WE ARE THERE. This
is what I am calling "tornado week," the week that astrologers have
been talking and writing about for literally years. The lineup of
planetary events that occurs
over the next eight days is both spectacular and powerful.
(To
see the full list of this week's astrological events, scroll down to
the "Aspects of Note This Week" section of this newsletter. I've
included aspects that perfect next Monday, January 13, since the
energies of Sunday and Monday being so tightly linked.) [moved above]
There's
so much going on, it's a lot to digest all at once. I'll do my best to
break it down into manageable bites. All the same, you might want to get
a cup of your favorite beverage and sit down. We're going to be here a while.
WE'RE ALREADY FEELING many
of the influences, of course. Astrological aspects that involve
slower-moving planets can be in effect for months or even years.
Consider that an aspect such
the Saturn-Pluto alignment is like climbing a mountain. We're on the upward trail for a long time before we reach the peak – the date of the exact aspect. Then
we're on the downward trail for a long time as well.
We've
been climbing this particular Saturn-Pluto mountain for most of 2019.
Next Sunday, we reach the peak. The air is thinner here, and it can be
hard to catch our breath. We are reminded with each step how important
self-care truly is.
We
may need to stop often and just focus on breathing, slowly and deeply.
We must nourish our bodies and rest so that we have the strength we
need. We must also feed our minds positive thoughts so that we do not
become discouraged. And, we need to reach out and offer support to
fellow climbers who are struggling.
WHAT IS PERHAPS most
stunning about this week's long list of planetary aspects is that they
are almost all interrelated. With my apologies to those readers whose
eyes glaze over with too much astrology, here's an overview of why I'm
calling this "tornado week":
- Next Sunday, we have the long-awaited Saturn-Pluto alignment. When the two planets exactly align at 22°46′ Capricorn on Sunday, they are also tightly conjunct the Sun, Mercury, Ceres, and Charilko.
The Saturn-Pluto alignment only occurs every 35 years or so. To have
all the other planets also tightly involved makes this event extremely
rare.
- On Friday, the Lunar Eclipse occurs at 20°00′ Cancer, with the
Moon opposing all of those planets in Capricorn – and closely square both Eris in Aries and Juno in
Libra. At the same time, the Sun and Mercury are both in hard aspect to warrior Mars.
- Also on eclipse day, Eris and Uranus BOTH station direct.
The only big event not attached to these others, but highly significant on its own, is on Wednesday, when we have the exact Jupiter-South Node alignment.
THE BOTTOM LINE
is that we are at a pivotal time in human history. As the astrology
suggests, much is coming to a crisis point in 2020, and this first month
of the year is especially critical. We need only briefly scan global
and local headlines to see this manifesting.
It is impossible to process all that is occurring. This
is one of the ways that Pluto often works. It brings about situations
that are outside of our conscious control, so that we learn new ways of
managing our reactions. Through the experience, we find new levels of
inner strength. Plutonian
events shift our perspective and ultimately empower us, sometimes to
take action, but always to be in greater awareness of our own
capacities.
On
an individual level, if we are not dealing directly with a crisis right
now, it is important not to go into overwhelm. While there may be ways
in which we are drawn to respond outwardly, we can also make great
contribution by moving into center, into our hearts, holding a calm
space, and embodying the peace we want to see on the planet.
AT THOSE TIMES when
we feel powerless to control the outer world, we can always choose to
control our own energy field. When we do this, we add
much-needed, higher-frequency energies to the collective.
This
is not the same as avoidance or wishful thinking. This activity, when
done with conscious intention, can be even more powerful than physical
action. We might call it prayer. We might call it energy work. Whatever
term we use, we need that spiritual focus and energy now.
AS JUPITER aligns
with the South Node in Capricorn, it amplifies the ways in which
humanity is still guided by the dangerous belief that "might makes
right." We see decisions that are made from an outdated, authoritative
view of reality, one in which dominance and arrogance are
acceptable, and perhaps even admired.
Jupiter is holding the magnifying glass over these traits, wherever they are found. It shows
in exaggerated fashion what occurs when we approach life from the
stance that we can do whatever we want simply because we have the power
to do so. With the U.S. coming into its Pluto return, the nation is
seeing a great
challenge to the belief that it is above the law, untouchable, and
invulnerable.
But Jupiter also has a more palatable intention for 2020. As it journeys through Capricorn this year, Jupiter helps us aspire to and achieve the positive traits of the sign: a stronger conscience, and greater civility, integrity, humility, and honor.
FRIDAY
is an incredibly powerful day. Emotions are extremely high and the
tension is palpable. This is an especially crucial day for finding our
center of calm in the eye of the storm.
The Cosmic Plan that decided to have an eclipse at the same time as the Saturn-Pluto alignment – and for the alignment to be tightly implicated in the
eclipse itself – is
one to ponder. And then throw in all the other planets that are
involved ... We really do need to sit down to have a heart-to-heart chat
with the Cosmos.
