The UK Election - The Election Day Chart

The polls open in the UK general election at 7am on May 6 2010, so I thought it would be an interesting exercise to look at the chart for polling day.

I’m using the basic principles of Mundane Astrology here. For more info on what the planets and houses represent in Mundane, see Skyscript.co.uk

The chart is set for 7am, the time the polls open on election day.
Chart data: 6 May 2010, 07.00 BST, London. Placidus Houses, Mean Node

The Country and its People

The first house represents the general condition of the country and its inhabitants as a whole, as we go to the polls. The 1st is ruled by Mercury, which is weak because it’s Retrograde and in the 12th house. As a country, we’re not in great shape as we go to the polls, we feel like the country is coming undone and secrets are being kept.

The people, the common voters, are represented by the Moon. The Moon is in the 10th house in the fixed sign of Aquarius. The 10th house is a good position for the Moon in the chart for an election day. With the 10th representing government, this position indicates that the people have the power to make a difference with their vote. However, the Aquarius position of the Moon (which has no essential dignity) suggests that the people are indifferent to the government. Perhaps they’ve had enough of disruption, debate and broken promises. They want stability and equality and they want to protect their jobs and keep their incomes stable (the 10th also represents employment). Moon in Aquarius also reflects the fact that this is a very important election for those who work in and who need the country's public and social services. There are service, budgetary and job cuts looming in that sector as the incoming government will need to reduce public spending.

The Political Players

The current Prime Minister is represented by the Sun. At 15 degrees Taurus, the Sun has no essential dignity and is in the 12th house. The Prime Minister is weak. He’s further weakened by the fact that Mars is in a tense square aspect to the Sun. Mars represents the parties opposing the Prime Minister in this election (notably the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats). However, it is a separating square, perhaps suggesting that the opposition parties will have done their worst by the time the British people go to the polls.

Mars (the Government's opposition) is very well placed in the 4th house because the 4th is the house which represents the opposition to the Government. Mars is therefore a threat to the Government. However, Mars has no essential (or accidental) dignity here, weakening its position somewhat. Perhaps this reflects that there is not one party alone which threatens the Government, but two, as the polls suggest that both the Conservative and Lib-Dems are in the running, but that neither opposing party has enough support to win the election outright. Maybe the Conservatives (Mars) were previously the big threat, but now that Mars is separating from its square to the Sun (the Prime Minister) the threat is not so great anymore. This is clearly seen in the fact that the Lib-Dems have recently established themselves as serious contenders. It really seems to be a three-horse race now and at the time of writing, the UK is facing the strong possibility of a hung parliament in which no party has an overall majority. Maybe the fact that the planet of Government opposition (Mars) is in the house of Government opposition (4th) - an astrological 'double whammy' - suggests the two party opposition Labour is facing, the Conservatives and the Lib-Dems. 

Where might the idea of a hung parliament be indicated in the chart? Perhaps the strongest indicator is Venus on the Ascendant. Venus represents diplomatic resolutions, the careful balancing act (which would be needed in a hung parliament) and it’s in Gemini, the sign of flexibility and duality - two-ness - indicating that the Government will need to form an alliance with another party, perhaps form a coalition government in order to get anything done in parliament. This isn’t a good or stable situation for parliament to be in, bearing in mind that the dispositer of Venus in Gemini, Mercury, is unhappily Retrograde in the 12th house of secret enemies and self undoing.

The Role of the Media

This weak Retrograde Mercury also represents the media. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes (12th house) in the media, who is feeding them spin and propaganda? Well it seems to be Pluto (suggesting that much is going on away from public view), which makes a trine to Mercury. In previous elections the media have had an enormous influence, but in this election it’s hard to see that, well not in any obvious way. Everything to do with the media during this election seems rather murky indeed! Can we believe anything they say?

