Capricorn Lunar Eclipse: Letting Go & Yin & Yang

Capricorn by Josephine Wall

Just like the chart for the Solstice, the Capricorn Lunar Eclipse on June 26th picks up the ongoing cardinal t-square formation of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, bringing the themes of this formation even more strongly into the frame of our consciousness.

In my blog about the Solstice, I talked about how so many of us have had a challenging couple of years. We’ve been dealing with big changes, responding to the need to set new boundaries, adjusting to restricted or reduced circumstances, not to mention trying to keep up with the tiring juggling act we’ve had to perfect in order to keep everything in balance! This could be operating at any level or all levels - the emotional, mental, spiritual or material level, for instance.

All in all, collectively and individually, we’ve been feeling stretched and squeezed and prodded and now we feel just about ready to pop and indeed, a Lunar Eclipse certainly represents a time when energies are released, not just on the day of the eclipse itself but in the lead up and after.

A few ideas on how to work with the Eclipse energies below, but first, a very quick look at the chart for the Eclipse below. Just like the Solstice Chart, Jupiter and Uranus (on the left) are connected to the Sun (at the bottom), Saturn (on the right) and Pluto (at the top of the chart). Joining Pluto is the Moon in Capricorn and joining the Sun is Mercury in Cancer. They’re all connected by a series of squares and oppositions which form a grand cross – see the cross pattern in centre of the circle, marked out in sharp, red lines? For more on what the grand cross means, see Solstice and the Grand Cross.

Chart set for the moment of the Eclipse, June 26 2010. Click on the chart to enlarge.

Take my word for it, this is powerful stuff, incredibly energetic, but potentially very tense. So what to do to make positive benefit of the powerful energies and to help release some of the tension?

Do Some Releasement Work

A Lunar Eclipse represents a culmination and presents an opportunity for release, for letting go, consciously and with awareness. Here are a few ideas for releasement work you could do during this Lunar Eclipse time.

First of all think about what you would like to, or need to, release. It could be negative thought patterns; old issues around family dynamics; unhelpful attitudes towards prosperity or pride and ego issues. Or perhaps you need to kick a bad habit, heal an unhealthy relationship pattern or let go of old grief that’s preventing you from moving forwards.

Breathe of Gaia by Josephine Wall

Once you know what you would like to release you can try any of the following, as suits you:

~ Say a prayer to your chosen God or spirit
~ Make a wish
~ Write an affirmation and say it aloud
~ Write a letter to yourself, detailing what you want to release then (safely) burn the letter to release the energy
~ Talk it through openly with a supportive, non judgmental friend. Acknowledging a block can be a good first step to releasing it
~ Perform a banishing spell, if you are so inclined
~ Ask the Archangels to help you cut the cords for what it is you want to release
~ Visualise yourself letting go through meditation work
~ Work with the appropriate crystals, candles, essential oils or flower remedies. If you are not sure which crystals, candles etc are the right ones use your intuition.
~ Use your imagination to make a ceremony out of it, perhaps by using pictures, music and song, dance, incense or precious objects.

Good practice for releasement work:

~ Pick a quiet time and place where you won’t be disturbed. Turn your phone off!
~ Before you begin, make sure you feel calm, centred and grounded
~ Always be positive
~ Always work from a place of love and compassion
~ Always assert that this work is done for the higher good and that it harm none
~ Always do this work only for yourself. You have no business doing this work for other people's issues. For example, if your partner's stubbornness drives you crazy, you should never write an affirmation asking for them to be less stubborn. Instead you could write an affirmation to help you stop being irritated by the stubbornness, such as: I release the part of me that is irritated by you.
~ Always use the present tense in your affirmations, prayers, wishes etc. For example, I now release past hurts that are holding me back or Please help me release past hurts now
~ Show gratitude by saying thank you or by making some other gesture of thanks

Balancing Yin and Yang and Honoring the Goddess

Just like the Lunar eclipse in Cancer on 31st December, this Eclipse reminds us that Cancer – the yin, lunar sign, is the empty leg of the cardinal t-square (the only cardinal sign not inhabited by an outer planet in 2010).

Cancer by Josephine Wall

So perhaps we should be making more time now for Cancerian things - the yin energies - such as home, family, security, nurturing, instinct and reflection.

