NorthPoint Astrology Journal Your weekly guide to planetary influences August 17 to 23, 2020 by Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal Your weekly guide to planetary influences August 17 to 23, 2020 by Pam Younghans Aspects of Note This Week   All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.    MON: Mercury conjunct Sun, Mars conjunct Eris, Pluto semisquare Ceres TUE: Mercury quincunx Saturn, Venus sextile Uranus, Leo New Moon 7:41 p.m. PDT, Sun quincunx Saturn WED: Mercury enters Virgo FRI: Mercury sesquiquadrate Jupiter  SAT: Sun enters Virgo SUN: Mercury opposite Ceres, Mercury sesquiquadrate Pluto FINDING OUR BALANCE may be especially challenging this week, with so many waves crashing about us. Uranus just stationed retrograde on Saturday, so we are still working with its heightened energies for the next week or two. Uranus is known for being unpredictable, and when its influence is strong, surprising events occur that can throw us off center. These events are cosmically purposed for a variety of reasons.   One of those purposes is to shift our center of gravity so that our minds can open to new perspectives. If we are living our "normal life," which has set routines and expectations, our human brain tends to fire the same electromagnetic impulses over and over again. This creates a tendency for our thoughts and beliefs to likewise follow the same familiar pathways day after day, year after year.   But the changes that Uranus brings create new neural connections, opening our minds to new ideas and insights. In addition to its role as god of Chaos, Uranus is also the planet of Higher Consciousness and Enlightenment. When its energies are strong, we have greater access to insights and a multidimensional perspective, if we choose to open our minds to the higher realms.   DURING THESE TIMES of great transition, is vital to maintain connection to our higher self, to stay in touch with our core of inner peace, and to observe events from a spiritually-aware perspective. In addition to maintaining our own internal stasis, we are also called to radiate light and love out into the world, in whatever ways resonate with us personally.   I received two channeled newsletters by email yesterday that I found especially powerful and helpful. I've shared the text from both on my facebook site, and invite you to read them there. Both channels wrote of the higher purposes of these pivotal times we are living in – but, more importantly, they also offered effective techniques to help us not only stay in balance and at peace ourselves, but also to strengthen the light and harmony on planet Earth.   Here are quotes from each of the newsletters:   "You have more power within your being than you can ever imagine. Practice being at peace, and you will experience peace, no matter the external conditions... Right now, the world needs your peace. We are rarely so urgent in our requests, but now is the time to be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ann Albers and the Angels "Each and every time you shift your limited perspective to a perspective of wholeness, you are raising the collective consciousness. Every time you heal or transform a stale limited belief, you are adding to the light of the collective consciousness. Every time." - Peggy Black and the 'team'   MONDAY is the last full day of the lunar cycle that began back on July 20. According to the Moon, this is a time to complete, release, and clear in preparation for the new moon cycle. However, we have two planetary alignments on Monday that speak of beginnings rather than endings.   The first is a fairly innocuous Sun-Mercury conjunction, which happens several times a year. But, given the current political climate, and the fact that this alignment is in the proud sign of Leo the Lion, we can anticipate at least some impassioned speeches and perhaps some loud roaring as well. Exchanges and communications under this Sun-Mercury alignment will set the stage for future developments.   THE OTHER alignment on Monday, between Mars and Eris, is one to take special note of. As these two warriors join forces in the sign of Aries the Ram, their already assertive natures are made even more potent. As with all astrological energies, this can be put to good use, as the two planets can inspire courage and confidence. However, neither Mars nor Eris is known for the ability to play quietly or cooperatively. They are often headstrong and act without considering the consequences of their actions.   On an individual level, we can use this influence to make a new start, especially if we've been waiting to feel more energized and fearless before taking a risk. On a global level, this alignment may indicate new protests against injustice. The main caution is to be careful of acting on impulse or instinct, especially if motivated by anger or the desire for revenge.    