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

Jupiter is interesting in this chart. This is because Jupiter is the strongest planet in this chart – he’s in the sign of his rulership, Pisces and in the house of his joy, the 11th, the house of friends and aspirations. In mundane astrology, the 11th also represents parliament, the House of Commons in particular. Jupiter rules a nation’s wealth, its banks and bankers, its legal system, prominent law makers and other people who are elevated in society. There is a sense here that parliament has friends in high places, that these people will assist government and receive benefits in return. Jupiter is afflicted by an applying opposition from Saturn Retrograde in Virgo. This is one of very few applying aspects in the chart, symbolising future public disappointment from the public on how the wheels of government are oiled and run. Is it going to be back to business as usual, despite the lessons of the expenses scandal? Jupiter also conjoins Uranus, which in mundane astrology represents right wing politics, suggesting an overall swing to the right, especially as Uranus is in his own domicile, the 11th house. Neptune, which represents the Left wing, is not doing much in this chart, sitting up in the 10th it’s in the house of Government, but not making any aspects.

A Prediction

Overall, this chart suggests that perhaps the Left won’t be totally defeated, there will still be a Labour Prime Minister, but an ineffective one, without an overall majority. I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that it will be a hung parliament between Labour and the Lib-Dems. A situation like this gives the Conservatives (the Right) a lot of power and influence because both Labour and the Lib-Dems would need the Conservative’s support in order to stay in government and to have any hope of making the changes they have promised in their election campaigns.

Finally, don't forget this election takes place under a Saturn-Uranus opposition. If nothing else, expect shocks, surprises, change and big upsets to the status quo!

The Jupiter Saturn Cycle and the Economy

If we are going to be positive, we could say that this strong Jupiter indicates a bit of hope for the economy, at least in the very short term. Opposing Saturn, these two planets are at the peak of their cycle. This cycle reliably reflects the economic cycles (see my article on the current Jupiter-Saturn cycle here >)

However, the opposition between Jupiter and Saturn often coincides with a crisis in the economy. The first opposition of this cycle this May, with Jupiter strong in Pisces, will perhaps give cause for optimism. Unfortunately, I doubt this optimism will last. Jupiter and Saturn, when they move into the cardinal signs of Aries and Libra, will join Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries in the T-Square which will be at its strongest in the summer months of June and July. I foresee more shocks and upsets to the economy to come. I really hope I am wrong.

If you have a vote, be sure to use it well.

Love and blessings,
Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Recommendation
Mundane and Political Astrology Blog Astrotabletalk by Dharmaruci

Saturn Opposition Uranus - All Change

Think back to late 2008, when the current series of Saturn-Uranus oppositions began. How the world has changed! The credit crunch; the banking crisis; political changes, scandals and upheavals; recession; job losses; calls for political and economic reform….we are living through times of massive change, for sure.

I suspect there aren’t many of you reading this who haven’t been affected directly or indirectly by the events of the last couple of years or so. As we come to the fourth of the five current Saturn-Uranus oppositions, the final one in Virgo and Pisces, this is a good time to review what’s changed in your life and to ask yourself how you feel about where you find yourself right now.

Did you initiate and control the changes that have occurred in your life, or were the changes thrust upon you and your loved ones by circumstance? Have you wanted to make changes, but felt blocked by external forces or by your own fear or uncertainty?

For some of you, this process of change has been/is a conscious one, as you rebel against ‘the way it’s always been done’, make a push for freedom and push forward with your ambitions/dreams/plans. However, many of you who desperately want to make changes in your lives are feeling blocked (or feeling like you’re ‘in prison’ as one acquaintance expressed it) as you meet resistance from the outside world, or even resistance from yourself, conscious or otherwise. Perhaps the key is to carefully time the changes you are trying to make, pacing things patiently and sensibly. Breaking big tasks (like job hunting, for instance) down into a series of smaller tasks is also a good approach which can help prevent things becoming overwhelming. That way, when change does finally break through for you, you will be in a good position to balance the new things in your life with your need for stability and security, minimizing the ‘scary’ factor.

If you are not feeling blocked and managing to initiate change successfully, the above advice still holds and you should also be aware of the danger of moving too fast in your zeal for the new - ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’ - changing the good things in your life, as well as the bad.

