Everything you need to know about June 2012

June is upon us, bringing three significant and exciting astro-events.

Big(ish) Event Number One

Firstly, there’s a Partial Lunar Eclipse on June 4. It falls at 14 degrees-14 minutes of Sagittarius and Gemini. If you have planets or points at 13-15 degrees of the mutable signs - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces - this Eclipse will touch your chart.

You can get your chart for free at http://www.astro.com/ or http://www.alabe.com/ and also see my article Working with Eclipses for tips on how to interpret Eclipses.

Big Event Number Two

June 5/6 brings a rare transit, when Venus, planet of love, money and values, passes directly between the Sun and the Earth and is visible as a small dark disk passing across the Sun’s face.

Significantly, Venus falls in the same degree as the Eclipse the day before, 15 degrees-44 minutes of Gemini, so if you have 15 degrees of the mutable signs highlighted in your chart, this is an event well worth following.

But what is a Transit of Venus exactly? What does it mean? The links below should help...

As usual, NASA is the first port of call for all things astronomical. Their special site includes explanation, history and a live webcast of the event on June 5/6: http://venustransit.nasa.gov/transitofvenus/

Everything you need to know, including advice on viewing it safely (you should never look directly at the Sun) at: http://www.transitofvenus.org/

A couple of good articles from the ever reliable TMA:
http://mountainastrologer.com/tma/venus-transit-the-message-is-love
http://mountainastrologer.com/tma/astrology-as-if-the-sky-matters-venus-retrograde

Finally, this excellent post discusses events that coincided with previous Venus Transits. What will this transit bring as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee and mega-movie Prometheus is released? http://copycateffect.blogspot.mx/2012/05/venus-transits-sol.html

Click on image to enlarge

Big Event Number Three

June 24 sees the first exact square of Uranus in Aries to Pluto in Capricorn. On the big picture level, this aspect has been playing out a while, but now it’s exact it will reach its highest intensity, with six further exact squares coming September 2012 through March 2015.

Here’s what it signifies, in a nutshell:

Since 2007 an exciting, powerful and incredibly disruptive planetary alignment has been forming. Rebellious Uranus has been squaring up to Pluto in Capricorn. Uranus’ energies have been compared to those of the mythical Prometheus, who stole the fire from the gods and gave it to man. Combined with Pluto, Uranus ignites revolutionary impulses and upsets the status quo. This planetary combination has been associated with mass rebellion against the establishment, revolutions, civil rights movements and radical social and political change.

The above is from Uranus-Pluto and Our Changing World. The article includes a fascinating look back at historical Uranus-Pluto alignments. Read more here....

How are Astroair’s 2012 predictions playing out? Find out here...

Over the next three years the Uranus-Pluto squares occur between 6 and 15 degrees of Aries and Capricorn, so if these degrees are highlighted in your chart (and also 6-15 degrees of Cancer and Libra), then these squares will form a significant transit to your chart. A time of change is on the horizon for you, that's for sure.

Moon News

Moon Phases and Void of Course Moon Times for June are up on my website. See http://www.mandilockley.com/ for details.

With love,
Mandi

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December Astrology Pt. 1 Letting Go and Moving Forward

Welcome to December, the final month before we enter the long awaited year of 2012. More on that to come, but for now, what opportunities and challenges will the end of 2011 bring? Look no further, because here's the first of Astroair's monthly summaries...

December 1: Venus conjuncts Pluto
It’s a passionate start to December, as love planet Venus gets into bed with intense Pluto. This alignment creates an atmosphere where deep feelings surface. Love affairs can feel fated and emotions are experienced at the most profound level. You may become aware of your own or someone else’s jealousy during this transit. It could also prompt a new understanding of what or who you need to let go of.  The power of money is also highlighted when Venus and Pluto join forces.

This is a short transit and its effects should only be apparent for a day or two.
 

December 2: The Sun squares Mars
When the Sun and Mars square up we can expect to receive a welcome energy boost and find renewed vigour and courage to pursue our goals, but this gift comes with conditions. The Sun is in optimistic, risk-taking Sagittarius but Mars is in the cautious, pedantic, less confident sign of Virgo. Being competitive just for the sake of winning (and boosting your ego) is not the best approach during this transit. Instead choose to act in a way that helps others, not just your-self. Also try to think things out carefully and check all the details before proceeding especially so because Mercury is currently retrograde and hovering very close to the Sun.

This is a short transit and its effects should only be apparent for a day or two.
 

December 5: Venus trines Mars
After the intensity of Venus conjunct Pluto, this pleasant trine between Venus and Mars should be a welcome relief. It’s a time to rebalance your emotions and send out the ‘olive branch’ if things need smoothing over with your loved one. Doing something nice for someone you care about is a great way to make the most of the energies now.

This is a short transit and its effects should only be apparent for a day or two.
 

December 9: Uranus turns direct
Uranus has been retrograde since July and now finally starts to move forward again. Whenever, Uranus is activated the motto is to ‘expect the unexpected’. It’s not easy to plan for surprises, but at least it can help reduce the shock factor if you are open to change and ready to be flexible. In fact, this turn around can really help you to let go of the past and move forward into your future with a renewed sense of hope. Embrace change, be open to new possibilities and this can be an exciting time. More so, if you are currently experiencing a Uranus transit.