Mars and Eris will align three times this year, due to Mars going retrograde. The dates of the three conjunctions are August 18, October 4, and December 22 (the day after the highly-anticipated Jupiter-Saturn conjunction). Events this week represent step one of a process. They will give us some hints as to how the other alignments – steps two and three – will play out.   THE NEW MOON on Tuesday occurs at 7:41 p.m. PDT, when the Sun and Moon align at 26°35′ Leo. Mercury is very close to the two lights at the time of the lunation, indicating that communications, mail services, commerce, news sources, and travel concerns will be in the spotlight for the next four weeks. This stellium of Sun-Moon-Mercury in Leo can be very helpful for those who wish to begin a new creative project, especially one that involves writing or speaking.   The New Moon is in harmonious trine aspect with both Mars and Eris, indicating that the new lunar cycle will be highly charged with forthright, courageous, confident energies. We are more willing to take risks with this influence, and also act more spontaneously. Personal fulfillment is the priority.   HOWEVER, the planet Saturn forms a strong quincunx aspect with the Sun-Moon-Mercury stellium. Saturn always provides a reality check, and reminds us of the need to apply the brake from time to time, if we are to successfully reach our intended destination. Because the energies of this New Moon are otherwise quite impulsive – a bit like driving down a side street at twice the speed limit – I feel that Saturn's involvement will ultimately be helpful.   A quincunx such as this requires a mental adjustment. With the planets in Leo receiving Saturn's teaching, we are called to observe where we might be expressing the shadow qualities of that sign. Leo is very generous, creative, and affectionate, but its shadow can be a too-strong need for recognition and approval, or a tendency to be overly dramatic, prideful, or arrogant.   With this Saturn quincunx woven into the New Moon chart, some of our creative efforts may be frustrated. If this occurs, Saturn encourages us to do a better job of focusing on the practical components of the project, reminding us that inspiration is only part of what is needed to make our ideas come into form. We are also called to differentiate between what is realistically possible and what is mostly wishful thinking.   A SUBTLE SHIFT occurs over the course of this week, as first Mercury (on Wednesday) and then the Sun (on Saturday) move into responsible Virgo. This annual change of signs indicates a transition from focusing on personal fulfillment into a greater readiness to be of service to others. This is also the "back to school" energy, which some may feel happy about and others may not. Basically, Virgo asks us to get down to work and to find renewed satisfaction in a job well done.   All signs do have their shadow side, however. With Virgo emphasized over the next four weeks, we will need to watch being overly analytical or too critical. And, when Virgo is stressed, nervous energy and worry are heightened, and we can judge ourselves (or others) as not being "good enough." It can be easy to turn selflessness into self-sacrifice if we try to live up to a perceived ideal. Because of this, make sure that self-appreciation and self-care are at the top of your daily "to do" list – in addition to building your skills of centering, balance, and inner peace.   IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: In the year ahead, you are more focused than usual on speaking your truth, and on whether or not you feel heard by significant others. If you are a writer or speaker, this can be a very inspired year, as long as you keep your feet on the ground and take care of the practical steps needed to bring your ideas into form. You may feel particularly motivated by current social movements designed to bring greater equality to those who have been disenfranchised. (Solar Return Sun conjunct Mercury, semisquare Venus, trine Mars, quincunx Saturn, trine Eris)   In Gratitude and Light,   Pam   NorthPoint Journal © 2020 NorthPoint Astrology. All Rights Reserved.  About the NorthPoint Journal   Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this NorthPoint Journal based on planetary influences and insights received. Her hope is to offer perspectives to assist you in utilizing current energies to enhance your life experience and accelerate your spiritual and personal growth.   Feel free to share this issue of the NorthPoint Journal with others who may enjoy it! When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including all contact and copyright information.   To learn more about private astrology sessions, please visit the "Personal Readings" page at www.northpointastrology.com. To schedule a reading, please email pam@northpointastrology.com.   Copyright NorthPoint Astrology 2020. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.northpointastrology.com/northpoint-journal.html
NorthPoint Astrology, 15000 Block 75th, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA

