Academy of Astrology Podcast #2 - Mars in Cancer

This week's AoA Podcast, with Rod Chang and Marcos Patchett, offers fantastic insight into Mars' current journey through Cancer, a sign where Mars can feel particularly uncomfortable. 

A highly recommended watch, they also discuss the implications of  the intense Scorpio Full Moon both personally and on a world level.

Since this Podcast was recorded, now that Mars is in Cancer and currently in a short-lived mutual reception with the Moon in Scorpio, news reports are alleging that the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson may have unethically funded the £££££ refurbishment of his private downing street flat. 

It's notable that Johnson has Cancer on his MC (the public/status/reputation angle) in his natal chart AND Moon in Scorpio!  Also notable is that when the story broke, it was during the Scorpio Full Moon opposing the stellium of Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus in Taurus, the sign of money.  Full Moons of course shine a light on things, the Scorpio Full Moon in particular can show up things we'd rather stayed hidden. Johnson is also suffering a challenge to his reputation after un-named sources alleged that he said, in a fit of rage, that he'd rather the dead bodies piled up than go into a third lockdown. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out over the next few weeks.

Mars moved into Cancer on April 26, staying until June 11. 

Mars Retrograde, New Videos & the Astrology of Burgers!

Mars Retrograde turns back into Capricorn today. 

It was last in Capricorn March to mid May - watch out for recurring themes in how you act and react. In particular, how were you feeling in the first half of May? Does that relate to now? Are you covering old ground?

Mars goes Direct on August 28 and then re-enters Aquarius September 11. Think back to Mid May when Mars first covered those early Aquarius degrees ~ it was probably a pretty intense time if you've planets and angles in the early degrees of the fixed signs, especially as Uranus in Taurus is Square to Mars in early Aquarius. 

For me, this has been my Mars Return (Mars in early Aquarius Conjunct Moon) ~ lots of emotions from the past coming up for me, begging for release. I found the courage to share some of my story with close trusted friends and it was cathartic.

Remember the Lunar Eclipse in late July fell in early Aquarius, Square Uranus and Mars? Release, endings, letting go, breakdowns, breakthroughs and emotional honesty. Mars re-visits/activates the eclipse degree (4 Aquarius 45) 26/27 September.

This current period might also remind us of when Mars was Conjunct Saturn, end March / early April. For insights on this, I recommend this short video Tough Breaks, Rewind: Mars and Saturn in Capricorn Again from Marcos Patchett for the Academy of Astrology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfsZD2ynXgc

While you're here, why not also check out my short, fun video explaining what burgers have to do with Uranus in Taurus!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6sGMR3OomQ&t=99s 

Thank you for reading and watching 
You can also read my articles on Astro.com:

How Can Saturn Help Us Live from the Heart?
After the Transit - Neptune
Whistleblowers at the Galactic Centre
And you can find me on Facebook and YouTube

Uranus in Aries Wakes Up Your Mars ~ Pt. 2

 

As Uranus moves through dynamic, restless Aries, it continues to wake up and shake up your natal Mars. It challenges you to act true to your Mars sign and aspects, to use your Mars energy, vitality and assertiveness in an authentic way. Here’s a look at how Mars in the signs of Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces will be stimulated by Uranus in Aries.                                                                 

 

Click here to read Part 1 ~ Mars in Aries through Virgo  

 

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.

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.

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/

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Uranus in Aries wakes up your Mars!

 

As Uranus moves through dynamic, restless Aries, it continues to wake up and shake up your natal Mars. It challenges you to act true to your Mars sign and aspects, to use your Mars energy, vitality and assertiveness in an authentic way. The following I wrote and posted in 2010, but it's well worth a revisit now. How is your Mars doing?

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.

Part 2 – Mars in Libra through Mars in Pisces - coming up next.

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.

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/

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

Astrology for July - The Wheels Keep Turning

More than ever, the sky this July reminds me of a well-oiled machine, as the planetary wheels and cogs turn this way and that, getting into alignment so that when the time is right, the Cardinal T-Square of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto can fall into its fullest exactness.





