Saturday, August 29, 2009

Global Changes Astrologically Speaking

I mentioned over the last couple of weeks that we were likely to see many important and serious events connected with the earth, people, politics and the economy. There were four tropical storms in the Caribbean and the Atlantic, there was a devastating typhoon in Taiwan, forest fires in California and in Australia and earthquakes in Japan. The Neptune conjunct Jupiter caused great sadness with the death of yet another Kennedy in the space of one month. This time it was Edward Kennedy, a very significant senator in US history. Financially, President Obama announced the re-appointment of Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. This was a well-timed decision as the markets needed assurance and consistency and this appointment produced that result.

There are no major changes until Mercury goes retrograde on September 6th. This lasts through September 29th and this potentially will have a great impact due to the fact that Saturn is in direct opposition to Uranus on September 15th. This also coincides with the one-year anniversary of economy panic around the world.

When Saturn makes its third opposition to Uranus on September 15th we are likely to see more huge changes and upheavals. Let’s look at what happened on the previous two occasions. The first was on November 4th 2008 as the United States elected a new president. The second passage was on February 5th 2009 and the stock market at that time was on a major cycle crest. In both cases the Dow Jones Index dropped over 2000 points within the next 3-4 weeks. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the pattern will repeat again this time, but it is best to be forewarned.

This opposition could be most significant because there is a new moon on September 17th-18th which will conjunct Saturn. The new moon may coincide with a sense of building something constructive and long-lasting. But what exactly is being built especially as Mercury is retrograde? What kinds of decisions are being made? Last year, after the September 15th full moon and start of the crisis, Mercury went retrograde and the TARP programmes were passed by Congress and the White House and then had to be altered over and over again. This is typical of a Mercury retrograde cycle. Government leaders need to be careful about rushing into decisions before the time is ripe. The new moon and Saturn in Virgo, the sign of health may indicate that issues of health care and insurance reform proposals will be at the forefront.

On a more personal level, while Mercury is retrograde here are a few tips:
Avoid:
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

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Death in Astrology

During the course of my week as a professional astrologer, I am often asked about whether I see death in a chart. Here are a few pointers that I consider, however, each case is distinct and must be taken as a whole. It is not enough to look at the natal chart – you need to take into account the transits and the progressions. Sometimes death can be seen in a chart, but it is not necessarily physical death – it can mean the end of an old life and the opening up of a new life.

The eighth house in the natal chart rules all things usually hidden, sex, death, and taxes. Since it rules "other people’s money" it has rulership over inheritance, insurance, and joint monies between spouses and/or business partners. If there are no planets in your natal eighth house, you look to the ruler of the cusp of the 8th house and note its condition by aspect, sign, and house placement in your chart.
If the Sun and Moon have challenging aspects with Mars, Saturn, Uranus, or Pluto, there may be a short life. Others with less challenging aspects will have a life of medium length. A well aspected Saturn is an indicator of a long life. But there have to be other supporting aspects to fulfill this promise. It is important to remember that length of a life does not necessarily correlate soul advancement. Some people start out awkward and crusty and just get more awkward and crustier with age!

Before the three outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered, Saturn was the indicator of death. Saturn constricts and restrains. Saturn rules the religions that are full of a lot of "Thou shalt nots..."

Saturn slows down any process, especially the process of the use of energy by your physical body. Therefore if Saturn is involved, it can indicate a slow death due to a long illness. The soul usually has time to prepare for the exit. This is normally an expected death, therefore the native has time to say good-bye and to better prepare for the soul’s journey. What sign Saturn is in your natal chart indicated what part of the body is the weakest. The parts of the body that rule the signs in square and opposition to your natal Saturn will also cause health problems. The movement of the planets through the sky and how they aspect the planets in your natal chart are very important in matters of health.

Mars having challenging aspects in a chart can indicate accidents and wounds by gunfire, knives, or any sharp instrument. Mars is most dangerous when in difficult aspect (conjunct, square, or opposition) to Uranus. Uranus is sudden events, like lightning striking. Uranus is unexpected and often involves automobiles, planes and trains. The soul will exit the body very quickly and suddenly when Uranus is involved.

Neptune with difficult aspects can indicate alcoholism or damage by drugs. Neptune is associated with a slowly wasting disease or condition. It can indicate the wrong medicine given by a doctor. It is the planet associated with the sea, therefore death by drowning. Neptune is also prominently aspected during earthquakes.

Please note, this is not a definitive list, and each case must always be examined on its own merit.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Uranus, Mars and Jupiter - what lies ahead this week and beyond?

This next week is going to be one of the most volatile we have seen for a long time. Why? Mars, Jupiter and Uranus are making powerful aspects to one another and anything involving these three planets is very unpredictable and often painful. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, terrorist activity, aviation disasters and electric cuts have happened during similar combinations of these planets. Last week there was a typhoon in Taiwan that killed over 100 people, two earthquakes in Asia and wildfires in California. On August 18th-19th Mars will square Uranus which can be very dangerous and affect the safety of people around the world.

