Uranus in Aries and your personal Mars sign

Part 1: Mars in Aries through Mars in Virgo

(Click here to read Libra through Pisces)

Uranus in Aries is an exciting transit of fast forward movement, sudden change, spontaneous happenings and exciting breakthroughs. Because Mars rules Aries, your natal Mars will be stimulated by Uranus in Aries, so here’s a look at Mars through the signs and how Uranus in Aries might affect it.

Mars in Aries

If you have Mars in Aries you have a tendency to be competitive, direct and impatient. You like to take the initiative and lead from the front. Decisions are made impulsively and followed up on quickly, often without considering the consequences. You tend to act on hunches, on intuition and while your actions might seem risky and ill considered to more cautious types, they often pan out quite well! If they don’t, then you tend to have the resilience to bounce back quickly and carry on regardless.

Mars in Aries blends well with the energy of Uranus in Aries. Change is in the air and you are ready to dive in head first embrace it with open arms. Uranus awakens your inner warrior and you’ll be un-phased by any obstacle that stands in your way. You’ll probably be more impatient and excitable than usual, so try not to waste a good opportunity by behaving too recklessly. With lots of excess restless energy to burn, taking regular physical exercise is very important during this transit.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will conjunct your natal Mars. While the conjunction is active, the Mars in Aries-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. Life is about to get exciting, so go for it!

Mars in Taurus

If you have Mars in Taurus you use your energy very steadily and like to take your time over things. This however, makes for incredible stamina. You really can carry on long after the others have packed up and gone home! You like to put your energy into things – jobs, relationships etc - which will bring you material and emotional security. Tasks performed seem pointless if they don’t produce tangible, measurable results. A lover of simple, down-to-earth pleasures, you like your sex and your meals long lasting and slow.

Mars in Taurus has difficulty seeing eye to eye with Uranus in Aries. You see, Uranus in Aries wants fast forward radical change, but with Mars in Taurus you tend to put your energy into stubbornly resisting change and trying to keep things just the way they are. This could cause you some stress. Imagining yourself as a tall strong tree might help. While you can’t control the fact that your upper branches are swaying in the winds of change, your roots are strong, deep and solidly fixed in the earth, so the tree (you) can remain stable, strong and grounded, whatever comes its way. Certainly, at this time of change and uncertainty, the world needs people like you to hold the fort and help keep things sane and grounded. Finally, Mars in Taurus people like to bring a bit of beauty into the world and often have a marked artistic/creative streak. Under Uranus in Aries, you could well find that streak stimulated in new exciting, ways!

Uranus won’t make a significant transit to your Mars while it’s in Aries.

Mars in Gemini

If you have Mars in Gemini you use your energy to follow many and diverse paths. You are flexible, curious and need to feel constantly stimulated and you do this through communicating, making connections with others and exploring new ideas. You may be easily distracted and change your mind often, directing your energy towards your latest new goal, idea or project, leaving other things unfinished. While you are very skilled at juggling lots of different things at once, you need to learn to follow things through to completion and not leave too many balls hanging in the air! Fortunately, you are mentally and physically dexterous enough to cope with many things at once and that feeling when everything magically seems to come together is a feeling to savour.

Mars in Gemini blends well with the energy of Uranus in Aries. Your open mindedness and enthusiasm for change will serve you well over the next few years. You will have heaps of positive energy to pour into new projects and into making exciting connections with others. This is a good time for developing new skills and exploring new ideas, as recent constraints on your ability to move forward begin to fall away. You will be restless for change, so be careful you don’t simply initiate change for change’s sake and try not to spread yourself too thin.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will sextile your natal Mars. While the sextile is active, the Mars in Gemini-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced and new opportunities will come your way, so long as you are ready, willing and able to make the most of them.

Mars in Cancer

If you have Mars in Cancer you tend to act indirectly and sympathetically, sensitive to the feelings and reactions of others. That said, when backed into a corner or when your own or a loved one’s security is at stake, you can be indomitable. There is a lot going on under the surface with Mars in Cancer as you process things internally at a deep level before you act. Because of this, your actions are often guided by instinct and intuition. You need to feel physically and emotionally safe and because of this you pour a lot of you energy into protecting yourself, particularly in situations where you feel vulnerable. You don’t open up easily to others, but the people you love and trust the most are very fortunate, because you would do anything for them.

Mars in Cancer blends dynamically with the energy of Uranus in Aries, bringing challenges into your life. When challenges come along which threaten your sense of security and your place in the world, you are on the defensive and ready to put up a fight to protect what is yours. However, some Mars in Cancer people could face very challenging changes during this transit – be it in your career, your home life or in your relationships – and while this may be deeply upsetting, at least a part of you will understand the necessity of what is occurring. Becoming aware that change needs to happen in your life and consciously letting go of old, worn out dreams, goals and emotional attachments is the key to unlocking the powerful personal growth and development opportunities available to you at this time. If life feels like a series of endings, remembering that endings come before new beginnings will help you to embrace the new and exciting developments that are possible in almost any sphere of your life these next few years.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will square your natal Mars. While the square is active, the Mars in Cancer-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. This will certainly be a challenging and unpredictable transit, but it will also be incredibly energising and if handled well, could bring out the very best in you.

Mars in Leo

If you have Mars in Leo you assert yourself proudly, warmly and from the heart. Your actions may be dramatic and self-seeking, because you seek attention and recognition. Pride can sometimes get the better of you and if your will is too stubborn and self-centred, this can lead to problems, especially if you don’t get the compliments you feel you deserve for your unquestionable prowess! When this happens you can become pushy, overbearing and domineering. At best though, your natural confidence and sunny disposition is shared generously with others and your cup runneth over with creative flair and positive vitality.

