NorthPoint Astrology Journal June 9 to 15, 2014 by Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal
June 9 to 15, 2014 by Pam Younghans


Highlighted Aspects  MON: Neptune retrograde 12:49pm PDT; WED: Neptune sesquisquare Jupiter; THU: Chiron sextile Venus, Saturn opposite Venus, Full Moon 9:11pm PDT, Chiron trine Saturn; SAT: Pluto square Mars


"WE SPOKE last week about Neptune starting its retrograde (backward) phase on Monday -- but it bears repeating that this week may feel especially foggy due to Neptune's strengthened influence. It may also be a time of of either heightened idealism or disillusionment, depending on how Neptune is working with your natal chart and what spiritual growth you are most needing right now.

We may see strongest manifestation of either side of that idealism-disillusionment spectrum on Wednesday, when Neptune and Jupiter have a bit of an energy clash. Jupiter in Cancer expands our sensitivity to others, but tends to see reality from the context of our human need for emotional soothing. Neptune in Pisces is dissolving old concepts of what it means to be "spiritual" -- and, in particular, is refining our understanding of love.

PISCES AND CANCER can work well together, both being based in caring for others. But the aspect between Jupiter and Neptune on Wednesday tells us that for the moment, the two perspectives are not in sync.

Perhaps it is the redefinition of love that Neptune is bringing forward, that Jupiter may have a hard time adjusting to. Our definition of love has often been equated with self-sacrifice and rescuing, and we think we are being the most caring when we feel ourselves what the other person is feeling.

The problem with these ideas is that self-sacrifice and rescuing are predicated on the need for the other person to be different. If we feel someone needs rescuing or we need to sacrifice something for them to be happy, we are actually telling them that they are not OK as they are, and that we don't trust them to be able to handle their situation.

AND, given what we know about energy and the law of attraction, if we take on a difficult emotion that another person is feeling, we do not help them to find their way out of that challenging place. It sounds uncaring to say "don't empathize" when someone is hurting, and we know from personal experience that it feels good when someone joins us in our anger or our opinions. We feel validated and are comforted that we are not alone.

But I think about the highly evolved humans that have lived or are living on the planet, and my guess is that none of them (at least on their better days!) spent much time trading stories about bad bosses, bad partners, or bad traffic.

A NEW DEFINITION of unconditional love tells us that "loving in all conditions" means we don't need others to to change for us to maintain our own well-being. It means that we do not try to rescue others from their situation, but that we expand our feeling of love and confidence about their ability to overcome their own challenges.

When we love unconditionally, we pay more attention to our loved one's shining ability to make their lives work than we do to fixing the problem for them. And, we shift our support from commiserating to holding our own thoughts and energy at as high a vibration as we can -- knowing that being in alignment ourselves is the greatest gift we can offer, and that diminishing our light does not help others expand theirs.

SATURN AND VENUS are on opposite sides of the zodiac on Thursday. Venus in Taurus would prefer to see only the beauty in our relationships, while Saturn in Scorpio makes sure we look honestly and openly at what may not be so pleasant to observe.

This tension is eased by Chiron, who forms flowing aspects with both Saturn and Venus during their stand-off. Chiron in Pisces provides the awareness that no matter what the conflict, we can trust in the unfolding of the issue, and that whatever comes to the surface now will ultimately provide an opportunity for healing.

THE FULL MOON, also on Thursday, is in Sagittarius, providing the insights and wisdom that will allow new directions and adventures to unfold in our lives. The Sabian symbol for the degree of the Full Moon echoes that theme:

    "A group of immigrants as they fulfill the requirements of entrance into a new country: Consciously accepting the ways of a new stage of experience, in readiness for the opportunities it will present."

Most of us feel that the experiences of this year have brought us to a "new country" in some respect. This Full Moon appears to be confirming that truth, and sheds light on this new stage of our lives so that we can more consciously participate in our next steps.

WE WILL REVISIT some of the themes from April's Cardinal Grand Cross next weekend, when Mars is once again square (90 degrees away from) Pluto. You may recall that Mars was actually retrograde during the exact grand cross -- a fact that may have altered or delayed some outcomes and new beginnings.

Now that Mars is moving forward and interacting with Pluto again, we are more supported in also going forward with the changes we have been anticipating. One caution, however: Remember that Mercury is now retrograde, and will be for the rest of June. This does not mean we can't take steps forward, but it does require plenty of deliberate, conscious thought so that we do not miss important details that could affect the success of our endeavors."