You are having a Uranus transit – which can last up to a year -  if you have planets or angles in the very early degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn, or even if you have planets or angles in the last degree of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces. (Get your chart for free at www.alabe.com.) Click on the link for more on how to cope/get the best out of your Uranus transit.
 

December 10: Total Lunar Eclipse in Gemini

A Lunar Eclipse is an extra special Full Moon. Expect relationships to come under the spotlight and be prepared to receive new information about just about anything. This is a good time for finding out exactly where you stand and using that new information to progress with plans and goals that have felt like they were never going to move forward. The fact that Mercury turns direct the day after and Uranus turns direct the day before will help add momentum to that moving forward feeling. Although, with Uranus in the mix, don’t forget to expect the unexpected (see above).
 

As this is a Gemini Eclipse, charge your cellphone and check your email, because you may receive the news that you have been waiting for. If you do, be ready to act quickly! This is also a great time for getting out and about and socialising, so polish off those party shoes!

Under a Lunar Eclipse things tend to peak, to come to a head, and often something you no longer need will come to an end, so that you can begin anew. This is especially so if the Eclipse touches your chart. This Eclipse affects you directly if you have planets or angles between 17 and 19 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces (get your chart for free at www.alabe.com). If your birthday falls between December 8 and 11, this could be potentially life changing year ahead for you.

December 13: Mercury in Sagittarius turns direct
 

What a relief that Mercury, the planet that rules postage, turns around just in time to send out those Christmas packages!

Communication should become easier all round now. Decisions can finally be reached and acted upon, which is great if you're the organised type who wants to plan for the new year ahead. Bear in mind though that Mercury will be in the 'shadow' of its retrograde until December 31, so it won't be until then that all things Mecurial (communication, learning, thinking, travelling, commerce, negotiations, contractual issues and general to-ing and fro-ing) really pick up momentum. Save the longer term planning until then, to be on the safe side. An Eclipse a few days before Mercury direct and Uranus' renewed forward motion (see above), will also help us to make the most of the opportunity to let go of the past and plan for an exciting future.

Mercury turned retrograde on November 24 at 20 degrees Sagittarius. It turns around on December 13 at 4 degrees Sagittarius. It remains in the shadow of its retrograde (re-covering the degrees it’s already passed through) until December 31. Mercury is in Sagittarius until January 8, 2012.

Summary of December's Alignments

December 1: Venus conjunct Pluto

December 2: Sun square Mars

December 5: Venus trine Mars
 

December 9: Uranus turns Direct

December 10: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Gemini
 

December 13: Mercury turns Direct

December 18: Venus squares Saturn (coming in Part 2)

December 20: Venus enters Aquarius (coming in Part 2)

December 21: Venus squares Jupiter (coming in Part 2)

December 22 (December 21 in PST time zones): Sun enters Capricorn (coming in Part 2)

The Sun into Capricorn marks the Winter Solstice (Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere) 

December 22: Sun trines Jupiter and squares Uranus (coming in Part 2)

December 24: New Moon in Capricorn (coming in Part 2)

December 25: Jupiter stations Retrograde (coming in Part 2)

December 29: Sun conjunct Pluto

With love, Mandi

www.mandilockley.com

Come back soon for part 2 of December's astrological picture, or better still, subscribe below to receive Astroair Astrology direct to your inbox. Astroair will never pass on your details to a third party.

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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/

Between Eclipse Weirdness

England under snow January 7th 2010. Photo: NASA

How have the first few days of January been for you so far? 2010 started with an Eclipsed Blue Moon on New Year's Eve and next week, 0n 15th Jan, there is an Eclipsed Capricorn New Moon.

Eclipses come in pairs and the couple of weeks between them can often feel like a bit of a strange time and, from my perspective at least, the beginning of January has been no exception.

Mars is still Retrograde in Leo, reflected I think in the fact that motivation, enthusiam and energy to get stuff done feels a bit off key, low and slow. And as if that wasn't enough, many of us have literally been prevented from moving around at all in the UK due to sustained extremes of weather we're just not used to.

Of course, Mercury started his backward dance through the zodiac on 26th December so we might have expected some travel chaos, but it started early thanks to some heavy snowfall just before Christmas and for a while I seriously doubted that I would get to see my family due to the icy road conditions. Fortunately, I made it and had a lovely Christmas, but the usual January back to work slog has been seriously slowed down in the UK by more snow, the heaviest and most sustained since the early 1960's! My in-laws, who live in a pretty little village near Oxford, are quite literally snowed into their house! More harsh winds and snowy weather are forecast for the next week or so.

So, will the Capricorn energies of January 15th's Solar Eclipse help us get back to some kind of normal and organised shape after what has seemed in some ways like a chaotically extended Christmas break? Well Mercury goes Direct on the same day, so there is indeed some hope.