 

NorthPoint Astrology Journal: Your guide to planetary energies for August 10 to 16, 2020 By Pam Younghans

 

NorthPoint Astrology Journal

Your guide to planetary energies for

August 10 to 16, 2020

By Pam Younghans

Aspects of Note this Week
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.
​​
MON: Mercury square Uranus, Sun quincunx Jupiter
WED: Sun quincunx Neptune
THU: Mars square Pluto
FRI: Mercury quincunx Jupiter, Mercury quincunx Neptune 
SAT: Sun quincunx Pluto, Uranus stations retrograde
SUN: Sun sesquiquadrate Chiron, Mercury quincunx Pluto, Sun trine Mars, Venus square Chiron, Mercury sesquiquadrate Chiron, Mercury trine Mars

THE WINDS OF CHANGE are swirling in earnest this week, blowing us first one way and then another. The engine behind much of these shifting energies is the planet Uranus, which will "station" (come to a standstill) this Saturday to begin its five-month retrograde (backward motion) phase. 

 
When a planet stops in its tracks to change direction – either to turn retrograde or direct – its influence on our lives is increased for about two weeks before and after the day of its station. I liken this to our experience of a train as it nears the platform where we are standing.

 
A PLANET must decrease its speed as it nears its station, just as a train must slow down as it nears a depot. The closer the train gets to the platform where we are standing, the more powerfully we sense it. When it stops in front of us, engines idling, the vibration in our ears and underfoot is the strongest. This is equivalent to the day of a planetary station, when we feel the influence of that planet most profoundly.

 
Once the planet shifts gears for its change of direction, the days that follow are like the train pulling away. We gradually sense its individual vibration less and less, until the sound of the train (and the influence of the planet) becomes more a part of the background traffic noise.

 
WITH URANUS coming to its station on the 15th, we are feeling its heightened energies for the entire month of August, but most powerfully this week and next. Uranus' higher purposes are to help us live more authentically and in tune with our higher selves, and to alter our perspective or change our trajectory as needed to accomplish those purposes.


When Uranus is dealing the cards, we can experience surprises and sudden changes, breakthroughs and breakdowns, earthquakes, hurricanes, and explosions, as well as "aha" moments and openings to expanded consciousness. That means we will need to be especially flexible in our expectations this next week, allowing space in our lives for the shifting energies to move through and make whatever changes are needed.


AT ITS ESSENCE, Uranus is a planet of Liberation. It goal is to free us from limitations and "shoulds," whether those are imposed externally or internally, mentally/emotionally or physically. If we are feeling restricted in any way, we might feel especially restless, irritable and impatient, and even rebellious this week and next.


The urge to break free from the past, or to create significant change in some area of our lives, will be quite intense for those already working with a strong Uranus transit to their natal chart. This may be felt most personally by those who were born when the Sun was near 11 degrees of a fixed sign – within a day or two of May 1 (Taurus), August 1 (Leo), November 1 (Scorpio), or February 1 (Aquarius).


AND YET, Uranus' station is just a part of the story this week ... there's a lot going on with the other planets, too. Here are the most significant influences:


On Monday, Mercury is square Uranus: A lot of nervous mental energy. Thinking either scattered or enlightened. Surprising news. Unexpected detours, disruptions in communications, unpredictable reactions. Insights that challenge our egos. Very electrical in nature. Breathe in, breathe out.


On Monday-Wednesday, the Sun forms a yod ("finger of God") configuration with Jupiter and Neptune: The need for an attitude adjustment, based on how attached we may be to getting approval, credit, or accolades. This yod requires a significant growth in our capacity for self-examination, and in our ability to overcome willfulness, pride, and arrogance.

 
On Wednesday-Thursday, Mars is square Pluto: This volatile aspect is exact just after midnight Pacific Time on Thursday, so is also strong on Wednesday. Mars and Pluto are both determined to get their way. People are passionate about getting what they want, and strongly resist any attempts to control them. Manipulations and power struggles, where nobody wins. Hidden motivations revealed.


On Friday, Mercury forms the same yod configuration with Jupiter and Neptune that the Sun created earlier in the week: A mental adjustment is needed. We are challenged to view life from a broader, more spiritual perspective, and to focus our minds on creating new solutions. Be aware of getting sidetracked by old beliefs and habitual ways of thinking that actually no longer serve.

 
On Saturday-Sunday, the Sun and Mercury are both quincunx Pluto: We become aware of how a need to be in control interferes with our living in the Now, and with accessing the creative insights that will enable the change we want to see. In combination with the strong Uranus energies over the weekend, this is the time to let go of our attachment to what has been, and to open to what can be.

 
On Sunday, the Sun and Mercury are trine Mars: We feel energized to move forward. This is an aspect that supports our having the confidence and courage to pursue our heart's desire. But, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus are all in hard aspect to Chiron on Sunday, indicating some residual issues with self-confidence, perhaps not feeling supported by loved ones. This is an opportunity for self-care and inner child work, as the external lack of support mirrors our own internal uncertainties.


IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This can be an inspired year, when many creative ideas come to you. You may be especially drawn to writing, speaking, or teaching what you know. While you may be in touch with a new direction you want to take, there are several adjustments you will need to make in order to move forward. It is time to alter any need for approval from others that keeps you from fully expressing yourself. This is a subtle way of giving away one's power, and will feel increasingly uncomfortable as you observe how it interferes with your expansion and personal fulfillment. (Solar Return Sun conjunct Mercury, semisquare Venus, trine Mars, quincunx Jupiter, quincunx Neptune, quincunx Pluto)


In gratitude and light,

 
Pam


 
Copyright 2020 NorthPoint Astrology. All rights reserved.

NorthPoint Astrology Journal

Your guide to planetary energies for

August 3 to 9, 2020

By Pam Younghans

Aspects of Note this Week
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.
​​
MON: Uranus sextile Ceres, Full Moon 8:58 a.m. PDT, Mercury opposite Saturn
TUE: Mars square Jupiter, Venus quincunx Saturn, Mercury enters Leo
WED: Venus conjunct South Node
FRI: Venus enters Cancer, Mercury sesquiquadrate Neptune
SUN: Mercury trine Chiron

THE FIRST week of August has a Full Moon as its centerpiece – and it could be a wild one. The lunation occurs at 8:58 a.m. PDT on Monday, August 3, with the Moon at 11°45′ Aquarius and the Sun at the same degree of Leo.


A Full Moon is the climax of the lunar cycle. It symbolizes something coming into our awareness, something that we may not have been consciously aware of before. A Full Moon is also known for heightened emotional reactivity, as feelings that have been hidden come to the surface.


Our current lunar cycle began with the Cancer New Moon on July 20. Since that date, certain themes have been unfolding, and are now ready to be brought more fully to light.


BY NATURE, a Full Moon in Aquarius is electrical – surprising and at times even shocking. The sign is independent, unconventional, and rebellious, often socially aware and progressive.


But, at the same time, Aquarius is a fixed sign, which means it can be strongly opinionated and resistant to input from others, preferring to live according to its own unique perspective on reality. Aquarius lives by the adage, "march to the beat of your own drum."


Our Full Moon on Monday emphasizes all of these qualities, bringing them forward for us to work with.


THE LUNATION powerfully activates the planet Uranus, located at 10°38′ Taurus. Being square both the Sun and the Moon, Uranus sits at the apex of a fixed-sign "T-square" with the two lights.


A T-square is a configuration of tension. This fixed T-square challenges us through revealing our attachments, showing us how we resist change, and requiring us to become more objective. It can manifest as a battle of wills, where people refuse to be flexible or to respect the other's perspective. With rebel planet Uranus at the apex of the T-square, we may see more individuals acting as mavericks, stubbornly ignoring any rules that do not agree with their own view of reality.


URANUS' influence is very strong for the next few weeks, not only because of its involvement in the Full Moon, but also because the planet is moving forward quite slowly right now. Uranus will come to a standstill on August 15, shift gears into reverse, and then gradually begin to go retrograde (appear to move backwards)


When a planet "stations" in this way, we feel its effects even more strongly than usual. In truth, the entire month of August 2020 is likely to be a very "Uranian," so let's explore what that could mean.


THE PLANET URANUS is known by many names. As the god of Chaos, Uranus brings seemingly random change into our lives, earthquakes both literal and symbolic. We feel restless and impatient under its influence, and can be more accident prone because we're too much in a hurry. Our thinking can be more erratic, making it hard to focus on a specific subject or to engage in a lengthy conversation.


Uranus is also called The Awakener. Under its influence, new ideas come into our awareness, information that disrupts the status quo or requires us to change course. Uranus opens our eyes to possibilities we may not have considered before.


And, in its role as a transpersonal planet, Uranus is the god of the Starry Skies, representing access to Higher Mind and unlimited potentials. We are more open to intuitive insights when Uranus is strong, and psychic impressions are heightened. This last is especially true when Uranus is in aspect to the Moon, as it is for Monday's Full Moon.