Mars in Leo blends well with the energy of Uranus in Aries and this should be a time when your creative energies flow easily. Your physical energy will also be enhanced by Uranus in Aries, perhaps bringing exciting and unexpected encounters! Certainly you can gain positive rewards from any endeavour you pour your energy into at this time. However, the danger is that you will simply rest on your laurels during this time. Fine, be lazy if you must – just ‘be’ if you like, but wouldn’t it be a shame to let this time pass you by without actively making the most of your abundant natural energy, talent and ability?

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will trine your natal Mars. While the trine is active, the Mars in Leo-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced.

Mars in Virgo

If you have Mars in Virgo you assert yourself modestly and discriminatingly. Your mission is to serve others, work hard and be helpful. You put your energy into practical tasks, but not before carefully mulling over exactly how you are going to put those tasks into action. Steer clear of being over-critical of yourself and others and avoid unnecessary stress by remembering that the world and the people in it are far from perfect!

Mars in Virgo sits awkwardly with the energy of Uranus in Aries and you may find yourself having to adjust to new circumstances you are not totally comfortable with. This can be irritating and frustrating. In particular you may find the balance in your relationships shifts, as significant others go through major life changes and you have to adjust accordingly, even if you feel as if they are acting selfishly. Or it may be that your life is undergoing big changes and you feel as if you are stuck on a see-saw going back and forth between the old and the new. Your task will be to find and maintain the balance, making small adjustments as you go along, until eventually you can find a way to more comfortably integrate the new changes into your life. Tapping into your innate flexibility, practical intelligence and hard working nature will help you enormously during this time.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will quincunx your natal Mars. While the quincunx is active, the Mars in Virgo-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced.

How do I find out what sign my natal Mars is in?
You can quickly and simply draw up your birth chart at http://www.alabe.com/.  Make a note of the sign that Mars is in and also the degree it’s in.

You say that Uranus in Aries will make an aspect to my natal Mars – when will that be and how long will it last?
The earlier your Mars is placed in its sign, the sooner you will have the aspect. For example, if your Mars is at 0 degrees of Capricorn, Uranus in Aries will be forming a square aspect to it right now. Or, if your Mars is at 25 degrees of Libra, Uranus will form an opposition aspect to it in 2017.
Uranus transits can last for anything from a few months, up to a year or so. To find out exactly when Uranus will transit your Mars and for how long, you will need to consult an ephemeris or have your transits calculated on professional astrological software.
Please also note that Uranus will be back in Pisces from August this year until March next, so if your Mars is in the last three degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces, Uranus in Pisces will make a dynamic transiting aspect to your Mars during that time. Uranus in Pisces is a very different dynamic to Uranus in Aries, but unfortunately there’s not scope to discuss it here.

I read the description of my Mars in its sign and it didn’t feel like the whole picture, why is that?
Most likely your Mars is aspected by other planets in your natal chart. This will colour how your Mars energy expresses itself. For example, with the Sun in aspect to Mars, the Mars energy will be dynamically illuminated and intensified. With the Moon in aspect to Mars, your energy is expressed emotionally, reactively, instinctively. In aspect to Mercury, your Mars energy will be stimulated and expressed through a diverse range of ideas, opinions and activities. When Venus connects to Mars, energy is expressed more diplomatically and creatively and your actions are more relationship focused. Jupiter in aspect to Mars will exaggerate and expand the Mars energy, making you more adventurous and goal driven. Saturn in aspect to Mars may dampen your enthusiasm but will give you patience, discipline and focus. Uranus in aspect to Mars focuses your energy on the need for excitement, originality and independence. Transiting Uranus in Aries will bring out these qualities in you, whatever your Mars sign. Neptune in aspect to Mars will focus your energy on idealistic, creative or spiritual pursuits. Pluto in aspect to Mars will make your energy more concentrated, powerful and intense.

What if I’m having more than one transit at the same time?
It is very common to have more than one significant transit at a time.
For example, if your Mars is in the early degrees of the cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn – your Mars will pick up the Saturn, Uranus, Pluto cardinal t-square which will be most powerful this summer and this could be a time of great importance for you. To find out more about the cardinal t-square see the Cardinal T Square Blog-A-Thon at: http://2010astrologycarnival.wordpress.com/
Another example: if your Mars is at 0-1 degrees of the cardinal signs or 27-29 degrees of the mutable signs – Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces – your Uranus transit will occur sometime over the next six months and will also include Jupiter, which is making a series of conjunctions with Uranus. An article about what the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction might mean for you is coming soon.

If you have any other questions, please ask them in the comments box below. However, please note that I can't answer detailed questions about individual charts here, but am available for personal consultations, so please ask for details if you are intersested.

A final note about Uranus transits
Uranus transits, while exciting and sometimes stressful, can be very unpredictable. This makes Uranus transits difficult to predict. They often manifest in exciting and often surprising life events and changes. Sometimes these are initiated by the person having the transit and other times they seem to come at you from the outside. Sometimes, they can represent inner journeys that see you change from the inside out, but aren’t obviously apparent in the external circumstances of your life. Expecting the unexpected is a good way to approach your Uranus transit.

Enjoy the ride!

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

Click here to read Part 2 – Mars in Libra through Pisces

Image from: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/participate/funzone/

Sagittarius Full Moon and Uranus at the Anaretic Degree

Sagittarius Full Moon – What Do You Need To Know?