All eclipses, being powerful alignments of the Sun and Moon with the Earth, speak of the irrefutable balance in the universe between the masculine/solar/yang energies and the feminine/lunar/yin energies. They seek to remind us of how we must work to maintain that balance here on our planet.

Letting one side take over creates imbalance and disruption. Are we not seeing the evidence of how disastrous an imbalance of these energies can be in the Gulf Coast oil spill? The yang, masculine energies have penetrates the ocean’s riches for profit, disregarding issues of safety and of concern for nature and its resources.

This is more than enough reason to honour the feminine spirit, nod to the goddess, the moon and the mother energies within ourselves, our spirituality and our world. Give thanks to maidens, mothers, wise old crones. Invoke the spirit of Gaia, mother earth, the water goddesses such as Sedna, or any other goddess figure or mother figure you feel drawn to. Ask them to send positive healing energies in the right direction.

You could also do worse than to meditate on the beautiful images featured in this blog post, which represent Cancer, Capricorn and Gaia. They are all by artist Josephine Wall and you can see more of her stunning work at http://www.josephinewall.co.uk/

I’m sure I will return to these themes again soon, as there will be a total solar eclipse in Cancer in July, just a few days before the cardinal t-square of Saturn, Uranus and Pluto comes to its fullest exactness.

Working with the Planetary Energies

Working with the planetary energies simply means sitting up and taking note of the symbolism they represent by sign and by their connections (aspects) with other planets. While I do not believe that planets 'make' things happen, our experience of astrology tells us that their symbolism is definitely reflected here on earth in our collective and individual experience. Taking this view allows us the free will and opportunity to use the planetary energies positively.

This work will be more powerful if you work with transiting planets that are making connections with (aspects to) one or more of your natal planets or points. In the case of this Eclipse, the planets discussed below will currently be transiting your chart if you have planets or points in the first five degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn in your chart (you can get your chart at http://www.alabe.com/).

The following is more or less a repeat of what I said in the Solstice blog post, but with the addition of the Moon and Mercury:

Saturn in Virgo reminds us to take a reality check and helps us to remember that sometimes it’s the small, practical, carefully thought out things we do that make the difference, not the grand gestures. When Saturn goes back into Libra in July, it reminds us to find balance in our lives, to set healthy boundaries in our relationships, to act justly and to opt for fair compromise.

Uranus in Aries, here in conjunction with Jupiter in Aries, reminds us to have faith, to think big, to be creative, to experiment, to express our individuality and authenticity, to get excited, to grab opportunities and to jump right in and initiate change.

Pluto in Capricorn reminds us to own and use our personal power wisely and responsibly. We’ve collectively worked hard to get to this point and we are ready to learn that having and holding power doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, mean taking the power away from someone else. Pluto (along with Saturn) can also help us to keep things in perspective, to act properly under pressure and not to let fear blind us from seeing things clearly. The Moon in Capricorn joins Pluto for this intense Eclipse, taking the emotional level up a few notches. This combination could bring some super deep emotions to the surface. Find some way to release them in a controlled, steady way!

The Sun in Cancer reminds us to care and to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and nurtured, to honour the goddess, as I spoke of above. Mercury in Cancer brings emotional conversations and reminds us to think with our gut, our instinct, as well as with our logical right brain.

For some more astrological ideas on how to work with eclipses see Working with Eclipses

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

Cancer by Cancerians

The Sun is now in the lovely watery sign of Cancer, so let's hear what a few well known Cancerians have to say for themselves:

The right diet directs sexual energy into the parts that matter.

Barbara Cartland, author of romantic novels

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Aries

The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.

Meryl Streep, actress

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Taurus

I'll tell you what I would do in a shot if I could. I would sing in the barbershop quartet in The Music Man.

Ned Beatty, actor

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Gemini

My great-grandmother was your great-great-grandfather's mistress, so how about it?

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, formerly Camilla Parker Bowles. Reportedly said to Prince Charles when she first met him in 1970

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Cancer

You'll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.

George Michael, singer-songwriter

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Leo

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

Dalai Lama, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Virgo

America is a Nation with a mission - and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire. Our aim is a democratic peace - a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman.

George W. Bush, former American President

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Libra

Good actors can sort of see into people and immediately you have a chemistry with them or not. It's like an affair with no mess.