Saying that, some of us might actually be enjoying this disruption. I for one have loved the snow, but then I've been lucky that my transport links to work and back have been OK and I have a cosy warm home to go back to. I also have a nice pair of Hunter wellies so my feet stay dry and warm while I'm trudging through the snow, with the added bonus of also being fashionable - lol! I feel for my colleague Debbie who has been facing a three hour commute to work and back every day, if she managed to make it in at all.

Let's also hope that Scottish couple Kay and John Ure, who have been seperated by the heavy snow since Kay popped out to pick up the turkey on 23rd December are finally reunited! Read their story here>.

Safe travels,

Mandi

My Garden in the Snow

A Blue Moon Lunar Eclipse

The New Year, indeed the New Decade, is ushered in by no less than an Eclipsed Full Moon. Not only that, but it's a Blue Moon - wow, what amazing energies to let go of the old and welcome the new.

Eclipses are about release and letting go, so before the festivities begin today this is a good time to think about what negative attachments you might want to work on.

This is highly personal work, but here are a few ideas based on your Sun sign:

Aries: Letting go of old issues around family dynamics; reconsidering the work-life balance

Taurus: Releasing negative thought patterns that have been holding you back

Gemini: Learning to value yourself more, letting go of self-limiting beliefs about yourself

Cancer: Releasing self-critical behaviour, learning to love yourself for who you are

Leo: Letting go of the need to always be in the spotlight by recognising when to retreat and rest

Virgo: Releasing the need to be over self-sufficient by learning to accept help from others

Libra: Letting go of unneccesary notions about status and learning to be who you are rather than what you think others expect

Scorpio: Thinking about where you have become stuck in a rut, broadening your horizons

Sagittarius: Letting go of the need to always be 'on the move' by allowing yourself the time to stop and take stock of your life

Capricorn: Releasing negative behaviour patterns in relationships

Aquarius: Working on kicking a bad habit and maintaining a healthier lifestyle

Pisces: Learning to remember to unburden yourself of the worries of the world once in a while, so you can enjoy life more

A few ideas for releasement work:

~ Say a prayer to your chosen God or spirit

~ Make a wish

~ Write an affirmation

~ Write a letter to yourself, detailing what you want to release then (safely) burn the letter to release the energies

~ Talk it through with a friend or a partner, ask their advice

~ Perform a banishing spell

~ 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

A few 'rules' for releasement work:

~ Always be positive

~ Always work from a place of love and compassion

~ 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 such as: I release the part of me that is irritated by you

~ 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

~ Always assume success

~ Always show gratitude by saying thank you or by making some other gesture of thanks

For my blog on how I feel this eclipse, in the sign of Cancer, fits into the overall cosmic pattern of the next few months, click here>

For some astrological ideas on how to work with eclipses, click here>

Here's to a healthy, happy, prosperous 2010 to you all.

With love and blessings,

Mandi xx

Working with Eclipses [Updated]

Upcoming and Recent Eclipses (GMT dates):

31 December ’09: Lunar Eclipse at 10 Cancer 14
15 January ’10: Solar Eclipse at 25 Capricorn 01
26 June ‘10: Lunar Eclipse at 4 Capricorn 46
11 July ‘10: Total Solar Eclipse at 19 Cancer 23
21 December ’10: Total Lunar Eclipse at 29 Gemini 20
4 January ’11: Solar Eclipse at 13 Capricorn 38
1 June '11: Solar Eclipse at 11 Gemini 01
15 June '11: Total Lunar Eclipse at 24 Sagittarius 23
1 July '11: Solar Eclipse at 9 Cancer 12
24 November '11: Solar Eclipse at 02 Sagittarius 36

10 December '11: Total Lunar Eclipse at 18 Gemini 10
20 May '12: Solar Eclipse at 00 Gemini 20
4 June '12: Lunar Eclipse at 14 Sagittarius 13


Working with Eclipses:

If you feel strongly affected by any of these Eclipses, it might help to go a bit further and work with the energy of the Eclipses and see how they fit into your personal astrological cycles.

You will find that the most potent Eclipses for you personally are those that fall in very close proximity, by sign and degree, to planets and points in your natal horoscope. Personally, I only consider Eclipses which make tight (within 2 ½ degrees or less of orb) Conjunction, Square and Opposition aspects with natal planets and points. You can safely ignore the Trines, Sextiles and the minor aspects and many astrologers don’t even bother with the Squares, but I think they are worth considering.

Also bear in mind that astrological measurements tend to symbolize the processes and journeys of our lives and these processes take time to develop. For this reason, life ‘events’ rarely happen on the exact date of an astrological measurement, so when considering the effect of an Eclipse on your natal chart cast your net wide, by perhaps looking back three months before the Eclipse and a few weeks after. You may find that nothing actual ‘happens’ as such, but the Eclipse reflects an inner emotional or psychological process.

Here are a few keywords for working with Eclipses: endings; new beginnings; new chapters in life; the need to release/let go/cut cords emotionally, or in specific areas of your life; events and feelings coming to a head.