The Sagittarius Full Moon reminds us of the key meanings of the Gemini-Sagittarius dynamic: the search for information, meaning and truth; the gathering and processing of facts; the need to find our grand vision and attend to it without losing sight of the basic details; the need and desire to ask questions and understand the answers; the urge to mentor others; the importance of fitting our small ideas into the jigsaw of the bigger picture and the necessity of keeping a balanced, objective mindset.

Yes, with the Gemini-Sagittarius dynamic the mind wakes up and the spirit needs to respond. So how will this Sagittarius Full Moon feed your mind and stir your spirit? Well fortunately, under a Full Moon things tend to become clear very easily. This is because Full Moons are a time of full brightness and full exposure. Magic can happen if we are in tune with ourselves and our world. However, if someone’s been up to no good, under a Full Moon they can easily be found out because there’s nowhere to hide! But, because we’re talking about Sagittarius here, things may seem bigger than they are, exaggerated, so keeping everything in perspective is very important at this time!

Uranus at the Anaretic Degree

A Sagittarius Full Moon is an exciting event in itself, but this New Moon heralds a major change in the sky - the ingress of Uranus into Aries. Uranus at the time of the Full Moon is at 29 degrees and 59 minutes of Pisces – THE very last degree and minute of Pisces. Twenty-nine degrees of any sign is known as the anaretic degree. When planets are at the anaretic degree there is a sense of urgency and extremism. Issues that have been complacently pushed to one side tend to pop up for urgent action and resolution. Closure is required before the planet can move fully into the energies of the next sign, so a quick decision often has to be made and hasty action taken.

Uranus has been at the anaretic degree of watery, all-encompassing Pisces since the beginning of May, marking the very end of its seven years in the last sign of the zodiac. What has felt urgent and intense this month?

Maybe you feel as if you’ve made enough sacrifices over the last few years and now feel that you really must take decisive action to change things? Maybe something intense has been drifting up from your subconscious, manifesting as unusually strange dreams and/or a proliferation of unexpected psychic occurrences? What are these experiences telling you? Perhaps you are experiencing a pressing need for escape, a soul yearning for freedom, or maybe a feeling of grief for past losses is suddenly becoming overwhelming? If that is the case, then maybe this is the time to release those feeling, so you can embrace the future? That certainly has been the case for me, when recently I felt myself suddenly shifting out of the angry stage of grief over a sudden, painful and very Uranian loss I suffered under Uranus in Pisces. Maybe others have been in urgent need of your help and you are going all out to assist them or maybe you are engulfed with the need to retreat and withdraw from a situation or relationship? Some of you may have finally decided to do something about that nagging health problem you’ve been avoiding and others of you might have made up your mind to take a break and recharge your batteries.

Whatever your personal case may be, this is all cosmic preparation for when Uranus moves into fiery, single-minded Aries on 27 May. The lead up to any outer planet sign change is always an exciting, much anticipated, oft feared time. If at the moment life feels like a series of endings and continual suffering, take heart that at the critical last minute the difficulties you have been struggling with could suddenly transform themselves into something else, maybe something beautiful, certainly something much needed. But, if you don’t manage to now wrap up the issues you faced while Uranus was in Pisces, don’t lose heart, because between August this year and March next year, Uranus will be back in Pisces, giving you another chance to find some closure.

For now, you are embarking on a new journey, a fresh quest. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to be flexible and adaptable in the face of major changes still to come. Under this Full Moon hope is everything and belief makes it possible.

Data

The Sagittarius Full Moon occurs with the Moon at 6 degree and 32 minutes of Sagittarius and the Sun at 6 degree and 32 minutes of Gemini on 27 May 2010 at 16.08 in PDT timezones and at 19.07 in EDT timezones. The Full Moon occurs on 28 May 2010 in European and Asian timezones. For example, in the UK it occurs at 00.07 (BST).

For Data on Uranus in Aries see: A Uranus in Aries Brainstorm

What Other Bloggers Are Saying About The Sagittarius Full Moon

The Archer Moon by Auntie Moon
Full Moon in Sagittarius overview + poetry from Tony Vowles
Astrogrrl's take on the Full Moon in Sagittarius
Melissa Abbott’s review of the Full Moon in Sag from her Planetary Vibrations blog 
Ravenesque's Astrology and Asteroids Blog looks at the Sagittarius Full Moon and the asteroids it connects with 

For more on the anaretic degree and other special points in the horoscope, see the article at Celeste Teal's Moon Valley Astrologer site

The image above is of Omega Nebula, 5500 light years away, in the constellation of Sagittarius (Credit: NASA, ESA, and J. Hester)

http://www.mandilockley.com/

A Uranus in Aries Brainstorm

The most exciting astrological news of the month, by far, has to be the ingress of Uranus into Aries on 27/28 May (full data below).

Here are a few words and phrases I thought up that evoke the spirit of Uranus in Aries. I was going to mould them into artful narrative prose, but then I thought of the crazy immediacy and impatience of this ingress, so decided to present it as a raw list. Make of it what you will! In no particular order…..

 

And here are some great phrases from the Uranus in Aries blog-a-thon collection at CJ Wright’s blog:
Heads up for the accident prone

Claiming a self-reliant future

My rights, every day

Build yourself a fire-pit and other advice from Aries types:

*Build a fire pit and light it when you’re feeling down it will really cheer you up, but make sure you do it safely!

Good advice from a great friend of mine who has lots of Aries and lots of Virgo in her chart.

Never lose your nerve!
The motto of a good family friend, very successful man, very fiery.