John Cusack, actor

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Scorpio

I don't react to a tragic happening any more. I took so many bad things as a kid and some people think I don't care about anything. It's just too hard for me to get emotional. I can't cry no more.

Mike Tyson, boxer

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Sagittarius

Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get the damned hurt, use it-don't cheat with it.

Ernest Hemingway, author

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Capricorn

Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Aquarius

I like my wine like my women - ready to pass out.

Robin Williams, actor-comedian

Sun in Cancer, Moon in Pisces

The Solstice and the Grand Cross

The Sun’s ingress into the sign of Cancer is always a very important power point in the solar calendar, marking the June Solstice*. This year’s Solstice chart is a very powerful one indeed because it picks right up on all the main action!

Cancer, as many of you will know, is one of the cardinal signs, the others being Aries, Libra and Capricorn. Since 2008 most of the outer planets, which represent collective moods, feeling and developments, have been moving into the cardinal signs. First Pluto moved into Capricorn in 2008, next Saturn went into Libra in 2009, and finally in March ’10, Uranus moved Aries.

The chart for the Solstice picks up all these outer planets very strongly. You can see this very clearly, marked out in red lines in the chart below. The Sun, to the left of the chart, connects with Saturn at the bottom (currently in Virgo after a retrograde period, but back in Libra by July 21); Pluto in Capricorn on the right and Jupiter and Uranus in Aries at the top. These connections form what is known as a grand cross.

Before considering what this grand cross means, think about how things have been for you the last three months or so. How are you feeling now? For me, the last few months have been pretty hard-going. Flux, overwhelm, emotional and mental fatigue and the constant need to adjust to new energies. On top of all that, a sense of losing momentum and the urge to withdraw, retreat and lie low for a while. Frankly, it’s been exhausting.

Your experience might be similar, or completely different, but consider your own experience as you read on, because we all start from the place that we’re at, if you know what I mean. For sure, we’ve all been living through some challenging planetary aspects these last couple of years, particularly those of us with natal planets or angles in the late mutable signs and/or early cardinal signs (you can get your chart for free at www.alabe.com if you want to know if you’re affected). Many of us have had to deal with big changes over which we’ve had little control and many more of us are having to work hard to set healthy boundaries as we try to balance conflicting commitments and maintain our poise as we juggle what we must do with what we want to do.

So, what’s next? Well, the Solstice chart can be used to make a general prediction for the coming three months, so let’s take a look at it. First of all, the grand cross stands out. A grand cross symbolises conflicting energies, opposition, tension, competing priorities. There is the danger of stalemate, working yourself into a corner, or the feeling of being buffered about from pillar to post, but not really getting anywhere fast as you try to balance everything and everyone in your life. Primarily in cardinal signs it urges us to do something, to take action. The time for procrastination is over. However, as I have said on this blog before, we have to take correct action, with clear and positive intention. Before stepping on a path, we should ask ourselves if we are taking positive, empowered steps forward or are we merely reacting to circumstances. The gift that a grand cross brings is tremendous energy and the opportunity to find stability and balance. The trap that a grand cross brings is inflexibility, re-action rather than action and a whole heap of tension.

So what can we do, to ensure that we are able to use energies of this grand cross for the highest good, for the best possible outcome? Well there are a number of ways and here are just a few ideas and I’m sure you’ll have some ideas of your own.

Using the energies of the planets involved wisely and to the highest good is a sensible place to start. Remember though, that when we are communing with the planets, tapping into their energies, it's a bit like communing with the gods, because the planets were named after the old, great gods. We should hold that thought and respect it.

Saturn in Virgo reminds us to take a reality check and helps us to remember that sometimes it’s the small, practical, carefully thought out things we do that make the difference, not the grand gestures. When Saturn goes back into Libra, it reminds us to find balance in our lives, to set healthy boundaries in our relationships, to act justly and to opt for fair compromise.

Uranus in Aries, here in conjunction with Jupiter in Aries, reminds us to have faith, to think big, to be creative, to experiment, to express our individuality and authenticity, to get excited, to grab opportunities and to jump right in and initiate change.

Pluto in Capricorn reminds us to own and use our personal power wisely and responsibly. We’ve collectively worked hard to get to this point and we are ready to learn that having and holding power doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, mean taking the power away from someone else. Pluto (along with Saturn) can also help us to keep things in perspective, to act properly under pressure and not to let fear blind us from seeing things clearly.

