THE ASTROLOGICAL WEATHER continues
to be incredibly stormy. Over the course of today and tomorrow, January
12 and 13, we are experiencing
the exact alignments between Saturn, Pluto, Mercury, the Sun, and
Ceres. We may be clearly aware of the effects of this planetary tornado
in our personal lives, or we may be feeling the tension more
empathically, through our heart connections with significant others, or
simply because we're all linked through mass consciousness.
At
times of overwhelm, our choices of what is important often become
clearer. And those who are facing the challenge of a literal storm in
their environment right now – whether floods, fires, or earthquakes – may be needing to quickly make decisions about what they want to pack and what can be
left behind.
For
those of us who are not in such critical times on the physical level,
we are likewise being compelled to consider what is most important, and
what can be discarded. It may be an attitude, a fear, or a way of
reacting that we sense is no longer needed, that is actually causing
more harm than good in our lives.
I MENTIONED last
week that we are in historical times. Saturn and Pluto represent the
principles of authority and power, respectively. When the two
planets align at the same degree of the zodiac, every 35 years or so, we
often see tensions rise between nations, or between peoples and their
governments. We also
see similar developments at other pivotal times in the Saturn-Pluto
cycle, when the planets are in hard aspect with each other.
To
follow the historical thread, personally and collectively, here are the
significant dates within the Saturn-Pluto cycle that ends today:
November-December 1982 (conjunction); March 1993-January 1994 (waxing
square); August 2001-May 2002 (opposition); and November 2009-August
2010 (waning square).
ALTHOUGH
we can point to significant global events that occurred around those
dates, they were also times of personal shifts for most of us. Saturn
and Pluto bring about circumstances – large or small –
that can feel overwhelming or fearsome, primarily
because they are outside our control. These situations may come through a
decision we make, such as moving to a new location or starting or
ending a relationship, or they may develop without our conscious
choosing.
One
of the higher purposes, now and each time that Saturn and Pluto
interact, is to help us find a new level of inner empowerment and
authority, one that is not defined by outer circumstances or even our
own habitual reactions. It can be hard not to crumble when life appears
to be falling apart – and, sometimes, the emotional or physical collapse
can be an essential step in the process. But, ultimately, we survive – and we can even thrive, if we allow ourselves to take that next step in personal empowerment and internal authority.
IN SPITE of
circumstances that may seem outside our control during this
Saturn-Pluto alignment, we always have a choice of where to put our
attention. We can dwell on that which raises fear in us, or we can dwell
on that which increases our capacity to love. An open heart is where
true empowerment and inner authority are
found.
Ceres
and Charilko can help us with that goal. These two planetary objects
are also aligned with the group of planets in Capricorn right now. Their
energies are intricately involved in what we are experiencing – it's just that it takes some effort on our part to hear their quieter voices, which are too easily drowned out by the
loud clangor of Saturn and Pluto.
The
dwarf planet Ceres represents our capacity to nurture, both ourselves
and others. As Earth Mother goddess, Ceres cares deeply for the Earth,
for children, for nature, and for animals. It is during times of
environmental crisis that Ceres' voice is the loudest. As she aligns
with Saturn and Pluto in responsible Capricorn, she calls us to
reprioritize our values, to put the security
and survival of our planet and its inhabitants at the top of our agenda.
CHARILKO is also empowered now, being just two degrees away from Saturn and Pluto. Named for the wife of Chiron, this centaur*
is seen as a supportive midwife for our process of healing. In her
research, astrologer Melanie Reinhart has found that Charilko has "a
gift for creating or holding sacred space, the ability to
witness and facilitate transition, the silent power of receptivity, and
the strength of Being."
With
the strength of Saturn and Pluto to support her, Charilko offers us
greater access to these qualities than we might have had before. Through
this alignment, we can more consciously hold the sacred space for a new
world to emerge from this time of transition. But first, we must become
the midwife who is not overwhelmed by the process of birth, but has
taken on the task of
facilitating it. As we come to center, soften the fear response, and
open our hearts, we gain clarity not only about what we most value, but
also about the kind of energy we want to contribute to the planet and
all life at this critical juncture.
MERCURY,
the Messenger Planet, is also part of the planetary lineup in
Capricorn. This means that communications are a strong theme now. Words
carry extra power, so be especially mindful of your intentions, as well
as how your spoken and written words might be interpreted. Our
motivations must be very clean, because we'll
quickly see the results of any missteps.
We might
think of this as being similar to a Mercury retrograde phase, when
caution is advised in all matters that involve the sharing of
information or ideas, especially if our words could be construed as
being judgmental (Saturn) or manipulative (Pluto).
CONFRONTATIONS are
possible this week, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday, when Mars is
in hard aspect to Pluto and Saturn. The exact square between Saturn and
disgruntled Eris occurs on Thursday, another indicator that tensions
could increase midweek.
However,
we can also feel some movement out of places where we've been stuck,
thanks to Mercury's shift into Aquarius, also on Thursday. In the
positive, Mercury in Aquarius can help us think outside the box, and
assists us in conceiving progressive ideas and solutions. But, we can
also be a little more scattered mentally, or impatient when things
aren't improving fast enough. That
tendency is increased on Saturday, when Mercury is in hard aspect to
Uranus. Next weekend could be a great time for brainstorming; we just
are advised to wait to implement any plans until we also check out their
practicality.
AND REMEMBER,
throughout this week and for the rest of January at least, how
important self-care is now. Whether we're aware of it consciously or it
is beyond our level of awareness, we are each navigating some truly
profound energy shifts.
Please
take the time to rest, to nurture yourself, and be likewise kind to
others. Know that as much stress as you are feeling, others are feeling
it, too. Be gentle, and allow your heart to guide your words and your actions. What "needs" to be said or done
immediately may not look as crucial after we've slept on it –
and, by the next day, when emotions are calmer, we may find it easier
to hear the soothing voices of Ceres and Charilko whispering in our ear.
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