Just do it and worry about it later!
Perhaps not advice that would suit everybody, this is from an Aries Sun-Leo Moon-Sag ASC friend who is also very successful. Mind, she does get herself in an awful pickle from time to time, but I am always very impressed by how she bounces back so quickly – the fire spirit and resilience serves her well.

Have faith in yourself
From a sunny young man I know who has an Aries Moon and a Leo Sun and Ascendant.

Today is OK, but tomorrow will be better, so let the past be and move on.

An Aries Moon character I know who genuinely never bears a grudge.

My advice? Wear red!
And why not, it’s a colour that’s surprisingly flattering on most people. If you don’t often wear red, try it, it’s a good feeling. It's actually works well if you lack fire in your chart, as it’s a safe way to embody the element’s spirit.

As synchronicity would have it, a minute after I posted this I discovered that one of the bloggers I follow - The Bloggess - just today posted about her desire for a red dress, so I'm slipping the link in here. She says "I want, just once, to wear a bright red, strapless ball gown with no apologies. I want to be shocking, and vivid and wear a dress as intensely amazing as the person I so want to be". What fabulous Uranus in Aries behaviour - ladies take note! Read more.... N.B. the red dress pictured above-left is available from http://www.asos.com/

Finally, Uranus in Aries is a good time to get to know and love your natal Mars, which will doubtless be activated by this Uranus transit, because Mars rules Aries.

Data for Uranus in Aries:  

• 27 May 2010 (US time zones) / 28 May European & Asian time zones): Uranus enters Aries
• 5 July 2010: Uranus stations Retrograde
• 13 August 2010 (US time zones) / 14 August European & Asian time zones): Retrograde Uranus re-enters Pisces
• 6 December 2010: Uranus stations Direct in Pisces
• 11 March 2011 (US time zones) / 12 March European & Asian time zones): Uranus re-enters Aries
• 15 May 2018: Uranus enters Taurus
• 6 November 2018: Uranus retrograde re-enters Aries
• 6 March: Uranus re-enters Taurus

What Other Bloggers Are Saying About Uranus in Aries

Uranus in Aries: Claiming a Self Reliant Future is an amazing collection of quirky, interesting and helpful articles on Uranus. Not to be missed!
Mary Plumb is Curious about Uranus on the Mountain Astrologer blog
Depali Desai discusses the Uranus into Aries ingress in the context of the Sagittarius Full Moon 
Julie Demboski asks: What Does the Group Want?
A great overview of Uranus in Aries from Astrogrrl.com
Meanwhile, if you’re already feeling nostalgic for Uranus in Pisces, see Donna Cunningham’s moving retrospective: Three Things I’ve Loved about Uranus in Pisces

*The fire pit featured is available via: http://johntunger.typepad.com/artbuzz/2005/05/recycled_steel_.html or for instructions on how to build your own cheaply go to: http://www.ehow.com/how_2004142_build-a-firepit.html

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Gemini Chatters

As the Sun moves into Gemini, here’s a selection of quotes from some very well known Gemini folk that also reflect their Moon placement. It’s so much fun to hear people speak their charts - Enjoy!

When I get logical, and I don't trust my instincts - that's when I get in trouble.
Angelina Jolie, actress. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Aries

Well I've written four beauty books as well.
Joan Collins, actress, Sun in Gemini/Moon in Taurus

Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.
Salman Rushdie, author. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Gemini

I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.

Bob Hope, entertainer. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Cancer

I think people who create and write, it actually does flow-just flows from into their head, into their hand, and they write it down. It's simple.
Paul McCartney, musician. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Leo

I'm a gemini, and I get so bored so easily. I mean, I have moved six times in the last eight years and I'm not going to deny it. I'm a neat person, there's no question.
Courtney Cox, actress. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Virgo

PS: It's all gossip about the prince. I'm not in the habit of taking my girlfriends' beaux.

Wallis Simpson, wife of abdicated King Edward VIII. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Libra

I saw music as a way to entertain people and take them away from their daily lives and put smiles on their faces, as opposed to what I see it being now, which is a way for me to actually communicate, and a way for me to tap into my subconscious.

Alanis Morissette, singer/songwriter. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Scorpio

Don't follow any advice, no matter how good, until you feel as deeply in your spirit as you think in your mind that the counsel is wise.

Joan Rivers, comedienne. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Sagittarius

There's a drive in me that won't allow me to do certain things that are easy.
Johnny Depp, actor. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Capricorn

Man can embody truth but he cannot know it.
William Butler Yeats, poet. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Aquarius

If you're playing somebody who is not you, then you can imagine that you are that person. You can feel like he feels, move like he moves, look like he looks - in your own mind.
Morgan Freeman, actor. Sun in Gemini/Moon in Pisces

Quotes from http://www.brainyquotes.com/

Data for the Sun’s ingress into Gemini:
BST: Sun enters Gemini 04.34 on 21st May 2010 and leaves Gemini at 12.28 on 21st June 2010.
EDT: Sun enters Gemini 23.34 on 20th May 2010 and leaves Gemini at 07.28 on 21st June 2010.
PDT: Sun enters Gemini 20.34 on 20th May 2010 and leaves Gemini at 04.28 on 21st June 2010.

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Jupiter-Uranus, Harry Potter, Bridget Jones and Avatar

In The Jupiter Uranus Cycle – Science, Discovery and Revolution, I presented an overview of the cycle and detailed some of the amazing scientific, technological and political developments that occurred under Jupiter-Uranus alignments.

Wizards and Singletons

When I was doing research for the first article I found that the Jupiter Uranus conjunction of 1997 spawned two instances of remarkable literary success both of which ballooned into something massive and created a lasting cultural legacy.