Finally, the Sun in Cancer reminds us to care and to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and nurtured. It asks us to remember our roots and to listen to our instincts. Look again at the chart above. See the blue triangle that starts from the Sun in Cancer and picks up the Moon, Neptune and Chiron? This formation, a grand trine, provides us with an opportunity to find some gentle release from the tension of  the grand cross and sprinkles a little bit of magic-dust idealism over our outlook. It reminds us that sometimes we need to just simply go with the flow. Falling in air and water signs, the grand trine speaks of the need to find the head-heart balance as we go about our lives.

And finally, here are a few other suggestions of things to do to nurture ourselves during these testing times:

Learn to follow your feelings and your instincts
Ask where you are meant to be and listen for the answer
Act from the heart, for the highest good
Practice being in the moment
Spend time in nature
Stay grounded
Follow your creative urges
Sing, dance, play, celebrate, make some noise

Just a few days after the Solstice, on June 26 there is a Lunar Eclipse, with the Moon joining the grand cross dance. More on this, plus how to use the Eclipse energies to do some releasement work in a few days time.

The grand cross described here is a temporary alignment, but Saturn, Uranus and Pluto have been making a t-square together for some time gone and some time to come. To find out more and to access some amazing coping and healing techniques, see the Cardinal T Square Blog-A-Thon

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

*Solstice/Equinox 101:
There are two Solstices and the two Equinoxes each year. These important power points occur as the Sun enters one of the cardinal signs of the zodiac - Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn and astrologers use the charts for these events to make predictions for the following three months ahead.
The first Equinox of the year occurs when the Sun moves into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, around March 21, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. At an Equinox, day and night are of equal length.
The first Solstice occurs when the Sun moves into Cancer around June 21. In the Northern Hemisphere the Solstice marks midsummer, the longest day of the year and in the Southern Hemisphere it marks midwinter, the shortest day of the year.
The second Equinox, around September 21, when the Sun moves into Libra, marks the start of autumn in the N. Hemisphere and the start of spring in the S. Hemisphere.
Finally, the second Solstice of the year occurs around December 21 when the Sun moves into Capricorn, marking the shortest day (midwinter) in the N. Hemisphere and longest day (midsummer) in the S. Hemisphere. The further away from the Equator you are located the more pronounced the Equinoxes will be. For example, very Northern locations will experience twenty-four hour darkness at the winter Solstice and twenty-four hour sunlight at the summer Solstice. If you are located very near to the Equator, day and night are more or less of equal length all year round.
The Solstices and Equinoxes have been important and much celebrated festival days for many thousands of years and are today still celebrated by modern Wiccans, Pagans and Druids.

Stonehenge image from: http://www.stonehengetours.com/html/summer-solstice-tour.htm The ancient stone circle of Stonehenge near Salisbury, England is a major focal point for celebrating the summer Solstice, with thousands gathering each year to watch the Solstice sunrise align with the stones.

The chart pictured is set for the moment the Sun enters Cancer on 21st June 2010 and uses Solar Sign houses.

Gemini New Moon - Let There Be Words!

New Moons are times of new hope and fresh ideas, the kind of newness that begins in the dark, but finds its way, gradually towards the light. This month’s New Moon, on the 12th June, is in Gemini, the sign of language, communication, ideas, connections, learning.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury and since the 9th June, Mercury has been in Gemini, firing us up with lively conversations and filling our mind with bright ideas. Now, under the Gemini New Moon, it’s time to analyse all those conversations (and emails) and sift through all those ideas, to see which ones look like they’re worth following through with. Be discriminating as you do this, so you only plant the seeds of the ideas that are most likely to blossom into something interesting, lively and healthy.

The seed is the idea. When expressed, ideas becomes words/communication, then words become deeds and before we know it we have created something. It’s up to you whether you create something new and good and special or if you just plant the same old ideas that aren’t really working for you anymore.

Remember, the past created the present but it doesn’t have to create the future.

A Book Recommendation for the Gemini New Moon:

To help us remember the versatility and variety of our beautiful language and to also remind us not to take ourselves too seriously, how about checking out this long-winded titled tome:

Watch Your F*cking Language: How to swear effectively, explained in explicit detail and enhanced by numerous examples taken from everyday life

Happy Gemini New Moon!