We are currently in a Saturn/Pluto waning phase between 2001-2020. Historically this is a time when, capitalist economies go from budget surplus to government deficits, accompanied by increased government spending, increased taxes, higher interest rates. When these policies take effect, there are more and longer-lasting recessions. If governments around the world want to change the historically trend, they need to start delivering policies that help put people back into employment so they add to the government’s tax income, instead of take from it.

Another way to change the course we are on would be for corporations to take much more social and ethical responsibility. We are in a 30-year transit of Saturn through the signs of Virgo and Libra – the middle of the zodiac, and a sector in which financial disparities can often give rise to class warfare. In today’s world of high unemployment, there is huge resentment against corporate executives and bankers who receive pay and bonuses that are in excess of $10 million and in many cases, over $100 million. These compensation packages have been given even in spite of poor performance by corporate executives.

Pluto is now in Capricorn, 2008 through 2023. The unethical relationship between business, financial institutions and governments that has taken advantage of societies throughout the world and given rise to resentment and rage over the income disparity between the “haves” and “have nots,” is now due to collapse – unless business leaders become aware of their moral responsibility to their employees. Until that happens, this “so-called” economic recovery is not likely to produce the number of new jobs – and new taxpayers - needed to sustain economic growth for any period of time.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Michael Jackson's Astrology Chart

Michael Jackson’s life has involved great self-transformation. He had many surgeries to his face and was never quite satisfied with the way he looked. This is represented in his astrology chart by the conjunction of his Sun and Pluto in Virgo. He was meticulous, he worked very hard and he was an absolute perfectionist. He was always fine-tuning his life in one way or another and particularly his physical appearance. Sun conjunct Pluto also can indicate massive wealth as the 2nd House is the ruler of Pluto and also of Mars in the 8th House.

The conjunction of Pluto and Mercury in the 11th House would denote the huge amount of people who followed him regardless of the rumours and stories in the media.

Libra ascendant made him very artistic and creative with the conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune in his first house giving him an imaginative and visionary ability. This gives him a compassionate heart and a generous spirit. He gave much to charity.

Mars in the 8th House in Taurus gave him great sex appeal and probably stimulated the erotic content in his work.

Uranus conjunct Venus in the 10th House in Leo would show his unusual dance moves and his androgynous nature. This conjunction was square to Mars in the 8th House meaning that he was always at war with himself. He was a very defensive person who had a great deal of difficulty expressing himself to the public and setting appropriate boundaries in his life.

The Moon in Pisces in the 5th House shows a delicate and sensitive person with tremendous creativity. The Moon is square to Saturn which means that no matter how rich or successful he became, he always had to work very hard. This also shows loneliness and a feeling of being misunderstood. The Moon is quite alone in the chart making an opposition to the Sun – this shows that he felt quite isolated and abandoned during his life, despite his great following.

I am often asked whether it can be shown astrologically whether he was a paedophile or not. There are a few possibilities that I would like to share here:

Pluto is conjunct Mercury – Pluto represents the sexual force and Mercury symbolises youth, so this is a possible aspect. Mars is square to Mercury which shows sexual energy towards children possibly being misdirected. He did not know how to behave correctly around young people. Finally, the Moon opposite Pluto also would show that he had some kind of attraction to young people. So whilst the possibility exists it is not shows definitively in his chart.

Nothing much in the transits showed his passing and astrologers had to dig deeper to find the causes. Perhaps the most significant aspect is Progressed Mars in the 8th House square to Natal Pluto the ruler of death.

His contributions to the world of music and dance will live on and he is now freed from a life that was very painful physically, emotionally and financially for him over the past few years.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Pluto in Capricorn - update

The last time in history that Pluto was in Capricorn was in the 1760’s and 1770’s. This coincided with the foundation of America, the discovery of Australia and the lead up to the French Revolution. These were times of immense change, not unlike the huge turbulence we are experiencing now.

The USA’s Pluto return is in 2022 so it is likely that the process of transformation and regeneration will culminate at that time.

In August 2010, there are serious and conflicting vibrations with Saturn and Uranus opposing one another and squaring Pluto. This is going to mean a breakdown of social standards, a likely surge in violence around the world and the return of capital punishment in countries that have previously abolished it.

At the end of this year, Saturn goes into Libra and the crux of world politics will change. Unless there is fairness and equality in our systems for the masses, Saturn will force the breakdown of existing structures until integrity reigns once more.

Pluto is in Capricorn from 2008 to 2024 and the areas of life it rules are: government, currency, careers, engineers, coal and alternative energy, corporations, clocks, watches, time, financial services, gerontology, investment companies, nursing homes, businesses, offices, security systems, salt and underground tunnels. Pluto will take out and reorganise the above areas so you can expect to see a new world infrastructure, new banking systems, transformed governments, changes in the way we treat the elderly, alternative energy production, better use being made of scarce resources, a time of reining ourselves in and not spending or consuming beyond our means.

Pluto in Capricorn will bring earthquakes in areas not known for them. We are likely to see more volcanoes during 2010-2018 while Uranus is in Aries. This means that there will be much less security and people will be more fearful. On a personal level, it is time to rid yourself of debts and only to buy what you absolutely “need” and not just things you would like to have. We each have to take responsibility for our future and not expect governments to do it for us. This includes pensions and investments – we will have to become more financially literate and take control of our finances and our destiny.