace.
Most nights I recite the Lord’s prayer before I fall asleep. But it’s a much different version than is familiar.
The line I like most is, “Loose the cords of mistakes binding us as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.”
It’s very powerful, isn’t it?
The entire prayer can be found in “Prayers From the Cosmos” by Neil Douglas-Klotz. He’s an aramaic scholar who translates directly from the original aramaic documents. In this book, and others, he gives discourse on the language itself, and then takes each prayer line by line and offers more than one possible translation of each line, because he says there is no literal translation possible.
xo
Patricia MoonRose
memory echoes: – heartfelt warmth and comfort to you and your family. H.
MoonRose, Kidd’s book meant so much to me a few years ago when I was struggling with similar issues. Thanks for the mention… it brings back memories.
Moonrose69
I just read your comment — it’s wonderful.
I also read Sue Monk-Kidd’s book and it helped me to begin the process of freeing the repressed feminine in my wounded soul. I would like to add another book to anyone else out there on that interior journey — “The Heroine’s Journey” by Maureen Murdock.
I’d also like to add that I nodded vigorously with the elderly nun in your story who said “it’s high time people realized that God is more than two men and a bird.”
Thanks for giving me a much needed chuckle!
Memory Echoes:
My heart goes out to you.
To lose your Mum under such harrowing circumstances must be rocking your world. I pray for grace and courage to sustain your grieving, along with a big warm cyber hug.
Paola:
I breathed right alongside you all day long and into the night here in Toronto. So lovely to see a variety of responses echo my thoughts of healing for your “crazy” moments. I hope today you are feeling grounded in the light and support offered by the beautiful posters of PlanetWaves.
I know it sustains me in my fragile moments.
Len, you are uber generous with your compliments! I’ll take mine with a grain of salt, thank you. :0) But, regarding my post, those words came from a place of experience, and that just might equate to wisdom. It seems I’ve mostly learned the hard way. But, no more (I hope and pray and try).
On the topic of the feminine returning from a long hiatus, this strongly played out in my life when I went through my recent troubled times (already mentioned, in part). I expect that would be the case with the activity of my right brain on fire (creativity and religion too). How do you foresee eris and sedna playing out in individual charts, rather than the collective, which is mostly addressed on this blog? Can you address that? Ok, if not.
I read the book, “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, A Woman’s Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine” by Sue Monk-Kidd which tells of her own awakening to the divine feminine, and I highly recommend it. She tells of her search through history and of her own struggle of becoming, becoming authentic and true to herself.
I heard her relate this little quip on a video, and it made me laugh out loud. She’s a wonderful story teller, in writing and in speaking.
“One of the more memorable instances of that was in 1996, the year Dissident Daughter came out. I was speaking about the book at a spiritual formation conference that was being held at the mother house of a community of Catholic sisters. I should mention that they were not sponsoring the conference, only providing the facility for it. It was attended mostly by Protestants and an equal portion of men and women, and it turned out that more than a few of them were not happy about my topic. A lot of controversy got stirred up. One afternoon while seeking refuge in the library, I was summoned to the office of one of the sisters and found myself standing before an elderly nun in full habit. She had her arms crossed over her chest. She did not look happy. She said, “I understand you’ve been speaking about the Divine Feminine.” I said, “Yes’mam.” Then she said, “And I also understand you’ve kicked up quite a hornets nest.” I nodded. “Well,” she said, “I just wanted to tell you that it’s high time people realized that God is more than two men and a bird.” Then she gave me the most wonderful, subversive smile and sent me back into the fray.”
That was taken from her website.
Good day everyone.
Patricia MoonRose
“We feel the pain of being torn from our attachments; the sorrow and despair of knowing that it’s as tough as many of us have ever known; the fear of not knowing just how bad it is, or will get. We can’t dwell there, not for long. If we are to survive, we must be aware of our state of mind. We must know what thoughts to cultivate if we are to sustain. We must have a vision of where we want to be if the not-so-veiled opportunities of our time are to be availed of.”
So beautifully put, Len. I check Planet Waves regularly to read your astrological explications. My mom committed suicide just over a month ago, and you put your finger on what I’ve been feeling, quite personally, and also what others are experiencing. It is comforting to know we are all poking around in the dark together, flashlights and candles in hand.
I don’t know much about Eris and Sedna astrologically, but I am looking forward to reading more about the role they are playing in our planetary evolution. The energies of divine femininity, so long suppressed, repressed, oppressed, are rising not a moment too soon.
Anyway, I just wanted to express my gratitude for the work you do. Know that your words touch me on a regular basis, and I’m uncloaking now to tell you so.
Hmm. My very scorpio son has had an uncontrollable need to hide away the past few days after HUGE energy blowout — and I now have a new POV – that is, mayabe some of all PWers wonderful astrological knowledge is beginning to wear off on me.
I ran his natal chart with transits (today) and see that there are at least half a dozen oppositions going on between his natal/transiting sun,moon,venus,mars,eris,sedna. And I see that his natal Sedna is in the 12th house opposing his natal Sun to begin with. (natal mercury and mars are in scorpio too).
So…..doesn’t change whatever he’s going through, but maybe I’m learning to use the charts to see a bit. Thanks for another wonderful article, Len – and I’ll keep learning.
Thx.
Elle and Victoria – Thank you for adding your beautiful words and thoughts in support of paola. You bring tears of joy to my eyes.
Full disclosure on my part: Mars rolled back and forth over my natal Jupiter THREE times while it was in retrograde, so i can relate.
Paola,
Why apologize for writing something personal about how the current alignments are affecting you? This is an open forum for these kind of discussions, not only for us to write the authors of the articles about what they have to say-We ARE Planetwaves, You ARE Planetwaves:)
I find it thoroughly educational to understand how despite the long list of major aspects and “shake ups” going on color the landscape, that as individuals we all experience them in a unique way. Hearing your situation and reading this entire thread helped me remember we’re all going through it these days and we must support one another some days to just keep truckin…..
Hang in there….I felt like that for over a month recently and am only now feeling a slight sense of relief coming in. If you can just breathe and not ‘fall apart’, which can feel challenging at times, you will emerge stronger and all the wiser.
Victoria
P.S. Len-I loved the “Bases Loaded” analogy-definitely feels apropos!
Hi Paola,
I had Mars on my Jupiter for awhile and I also felt like I was going crazy.
I also recommend praying, meditating, and one thing I do that really helps is acupressure, specifically Large Intestine 4, AKA LI-4.
Press the fleshy web between your thumb and your forefinger. It is the proverbial pain and anxiety spot that most acupuncturists will use to decrease both. Hold this point for a few minutes and your breathing should normalize.
Much love and gratitude to you Len for your always amazing posts…
~elle
Thank you Patricia MoonRose. Good advice for us all. May your wisdom continue to grace Planet Waves frequently.
Thank you Patricia. Breathing feels good.
Paola,
Not sure what exactly ‘getting crazy’ means to you, but what comes to mind for me is to
Breathe deeply. A lot. And if you think you’ve done it enough, do it some more.
And stick to the facts. Just the facts.
And if you are inclined to pray, I’d recommend that too.
Hope you come through it ok…
xo
Patricia MoonRose
Hi,
I apologize for writing something personal, but today I have Mars on my natal Sun in Leo, as well as Saturn retrograde on my Mars in Virgo, opposite to Jupiter and Uranus.
I feel like I’m getting crazy. Any suggestions that can help me to get through the day? This is going to last for a few days… and the Moon will add when she gets in Virgo,too. Thanks!!