With love,
Mandi

Uranus in Aries and your Personal Mars Sign

Part 2: Mars in Libra through Mars in Pisces

(Click here to read about Aries through Virgo)

As I mentioned in Part 1, 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 Libra

If you have Mars in Libra you put your energy into building relationships through being sociable, charming and cooperative. Before making a decision and acting on it, you consider the other side of things and/or the other people involved. Your reputation for indecisiveness is not deserved. If you hesitate before you act it’s only because you want to weigh up all the options and then act in an even-handed, fair way. However, once your mind is made up you have no problem acting on your decision quickly, forcefully and sometimes self-righteously. When challenged you are a worthy opponent who likes to play fair. While you may say that you dislike conflict, you do in fact need it, because it presents you with a mission to restore balance and harmony and make the world a more peaceful place.

Mars in Libra blends dynamically with the energy of Uranus in Aries, bringing challenges into your life. Your personal relationships could go through some dramatic changes while Uranus is in Aries, but be aware that this transit is as much about your relationship with yourself as it is about your relationship with others. As your life and the way you relate to the world changes you may find yourself in conflict with others and when this happens it will be helpful to understand that what we see in other people is often simply a reflection of ourselves. Remembering this as you meet opposition will help you to ‘own’ your own process and not project it onto others and this in turn, will help you make the most of the bright new opportunities that are opening up to you.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will oppose your natal Mars. While the opposition is active, the Mars in Libra-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. This will not be a time for sitting on the fence. It will be a very dynamic time for seizing opportunities and making dramatic life changes that can take you forward into an exciting future.

Mars in Scorpio

If you have Mars in Scorpio you use your considerable energy in a measured, controlled way. Calm on the surface, underneath you are driven by deep passions and strong emotions, although few would guess from the outside just how intensely you experience life. The sheer depth of your feelings makes you feel vulnerable so you put a lot of energy into protecting yourself, unconsciously fearing that you could get hurt if you expose your emotions to the world. However, when your passion is ignited you will go to almost any lengths to get what you want and have the ability to magnetically attract the object of your desire, be it money, control, power or a relationship. When you do trust someone enough to let them in, you are capable of forming deep and long lasting bonds.

Mars in Scorpio sits awkwardly with the energy of Uranus in Aries and you may find yourself having to adjust to unexpected new circumstances which are out of your control, a situation which will not sit easily with you. Relationships could throw you into frustrating situations which could ignite your temper if your buttons are pressed too many times! During this time, you would be wise to pick your fights carefully. Fighting for those things / relationships that you are truly passionate about will be well worth the effort as always, but essentially this transit is here to teach you that stubbornly fighting on or obsessively trying to control everything is not always the best thing to do. Sometimes you can achieve much more, much faster, by simply letting go and moving on. At the very least, you are being asked to adjust your perspective and meet others half way, whether you want to or not!

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will quincunx your natal Mars. While the quincunx is active, the Mars in Scorpio-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. Things could get sticky and tricky, but will undoubtedly be passionate!

Mars in Sagittarius

If you have Mars in Sagittarius you have boundless restless energy which you pour into many and diverse activities and relationships. It is important to you to be honest to yourself and to others. Your honesty is often take for tactlessness by more sensitive types, but you rarely mean any harm, it’s just that deep down you are guided by a strong sense of morality and idealism. Your adventurous spirit and impulsive urges can lead to recklessness if you are not careful, but it is part of your life journey to explore all avenues and experience life to the full. Your actions are often guided by an idealistic vision of where you want to be in the future, although very often it is the chase that excites you the most!

Mars in Sagittarius blends well with the energy of Uranus in Aries. Your physical energy, natural charisma and innate enthusiasm will be enhanced by Uranus in Aries, which could attract new and exciting things into our life. You will certainly feel restless for change, but in your impatience to move onto new adventures, you could all too easily end up throwing baby out with the bathwater! Instead, use this time constructively and creatively and you will find you can move a few quick steps forward towards fulfilling your dreams.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will trine your natal Mars. While the trine is active, the Mars in Sagittarius-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. All you need to do is be ready and willing to grab the opportunities coming your way and make the most of them.