Here are the milestone events:

July 5th: Uranus in Aries stations Retrograde – expect a burst of erratic energy, surprising turnabouts and re-runs of old dramas. (To find out how Uranus in Aries could activate your Mars, click here)

July 21st: Saturn re-enters relationship and balance-oriented Libra after almost four months re-visiting hard working, orderly, health conscious Virgo. This brings all the t-square planets together in cardinal signs for the first time.

Then, on July 26th, those two planets make the last exact hit of the disruptive, status-quo challenging Saturn-Uranus Oppositions which started in 2008. How the world has changed since then!

Additionally, Jupiter in Aries stations Retrograde on the 23rd and by September the planet of growth and expansion will be back in receptive Pisces, but it won’t be leaving direct, single-focused Aries until it’s played its part in the Cardinal T-Square.

On July 30th we see an event of culmination when Mars joins Saturn in Libra, dramatically energizing the Cardinal T-Square configuration. Self-centred Mars is never too comfortable in other-oriented Libra, so this shift could be reflected in challenges and tension in our relationships. However, it also presents a golden opportunity to energetically heal and release some of our relationship blocks, including our relationship with our own self and our relationship to our collective world and the universe. More mundanely, Mars moving into a cardinal sign provides a good burst of forward motion energy to help us all to get things done!

The Cardinal T-Square ~ chart set for 30th July 2010 using whole sign houses

Wow! It seems that these exciting times are about to get even more exciting!

Add to this the fact that the all important Solar-Lunar cycle connected dramatically with the Cardinal T-Square energies during the Solstice and the Lunar Eclipse in June, forming a Grand Cross! We might be feeling like we’re a ball-bearing in a pinball machine or a passenger on a scary roller-coaster. But boy, rarely has there been a more energetic and creative time to face and heal old wounds and move forward into a space of positive change. Whoosh!

But hold tight, there’s more to come on this cosmic merry-go-round ride. In August, Saturn and Pluto make the last of their current series of inhibiting, constraining squares. This marks the beginning of the end for the current cycle, which began in the early eighties. This is the final crisis point of the cycle, when we are individually and collectively asked to face our fears, clean up our messes and move towards building fresh structures which will enable us to plant healthy seeds for the next cycle which begins in 2019.

Also in August, Jupiter and Saturn oppose each other in Aries and Libra, marking the peak, the halfway point, of the current cycle which began in 2000. This opposition occurs very close to the ‘private becomes public’ Aries Point, so there will be no hiding from seeing things just the way they are – the good and the bad. Whether we like what we see or not, will depend on how we’ve done up until now, but in the collective, we can reliably expect fresh revelations of corporate, political and economic derry-doings to come out of the woodwork.

Are you wondering how all this affects you personally? Well, if your chart has planets or angles in the early degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra and/or Capricorn, your life will probably have been reflecting the Cardinal T-Square themes for some time. Much more on this to come over the next few weeks….but in the meantime don’t forget to check out the Cardinal T-Square Blog-A-Thon articles, which are more relevant now than ever.

Eclipsed Again

As I write this (end June) we are in the in-between time – those slightly unsettling couple of weeks between one Eclipse and the next.

We’ve experienced a powerfully balancing Capricorn Lunar Eclipse which formed a Grand Cross with the Cardinal T-Square planets and we’re waiting for the Cancer New Moon on July 11th, a Total Solar Eclipse.

This Eclipse falls at 19 degrees of Cancer and if it touches planets and points of your natal chart, it could represent a significant new beginning for you in one or more areas of your life. More on that in an upcoming post….

For now, this time between Eclipses is good for checking in with yourself, for doing some inner healing work and asking yourself a few questions. Think back over the last couple of years. What has changed? How have you changed? Have you adjusted to your new reality or are you still attached to the past or your vision of how you wanted things to be? If you feel you could have handled things better, acknowledge it, release that feeling without negative judgment, then rest, in preparation for the next influx of cosmic energies. Until the next Eclipse, try to just let the worldly chaos whirl all around you without connecting to it, without running with it, just ‘be’ for a few days, you’ve earned that.