The Eclipse will express itself in terms of the sign in which it falls. For example, Aquarius is to do with community, friends, innovation, detachment; Cancer is to do with mothers, nurturing, domestic matters, feeling safe; Capricorn speaks about tradition, authority, ambition, the administration of life and Leo is all about pride, creativity, confidence, being loved and appreciated.

Eclipses will also express themselves in terms of the planet or points they aspect in your natal chart. For example an Eclipse on your Venus may be about your relationships, your assets, your social reach, your self esteem, how you give and share with others. With Mars it is about where and how you channel your energy; issues around assertiveness or aggression or issues around sexuality. For the Midheaven (MC) it will be about career; vocation; your social standing and status; the authority figures in your life.

However, when looking at the way an Eclipse affects you, don’t get too hung up on making your experiences ‘fit’ the key words, these are just prompts, what really matters most is your own, personal, unique experiences.

Below are three methods of looking at Eclipses that you might find helpful and illuminating.


The 19 Year Eclipse Cycle:

An Eclipse falls at the same degree of the Zodiac once every 19 years, giving us the opportunity to review the longer cycles of our lives, to look at the bigger picture.

For example, the Solar Eclipse of 22nd July 2009 fell on my IC Angle (therefore opposing my career Angle, the MC). Looking back 19 years, the 22nd July 1990 Eclipse fell at the same point. This corresponded with me starting my first job following graduation. Looking back over the years at my career progress I feel disappointed that I didn’t follow and fulfil the dreams I had in my heart back then. However, these dreams have recently re-awakened, causing stress and upheaval, but ultimately giving me an opportunity to release the dreams of my youth and reinvent them, with the benefit of maturity and experience.

To find out what this year’s Eclipses say about the bigger picture of your life, pick those Eclipses that touched planets and points in your chart very closely, then reflect on what was happening in your life 19 years previously to see if there is any connection. Were big changes occurring then? Are they related in any way to what is happening now? If you are very young, look at what was happening in your general family life, with your parents or siblings, for clues.

Looking at the Eclipses this way, can help you recognise recurring patterns in your life and show you how much progress you have made or where you have fallen off track.

Below is a list of recent and upcoming Eclipses and their corresponding Eclipses 19 years earlier:

22nd July 2009: Solar Eclipse at 29 Cancer 26
Corresponding Solar Eclipse at 29 Cancer 03 on 22nd July 1990

6th August 2009: Lunar Eclipse at 13 Aquarius 43
Corresponding Lunar Eclipse at 13 Aquarius 51 on 6th August 1990

31 December ’09: Lunar Eclipse at 10 Cancer 14
The corresponding Full Moon at 9 Cancer 49 on 31 December 1990 was not eclipsed, but this Full Moon can still be used as a reference point.

15 January ’10: Solar Eclipse at 25 Capricorn 01
Corresponding Solar Eclipse at 25 Capricorn 20 on 15 Jan 1991

26 June ‘10: Lunar Eclipse at 4 Capricorn 46
Corresponding Solar Eclipse at 4 Capricorn 59 on 27 June 1991

11 July ‘10: Total Solar Eclipse at 19 Cancer 23
Corresponding Solar Eclipse at 18 Cancer 58 on 11 July 1991

21 December ’10: Total Lunar Eclipse at 29 Gemini 20
Corresponding Lunar Eclipse at 29 Gemini 02 on 21 December 1991

Transits to Eclipse Degrees:

Tracking Transits to the Eclipse degrees is a tried and tested method used in Mundane astrology to predict events and changes in the fortunes in the horoscopes of countries and their leaders.
This method also works well with natal astrology. If an Eclipse fell on a planet or point in your chart, that planet or point will be supercharged and will be susceptible to the effects of the next planet which transits it.

For example, in September 2007, a Solar Eclipse fell at 18 degrees of Virgo, exactly conjunct my natal Uranus-Pluto conjunction. This was a happy time for me, I had just got engaged and was busy planning my wedding, but all was not well with my job. My boss had moved on and I had a new boss who I found it difficult to communicate with and who I felt did not value my contribution, but with so much happiness around me elsewhere it was easy to put the difficult work situation to one side, which I did, for too long! Then, in October 2008, transiting Saturn in Virgo made a conjunction to Uranus-Pluto, the first hit of three and I was laid off from my job. This was a very difficult and painful process, but I am now very happy in a new job and can see that the change needed to happen. It now seems clear to me that the Eclipse at 18 degrees Virgo in 2007, falling on my Uranus-Pluto, was the start of the process of losing my job, especially as Uranus and Pluto rule my 6th and 10th houses respectively, the houses associated most closely with work. Because I didn’t follow the loud and strong cues from the Universe to leave my job willingly (underlined by Transiting Uranus also opposing Uranus-Pluto) it took Saturn to finally oust me from the job. The whole process since (during Saturn’s 2nd and 3rd hits) has been about letting go of the old way of working, so I can succeed in a new career.