It was in 1997 that JK Rowling published the first Harry Potter novel, the beginning of one of most successful series of novels ever published, selling many millions of copies and breaking sales records worldwide. Rowling has since been credited with starting a renaissance in children’s literature and with bringing the written word back into people’s homes, paving the way for many of the other successful children’s and fantasy fiction authors who followed.

Also in 1997, the paperback edition of Bridget Jones’s Diary was published by Helen Fielding, a book following the fictional adventures of a hapless 30-something single woman. The book and its sequel enjoyed massive worldwide success and led to two equally successful movie adaptations. Named as one of the ten novels that best defined the 20th century, Bridget Jones’s Diary seeded the vastly popular ‘chick-lit’ genre of humorous and confessional fiction which addresses the issues and concerns of the modern career women.

When I looked at the birth charts for Fielding and Rowling, I discovered that they were both born under Jupiter Uranus squares, in 1958 and 1965 respectively. That they both went on to publish their most famous works under a Jupiter Uranus conjunction demonstrates how they each fulfilled the Jupiter-Uranus promise of their natal configurations beautifully.

There are of course many other factors in the charts of both women which point towards their talent and their success, but their natal resonance with the Jupiter-Uranus cycle and the timing of their most successful published works, I think has a lot to say about how Jupiter-Uranus alignments so often coincide with the beginnings of phenomenally big successes that grow and grow into something much bigger than themselves. Both books had been in print for a while before they really took off. Word of mouth recommendations played a large part in their early success, after which the media caught on, turning both writers into ‘overnight sensations’!

Phenomena that seems to become suddenly huge and influential, but in actuality has been around for quite a while (Fielding wrote a newspaper column about the fictional Bridget Jones for a couple of years before the novel came to popular mass attention), seems to be a hallmark of the Jupiter-Uranus effect. It also seems to be the case that the influence of these phenomena eventually reaches an unexpectedly large scale. For example, Harry Potter is now so much more than just an enjoyable series of books, just as Stonewall became so much more than just a violent protest against an unfair police raid (as discussed in my previous article in terms of uprisings, protests and revolutionary events).

Harry Potter went on to become a massive industry, a big brand in its own right. It’s not only made Rowling as rich as the Queen (reportedly!) but it’s also made huge stars of the young kids who were chosen to represent the book’s characters on the big screen. As for Bridget Jones, it too made a lot of money for a lot of people and made a big star of Renée Zellweger who played Bridget in the movie version. More than that, it defined a whole generation of 30-something female ‘singletons’, giving them freedom from the old-fashioned spinster label and allowing them to enthusiastically embrace single life as long as it lasted. It also created a very hungry audience for the many new female writers who followed in Fielding’s wake with stories and characters that their readers could really identify with.

Birth data for JK Rowling: 31st July 1965, Bristol, England. Birth time unknown. Jupiter in Gemini (widely) square Uranus in Virgo. Source: Astrodatabank
Birth data for Helen Fielding: 19th February 1958, Morely, West Yorkshire, England. Birth time unknown. Jupiter in Scorpio square Uranus in Leo. Source: Wikipedia.org

Jupiter-Uranus Blockbusters

Movie director James Cameron is a great case study for the Jupiter-Uranus effect. Born with a Jupiter Uranus conjunction, square Neptune, he released two of the biggest movies ever made under transiting Jupiter Uranus alignments. Titanic was released under the 1997 Jupiter-Uranus conjunction. It won eleven Academy Awards and was the most expensive movie ever made and became the highest grossing film of all time. This record was only broken when Cameron released Avatar in December 2009, which became the first film to gross more than $2 billion. Although Avatar was released around three months before the current Jupiter Uranus conjunction fell within the 10 degree orb usually allowed for mundane transits, I still feel that this was a relevant Jupiter-Uranus event. In any case, the DVD was released in April 2010, when the aspect was easily within orb, and broke the record for highest first day DVD sales! Cameron has also announced that that there will be a theatrical release of an extended version of the film in August 2010, bang on for the current Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.

In Cameron’s chart (pictured below) Jupiter is conjunct Uranus in Cancer, in t-square with Neptune in Libra and Chiron in Capricorn. Jupiter-Uranus also trines his Moon in Pisces, which in turn is quincunx Neptune. It’s easy to see how these configurations reflect the themes of both movies. Avatar is rich with spiritual themes, idealistic ecological messages and a strong healing metaphor in which the wounded hero saves the Na’vi people and himself becomes whole again. Titanic is ultimately a tale of epic, undying, transformational love, that evokes a sentimental romanticism for a bygone age. The depiction of the ship itself as huge, indomitable and magnificently opulent, serves to magnify the immense tragedy of its sinking. Underlying themes of compassion, belonging and sacrifice strongly permeate both movies.

Cameron’s natal Mercury, Sun and Pluto stellium in Leo also describes the fact that his movies are huge productions, peppered with noble heroes, dramatic, over-the-top story lines and deeply intense transformational themes. Saturn in Scorpio, un-aspected save for creative quintiles to Pluto and the Sun, provides the opportunity to diligently transform his (probably) obsessive visions and desires into tangible creative reality through hard, hard work.

Interestingly, Cameron also describes himself as a scientist as well as a film maker and is noted for his contribution to underwater filming technology, another wonderful expression of his natal chart generally and his watery Jupiter-Uranus-Neptune-Moon configuration specifically.

Birth data for James Cameron: 16th August 1954, Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. Birth time unknown. Source: Wikipedia.org The chart pictured uses the solar sign house system.