WE ARE AWAKENING on many levels, and the month of August is playing a pivotal role in this process. Circumstances for many months have compelled us to spend more time with ourselves, and have removed many of the distractions that we might usually use to avoid introspection. If we allow ourselves to see higher purposes to the COVID-19 crisis, this is certainly one of them.


Over these next weeks, with Uranus' energy enhanced, it will be interesting to watch what unfolds, and what new ideas and directions emerge. We are likely to see all three faces of the planet represented strongly: the god of Chaos, the Awakener, and the Higher Mind.


IN ADDITION to the Full Moon, here's a play-by-play of the most significant aspects for the coming week:

• On Monday:

  • Uranus sextile Ceres: Able to adjust our emotional needs to the inspiration of the moment. New ideas related to caring for the Earth and for our global family. Focus on human rights, children's welfare.
  • Mercury opposite Saturn: Pessimistic attitude, or feeling that we are not being heard. A realistic appraisal of plans is possible, but be careful of being too critical or demanding. Remember that all is in process. 

   
  On Tuesday:

  • Mars square Jupiter: Other than the Full Moon, this is the strongest aspect of the week. We will start to feel this energy on Monday, if not before. Reactivity and anger are heightened. Tension between individuals and authorities, each seeing the other as an obstacle. Legal battles.
  • Venus quincunx Saturn: A need to adjust priorities, finding that certain ideas and values that brought us this far cannot take us the entire way. Partnerships and alliances being tested.

   
  On Wednesday:

  • Venus conjunct North Node in Gemini: Relationships from the past come to mind, especially in terms of communication issues. An opportunity to do a "relationship autopsy," to clear the way for healthier manifestations in this area of life.

   
  On Friday:

  • Mercury sesquiquadrate Neptune: A possible lack of clarity in our thinking and communications. Imaginings or the need to escape reality can interfere with our ability to perceive truth. A day to dream, but not to implement.

   
  On Sunday:

  • Mercury trine Chiron: Learning to trust our own creative thinking. Healing the need to live up to anyone else's criteria, or to gain others' approval for our ideas.
    

   

 
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: About eight months from now, you will be embarking on a year of significant change, when you reinvent your self-concept and also a certain area of your life experience. You are already feeling some of this energy, but it will be a stronger force starting in spring of 2021. In preparation for that shift in your life, you will be addressing issues related to personal relationships and your financial situation this year. This is the time to consolidate and to get clear on your values, so that you know what you want to take with you going forward. Throughout this year, you will also have opportunities to heal a lack of self-confidence, and to appreciate yourself instead of being overly focused on gaining the approval of others. (Solar Return Sun semisquare Venus, trine Chiron, square Uranus)


In gratitude and light,

 
Pam

 
Copyright 2020 NorthPoint Astrology. All rights reserved.