An Eclipse as Part of a Moon Family:

Astrologer Dietrech J Pessin discovered that all lunations, including Eclipses, form part of a family of related lunations. She found that every New Moon starts a new family cycle, consisting of a New Moon phase, a First Quarter Moon phase, a Full Moon phase and a Last Quarter Moon phase, with each lunation occurring in the same sign and approximate degree, nine months apart, the whole cycle covering a period of 2 ½ years.

A Moon family which aspects your natal horoscope closely is worth following, as the Moon phases of the family will most often reflect patterns in your own life development.

See Dietrech Pessin’s website, Lunar Shadows, for details of the current Moon Family.

From this page you can also click on a link that describes what each of the Moon phases mean.

As an example, the 7th July 2009 Lunar Eclipse at 15 Capricorn (a Full Moon phase) was the peak of a Moon family which began with the Capricorn New Moon at 17 Capricorn in January 2008, continued with the First Quarter Moon at 14 Capricorn in October 2008 and concludes at the Last Quarter Moon at 16 Capricorn in April 2010. This Moon family will particularly affect Capricorns born between 4th and 8th January and Cancerians born between 6th and 10th July, as well as people who have other planets or angles between 13 and 18 Capricorn or Cancer.

Dietrech’s book Lunar Shadows, available from her website, contains details of all the Moon Family’s as well as details of all Eclipses and comes highly recommended.

Other books on Eclipses that I would recommend are Eclipses by Celeste Teal and Predictive Astrology by Bernadette Brady.

I hope you find the process of working with Eclipses useful and illuminating. Leave a comment if you have any individual questions or stories to share.

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Obama & The Aquarius Lunar Eclipse

On 5th August (in US time zones) and 6th August (European time zones), we experience the third and final Eclipse of the season, a Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius. During a Lunar Eclipse, the Moon has completed the exact half way point of her monthly circuit around the Zodiac and is in an opposition with the Sun, the position of the Full Moon. The Full Moon is usually the brightest and fullest of times, when the Goddess is in her incarnation of the fertile mother. However, this month, as the Sun and Moon face each other off, the Moon passes behind the Earth, where she can’t receive the energizing rays of the Sun. At her ripest time she is Eclipsed.

The Lunar Eclipse, therefore, is a time of deadlines and endings, a time to let go of stubborn ideas and worn out attachments, a time to play out the themes of the Leo-Aquarius opposition.
The Leo-Aquarius axis symbolizes the need to balance the individual need for personal gain and acclaim with the collective responsibility to abide by rules set to benefit all of society (and if you think that following rules is not very Aquarian, pause to remember that Aquarius’ ancient ruler is none other than stern father Saturn).

Aquarius will never deny Leo’s right to be king, but will absolutely insist that the king serves his people with integrity and honesty. Teamwork and delegation of authority is everything to Aquarius and selfish greed is just not acceptable. Aquarius teaches that ultimately it is through serving the group, the community, the team, our friends, that we gain the honour and significance that is so crucial to Leo.

Conversely, Leo teaches Aquarius that sometimes you have to take the lead if the cause is important enough. Somebody has to stand up for the masses, rebel against the status quo and shake the system up, if there is to be any chance of a lasting change for the better and what better than Aquarian energy to do this!

That this Eclipse occurs the day after Barack Obama’s birthday and falls on his Sun in Leo can be no coincidence! In fact, the Leo-Aquarius axis is very prominent indeed in his horoscope and his mission is surely to be an influential catalyst for these themes.

Obama has Aquarius rising and Jupiter in Aquarius, with Sun, Mercury and Uranus in Leo in the public-seeking Western hemisphere of his chart. The karmic, lesson-giving nodal axis also falls across Leo-Aquarius in Obama’s chart. (4th August 1961, 7.24pm, Honalulu, Hawaii - the chart is posted below).

“Yes We Can” – is such a wonderfully positive Leo-Aquarius refrain, so let’s hope that that the fervor of the election spirit is revived and put to beneficial use, following this Eclipse time.

On a personal level, look for help from the significant groups to which you belong (your community, your team, your friendship circle etc) during this Lunar Eclipse for clues about what might need to be released in your life right now, then seize your power, remembering to act in a way that will benefit the group, whilst still honouring your own unique, highly individual needs.

Mercury, who moved into discriminating, rational Virgo on 2nd August, will be there to assist in this process and a helpful aspects to Pluto on the 3rd will make it easier to think deeply, weigh up the pros and cons and make level headed decisions. Additionally, on the 10th, a hard working square between Mars and Saturn will give you the energy and resolve to follow through.

This Eclipse, at 13 degrees and 43 minute of Aquarius will affect Aquarians born between 31st January and 4th of February and Leos born between 3rd and 7th August, as well as as well as people who have other planets or angles between 11 and 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius. Additionally, any planet or point at 11 through 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius will be activated by the August 6th Lunar Eclipse.

If you do not know your chart and want to see if the Eclipse is in close contact with your chart, you can quickly and easily download a free birth chart from http://www.alabe.com/ which also includes a basic interpretation.

If you want to go deeper, please also see my article Working with Eclipses, for information on how to work with Eclipses which closely aspect your natal horoscope.