Mars in Capricorn

If you have Mars in Capricorn you put your energy into achieving tangible, material goals and progressing with your ambitions. While others might tag you for a slow-starter, the thing is, you hate to waste your precious time and energy on pointless tasks, so before you start anything new, you prefer to take some time up front to plan and strategise carefully. Once you do get going though, you can be super-dynamic and a great organiser/administrator who sees things through in a serious and self-disciplined way. One of your life’s lessons is to learn patience and understand that all good things come to those who wait – and those who are prepared to put the effort in! You are very down to earth in your physical appetites and have great stamina!

Mars in Capricorn blends dynamically with the energy of Uranus in Aries, bringing challenges into your life. Your patience could be tested as well thought out plans go unexpectedly awry. When bright new opportunities come into your life, if they feel too good to be true, then they probably are, so you will need to carefully work out what’s worth pursuing and what’s not. This basically means taking a reality check from time to time, something you are very good at! However, this is for sure a time for action, because ‘doing something about it’ is the best way you can deal with the tense situations you may find yourself in. At best, this is a great time to work on releasing yourself from the past, letting go of the fears and ‘what-ifs’ that have been holding you back and going for broke to turn long-held ambitions into reality.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will square your natal Mars. While the square is active, the Mars in Capricorn-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. This will certainly be a challenging and unpredictable transit, but it could also be very energising and if handled well, could see you using strengths and resources you didn’t even know you had!

Mars in Aquarius

If you have Mars in Aquarius you put your energy into being individual and independent and expressing yourself freely. You are not competitive in the conventional sense because you prefer to go your own way rather than pursue the same goals as everyone else. When you have the freedom to do this, you really can be creatively innovative and original. The trouble is, the urge to rebel sometimes gets in the way of achieving your goals and you can ‘cut off your nose to spite your face’ just to be contrary! Your energies are best directed towards helping others or acting on behalf of a cause – anything that makes a real difference in the world - so long as you have the space to do it authentically, honestly and in your own unique way.

Lucky you! Mars in Aquarius blends well with the energy of Uranus in Aries. Furthermore, because your Mars is ruled by Uranus, you will feel more comfortable than most with the transit of Uranus in Aries. You can expect eureka moments, creative breakthroughs and fast forward movement towards your goals and ambitions. The caveat is that you are ready and willing to make the most of the opportunities that come your way and that you pursue them with objectivity, authenticity and positive intention.

At some point over the next seven years, transiting Uranus will sextile your natal Mars. While the sextile is active, the Mars in Aquarius-Uranus in Aries dynamic described above will become more pronounced. If you find yourself in a rut, even an unconventional one, now’s the time to shake yourself out of it and claim a self reliant future.

Mars in Pisces

If you have Mars in Pisces your energy is expressed compassionately and emotionally and you tend to act on instinct rather than logic. You are very sensitive to the moods and feelings of others and the vibes all around you, making it difficult sometimes to know what desires and emotions are your own and what you are simply absorbing from the atmosphere and from the needs of other people. At best, you act with empathy, kindness and compassion, but must guard against making unnecessary sacrifices for the sake of others. When you give yourself the permission to be true to yourself and your feelings, you can truly do a lot of good and can be an inspiration and a guiding vision for others.

Mars in Pisces doesn’t see eye to eye with Uranus in Aries. The direct, fast acting, challenging energies of Uranus in Aries can feel harsh and uncompromising to a sensitive soul like yourself. Fortunately, your flexibility, empathy and ability to see the bigger picture will help you to understand what is going on and why.

Uranus won’t make a significant transit to your Mars while it’s in Aries. However, while Uranus was in Pisces over the last seven years, you will have had transiting Uranus conjunct your Mars. No doubt, during that time you went through many changes in your life, some difficult and others very exciting. Uranus in Aries is your time to embrace the positive changes that have occurred and build on them to claim an exciting future for yourself. However, if your Mars is in the last three degrees of Pisces, you will be having transiting Uranus conjunct your Mars now and over the next few months, because Uranus in Aries goes retrograde in August and travels back and then forwards again over the last three degrees of Pisces. Change could be in the air in almost any area of your life and your ability to remain flexible will hold you in good stead.