For others, change may have been unexpectedly thrust upon you. Perhaps it’s been a sudden job loss, a change in your financial fortune, a relationship breaking down or some other distressing disruption to the status quo of your life? It feels as if a very difficult challenge has been thrown down and circumstances are dictating that you rise to that challenge. You must carefully put in place new structures in your life to replace the old ones that have passed away. You may need to pull on all your inner and outer resources to find ways deal with your new circumstances. You may need to swallow your pride and ask for help. The old has been swept aside, the new must come in and the future is wide open. For some this brings a tremendous sense of freedom and excitement and for others, a crushing sense of fear and restriction. Most of us though, are feeling the fear and the excitement, all at once.

Of course, we shouldn’t forget that Pluto is also a part of this picture – Pluto has been squaring Saturn since late 2009 and forms part of the Saturn-Uranus-Pluto Cardinal T-Square which has been building since then (scroll down to see data for these aspects). The energy of Pluto and Saturn combined can add a tremendous sense of restriction, separation and fear of loss. We are called upon to work hard, hard, hard to get through Saturn-Pluto times, but we may just find that, if we work hard enough, seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome and unimaginable goals can be accomplished.

Hang on in there and keep pushing. You will come through. You are strong.

Resources and Further Reading

Whatever your personal situation, change is undoubtedly a stressful experience. Below are some useful links for further reading, which also include some helpful coping and healing tools.

The Cardinal T-Square Blog-A-Thon has brought together a collection of helpful, insightful and informative articles on handling the challenges of Saturn, Uranus, Pluto and the Cardinal T-Square. All in all, over 50 talented astrology writers present a collection of articles designed to help you to learn more about these challenging planetary energies and discover some helpful healing tools and coping mechanisms. Here are the links you need:

Look After Saturn and Saturn Will Look After You.

Uranus in Aries: Claiming a Self-Reliant Future

Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed! Here’s What Helps

More healing and coping tools from Vibration Magazine: Combining Astrology with Flower Essences

See also Donna Cunningham’s Pluto-Saturn Preparedness Kit

To read my previous articles on the Saturn Uranus oppositions and the Cardinal T-Square see:
Saturn-Uranus-Pluto, the Financial Crisis and Me
The Saturn-Uranus Oppositions and You
The Cardinal T Square - What's It All About?

Astrologer Lara Owen has written some excellent articles about the Saturn-Uranus Oppositions, here’s the latest one: Saturn Uranus Oppositions April 26 2010

For the world view see the series of Saturn-Uranus-Pluto essays of Bill Herbst  and/or read Richard Tarnas’ excellent book Cosmos and Psyche

Data

• 4th November 2008 – Saturn opposition Uranus (19 degrees Virgo-Pisces)
• 5th February 2009 - Saturn opposition Uranus (21 degrees Virgo-Pisces)
• 15th September 2009 - Saturn opposition Uranus (25 degrees Virgo-Pisces with Pluto at 0 degree Capricorn, forming a t-square)
• 15th November 2009 – Saturn square Pluto (2 degrees Libra – Capricorn)
• 31st January 2010 – Saturn square Pluto (4 degrees Libra – Capricorn)
• 27th April 2010 Saturn opposition Uranus (29 degrees Virgo-Pisces with Pluto at 5 Capricorn , still in orb for a t-square)
• 26th July 2010 Saturn opposition Uranus (0 degree of Aries-Libra with Pluto at 3 Capricorn, forming a cardinal t-square in close orb)
• 21st August 2010 – Saturn square Pluto (2 degrees Libra – Capricorn)

You will be/have been affected by the above aspects if you have personal planets or points in the late degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) and/or between 0 and 4 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn). If you do not know if you have planets or points at these degrees of these signs you can quickly download your own birth chart which will provide you with this information in a simply understood way at http://www.alabe.com/.

It is important to note that these transits are slow and their effects can last for many months, maybe even a year or more. Astrological transits of this kind are processes of unfoldment, representing important stages in our personal development, not one-off ‘events’ timed to the dates the aspects become exact.

