NorthPoint Astrology Journal:  Your guide to planetary energies for September 5 to 11, 2016 By Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal 

Your guide to planetary energies for September 5 to 11, 2016 By Pam Younghans Highlighted Aspects this Week TUE: Sun trine Pluto WED: Venus sextile Saturn, Venus quincunx Neptune FRI: Jupiter enters Libra, Mercury quincunx Uranus SAT: Mercury opposite Chiron, Saturn square Neptune SUN: Venus square Pluto SATURN AND NEPTUNE have been competing for our attention and allegiance for almost a year now. Last November, we experienced the first of three stressful aspects between these two planets, setting the stage for many of the challenges we've been working with over the past 10 months. On the one hand, we have Saturn the Lesson-Bringer, who provides us with tests in our physical reality. While in Sagittarius, Saturn requires that we question our beliefs and our life philosophies. To help us fulfill this requirement, Saturn offers Tests of Faith that may evoke fear and uncertainty. To deal with these reactions, we must become stronger than our fears, and refine our understanding of how the Universe works. As we gain the strength required by this process, we begin to live a life of greater integrity, with a deeper understanding of the Physical Laws that govern events in this earthly reality. In living this way, aware of the limits of third-dimensional time and space, every moment of every day is infused with deeper meaning and purpose. ON THE OTHER HAND, we have Neptune the Mystic, whose desire is to open our hearts and minds to non-physical realms. Neptune loosens our attachment to form, with the intention of opening us to the unseen realities of the spirit and the heart. Neptune in Pisces helps us release our identification with old definitions of love, and opens us to new levels of compassion, forgiveness, and serenity. This release process helps us rise above old patterns that have kept us in roles of victim or martyr. When we emerge from Neptune's embrace, we are imbued with a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life, and of the Spiritual Laws that ultimately guide both the physical and nonphysical realms THE LAST of the three Saturn-Neptune squares occurs this Saturday (other squares occurred November 26, 2015 and June 17, 2016). This aspect marks the completion of a major phase in our development. Events since autumn of 2015 have provided the incentive for us to make major shifts in our understanding of how our physical and spiritual worlds intersect and interact. In the trials we have faced, we have had the opportunity to grow exponentially, both in how we take charge of our lives (Saturn) and how we partner with Spirit (Neptune). Perhaps the biggest challenge has been in deciding how to deal with the issues that have arisen. The temptation has been to dissolve into fear and victimization, to give up and believe that nothing will ever be right. But one of the greater intentions of this time has been to deepen our understanding of the role Spirit plays in our lives. As we relinquish our perception of what is ideal, we allow the Universe to manifest a better version of the ideal than we had imagined. This relaxation of fear allows us to trust that there are reasons for what is occurring. As we settle into this trust, we become aware that our job is to hold the highest vibration we can, so that we are in alignment with the higher Plan and support its unfolding. THIS SATURN-NEPTUNE SQUARE is the last phase of a larger "synodic" cycle that began in 1989, when the two planets aligned in Capricorn. That was the year that the Berlin Wall came down -- which makes it very interesting that some are now supporting the construction of another wall that would divide nations. It was also the year of the events in Tianenmen Square, when issues of human rights came into focus in a very profound way. Many human rights issues have come forward this past year, challenging us to take new approaches. 1989 was also the year of the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound in Alaska -- there is much discussion now about how fracking and other human-driven developments are affecting our beautiful planet. These are just some of the global events that occurred back in 1989. Each phase in a cycle between planets brings us back to some core issues. On personal levels, we also began a cycle at that time, and are being challenged to once again "raise our game" and our vibration. The last of the three squares between Saturn and Neptune is exact this Saturday, but we will continue to work with the influence of this aspect for a bit longer. Over the next few weeks, the tension of this square will gradually soften, and we will have a better idea of where we are in the aftermath. ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK, Jupiter finishes his journey through Virgo and enters Libra. Jupiter is the largest known planet in our solar system, and usually exaggerates both the positive and the negative traits of the sign it is transiting. We're completing a year in which Jupiter in Virgo has increased both our desire for improvement and our tendency to be critical and pessimistic. As Jupiter settles into Libra, we can hope to see a greater focus on the positive attributes of Libra, which include an ability to work cooperatively and fairly. However, we may also see an increase in some of the fall-back characteristics of the sign, such as the inability to make clear decisions or an over-dependence on agreement from others. IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This is a year of both empowerment and challenge. When you set your mind to a task or a goal, you have great energy and focus. However, you can also spend a lot of time worrying about your decisions and the validity of your ideas. Do your best to soften around the concerns that arise, neither ignoring them or letting them overwhelm you. When you soften and allow the worries to move through, they no longer prevent you from your chosen course. In peace, Pam   Copyright Pam Younghans 2016. All rights reserved.