http://www.northpointastrology.com/northpoint-journal.html

NorthPoint Astrology Journal: Your weekly guide to planetary influences May 25 to 31, 2020 by Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal Your weekly guide to planetary influences May 25 to 31, 2020 by Pam Younghans   Aspects of Note This Week   All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.    MON: Mercury conjunct Vesta, Mars semisquare Eris TUE: Uranus sextile Ceres, Mercury quincunx Jupiter WED: Mars semisquare Pluto, Mercury conjunct North Node THU: Mercury enters Cancer FRI: Sun sextile Chiron, Venus sesquiquadrate Saturn, Sun square Ceres, Mercury quincunx Saturn SAT: Sun sesquiquadrate Pluto, Mars semisquare Jupiter  LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES – for many or perhaps for most of us – are very uncertain right now. The combined forces of Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto as they've aligned in Capricorn have affected more levels of our shared experience than we could have imagined, prior to the start of 2020.   Pluto's dismantling of outworn systems continues to drill far deeper than the sociopolitical realms. Strengthened by Saturn and amplified by Jupiter, Pluto is touching nearly every aspect of what we have relied on to create a sense of order in our lives. As a result, it is an ongoing balancing act, as we shift our weight and try to find stable footing while the foundation beneath us goes through this process of transfiguration.   We've all known for a long time that deep changes are needed in how human beings cohabit and in how we inhabit planet Earth – we just didn't consider, perhaps, how our small corner of the world, our personal lives, would be transformed along the way.   IT IS UP TO each of us, as we navigate so much disorder in the world around us, to create internal coherence. That work is essential, but of course also challenging when the chaos is at times as much within as without. Our emotional and mental states these days tend to be in as much flux as the world situation.   One of the first steps in creating internal order is making a commitment to a new way of thinking. This week, we have help in this regard from the planet Mercury, which rules our mental processes. Mercury is exactly conjunct (aligned with) the asteroid Vesta on Monday, and then conjoins the North Node in Gemini on Wednesday.   Vesta is not the largest, but she is the brightest object in the belt of asteroids that is located between Mars and Jupiter. As Keeper of the Sacred Flame, Vesta represents our capacity for devotion and commitment. Her alignment with Mercury in Gemini early this week improves our ability to concentrate and to direct our thoughts. And, since Vesta has a natural proclivity for spiritual work, we can more readily engage our minds as a helpful participant in our enlightenment, rather than seeing them only as a hindrance.   THE NORTH NODE is a marker for our collective "next step" in evolutionary growth. Having just entered Gemini a few weeks ago, the North Node is just beginning to bring forward the new themes that will be with us for the next 18 months.   As Mercury aligns with the North Node this week, there is an emphasis on many of these themes: on moving from judgment to acceptance, from fanaticism to rationality, from self-righteousness to tolerance, and from being thought-less to being thought-full.    This is an important week for us to ask questions and to listen objectively to the answers we receive. It is important to have a "beginner's mind," to be curious instead of judgmental. And yet, the inclusion of Vesta in the mix reminds us to hold all "truths" up to the light of our spiritual perspective. This step will help us know whether the information we receive will enhance our own growth into love and light, and or if we've simply been handed a letter that isn't addressed to us.   THERE IS TENSION – no surprise – in the coming days, manifesting through various hard aspects occurring throughout the week. Most significant is that the planet Mars is at the midpoint (halfway between) two dwarf planets, Pluto and Eris. Since Pluto and Eris are currently square each other (exact to the degree on June 14), that means Mars is semisquare both of them.   Squares and semisquares are aspects of conflict, and all three planetary objects involved in this particular brawl are known to be confrontational. It's not hard to imagine how anger and feeling victimized (Mars in Pisces), feelings of not being seen or respected (Eris in Aries), and issues of power and control (Pluto in Capricorn) might emerge over the coming days. These energies are strongest in the first half of the week.   OTHER ASPECTS this week are all "minor" aspects, but represent the ongoing shifting circumstances and unsettling energies. Here's a quick list of the ones I haven't yet touched on: Tuesday – Mercury quincunx Jupiter: Information overwhelm, communications coming from many sources, mental confusion, uncertainty of what to believe Friday – Venus sesquiquadrate Saturn, Mercury quincunx Saturn: Facing relationship and financial realities, difficulties in thinking or communicating clearly, a tendency to pessimistic thinking Saturday – Sun sesquiquadrate Pluto, Mars semisquare Jupiter: Deep changes challenge us to think in new ways and to rise above the feeling that nothing we can do individually can make a difference Keep in mind, too, that we've just entered eclipse season, and that the second Pluto-Jupiter alignment is only a few weeks away (on June 29). We are reaching the midstream point in our crossing of this turbulent river of 2020, so it is vital that we continue to do our inner work of emotional balancing.   THE MORE WE consciously become the frequency we most want to see manifest on this physical plane, the more we will be contributing to the solutions instead of being stuck in old paradigms – the former "reality" that is rapidly disintegrating. This means not just believing that love is the answer. It means BEING the love that is the answer, in every area of our lives, as much as we possibly can.   A tall order for these human personalities. But we signed up for these times because we were very sure we would, finally, succeed.   Just remember that this is a lot of work – divine work, yes, but work nonetheless. Be gentle with yourself. These are exceedingly stressful times, and the energies reaching the planet are pushing us to evolve at a very quick pace. Rest, rest, rest. Love and take care of yourself, on every level.   FOR THOSE who are tracking important lunar aspects, here is this week's watch list, in Pacific Daylight Time: Moon in Cancer opposite Pluto: Tuesday, May 26, 2:03 p.m. Moon in Cancer opposite Jupiter: Tuesday, May 26, 6:06 p.m.  Moon in Leo opposite Saturn: Wednesday, May 27, 2:42 a.m.  Moon in Leo square Uranus: Wednesday, May 27, 2:34 p.m.   IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This is a year for healing and coming into better alignment with your inspired future. The outcome of this process is greater self-confidence and a clearer sense of direction. You will be dealing with some inner resistance along the way – a fear that you might not have the energy or courage required, or that you must sacrifice your own needs along the way. The key in this regard is to hold yourself in the highest of esteem, so that any actions or decisions are based in true self-love. In this way, your expression in the world is a natural extension of the compassion you hold for yourself, instead of replacing self-care with caring for others. (Solar Return Sun square Mars, square Ceres, trine Juno, sextile Chiron, trine Saturn)   In Gratitude and Light,   Pam   NorthPoint Journal © 2020 NorthPoint Astrology. All Rights Reserved.  About the NorthPoint Journal   Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this NorthPoint Journal based on planetary influences and insights received. Her hope is to offer perspectives to assist you in utilizing current energies to enhance your life experience and accelerate your spiritual and personal growth.   Feel free to share this issue of the NorthPoint Journal with others who may enjoy it! When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including all contact and copyright information.   To learn more about private astrology sessions with Pam, please visit the "Personal Readings" page at www.northpointastrology.com. To schedule a reading, please email pam@northpointastrology.com.   Copyright NorthPoint Astrology 2020. All Rights Reserved. http://www.northpointastrology.com/northpoint-journal.html