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 1 – Mars in Aries through Virgo

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

Weather Forecasting with Astrology

The month of June is upon us and in the UK it has come to symbolise strawberries and cream at Wimbledon, jugs of iced Pimms shared outdoors with friends, rivers of mud at Glastonbury Festival and glamorous white weddings at romantic country houses.

Of all the months in the year, June is the month when we most want the weather to be dry and warm, so we hang on to every word of the weather forecaster.

But there’s also a very simple and pretty reliable way of forecasting the weather using horary astrology, which I learnt at a seminar by horary master John Frawley.

Here’s how you do it.

First you ask a question. The more specific the question the better, so relate your question to a particular event you want to know the weather for. My question was “what will the weather be like at Glastonbury Festival this year?”

Next you cast a chart for the moment the question was asked. In my example the question was asked at 10.43am on 29th May 2010 in London.

Here’s the chart that came up.

Now, what’s the answer to the question? Well, for any kind of celebration, festival, party or sports event we look to the 5th house and see what sign is on the 5th house cusp.

The fifth house in the chart above has Sagittarius on the cusp. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter so we look to the sign that Jupiter is in. Jupiter is in Pisces. Pisces is a water sign. Earth signs are cold and wet, so the answer is that Glastonbury festival will be cold and wet this year. Simple!

Finally, apply your common sense! Wet is bad news of course because nobody wants wet weather when they are camping at a five-day outdoor festival. But forewarned is forearmed! What about cold? That’s disappointing too. But remember, it means cold for the time of year, it doesn’t mean arctic conditions. It can also mean cold compared to your expectation. We dream of hot balmy days in June, but the fact is that average June temperatures in the UK are only 18-20 degrees – hardly tropical temperatures. For my money, anything around 15-18 degrees doesn’t sound bad at all. So, if you’re lucky enough to be going to Glastonbury this year, take a few extra layers and don’t forget to pack those wellies and a rain poncho as well!

Here’s another example. Back in the summer of 2006 I attended a wedding in Scotland. Scotland is of course famous for its cold and wet weather so naturally I wanted to know if the bride would be lucky enough to have a nice warm, sunny day.

Here’s the chart I cast, for the moment I asked the question about the weather – 14.57 on 3rd April 2006 in London.

Again we look to the 5th house cusp, because a wedding event is a celebration. The 5th house is ruled by Jupiter which is in Scorpio, a cold and wet water sign. Not good news. Now, if you want to go further and find out a bit more detail look to the dispositer of the planet that rules the 5th house cusp. In this example, Jupiter is disposited by Mars (because the sign that Jupiter is in, Scorpio, is traditionally ruled by Mars). Mars is in Gemini, a hot, wet air sign. So for this wedding we could predict a hot, wet kind of cold, wet! In reality, it did rain and while it certainly wasn’t a hot day by any stretch, there were just enough warm sunny spells throughout the day to make for a few decent photo opportunities.

Try this method for yourself, it really is terribly easy, even if you don’t know much astrology. If you don’t have your own astrological software you can download a chart for free at http://www.alabe.com/ (click on the free birth chart tab on the home page and simply enter the data for the moment you asked your question).

And if you’re going to any special events this summer I hope you have a wonderful time and fingers crossed for great weather.

With love, Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

To learn more about horary techniques and how to put them into practice, see John Frawley’s The Horary Textbook which explains horary in a simple, easy to understand and entertaining way.

If you have a burning question and would like to consult a professional horary astrologer, I highly recommend Beata Kibil. Here’s the link to her website: http://www.beatakibil.com/  

Key

The Fire signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius – are hot & dry

The Earth signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn - are cold & dry

The Air signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius – are hot & wet

The Water signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces – are cold & wet

In horary, the traditional rulers are used, as follows:

Aries and Scorpio are ruled by Mars

Taurus and Libra are ruled by Venus

Gemini and Virgo are ruled by Mercury

Cancer is ruled by the Moon

Leo is ruled by the Sun

Sagittarius and Pisces are ruled by Jupiter

Capricorn and Aquarius are ruled by Saturn

Astrology for June – Bustin’ Out All Over!