A note about orbs: for personal transits, I keep orbs very tight, a maximum two or three degrees applying and one degree or less separating. However, please bear in mind that astrology merely reflects events in our real lives and we should remind ourselves that experience should always be given precedence over the question of mathematical orbs. When applying these aspects to world/collective events, it is acceptable to use orbs of up to 10 degrees or more, although the tighter the orb, the more intensely concentrated the energy.

With love, Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Taurus Talks

As the Sun moves into Taurus, here are some quotes from a few famous names that reflect their Sun in Taurus and their Moon sign too - enjoy!

I don't have a sense of entitlement or that I deserve this. You'd be surprised at the lack of competition between nominees - I think a lot of it's imposed from the outside. Can I have my champagne now?  Cate Blanchett, Actress – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Aries

I find it a great antidote... lipstick and mirrors and hairspray.  Joanna Lumley, Actress – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Taurus

He that has eyes to see and ears to hear may convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore.  Sigmund Freud, Psychologist – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Gemini

I recorded the song live in front of an orchestra, and yes, I was very moved, I was in tears.  Burt Bacharach, Composer – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Cancer

I was a personality before I became a person - I am simple, complex, generous, selfish, unattractive, beautiful, lazy and driven.  Barbra Streisand, Singer/Actress – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Leo

For the first time ever, overweight people outnumber average people in America. Doesn't that make overweight the average then? Last month you were fat, now you're average - hey, let's get a pizza!  Jay Leno, Comedian/TV host – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Virgo

I just cash in on the fact that I'm good looking, and I've got a nice figure and girls like me.  Sid Vicious, Punk singer – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Libra

Sometimes, when I'm alone, I put on six inch heels and wear nothing else and dance around in front of the mirror and do my little stripper dance.  Tori Spelling, Actress – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Scorpio

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.  Johannes Brahms, Composer – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Sagittarius

I'm scared to death of being poor. It's like a fat girl who loses 500 pounds but is always fat inside. I grew up poor and will always feel poor inside. It's my pet paranoia. Cher, Singer/Actress – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Capricorn

When you are down and out something always turns up - and it is usually the noses of your friends. Orson Welles, Actor – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Aquarius

I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it. Audrey Hepburn, Actress – Sun in Taurus/Moon in Pisces


http://www.mandilockley.com/

Chiron in Pisces - Water Over Rocks

With Chiron moving into Pisces*, I have been preparing to write a post about Chiron for some days now, but felt blocked, despite preparing pages and pages of notes.

The key word most of us associate with Chiron is healing and it’s very easy to predict that in Pisces, Chiron’s healing themes comes to the foremost, presenting us with a great opportunity for healing on a collective and personal level.

But Chiron, Pisces and life just isn’t as simple as that, so this morning I decided to meditate on some of the themes of Chiron in Pisces and a very interesting image came to me, an image of crystal clear water running over rocky ground, on the face of it a calm, restful image.

However, I have also been thinking about the meaning of discomfort these past few days and I had an ‘aha’ moment which brought these two ideas together. You see, for all its themes of healing, Chiron is also an uncomfortable energy. In the myth, Chiron was wounded. Only able to heal himself partially, he was fated to walk his path in perpetual discomfort. Similarly, that beautiful clear water I dreamed up in my meditation will certainly cleanse our feet, but at the same time, the rocks the water runs over will always remain uncomfortable to walk across, despite the fact that the water will cleanse the rocks and over time, smooth away their sharper edges.

In this life, it is through our experience of discomfort and through the (physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual) wounding that causes the discomfort in the first place, that we are compelled to learn. Along the way, we discover that healing, total healing, in the sense of ‘becoming whole’, is perhaps not totally possible in just a single earthly incarnation, but it is this whole-making that we are ultimately seeking, on a soul level. So, as we walk across life’s rocky path, like Chiron, we carry our wounds with us, seeking comfort from the healing waters where we can. Then, like Chiron we can eventually learn how to use the knowledge we learn from carrying our own pain, to help others to carry their own.