NorthPoint Astrology, 15000 Block 75th, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA

NorthPoint Astrology Journal:  Your guide to planetary energies for December 31, 2018 to January 6, 2019 By Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal 

Your guide to planetary energies for

December 31, 2018 to January 6, 2019

By Pam Younghans

Aspects of Note this Week
All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 8 hours.


MON: Mars enters Aries 6:19 p.m. 
TUE: Sun conjunct Saturn 9:49 p.m.
THU: Mercury square Chiron, Mercury trine Uranus, Venus semisquare Saturn
FRI: Mercury enters Capricorn
SAT: Venus trine Chiron, Venus quincunx Uranus, New Moon/Solar Eclipse 5:28 p.m. PST
SUN: Uranus stations direct

WE STAND at the threshold of a new year, perhaps excited or maybe apprehensive about what lies ahead. But the Universe is impatient, and will be wasting no time in launching us into the transformational energies and experiences that will be with us throughout 2019. This first week of the new year is packed full, highlighted by a Solar Eclipse next Saturday and Uranus stationing direct next Sunday.

In keeping with the spirit of endings and beginnings, Mars completes its most recent round of the zodiac on New Year's Eve, leaving the last sign of Pisces and charging into Aries. The warrior planet will be in the first sign until February 14, providing plenty of energy and courage for whatever new enterprises we want to embark upon.

THE ATMOSPHERE on the first day of 2019 is more cautious, however; the Sun and Saturn are aligned in Capricorn, focusing our attention on the seriousness of what we want to accomplish and how we want to get there. This is a very practical influence, not given to over-idealizing the effort it will take to gain the mountaintop.

On Thursday, we might appear to be back in an old paradigm. Mercury in late Sagittarius is square Chiron in Pisces, bringing up ideological conflicts and reviving prejudices that serve to place others in the position of being less-than. However, Mercury is also in helpful trine aspect to Uranus, which means we have the opportunity to think in new ways, to access more inclusive perspectives that do not wound, but heal.

Mercury then moves into Capricorn on Friday, shifting our thoughts to what we want to achieve, now that we know more clearly what we value and believe in. 

OUR SOLAR ECLIPSE occurs on Saturday in the U.S., at 5:28 p.m. PST (this is Sunday at 1:28 a.m. GMT). The Sun and Moon are at 15°25′ Capricorn at the time of the eclipse, very near the midpoint between Saturn and Pluto.

This midpoint activation is quite significant, given that the alignment between Saturn and Pluto is a major player in the human drama that unfolds over the next two years. The alignment isn't exact to the degree until January 2020, but throughout 2019, we are touching into the energies of this joining of planetary energies. Saturday's eclipse is our first activation point, so we'll want to pay close attention to what is occurring. 