“June is bustin’ out all over” and here’s a preview of June’s exciting, boredom bustin’ astrological occurrences:

Jupiter into Aries and Jupiter conjunct Uranus

On June 6th opportunistic, expansive Jupiter moves into spontaneous, pioneering Aries and then, on the 8th, it makes the first of a series of conjunctions with Uranus – a rollercoaster ride of an aspect that’s sure to shake things up and add a little excitement to our lives. Under this aspect we crave freedom and adventure and we feel more willing to take risks to get what we want. Many of us have felt so restricted by circumstances this last year or so – mostly symbolized by the current series of restricting Saturn-Pluto squares - so allowing ourselves a little rebellion and disregard for the rules can feel very liberating these coming months. However, remember that Jupiter and Uranus are forming a t-square with Saturn and Pluto, so any chances you take must be very carefully weighed up against the practical realities of your situation. Think before you act and when you do take a step forward towards your dreams and goals, do so with your feet planted firmly on the ground and be prepared to take responsibility for your actions.

Uranus and Jupiter in Aries will be sure to awaken your inner warrior, as represented by Mars in your birth chart. See Uranus in Aries and Your Mars Sign to find out more

Want to get more of a feel for the flavor of Jupiter-Uranus? Here’s a look at some of the amazing discoveries and exciting breakthroughs that have occurred under previous alignments of these two planets: Jupiter-Uranus – Science, Discovery and Revolution

Mars leaves Leo and enters Virgo

Can you believe that Mars was in Leo for almost eight months?! This was because Mars in Leo went retrograde [click on the ‘Mars’ label on the right to read more about Mars Retrograde in Leo].

From June 7th, Mars enters Virgo, where it will stay until July 29th. Mars in Virgo is a steadier energy than Mars in Leo. Mars in Virgo encourages us to selflessly help others and think before we act so it could be quite a good antidote for the more selfish, spontaneous Aries energies we are experiencing through Jupiter in Uranus. Use Mars in Virgo’s energy for carrying out overdue practical tasks and for steering yourself away from reckless behaviour by carefully mulling over exactly how you are going to put plans into action. On the downside, Mars in Virgo energy can make us over-critical and perfectionist, so watch out for that and try to find a balance between just going for it and taking time to work out whether the end result will be worth it.

Mercury in Gemini and the Gemini New Moon

Lightening things up a little is Mercury, the planet of communication, which will be strong in its own sign - chatty, ideas oriented Gemini - from June 9th through 24th June. On June 10th, Mercury forms a helpful sextile to the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, a good time for thinking through your ideas and communicating them to others. By the 12th, it’s time to start planting the seeds of those ideas, under the Gemini New Moon. Read more about the Gemini New Moon here

The Sun in Cancer and the Solstice

On June 21st, the Sun enters the sign of Cancer, marking the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (and the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere). The Solstices, along with the Equinoxes, represent four of the power times in the year and the charts for these times reliably symbolise the energies of the upcoming season. This year’s solstice chart is very, very exciting, read all about it here: The Solstice and the Grand Cross

Welcome to Eclipse Season!

The Full Moon in Capricorn on June 26th is a lunar eclipse, the first of two eclipses this summer. This one, at 4 degrees of Cancer-Capricorn, picks up the degrees of the cardinal t-square. This could be a powerfully important eclipse for any of you with planets and points in the early degrees of the cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Read all about the Eclipse and how to work with its energies positively here: Capricorn Solar Eclipse - Letting Go & Yin and Yang

Saturn Quincunx Neptune

At the beginning of June, Neptune turned retrograde, headed towards the last in its current set of Quincunx aspects with Saturn which will occur on June 28th. I’ll be honest and admit that these important alignments, which started in September 2009, rather passed me by. Thankfully, a couple of excellent astrology bloggers picked up on them. See Saturn plus Neptune and Oil, Drugs and Scandal by Amanda Owen and The Final Neptune-Saturn Quincunx and its Role in Our Economy by Fabienne Lopez, guest blogging at Donna Cunningham’s Skywriter.

Finally, here’s a link to June’s Void of Course Moon times and Moon sign changes: http://www.mandilockley.com/moonpages.html  

Happy June everyone and If you feel as if life is throwing you around like a pinball, be patient and hang in there a little longer, we are now so close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel folks.

As the old song goes:

You can feel it in your heart

You can see it in the ground

You can see it in the trees

You can smell it in the breeze

Look around! Look around! Look around!

June is bustin' out all over!

from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel"

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