It may be a while before we get to understand the next big Jupiter-Uranus influenced creative phenomena, scientific discoveries and technological advancements, but I’m sure we will have great fun finding out!

Please see The Jupiter Uranus Cycle – Science, Discovery and Revolution, for an overview of the Jupiter-Uranus themes and for astrological data for the current cycle.

Research reference: wikipedia.org

What other astrology bloggers are saying about the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction
Jupiter-Uranus ‘rocks your world’ at Depali Desai’s Celestial Space Astrology
Lynn Koiner looks at what the conjunction might mean for you, depending on where it falls in your chart
A Saturn Perspective from Elsa Elsa in Jupiter Uranus - The Truth Will Set You Free Redux
Observations on Jupiter-Uranus in Aries Colliding with Saturn-Pluto from Libra Seeking Balance
John Townley looks back at the historical meetings of Jupiter and Uranus in Aries

http://www.mandilockley.com/

The Jupiter Uranus Cycle - Science, Discovery and Revolution

[Updated 21.5.10: Scientist Plays God - scroll down for the full story]*

The current conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus marks the beginning of a brand new Jupiter-Uranus cycle.

The major alignments of this 14 year cycle, notably the conjunctions and oppositions, are associated with evolution and growth in human consciousness, with ever expanding horizons in our understanding of the world and our universe and with exciting major breakthroughs – quantum leaps – in science and technology, leaps which seem to invoke the myth of Prometheus (Uranus), who stole fire from Zeus (Jupiter) and gave it to man.

Under Jupiter-Uranus alignments, science fiction becomes science fact, birthing colossally significant developments which in turn, pave the way for further huge leaps and bounds in scientific progress. For example, it was under the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction of 1609/10, that Galileo pointed his new telescope towards the heavens and afterwards began publicly supporting the heliocentric view, which placed the Sun at the centre of the universe. This paved the way for Newton, who during the opposition of 1686, did the foundation work for his Law of Universal Gravitation. Gravitation is of course the force by which the planets revolve around the Sun!

As the planetary coupling that appears to know no boundaries, it’s also not surprising to see Jupiter-Uranus active during key developments in space travel, with alignments coinciding with the launch of Sputnik; the first American to orbit the earth and the 1969 moon landing, from which Armstrong’s famous quote sums up the spirit of Jupiter-Uranus beautifully. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Of course, without an understanding of planetary motion and gravity – the discoveries of Galileo, Newton and others - we would never have been able to travel into space in the first place.

A Jupiter-Uranus conjunction also saw the birth of quantum physics, attributed to Planck, who in 1900 presented his Planck's Postulate which became one of the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.

So it seems that under Jupiter-Uranus alignments we witness quantum leaps which changed the way we view the larger perspective – our very place in the universe – but these alignments also appear to coincide with inventions which have truly enhanced and changed the way we work and live in our daily lives. For example, Jupiter-Uranus alignments bore witness to the invention of the electric light bulb, the first radio broadcast, the first speaking movie, the first television broadcast, the prototype for the personal computer and the birth of the internet. Fancy a month without your TV, your PC, the internet and electric lighting? What would we do with ourselves?

In the field of aviation, Jupiter-Uranus alignments coincided with the first hot air balloon flight, the first flight of the Wright brothers in the Kitty Hawk and the first solo flight across the Atlantic, Now, thanks to cheap, commercial air travel, the world is wide open to most of us.

Jupiter-Uranus alignments are also associated with rebellion, collective uprisings and revolutionary ideas, manifesting as dramatic events which have a far reaching impact. In retrospect, it appears obvious that these events had been brewing for a good long while, but at the time they seemed to occur suddenly, spontaneously. Examples include the American War of Independence, the French Revolution, the Mutiny on the Bounty, the Stonewall Riots (an event which galvanised the gay community to fight for equal rights), the fall of the Berlin Wall (which symbolised the death of Communism in Europe) and the release of Nelson Mandela (the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa).

In the cycle that has just concluded, the conjunction occurred between Nov 96-Dec 97 (using the 10 degree orb generally used in mundane astrology) and the opposition occurred between Sept 02 and Aug 04…let’s see if this cycle might give us some clues on what this new cycle has in store for us… see if we can connect a few dots….

In ’97 General Motors launched the first electric car of the modern era. Under this 2010 current conjunction, a number of manufacturers including Nissan and Mitsubishi are launching fully electric cars to the mass consumer market for the first time.

It was also in ’97 that the largest strikes in South Korean history began and in the same year there were widespread student pro-democracy protests in Burma. In 2010, it seems almost certain that the mass wave of strikes and protests we are already seeing in Greece and other countries, in reaction to job losses and government austerity measures, will continue. At the time of writing, anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok, which have been ongoing since March, have led to violent clashes with authorities and talk of revolution.

It was also in ’97 that the disarmament crisis in Iraq began and by the time of the opposition in 2003 – when the inevitability of a US-led invasion of Iraq became clear – an international group of protesters went to Baghdad to act as voluntary human shields, hoping to avert the invasion. This was followed by global protests against the Iraq War, with more than 10 million people protesting in over 600 cities worldwide, the largest protest ever to take place before a war has even begun. Despite that, in March ’03 the Iraq War began with an invasion of Iraq in which the U.S. and allied forces swiftly seized control of Baghdad, ending the regime of Saddam Hussein.

In the UK in ‘97, the Labour Party ended 18 years of Conservative rule by winning an historic general election with a landslide majority. Interestingly, Labour’s tenure in government ended in May 2010, under the current Jupiter-Uranus conjunction - one whole cycle later - after an election which resulted in an unprecedented Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. The Economist magazine has dubbed this surprising alliance Britain's accidental revolution!