Sunny Days and Bright Nights

To finish off my preview of July, the Sun, which starts the month in emotional, cosy Cancer, moves into warmhearted, dramatic Leo on July 22nd. Then on July 26th, the Sun aligns once more with the Moon, for a Full Moon in the early degrees of Aquarius.

See July’s Moon void of course times and Moon sign changes here: http://www.mandilockley.com/moonpages.html

Recommendations

Ravenesque’s Preview of July – I will be reading and re-reading this one throughout the month

Auntie Moon’s Preview of July’s Moon Phases including ‘zodiactivities’, great suggestions on how to tune into each Sun-Moon combination this month

And Finally…

Happy Birthday to Astroair Astrology, which is one year old on 11th July, the day of the Eclipse! On the day, I will post a review of the year, along with links and thank you acknowledgements to all my lovely readers. Hopefully, I’ll be able to offer a small birthday gift too (thinking cap on)!

I hope you have a wondrous July. Certainly, this is set to be an extraordinary month for many of us and I hope for you, it’s a bright and positive one. Enjoy the ride!

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

Images:
Cogs and Gears by artist Paul Chatem http://www.paulchatem.com/  
Cardinal T-Square chart drawn up using Solar Fire astrology software
Eclipse images: Credit Nasa

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/

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/

Astrology in Action: When Mars Crosses the Line!

In this blog, I’m always at great pains to point out that when a transiting planet (particularly one of the slower planets) crosses a natal planet or angle in our chart, this represents a highly personal process of development and enfoldment, not a dramatic ‘one-off event’ timed to the day the transiting aspect becomes exact.

I always stress this important point because I do not want anyone to fear that something will ‘happen’ on a particular day. Most often nothing will happen and even if something does, there’s no way I could predict what! To even try would be to take away the freewill of whoever the event is predicted for. On the contrary, my work in astrology is about empowering poeple, not taking away their choices.

That said, very occasionally an ‘event’ will occur that is perfectly timed to the transit of a planet across an angle or over a natal planet. While these cannot be predicted in advance, these events often reflect the astrological symbolism very literally. In my experience, these events are always worth noting and analyzing for the learning they can bring, because most often they reflect something else, something bigger and more personal.

To illustrate what I mean, here is a personal example that happened to me as Mars in Leo was crossing my IC on March 20th.

I was at home, upstairs, on my laptop. The Saturn Collection of articles I coordinated for the Cardinal T-Square blog-a-thon had gone live that morning and I was on the social networking sites publicizing it.

The blog-a-thon had sure created lots of energy and I was about to find out how much!

As I worked, I suddenly become aware of a very nasty burning smell coming from downstairs. I ran down to find lots of smoke and sparks and a few small flames coming from a light switch. The switch had blown up and instead of activating the fuse, it exploded into an electrical fire. The electrician said we were very lucky - had we been out or asleep it would have developed into a major fire. Thank goodness we were all OK and there was no major damage.

Now for the astrology! Transiting Mars (heat-fire) in Leo (light) was conjunct my IC (home), opposing my MC and my Mars in Aquarius (electricity) and Moon (home).

Isn’t it stunning how literally the event reflected the astrology? Talk about ‘as above-so below’!

Now, I won’t drag this blog post out by analysing in-depth why I think this event happened, only to say that the reaction to the fire set in motion another series of personal crisis events from which I am still  reeling, triggering as they did some of the deep issues I am dealing with as Saturn and Pluto transit my natal Sun in early Capricorn. The fire (the literal fire and the other, personal 'fire' situation that ensued) had been trying to start for a while unseen - under the floor (Pluto) and in the walls (Saturn) - and eventually, by force of motion all the energy exploded outwards (triggered by the Mars transit) and the issue suddenly needed ugent attention. The electrician fixed the light switch and now I need to fix the other, more difficult problem. Wish me luck!

If you find that, as happens occasionally, an event ‘does’ happen that is perfectly timed to a transit, make a careful note of it, see if you can see what triggered it, what its effect was and look to your longer transits to see how the event might reflect something bigger in your life.