Mandi Lockley's Astroair Astrology: articles, details of consultations at: http://www.mandilockley.com/

August Astrology: The People's King

THE POWER OF THE DARK GODDESS

Over the last couple of months I’ve been writing a lot about the need for us as individuals and for the world, to acknowledge the power of the feminine, Ying energies and bring them into balance with the masculine, Yang energies. It feels like its time for women to seize their power and for both sexes to respect and embody those qualities associated with the feminine, such as compassion, gentleness, yielding, giving to others and nurturing. The world sorely needs this.

I sense that these issues came to a head, in a very personal way for many of us, during the July 22nd Total Solar Eclipse. A Solar Eclipse is a very special New Moon, a dark Moon phase which plunges the Sun into darkness with it. The Moon’s special mission, in her incarnation as the dark Goddess, was to guide the Sun through the dark minutes of the longest Eclipse of the 21st Century. That the Sun and the Moon were at the very last degree of the sensitive, receptive, feminine sign of Cancer, underlines the urgency of the mission.

How many of you felt relief the day after the Solar Eclipse? I for one felt a sense that, after all the stress in the build up, the path was re-set and all was as it should be.


OUT OF DARKNESS, COMETH LIGHT

This relief, I’m sure, was partly because the day after the Eclipse the Sun emerged out of the darkness and into the majestic sign of Leo. In Leo, the sign of its rulership, the Sun is in a place of splendour and dignity, like the great Sun God Ra sailing across the heavens in his sky boat, powerful and glorious.

With the Sun in Leo, our hearts are warmed and we feel hopeful and optimistic, magnanimous and generous. But following his journey through the underworld, the Sun King carries with him a renewed understanding of the power of the Goddess. He must understand that his Leonine generosity should truly help others and not merely be used to boost his popularity, that as King his power should be used responsibly to serve and benefit his people. He must learn that he is his people’s servant, not the other way around. This is also the lesson that Aquarius brings to Leo and it becomes a major theme for August. It is a lesson that we as individuals, as well as the politicians, leaders and bosses who represent us, would do well to absorb.

That the Leo-Aquarius axis is very prominent in the horoscope of Barack Obama is no coincidence. Obama has Aquarius rising and Jupiter in Aquarius, with Sun, Mercury and Uranus in Leo in the public-seeking Western hemisphere of his chart. The karmic, lesson-giving nodal axis also falls across Leo-Aquarius in Obama’s chart. (4th August 1961, 7.24pm, Honalulu, Hawaii).

“Yes We Can” - what a wonderfully positive Leo-Aquarius refrain!

ECLIPSED AGAIN

As early as 6th August, we are reminded that our hero the Sun will never be done with Lady Luna, when they meet again during the Eclipsed Aquarius Full Moon. The Moon has completed the exact half way point of her monthly circuit around the Zodiac and is in an opposition with the Sun, the position of the Full Moon. The Full Moon is usually the brightest and fullest of times, when the Goddess is in her incarnation of the fertile mother. However, this month, as the Sun and Moon face each other off, the Moon passes behind the Earth, where she can’t receive the energizing rays of the Sun. At her ripest time she is Eclipsed.

The Lunar Eclipse, therefore, is a time of deadlines and endings, a time to let go of stubborn ideas and worn out attachments, a time to play out the themes of the Leo-Aquarius opposition.
The Leo-Aquarius axis symbolizes the need to balance the individual need for personal gain and acclaim with the collective responsibility to abide by rules set to benefit all of society (and if you think that following rules is not very Aquarian, pause to remember that Aquarius’ ancient ruler is none other than stern father Saturn).

Aquarius will never deny Leo’s right to be king, but will absolutely insist that the king serves his people with integrity and honesty. Teamwork and delegation of authority is everything to Aquarius and selfish greed is just not acceptable. Aquarius teaches that ultimately it is through serving the group, the community, the team, our friends, that we gain the honour and significance that is so crucial to Leo.

Conversely, Leo teaches Aquarius that sometimes you have to take the lead if the cause is important enough. Somebody has to stand up for the masses, rebel against the status quo and shake the system up, if there is to be any chance of a lasting change for the better and what better than Aquarian energy to do this!

On a personal level, look for help from the significant groups to which you belong (your community, your team, your friendship circle etc) during this Lunar Eclipse for clues about what might need to be released in your life right now, then seize your power, remembering to act in a way that will benefit the group, whilst still honouring your own unique, highly individual needs.
Mercury, who moves into discriminating, rational Virgo on 2nd August, will be there to assist in this process and a helpful aspects to Pluto on the 3rd will make it easier to think deeply, weigh up the pros and cons and make level headed decisions. Additionally, on the 10th, a hard working square between Mars and Saturn will give you the energy and resolve to follow through.

This Eclipse, at 13 degrees and 43 minute of Aquarius will affect Aquarians born between 31st January and 4th of February and Leos born between 3rd and 7th August, as well as as well as people who have other planets or angles between 11 and 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius. Additionally, any planet or point at 11 through 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius will be activated by the August 6th Lunar Eclipse.

If you do not know your chart and want to see if the Eclipse is in close contact with your chart, you can quickly and easily download a free birth chart from http://www.alabe.com/ which also includes a basic interpretation.