However, Chiron also reminds us that real healing must be sought and asked for, if the healing process is to really be felt on a deeper, soul level. Simply giving healing to another, without them asking for it, diverts them from their healing journey, robbing them of their opportunity to learn from the discomfort of walking over the rocks. Similarly, if we simply take from someone else a metaphorical ‘magical pill’ that takes away all our pain, this denies us our own lesson. We must learn to feel the discomfort of the pain, but at the same time we must learn to understand that even in pain, we do not have to suffer unnecessarily - WE CAN ASK FOR HELP. Asking for help is a truly humbling experience and is the first step on the journey through the healing waters and across the rocky ground that lies beneath. This I feel, is the key to the healing energy of Chiron as it travels through the sign of Pisces.

*Data for Chiron in Pisces
[add one hour for daylight saving if applicable]

• Chiron moves into Pisces on 20th April 2010 at 06.31 GMT / 20th April at 01.31 Eastern Time / 19th April at 22.31 Pacific Time.
• Chiron Retrogrades back into Aquarius on 20th July 2010 at 09.42 / 20th July at 04.42 Eastern Time / 20th July at 01.42 Pacific Time.
• Chiron re-enters Pisces on 8th February 2011 at 19.57 GMT / 8th February at 14.57 Eastern Time / 8th February at 11.57 Pacific Time………..after which Chiron remains in Pisces until February 2019.

Recommended Further Reading on Chiron
Zane Stein’s Chiron And Friends Website
Melanie Reinhart’s book Chiron and the Healing Journey – a new and updated edition has just been published.
Joyce Mason’s E- book: Chiron and Wholeness – A Primer Joyce is currently running a Chiron research project. For details click here.
By Eric Francis: An Overview of Chiron & Chiron in Pisces & Born in the Sixties (discusses the Chiron in Pisces opposition to the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in the 1960’s)

Related Posts on Astroair Astrology
Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron and the New Moon
Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron – The Story So Far

Photo credit: http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/170309/170309.htm

With love, Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Astrology Proved by Scientists!

It's the news astrologers have been waiting for for centuries!

Professor of astrophysics, William Kapteyn and his PhD student Alex Whitehead, have accidentally proved astrology, it has been alleged.

Planets

The Professor had been conducting controversial research which involved artificially re-creating in his laboratory the magnetic energies of the solar system planets of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. He then tested each of these environments on laboratory rats.

Rats

It was Whitehead, who first noted that the rats’ behaviour differed according to which planetary energy they were exposed to. He found that when the rats were exposed to the energy associated with Venus, they tended to spend more time grooming themselves and each other than would be considered normal. Those exposed to Mars’ energies tended to be more aggressive and sexually active. Rats exposed to the re-created Mercury energy become fidgety and more visibly nervous. Under Jupiter’s magnetic energies the rats ate more and gained weight and with Saturn, they seemed to go off their food and become socially withdrawn. A control group of rats, exposed only to natural Earth energies, did not display any of these variations in behaviour.

Hippies

Whitehead first made the shocking correlation with astrology after he discussed the results of the tests with his wife, who apparently, ‘had been a bit of a hippie back in the day’. She suggested that the rats’ behaviour under each planet’s unique energy correlated somewhat with what astrologers say about the influence of those planets on human behaviour. Whitehead was intrigued and conducted several more experiments before discussing these strange findings with Kapteyn. It is reported that Kapteyn was sceptical in the extreme at first, even after seeing Whitehead’s results, but agreed to more stringent tests, all of which yielded very similar results to those that Whitehead had initially observed.

Hiding

Last month, their research notes were stolen from their laboratory and leaked to the wider academic world, to be met with derision from all quarters. Their research grant was withdrawn and both scientists have gone to ground and are refusing to comment, amid rumours that there have been threats to strip Kapteyn of his Professorship and to throw Whitehead off the PhD programme.

Aries New Moon: Clear Your Head

Welcome to the Aries New Moon, the first New Moon of the astrological year!

This lunation is a good one for clearing your head (Aries rules the head) and moving forward.

Here are a few simple and easy ways to clear you head that you can do now!