I could go on – you wanna hear my story about the dental work I had when Saturn crossed my IC? Probably not – but I would love to hear if you have any examples of literal events that happened when a transiting planet crossed your angles or other planets and what you think they meant.

Shameless Cardinal T-Square Blog-A-Thon Plug: It is perfectly safe to read the blog-a-thon articles - they are totally fire proof, I promise! The Saturn, Uranus and Pluto collections as well as all the other special events form a permanent resource that myself and all the other coordinators hope you will want to return to time and again in the coming months. All the links you need are on the top right side bar of this blog or you can go now to the main blog-a-thon hub page: http://2010astrologycarnival.wordpress.com/

With love,
Mandi

Mars in Leo - The Big Cat Awakes

Finally, after a long season of semi-slumber, the lazy lion rouses himself for a bit of action.

Yes, Mars, the planet we astrologers associate with energy, action, impulsiveness, assertion, sex, war, competition and physical exertion, turns direct on 10 March after being Retrograde (apparently backward) since 20th December.

Here’s a summary of what I wrote in Mars in Leo – A Retrograde Cat Fight back in December when Mars turned backwards:

In Leo, Mars asserts itself proudly, warmly, from the heart. Its expression can be dramatic, self-seeking and proud. If the will is too stubborn and self-centred, this can lead to problems, especially if Mars in Leo doesn’t feel like he’s getting the rewards he feels he deserves for his unquestionable prowess! Then Mars in Leo can become pushy, overbearing and domineering. At best though, the natural confidence of Mars in Leo is shared generously and expressed with tremendous creative flair and positive vitality.

During this Mars in Leo Rx period, some of you may be feeling as if you are not getting the recognition you deserve, or you may feel that your authority is not being respected. If you are feeling this, then perhaps it’s time to confront your inner ‘brat’ and question whether you really deserve what you desire. Have you truly put the work in or do you just think the world owes you because you’re ‘special’?

That said, some of you will of course be deserving of recognition and respect for all the effort you have put in and will be totally justified in asking for what you want and need. The energies of this Mars Leo Rx period will therefore be great for taking some time to work out just how to ask the world to reward you.

Still others will find that they may have been using their energies in the wrong direction and this is why they are not getting their due plaudits. This Rx time will then be about recognising and accepting this and looking to your heart to find the new path.

Mars Rx often brings a great deal of frustration, either your own personal frustration, or others’ frustration pushed upon you. We feel frustrated when we are not getting our own way, not achieving our goals and desires, not getting what we need. Frustration can easily give way to out and out anger, so watch for the signs and take a step back if you feel yourself starting to simmer and boil over. This Mars Rx is indeed a great time to review how you personally deal with frustration and its sister, disappointment. If we are all honest with ourselves, we could all do with learning more emotionally intelligent ways of negotiating the path of getting our will done, while avoiding unnecessary conflict. To facilitate this, setting clear boundaries is not just useful, but essential.

Most generally speaking, Mars Rx suggests a general feeling of slowing down and lacking energy. Things can feel held back, blocked, backed up. It's a good time to think creatively about what you want and then and prepare an action plan for when Mars goes forwards again.

So how was the Mars retrograde time for you? What's been stuck? What did you learn? What's your action plan? What are you planning to move forward with now? Write and let me know!

For me, I am hoping that Mars direct will mean a step forward in the job hunt for my Sun conjunct Mars in Leo husband. Transiting Mars stationed Retrograde right on his natal Mars and he lost his job. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that he finds a new direction now that Mars is moving forwards again. In my own chart, Mars stations direct exactly on my Leo IC and I have a frustrated Leo sitting at home (sometimes astrology can be so literal)! Mars leaves my 4th house in May and also in May it comes back to my husband's natal Mars and I'm going to stick my neck out and predict that he'll be back in work by then.

Recommendation:

For a very good new article on Mars in Leo's turnaround, see Mars in Leo: Narcissism & Entitlement Or Creativity & Leadership by Amanda Owen at Auntie Moon