I've
taken apart the Lunar Eclipse chart to help us wrap our brains around
everything that's involved in the event. Be sure to read the very last
item on this list, especially if you start to feel overwhelmed:
- Moon in Cancer: Heightened sensitivity and empathy. Feeling protective, perhaps defensive. Desire to hide, need for emotional security.
- Moon square Eris: Combativeness. The goddess who has been disregarded and belittled finds her voice, causing disruption.
- Moon square Juno: Alliances challenged. Disagreements between partners.
- Moon opposite Mercury: Communications affected (back up your computers). Travel disruptions. Information and disinformation. A war of words.
- Moon opposite Ceres: Separation anxieties, feeling isolated. Conflict between personal needs and needs of family or homeland.
- Moon opposite Saturn: Feeling cut off from emotional support. Need for increased self-care.
- Moon opposite Pluto: Passionate feelings. Emotions may be compulsive, reactive, obsessive.
- Moon opposite Charilko: Feeling
conflicted over needs for self-care and the desire to hold the space
for others and their healing. Remember the metaphor of putting on your
own oxygen mask.
- Moon trine Neptune: Our saving grace! See next paragraphs.
IN OUR CHAT with
the Cosmos, we need to include a prayer of gratitude for Neptune's
involvement in all of these astrological events. Neptune, currently in
Pisces, is in harmonious aspect to all of the planets we've just listed
for the eclipse chart. With Neptune trine the Moon and sextile all the
planets in Capricorn, it is providing a
release valve for the tension of those many oppositions.
Neptune's
influence enhances our ability to transcend the emotional reactivity of
these times. It allows us greater access to our intuition, creativity,
spiritual perspective, and connection to the Divine. It helps us rise
above the human drama, so that we might gain the vantage point of our
own Soul. It increases our sensitivity and compassion, qualities that
are greatly needed in our
world.
AS IF the eclipse and the alignments were not enough, there are two planets that station direct on eclipse day: Eris and Uranus. When a planet stations (comes to a standstill), its influence is magnified for at least a week on
either side of the date of its station.
Eris
was the goddess of strive and discord. She is credited with setting
events into motion that led to the Trojan War. Eris is not only
stationary at the time of the eclipse, she is also in hard aspect to the
Moon and all of the planets in Capricorn. As such, we can expect that
someone plays the role of instigator, perhaps surreptitiously.
Uranus
is known to cause upheaval, through events that happen suddenly,
unexpectedly, or dramatically. Having Uranus station during an eclipse
can be thought of as a "double whammy" because eclipses are thought to
be Uranus-like in their effects, due to their unpredictability. With
Uranus in earthy Taurus – and with Earth Mother goddess Ceres
strongly involved in the eclipse – it is not surprising that there is an environmental crisis occurring now.
The
good news is that Uranus is still in harmonious aspect with Jupiter and
with the nodes. Although Uranus can be a wild card in any human game,
this particular card could be a very positive one. Since Uranus
represents the Higher Mind, these aspects provide access to higher-level
information, insights, and solutions, no matter what else is going on
around
us.
LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE,
we can benefit from viewing this time as a healing crisis. During such
times, we might be overwhelmed by symptoms that seem to indicate we are
getting worse, not better. And yet, if we realize that humanity is going
through a detox process, we can keep a bit more
hopeful perspective on events.
We may wonder what each of us can do, how we can contribute to the healing rather than exacerbating the wound.
FIRST,
self-care is vital. These planetary energies are not just "out there"
somewhere, causing events. They are interacting with our physical,
emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies.
We
may be especially aware of physical issues right now, especially in
those areas of the body ruled by Capricorn: bones, joints (especially
the knees), the skeletal system, connective tissue, and the skin. But
even if we do not feel any physical symptoms, it is important to know
that we are being inundated with all these cosmic energies. It's vital
to get plenty of rest, both at night and when we feel tired
during the day.
On
mental and emotional levels, too, we need to take breaks. Take a walk
in nature. Listen to music. Allow your gaze to float softly over the far
horizon, watch the clouds move through the sky.
ON SPIRITUAL LEVELS,
there is much we can "do." We can meditate. We can pray. We can do
energy work, calling light to the areas of the planet that are in need
of support. We can call on the angels, Enlightened Ones, Masters, and
other interdimensional beings, whose purpose is to assist the
evolution of humanity and the healing on Planet Earth. These beings
exist, but because this is a planet of free will, they must hear our
call before they can offer assistance.
Most
of all, we can love each other. We can be kind and gentle. We can open
our hearts. We can accept and respect others, ourselves, and our planet.
We can be Love. We can embody Peace. It is needed. We can make this
transition time into one that takes us into the positive future we all
envision – but, true to Capricorn's directive, we must each take responsibility for our piece of the puzzle.