Exercise: Walk or run. Do it fast! Get into the zone.

Practice your breathing:
There’s a very simple but effective breathing exercise in a recent post. Especially good for those impulsive, fiery ‘Aries’ moments! Click on this link and scroll down

Keep things simple in what you eat and the way you work. Get straight to the point in your interactions with others.

Have a laugh! There’s lots of humor on the astrology blogs this month. Check out these fun links:

http://mandilockley.blogspot.com/2010/04/astro-giggles.html

http://auntiemoon.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/astro-humor-astrovibe/

http://skywriter.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/english-for-astrologers-no-astrobable-please/

http://www.midlifetransits.com/blog/2010/04/09/top-ten-astro-songs-pluto-edition/

http://astrologyexpressed.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/astrology-post-for-the-national-humor-month/

http://northernlighte.blogspot.com/2010/04/t-square-blues.html

A Good Read for the Aries New Moon:
http://www.eckharttolle.com/home/books/  

  

This famous self-help book is your guide to leaving behind the analytical mind and the ego, connecting with the essence of our Being and learning to live in the now.

Data (add one hour to times for daylight saving):

• Moon enters Aries on 12th April at 13.31 GMT / 08.31 Eastern Time / 05.31 Pacific Time
• Aries Full Moon: 14th April at 12.29 GMT / 07.29 Eastern Time / 04.29 Pacific Time 
• Moon enters Taurus on 14th April at 22.55 GMT /17.55 Eastern Time / 14.55 Pacific Time
• Sun enters Taurus on 19th April 04.30 GMT / 20th April 23.30 Eastern Time / 20th April 20.30 Pacific Time

Astro Giggles

A couple of classic 'Moon' clips from the fabulous Mighty Boosh:

Baby's First Words

Aries: Now!

Taurus: More food!

Gemini:  (whatever it is, it will be a lie)

Cancer: I love my Mummy

Leo: Me, me, me!

Virgo: Ughhh, dirty!

Libra: Pretty mirror

Scorpio: (not so much a word, more an evil laugh)

Sagittarius: (too busy learning to walk to have any patience for talking)

Capricorn: Daddy

Aquarius: (first word was unrecognisable, parents think it was in some kind of alien language)

Pisces: Bottle please

Life's a battleground. Here's how opposing signs go to war against each other:

Aries vs. Libra - a charm offensive

Taurus vs. Scorpio - loooong, slooooow, very strategic

Gemini vs. Sagittarius - a war of words

Cancer vs. Capricorn: fighting for control of the home land

Leo vs. Aquarius: the winner takes the crown, but only Leo will wear it. Aquarius will donate it to charity. 

Virgo vs. Pisces: its all about martydom and sacrifice

Saturn and Pluto (and the power of Re-)

The Planetary Movements

On 6th April Pluto turned Retrograde (Rx) at 5 degrees of Capricorn. Pluto will remain Rx until 14th September, turning around at 3 degrees of Capricorn.

On 7th April Saturn, already Rx since 13th January, moved out of Libra and back into the sign of Virgo. Saturn will turn direct on 30th May and will finally leave Virgo on 21st July.

What Does This Mean?

Well, this shift in Saturn and Pluto asks us to review some of the personal and global issues we’ve been facing during the ongoing Saturn-Uranus oppositions which started in late 2008 and the Saturn-Pluto squares which started in late 2009. For so many of us, our lives have changed in the last couple of years, in some cases dramatically. Generally speaking, all these changes and disruptive influences haven’t, so far, made us feel liberated or secure. Quite the reverse, they have made us feel restricted and reined-in, while at the same time forcing us to perform a very delicate and tenuous balancing act in order to hold everything together. Quite frankly, we’re exhausted from the effort and wondering how and where it’s all going to end…..

….As Pluto was moving towards his Rx turnaround these last few weeks, did you feel the pressure building? Did your internal pressure cooker blow, or was that just me? Now Pluto is moving backwards, we can perhaps dare to take the foot off a couple of those pedals especially as Saturn’s Rx move back into Virgo puts the Saturn-Pluto square energies in retreat, well at least for a few weeks at any rate....