If you want to go deeper, please also see my article Working with Eclipses, for information on how to work with Eclipses which closely aspect your natal horoscope. http://www.mandilockley.com/working_with_eclipses.html


IDEALISM, HOPE AND HEALING

Between 13th and 18th August the Sun in Leo meets the Aquarius energies head on again, this time when he opposes the current and rare Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron triple conjunction.
Hope and idealism are fine keywords for both Jupiter and Neptune and healing is a reliable keyword for Chiron. But we must also remember that with Neptune we are also in the world of scandals and deception, a nebulous place where nothing is ever quite what it seems and our physical and emotional boundaries can easily crumble. This is also the space where Chiron brings his healing through pain and suffering. At worst, Jupiter exaggerates and spreads the negative affects of Neptune and Chiron, but at best, Jupiter will also boost their most positive expressions.
During this triple conjunction, we have already seen the swift spread of the Swine Flu outbreak and the media and government reaction in the UK, which has been vastly overblown and disproportionate in many people’s opinion (which is not to belittle the suffering of those affected of course). The MPs expenses scandal in the UK is another example of the effects of this conjunction, especially when viewed in the wider context of the ongoing Saturn-Uranus oppositions.

On a personal level, while we may feel invigorated by the energies of the Sun in Leo, and relieved to have let go of some of our old ‘stuff’ during the Lunar Eclipse, we may still be licking our wounds and mourning what we have lost, for even in negative emotions, relationships and situations, we feel the comfort of habit and inevitably miss them when they are gone. Such is the human condition.

Jupiter, Saturn and Chiron are currently all Retrograde (in apparent backward movement). In fact, any planet that opposes the Sun will always be Retrograde (except the Moon, which is not strictly a planet of course). This means that whenever the Sun opposes a planet, it provides us with a counterpoint, an opportunity to view things from a different perspective. So, during mid-August it might be wise to review the last few months and make adjustments as necessary. Are your old hopes and dreams still appropriate, or even possible? From this fresh perspective, are your recent disappointments really as bad as they once seemed? Has the healing process reached the point where you can finally let go of past hurts? Mars’ square to Uranus on the 19th August, will provide the energy boost needed to make the necessary changes following your review.

The Sun opposite Jupiter-Saturn-Chiron will particularly affect Leos born between 13th and 18th August; Aquarians born between 9th and 15th February; Taureans born between 11th and 17th May and Scorpios born between 12th and 18th November.


PLANTING IN THE DARK

On 20th August, fresh off the back of the Sun’s opposition with Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron, the Moon joins the Sun once again for a new Moon, carrying the themes which came up in the preceding week and taking them inwards for assimilation. You may be unclear on what is next for you, in the dark about what lies ahead on your path. However, the seeds planted now, must germinate in the dark, we cannot yet know the outcome. But, in the spirit of Leo, be sure to plant your seeds with pride and creativity, confident that one day, like the great God Ra, they will find the Sun.

On 22nd August, the Sun moves into exacting, discriminating Virgo, where, by mid September he will add his energy to the third exact hit of the long-running Saturn-Uranus oppositions on September 15th.

More on that and on all the other major aspects during the Sun’s passage through Virgo in my next article/blog. In the meantime, enjoy the Sun’s passage through bright Leo and don’t forget to wear your shades if things get too bright.

I offer personal consultations, based on your time, place and date of birth. If you are interested, email me at mandi@mandilockley.com or see my website at http://www.mandilockley.com/

July: Eclipsed, Bewildered and Bewitched

Hello, I'm an astrologer, my name is Mandi


I have just this minute set up this new blog!


I have lots of cool content on my website at http://www.mandilockley.com/ & will from now on post all my astro-rambles on here as well.


Here's my piece about astrology for July - an eclipse month - enjoy!


July is Eclipse season, bringing with it some powerful energies. This blog is my astrological and personal take on what these energies symbolise and how they might be worked with at this special time. I hope you enjoy it.


July sees two Eclipses, a Lunar Eclipse on 7th July and a Solar Eclipse on 22nd July. An Eclipse is a special kind of New Moon or Full Moon, occurring when the Earth, Sun and Moon align. During a Lunar Eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, temporarily blocking the reflected light of the Moon and during a Solar Eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, blocking out the light of the Sun. Eclipses are most dramatic events to observe, as those lucky enough to have witnessed a Total Eclipse of the Sun or watched on a clear night as the Moon disappeared behind the shadow of the Earth will verify. However, you do not need to directly experience an eclipse for its symbolism to reflect in your personal experiences. The old adage as above, so below, stands firm.


That said it is very difficult to predict exactly what will happen when an eclipse touches your personal astrological chart. Their effects are sometimes exciting, sometimes stressful, often passing by without having any sort of obvious effect at the time, only to manifest as an event some weeks later. In most general terms though, eclipses represent endings, times when the light goes out and something is taken away, creating a space for something new to germinate safely in the temporary darkness.