The Jupiter-Uranus cycle is also associated with the theory of evolution and with developments in cloning and genetics. It was in 1838 under a Jupiter-Uranus opposition that Darwin conceived his theory of natural selection and it was under the conjunction of 1858 that he published his theories jointly with fellow naturalist Wallace. Moving forwards, it was in ’97 that a team of scientists in London reported their DNA analysis findings from a Neanderthal skeleton, which supported the out of Africa theory of human evolution, placing an "African Eve" at 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. But then, during the opposition of ’03, the journal Nature reported that 350,000-year-old upright-walking human footprints had been found in Italy! It was also in ’03 that the Human Genome Project was completed, with 99% of the human genome sequenced to 99.99% accuracy. This was the same year that the first cloned deer and horse were born and in ’04, South Korea announced that they had cloned 30 human embryos.

In astronomy, it was under the 97 conjunction that the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft was launched. It arrived successfully within the orbit of Saturn in July 04, when Jupiter opposed Uranus! It’s still there and it’s work has been extended through this current Jupiter-Uranus conjunction. The remarkable pictures the Cassini Mission has sent back and an overview of the discoveries it has made, can be viewed on line at: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm

As we are now into a new Jupiter Uranus cycle, what’s next? Time travel; teleportation; the indisputable discovery of dark matter; mass riots, strikes and protests; commercial space tourism; proof of life on other bodies in the solar system (already scientists are very excited about the possibility of life on Saturn’s Moon Titan which they believe has a warm underwater ocean, thanks to the evidence sent back by the Cassini Mission)? It really is hard to predict when we’re in the realm of Jupiter and Uranus, especially as the full significance of the events and discoveries that occur under these alignments often only become clear in retrospect. Whatever happens it's bound to be exciting!

*It has today (21 May '10) been announced that scientists have for the first time successfully created artificial life in a laboratory. Evoking Armstrong's famous words, The Independent's headlines reads, "synthetic cell is a giant leap for science, and could be bigger still for mankind". Critics have raised ethical concerns, accusing the scientists (Uranus) of playing God (Jupiter). To me this is a perfect manifestation of Jupiter conjunct Uranus quantum leap events and it brings to mind the myth of Prometheus whole stole fire from the Gods and gave it to man. For the full story, click here.

Data for the current Jupiter-Uranus Cycle:

• The exact conjunctions are as follows: 18 June 2010 (at 00 degrees 17 minutes of Aries); 19 September 2010 (at 29 degrees 42 minutes of Pisces) and 4 January 2011 (at 27 degrees 02 minutes of Pisces). Using a 10 degree orb, the time span of this conjunction falls between March 2010 and March 2011.
• The exact oppositions are as follows: 26 December 2016 (at 20 degrees 33 minutes of Libra-Aries); 3 March 2017 (at 22 degrees 11 minutes of Libra-Aries) and 28 September 2017 (at 27 degrees 22 minutes of Libra-Aries). Using a 10 degree orb, the time span of this opposition falls between November 2016 and November 2017.
• Please note that if you are looking at transits to an individual's birth chart smaller orbs should be used (a good guide is to use approximately 2 degrees of orb or less either side of the natal planet or point which is being transited).

Next Up: Jupiter-Uranus, Harry Potter, Bridget Jones and Avatar!

Bibliography:

Mundane Astrology by Michael Baigent, Nicholas Campion, and Charles Harvey
Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas
Additional research (particularly around the events of the 97 and 03/04 alignments): http://www.wikipedia.org/

Picture credit for Saturn's Moons Dione and Titan from Cassini: NASA/JPL/SSI. Colour composite: Emily Lakdawalla.

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Taurus New Moon: 'Strong, Stable, Determined'

New Moons are seeding times. Seeds germinate underground, in the dark. We have to wait a while before the shoots show themselves on the surface, but still, we plant our seeds full of hope that they will grow into healthy, fruit bearing plants. As it is in nature, so it is in human affairs, metaphorically speaking.

Under a Taurus New Moon, it is essential that we plant our seeds in solid, fertile ground with a realistic, tangible idea about what we wish to harvest in the future. This New Moon asks to think about our resources and work towards increasing our security and stability, to get organised and practical and get things done. This is not a New Moon for risk taking or for unsubstantiated idealism or for empty talk, it’s a time for building and maintaining the material and emotional structures of our lives from firm and stable foundations.

Fortunately, Mercury has just turned direct, which will help us get a bit more clarity and perspective on what needs to be done. Additionally, by the 17th May, Mars in Leo will have finally cleared the shadow of its retrograde period, adding to the sense that we can now move forward at last with our plans and put some of the uncertainty of the last few months behind us. Of course, in our world, we are still very much at the crossroads of immense change (as suggested by the alignments of the outer planets in the early cardinal signs), but at the very least, we can hope for a few weeks in which to let the dust settle, find a little bit of calm space after all the recent upsets, and set down some firm plans for the future, even if that future still remains largely unknown.