....However, while Saturn is taking a short break from Pluto, being back in Virgo means another status-quo upsetting opposition with Uranus is coming soon, towards the end of April in fact. This will be the 4th in a series of 5. The final opposition, in July, will be in the cardinal signs of Aries and Libra, making April's opposition the last one in the mutable signs. This being the case, we’re being asked, individually and collectively, to look for some kind of closure around the changes, shocks and disruptions we’ve faced recently....

....I feel there’s a sense now of needing to let the dust (the ashes of our former life, perhaps) settle before we brace ourself for the next round. Re-energising ourselves now will help us to fully embrace the best promises of the cardinal energies that will come with the cardinal t-square, now building towards its climax in July. Then, with Uranus and Jupiter in Aries joining Saturn back in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn, we can finally summon up the courage, strength and stamina to break out of the psychological and material ‘prisons’ and ‘traps’ so many of us seem to have fallen into to and claim back our sense of self, our confidence, our independence and our positive forward momentum....

What Can We Do To Help Ourselves While Saturn is Retrograde in Virgo?

Here are few ideas (most of them can be read on a number of levels, to suit yourself and your situation):

Rest – If your life is anything like mine, it's been super busy, super stressed and backed up with commitments. Now’s the time to free up a few regular slots in your schedule for your favourite relaxing pastimes (healthy ones!).

Retreat – consciously retreat - emotionally, mentally and physically - from those situations and relationships which are unhealthy for you. Give yourself a holiday!

Restore / Rejuvenate – give something or someone (or yourself) a makeover. Clean up, make as new, dust away the cobwebs, scrub away the grime. Be healthy – exercise, eat well, organise your time better, be kind to yourself and kind to others.

Reveal – Open up the windows, through back the curtains. Let the light in! Find the beauty in the small, humble details.

Re-establish some healthy, reliable routines in your life.

Be Realistic – get your house in order!

Reflect upon and Reassess the changes that have taken place your life over the last couple of years. Look for the deeper meaning, the fresh perspective.

Rebuild relationships of value that have fallen into disrepair over the last couple of years.

Re-evaluate how you handle our personal power. Do you give it all away to others? Do you use it to control others? Recognise, honestly, these patterns, if you have them. Forgive yourself and Release dead and past issues that are holding you back.

Notice that all the key words above begin with the prefix ‘Re-‘? This little word means backwards or again – perfect for times when Retrograde planets are hitting your birth chart. You can probably think of a few more Re- words that are relevant to you.

A Very Quick and Helpful Meditation

Here’s a very simple breathing exercise that might help you during the coming months.

Start to become conscious of your breathing. Slow your breath down, controlling your in breaths and out breaths. As you breathe out begin to relax your shoulders and arms down and relax your facial muscles, feeling the tension slipping away. Relax deep into your belly and keeping your belly muscles soft, breathe in slowly into your abdomen (you know when you are doing this right because your abdomen area will expend). As you breathe in, say the word LET either in your head or out loud. On the out breath, which should also be slow and controlled, say or think the work GO.

Do a few rounds of this and see how you feel better. This is a good exercise to do on the hop, as and when you need to (to help you cope with the litle ay annoyances of daily life) or you can do it as part of deeper meditative work, in your favourite relaxed lying or sitting position.

Planetary Data:

• 4th November 2008 – Saturn opposition Uranus (19 degrees Virgo-Pisces) 
• 5th February 2009 - Saturn opposition Uranus (21 degrees Virgo-Pisces) 
• 15th September 2009 - Saturn opposition Uranus (25 degrees Virgo-Pisces) with Pluto at 0 degree Capricorn, forming a t-square 
• 15th November 2009 – Saturn square Pluto (2 degrees Libra – Capricorn) 
• 31st January 2010 – Saturn square Pluto (4 degrees Libra – Capricorn) 
• 27th April 2010 Saturn opposition Uranus (29 degrees Virgo-Pisces) with Pluto at 5 Capricorn , still in orb for a t-square 
• 26th July 2010 Saturn opposition Uranus (0 degree of Aries-Libra with Pluto at 3 Capricorn, forming a cardinal t-square in close orb - Jupiter joins the party at 3 degrees of Aries) 
• 21st August 2010 – Saturn square Pluto (2 degrees Libra – Capricorn) 
• From June 2012 to March 2015, Uranus and Pluto go on to make a series of seven squares in Aries and Capricorn respectively.