Looking at the two eclipses for July, rather than try to make predictions about what they might mean for a particular birth sign, I will focus more generally on what energies are passing out and ending, what each eclipse brings in terms of its energies and how we might positively and consciously work with them.


The first Eclipse of the season is a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on 7th July. The Moon, at 15 degrees of Capricorn opposes the Sun in Cancer. During a regular Full Moon, the Moon is at her brightest and under her light we can’t hide, truths are exposed, but during a lunar eclipse her light is blocked by our very own ‘mother-ship’, the Earth, so lady Luna is cast into shadow. But what can this mean?

In my blog of 31st May, June Astrology: Scandals, Healing & The Power of the Feminine http://www.mandilockley.com/monthly%20astrologya.html I discussed the energies symbolised by the Summer Solstice, the need to find a powerful, fresh perspective and respect for feminine values and described how so many of us have lately felt the need to take a break from our path to rest, recuperate and heal. Now, however, during this Eclipse, the masculine, yang energies, symbolised by the practical, down to earth Capricorn Moon are coming in, pushing us back into the world of ambition, progress and action.What should we do? Leave our cosy, comfortable places and jump back in there? Well, yes and no.



Yes, because we must now leave our protective nests and no, because as we venture out once again we must hold within us the energies of the soft, yielding, receptive, nurturing spaces we have created during our retreat. This is important, because we will surely face the shadow sides of both Cancer and Capricorn and must approach them with compassion.

The shadow side of Cancer is needy, over-protective and emotionally manipulative. Nothing new can be learnt from this position. Rather, the emotions become stagnant and turn in on themselves, with ever diminishing returns. The shadow side of Capricorn is rigid, over-structured and cold. Making progress in the so-called ‘real’ world is the only thing that matters, integrity and taking responsibility for our actions go out of the window.


In the shadow side of both signs, the world is a harsh, difficult, dangerous place. In this expression of the two signs, the energies can’t flow naturally, they are blocked and squashed and transmuted into something which can harm rather than heal and we are locked in a compulsive pattern of doing what we feel we need to do in order to ‘survive’.


During this time, we should seek to express the higher expressions of both signs and thus find a space where we feel truly safe because we have already been through the dark and we are no longer afraid. It is a space where we can nurture ourselves and others, where the healing waters of our emotions run crystal clear and where we are willing to serve with integrity and discipline and administrate progress through responsible action and the right use of our emotional and material resources. In essence, Cancer and Capricorn really are two expressions of the same energies, constantly flowing towards and away from balance, an eternal dance of opposition and harmony.

By holding and grounding these energies in balance, we can each, in our way, create a vessel to positively carry forward the current planetary energies, energies which seem to be prompting us ever more urgently to move towards a world of equality, fairness, responsible individual freedom, cooperation and community.


The second eclipse of July is a New Moon Solar Eclipse. This Eclipse is set to be a powerful one for a couple of reasons. The first is that it is the second of two Cancer New Moons this year, an unusual event, the first being the Cancer New Moon of 22nd June, at the Solstice.The second reason is that this Eclipse takes place in the very last degree of the sign of Cancer. The last degree of any sign is known as the critical degree and any astrological alignment at one of these degrees feels urgent and incredibly intense.


In Cancer, the intensity of this eclipse will revolve around the urgent addressing of imbalances between the masculine and the feminine energies, between home and family life and work and material concerns and between our own very personal inner work and our busy outer lives. It is in following the energy of these themes that we will continue the work we began at the Solstice in June and grounded at the Lunar Eclipse of 7th July.


This Solar Eclipse, then, will mark a time to move forward with those energies and themes and begin to manifest a balance of polarities out in the conscious world. If you plant such seeds at this Solar Eclipse, fearlessly, in the darkness, they will most surely grow into the light, flower and bear fruit. As ever, follow your own truth and trust your intuition to guide your next move.


In Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and the Lark, Bernadette Brady describes how each Solar Eclipse belongs to a particular family of Eclipses, known as a Saros Series, which produce an eclipse once every 18 years. The themes of the Saros Series to which the 22nd July 2009 Eclipse belongs are described by Brady as follows: “This family of eclipses is concerned with the need to make sudden reforms. Old ideas or methods will fail and new systems are required”.


This is very telling when considered against the current world economic and social climate, especially when we remind ourselves that while the series of Saturn-Uranus oppositions which began in 2008 are in abatement, they are by no means over, with the third of five exact oppositions coming in September.


Saturn opposite Uranus is a wake-up call measurement, powerfully symbolising the need to end the old ways of doing things, inevitably disrupting the status quo to make way for new, fair, inclusive values by which to run our individual lives and structure our world, values which will take us boldly into the Age of Aquarius. Remembering that the first Saturn-Uranus conjunction of this series coincided exactly with the election of Barack Obama provides some clue to the energies of this measurement.Until September though, there remains, as reflected by the ongoing Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction, a wonderful opportunity for all gentle souls, poets, spiritual seekers, visionaries and teachers to re-group and heal and in so doing to process, hold, ground, balance and express the intense energies of this July’s Eclipses.


May your dance be a merry one.

http://www.mandilockley.com/