Friday, November 27, 2009

Mars Retrograde - How Will it Affect Us?

On December 20th 2009, Mars reaches its retrograde station at 19 degrees Leo. This lasts until March 10th and will continue to be felt until Mars goes into direct motion on May 17th 2010. The fixed signs will probably feel this the most: Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius – but for those of you who are familiar with your own charts, look at any of the personal planets in fixed signs: the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars – if they fall around 19 degrees, they too will be affected by this upcoming Mars retrograde. Mars goes retrograde every two years and two months.

That’s the technical part. Now let’s take a look at how this might affect you on a personal level. During a Mars retrograde people’s thought patterns tend to become more introspective. Because Mars in Leo is generally fearless, independent, generous and honest in any dealings with other people, we can expect some dependence or even trickery and people in positions of responsibility or authority had better watch their backs during this period.

You may be required to draw on your strengths to assert yourself in some area where you have been reluctant or reserved in the past. You might need to find new ways to become empowered. During the retrograde you may be hyper-sensitive to disagreements, conflict and power issues. You may need to examine how you deal with aggression and power in your life. It is a great time to explore the issues that trigger a knee-jerk emotional reaction inside of you. It is about learning a healthy way to integrate and respond to aggression and fear.

If you do find yourself overwhelmed by powerful feelings of anger and aggression, it can be important to have a trusted person in whom you can confide. Don’t let your price or embarrassment stand in the way of reaching out for help and support if you are having a challenging time.

While Mars is retrograde it is a wonderful time to go within yourself and to plot out a course of action from where you are now to where you want to be, and then start to move towards it when Mars goes direct. During the retrograde, is it best to research, plan and go beneath the surface of whatever your situation is, before you actually take concrete steps in your new direction.

To summarise, here are the issues to examine:
How do you deal with aggression? Are you assertive enough? What are you afraid of? How can you move out of your comfort zone and feel empowered at the same time?

Friday, November 20, 2009

Saturn Square Pluto and other aspects - how will they affect us?

Do not expect security, consistency, and predictability during this time. Not only is Saturn coming to square Pluto, but Uranus will move into Aries, Saturn is still opposite Uranus, Jupiter is conjunct Neptune..... Your reality will change rapidly, so it is better to go with the flow, while staying aware of what is going on around you. Flexibility is one of the most important assets during this period. Imagine a huge wave forming…you can ride on that wave and go farther than you ever expected and experience a powerful transformation that can elevate you to new levels. But this wave can also destroy much of what you are currently attached to.

You may wish to redefine yourself in different fields. I have many clients who come to me who are dissatisfied with their current job and are looking to change vocation. There are those who know they need to move on in their relationships, others want to move location, to name but a few. New people will move into your life, current ones may leave. New ideas and projects will develop and you may feel inspired to completely reinvent yourself. This is an awakening: both globally and internally for everyone.

From November 2009 until August 2010, nothing will stay still. Try not to force everything to be “just right.” One thing is for sure, you will have to let go of your security during this time. It is a time for risk, reinvention, new ideas, new concepts, new vision, and the impetus to make it happen. Marriages may break, jobs and possessions may be lost, people may get sick, and at the same time, new relationships may be struck, new passions may be stirred, a completely new lifestyle is in the making...You are embarking on an adventure whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not. My suggestion: make peace with the idea, don’t resist the adventure. If you are accepting it, you will make the best of it. If you fight and resist it, you won’t come out on top.

Risking does not succumbing to every little possibility, it is about hearing a calling for truth…things you have denied, postponed, avoided, feared, but things you know are true. This is a time to be more truthful with yourself and listen to your inner voice.

More scandals will hit the news, corruption will be unearthed and brought out to the surface. Natural events will continue to shake the earth. On a personal level, last night, I was rudely awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of a truck driving into my house – it was a small earthquake about 40km away. At worst, a war may break during summer 2010 or later because these sudden changes can bring fear and conflict.

As you go through these changes, it is vital to take good care of your immune system. Try to eat healthily, avoid alcohol and mood-altering drugs, take exercise and don’t allow yourself to become negative. Be an ambassador of good and avoid wasting time in the weeds.

The world economy is unlikely to settle any time soon. The same will be true of your life – don’t get too concerned if you don’t get immediate answers. Be patient and keep on doing your best. You cannot rush these changes. This period is a great time for us to restructure our lives on both a personal and collective level.

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Aspects December 2009 - 2010

The two key aspects that are going to affect us all in one way or another are the Mercury retrograde from December 26th 2009 until January 14th 2010 and also the Mars retrograde from December 20th 2009 until March 10th 2010. Forewarned is forearmed so I thought I’d write about the possible effects of these retrogrades.

I have spoken at length about Mercury retrograde in the past but to summarise:

What to avoid during Mercury retrograde:
Signing legal documents
Closing big deals
Launching new projects
Scheduling meetings to make a big decision
Backup your hard drive before the retrograde
Avoid installing new computer software during the retrograde
Do needed repairs on machinery before the retrograde

It’s a good time to:
Do follow ups on a project already started
Complete a project already started
Research a new project thoroughly
Catch up on paperwork
Hold an information-sharing meeting

While Mercury goes retrograde between 3 and 4 times every year, Mars only goes retrograde on average every 2 years and 2 months. During this time, our approach to conflict, anger, assertiveness and taking action often requires rethinking and reassessing.

You may be required to draw on your strengths to assert yourself in some area where you have been reticent or cautious. The weakest links in your life may break apart or need to be repaired. You might need to find new ways in which to feel empowered. During the retrograde we tend to be much more sensitive to disagreement, conflict and power issues around us. For those of you who are already very sensitive to this – dear Librans and Pisceans in particular – you will feel this retrograde even more keenly.

You will need to examine what you do when you feel frightened – what are your automatic responses? Do you immediately run for cover or do you face your fears? Mars retrograde is a great opportunity to explore the deeper dynamics and issues that trigger intense reactions inside you.

The idea is to learn a healthy way to integrate and respond to aggression and fear. If you find yourself overwhelmed by feelings, passion or anger, it can be important to have a trusted person or mentor to whom you can confide in. Don’t let your pride, embarrassment or guilt get in the way of reaching out for support if you find you are having a hard time.

You may, on the other hand, find yourself inspired and motivated in new ways. Don’t let yourself be held back by inhibitions, expectations of others or past history. Mars motivation is a gift. However, don’t expect immediate results. Mars energy tends to move fast and gets frustrated easily if things don’t move along as quickly as they are planned. Find ways to keep your Mars energy occupied – either by physical activity or multi-tasking.

It’s a great time to plan a course from where you are now to where you want to be, and then start to move toward it when you feel ready. For new or long-term projects this is often best done after Mars goes direct. During the retrograde it’s best to research, plan and delve under the surface of whatever situation you are in before you actually take steps in your new direction.

This is a wonderful time for discovery and exploration of uncharted territory in your life. Think of yourself as a warrior, setting out to new horizons and experiences. It may be dangerous at times, but it sure is exciting!