You will be/have been affected by the above aspects if you have personal planets or points in the late degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) and/or the early degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn). If you do not know if you have planets or points at these degrees of these signs you can quickly download your own birth chart which will provide you with this information in a simply understood way at http://www.alabe.com/.

Related Articles:

The first 4 links below are to the cardinal t-square blog-a-thon article collection home pages, where you will find a wealth of information, resources and healing tools, from several dozen talented astrologers, to help you work with the the current energies
Look After Saturn And Saturn Will Look After You
Uranus in Aries: Claiming A Self Reliant Future
Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed? Here’s What Helps!
Vibration Magazine: Combining Flower Essences and Astrology

The Cardinal T-Square - What’s It All About?
An Explanation of Retrograde
Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2010


Photo credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech

How Did The Tarot Pack Cross The Road?

Donna Cunningham, astrologer and the inspirational driver behind the Cardinal T-Square Blog-A-Thon, sent me a welcome reminder a week ago that life on earth these days isn't just about hard work, disruption, upset and restriction, despite evidence to the contrary! Oh no, life can be masses of fun too and April is National Humor Month, a great excuse to see and to celebrate the funny side.

Now at first, my Capricorn Sun, ravaged by transits from Saturn and Pluto, was very sceptical, too tired, miserable and heavily burdened to even consider thinking up some funny stuff to post. What on God's good earth is there to laugh at? Not a lot, that's for sure! But then, my Mercury in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Gemini got talking behind my Sun's back, as per usual. They sure do love each other those two, a proper little mutual admiration society all to themselves! But in the end my Sun thought they came up with a couple of good ideas (especially compared to the weird stuff my Venus and Mars in Aquarius came up with, but we won't go there!) and in the end agreed to join in with my merry band of astro-blogging buddies.

So here is the first funny piece, albeit Tarot humour instead of astro-humour, but hey-ho, they made me chuckle and hopefully they'll raise a smile with you too!

Enjoy....

 

Why did the Fool cross the road? To get that yappy little dog off his heels.

Why did the Magician cross the road? To manifest his desires into reality.

How did the High Priestess cross the road? She didn't, she knew it wasn't her time to cross the road.

How did the Empress cross the road? With her heart in her hands.

Why did the Emperor cross the road to Canada? They have cable, beer and Hockey Night in Canada.

Why did the Heirophant cross the road? He saw a sign.

Why did the Lovers cross the road?

They had to come out to forage for food sometime.

How did the Chariot cross the road? 0-90 in .5

Why did Strength cross the road? She was attracted to someone for their needs. Therefore, crossing the road was one thing, staying across the road would be another.

Why didn't the Hermit cross the road? He couldn't cross the road 'til he found one.

How did Justice cross the road? Without the blindfold.

How did the Hanged Man cross the road? He bungee jumped off the Tower. (Not recommended)

Why did Death cross the road? To check his road kill stats.

Why did Temperance cross the road?  To cross or not to cross? Now that is the question.

How did the Devil cross the road? In a Saturn.

How did the Tower cross the road? On stepping stones made from ruined plans.

Why did the Star cross the road? To get to the point of convergence.

Acknowlegements to the unknown author of these jokes, which were sent to me by 'Me' via the Magic Path social networking site. The Tarot cards pictured are from the widely available Rider-Waite tarot pack. The laughing old man pic is all over the web, but I can't find who to acknowledge it to - if you know, let me know

For much more funny stuff see:
Donna Cunningham's blog at: http://skywriter.wordpress.com/

Neeti Ray's Astrology Expressed blog and CJ Wright's Auntie Moon blog

Love and smiles,

Mandi xxx