For the UK, the Taurus New Moon feels like a welcome event. If you haven’t been following the news, the UK electorate went to the polls last week, with the promise of certain change but massive uncertainty around what that change might look like. The outcome of the election failed to give to give one party the overall majority they needed to form a government, resulting in a hung parliament, the first since ’74. After many hours of negotiations and talks, the rightwing Conservatives, who had won the most seats in parliament, brokered an unlikely deal with the left of centre Liberal-Democrats to form an historic coalition government, the first for almost 70 years. Happening under a Saturn opposition to Uranus and Jupiter, this was always going to be an election full of big shocks and surprises, but I don’t think anyone expected to see Nick Clegg, leader of the Lib-Dems to be appointed Deputy Prime Minister, working alongside new Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron (See www.bbc.co.uk/news for the full story). Putting my own political affiliations to one side, this new deal seems to be a positive step forward, or at the very least, represents two opposing parties doing their best to make the best out of a difficult and potentially de-stabling situation.

I just listened to the first joint press conference between Cameron and Clegg, (which started around 2.20pm BST London today) there was much talk of a new radical politics, of a ‘seismic shift’ in British politics (reflecting the Jupiter-Saturn-Uranus alignment), but even more talk of this coalition being one which will provide ‘strong, stable, determined leadership’. A Taurus couldn’t have put it better! Now is the time, under this stabilising Taurus New Moon, for them to get real, get down, roll up their sleeves and get Britain working again! Let’s hope, with a Taurus New Moon marking that start of the Conservative - Lib-Dem marriage, they don’t give in to the worst of Taurus – which can be over demanding, manipulative, suspicious, greedy, obstinate and financially disastrous!

As an end note, we can see the dramatic changes in UK politics in recent and upcoming eclipses which hit the UK chart. Eclipses denote endings, times when something changes, is literally eclipsed. That the 31st December 09 Lunar Eclipse fell right on the degree of the UK’s Sun and very close to its MC, suggests the radical change in political leadership we have just dramatically witnessed. The upcoming July 11th total Solar Eclipse occurs exactly on the UK’s Moon at 19 degrees of Cancer. This Eclipse occurs around the time the new UK government has promised to announce a new budget – which will set out how they propose to make £6 billion worth of cuts in public spending. It will be interesting to see how these cuts will affect the mood and indeed the pockets of the common populace of the UK (which is represented by the Moon in the UK chart). Perhaps things won’t seem as rosy as they do today, as the two new Pluto in Virgo leaders of the UK (such as Cameron and Clegg) finally have to reveal the extent of the economic clean up job that needs to be done in the wake of the outgoing Pluto in Leo leaders - Gordon Brown and Tony Blair before him. Let’s hope Cameron and Clegg can utilise some of the energies of this Taurus New Moon to truly plant some seeds of stability and growth.

Book Recommendation for the Taurus New Moon:
Getting Things Done: How To Achieve Stress Free Productivity

Data:
New Moon – 23 degrees and 09 minutes Taurus:
May 13th 2010 at 06.06pm PDT / 09.06pm EDT
May 14th 2010 at 02.06am BST
UK Chart: January 1st 1801, London, England. 12.00am

Astrology for May, Plus the 4 Charts to Watch this Summer

May's Astrological Highlights:

May Day Blessing! As we enter the glorious month of May, Mercury is Retrograde and we’re still reeling from the latest Saturn-Uranus Opposition.

Before Mercury stations Direct on 11th May, we have the general election to contend with here in the UK, on 6th May. Here’s my look at the Election Day chart, in which Mercury Retrograde plays an important part: The UK Election

On 19th May, Venus moves into Cancer, a cosy, caring, nurturing placement for Cancer, a nice time to reach out to a loved one.

On 20th May the Sun moves into restless chatty Gemini. Come back here on the 20th when I will post some great quotes from some well known talkative Twins!

On 23rd May: Jupiter makes its first opposition to Saturn in this current cycle. Click here> to read my previous blog about the Jupiter-Saturn cycle.

Jupiter in Pisces is also really close to a conjunction with Uranus, but won’t quite catch up with Uranus until June, by which time they are both in the sign of Aries.  Still, they are close enough for us to be feeling it already. Read all about the exciting Jupiter-Uranus cycle here

The big news of the month is Uranus’ much anticipated ingress into Aries. See Uranus in Aries: Claiming a Self Reliant Future at Auntie Moon, for a pick of the best Uranus in Aries articles. Uranus only gives us a brief taste of life in the Aries fast lane before he moves back into Pisces from mid August until March 2011.

Hot on the heels of Uranus’ pit stop in Aries, Saturn in Virgo turns around and moves forward again on 30th May, eventually hitting 0 degrees of Libra again in July, ready for its next opposition to Uranus and Jupiter and its next square to Pluto, forming the much anticipated Cardinal T-Square.

Astrologically, May has the feeling of preparation and anticipation, as all the main players - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto - get themselves in position for the main event, the Cardinal T-Square, which will come into its fullness this summer.

Four Charts to Watch this Summer: 

1. The Solstice chart on June 21st. Solstice charts are always good for getting a feel for the season to come and in this one, the Sun at 0 Cancer plugs into the outer planet T-Square, forming a Cardinal Grand Cross. 
2. Then on June 26th, the Capricorn Full Moon falls across the early degrees of Cancer and Capricorn, again forming a Cardinal Grand Cross as it picks up the outer planet T-Square. (article forthcoming)
3. 21st July when Saturn returns to 0 degrees of Libra. (article forthcoming)
4. 30th July, Mars enters 0 degrees of Libra, joining up with the Cardinal T-Square. (article forthcoming)

Charts 1, 3 and 4 in particular have planets at the Aries Point - zero degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn - the point where the personal becomes public and vice versa. 
 

May’s Lunations:

New Moon in Taurus on 14th May

Full Moon in Sagittarius on 27th May

Finally, here’s a link to the Moon Sign Changes and Void of Course Moon Times for May

With love,

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Photo credit: http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/