SATURN is Father Time, while Pluto is the god of the underworld. Together, they show us what has reached its expiration date, that needs to be purged, so that we can reset our sights and focus our intentions on what is in alignment with our highest path of evolution. This imperative is increased by the fact that this is a South Node eclipse (occurring near the South Node), indicating that we must release something from the past in order to enable the future to unfold at its highest level. 

On a personal level, it will be helpful to move some energy this week, to create space in your life for shifts to occur more readily. This can be as simple as changing a routine, taking a load of donations to the thrift store, or moving the furniture around in one of the rooms of your home. Try to find ways to do something new every day this week, with the intention of opening the space for the new.

(I'll talk a lot about Saturn-Pluto in my upcoming webinar -- please see the description at the end of today's Journal.) 

THE NODAL AXIS itself -- composed of the North Node in Cancer and the South Node in Capricorn -- is in close square aspect to Uranus in Aries at the time of the eclipse. Given that Uranus is basically at a standstill as it prepares to change direction next Sunday, this is a potent influence.

Uranus is always the wild card in any astrological draw, tending to manifest in unexpected ways, and nearly always tossing the entire deck of cards up into the air to be sorted through later. (Remember when a childhood friend asked if you wanted to play "52-Card Pickup"?)

With Uranus square the nodes for the eclipse -- which is in itself a time of shifting energies! -- we can "expect" unexpected developments that will reveal both the old patterns we are leaving behind (South Node) and the new versions of self and society that we are meant to evolve into (North Node). Uranus is known to manifest through startling events such as earthquakes and tornadoes, and other circumstances that shake up the status quo. As we let go of attachment to what has been, we are then more free to move into new forms.

THE SUN AND MOON are aligned with the fixed star Vega (Wega) for the New Moon eclipse. This star can be a very positive influence, boding well for endeavors that we begin under the influence of this lunation -- especially if we have first done the necessary clearing. Researcher Vivian Robson explains that Vega "gives beneficence, idealism, hopefulness, refinement, and changeability," but it can also be "outwardly pretentious and lascivious. "

George Noonan, another expert on fixed stars, has a less positive view of Vega, leaning more toward the problems that can occur when someone becomes overly focused on the glamour and is disingenuous: "influential position but fleeting honors, insincere friends, public disgrace, probably through forgery, loss through writings."

HELPING US navigate this Vega effect gracefully, astrologer Roderick Kidston writes:

"It is important to keep an even approach with this star. 'Nothing in excess' is a useful thought for meditation here. Wega is one of the brightest and most beautiful stars in the heavens. It calls for us to remember the permanence of the beautiful in all its forms, and its expression of the deeper harmony with the divine. With Wega, you have been given a little gift by the gods. You can take it for granted, but if you make a little effort, this star will bring many rewards."

In other words, as we begin the new year, our tasks are to keep our balance in times of great pressure and change, to maintain integrity in all our endeavors, to look for the beauty, and to be humbly grateful for the many gifts of our lives. And, to remember that beauty, in all its forms, is an "expression of the deeper harmony with the divine."

Please note that I'll be doing a "BeLive" on Facebook next Saturday, to talk about the Solar Eclipse and to share a bit more about my upcoming webinar. The BeLive will be at 4 p.m. PST -- please visit my Facebook page for the announcement as we get closer to the day.

WEBINAR

Astrological Guidance for January through June 2019

The Two-Year Journey 2019-2020

Phase I: Into the Heart

with Pam Younghans

Airing LIVE on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 (4 p.m. PST, 5 p.m. MST, 6 p.m. CST, 7 p.m. EST)

To register, please visit https://pamjan2019update.eventbrite.com

As we enter 2019, we begin a powerful two-year evolutionary journey that will have great impact on both our inner and our outer worlds. Phase I of this sojourn, which I am calling “Into the Heart,” takes us from January through June 2019.

Two eclipses in January provide the fanfare to start us on our journey. These eclipses, especially the SuperMoon Total Lunar Eclipse on January 21, will serve to shift our attention in powerful ways. Another highlight of the first half of 2019 is on March 6, when Uranus re-crosses the threshold into Taurus. When Uranus first entered Taurus in May 2018, the Earth responded volcanically – leaving us conjecturing what we can expect for this second crossing.

But the most potent time within this six-month period is likely to be in April and May, when a dance between Pluto, Saturn, and the karmic South Node brings society face-to-face with its materialistic tendencies, as a mechanism to catapult us into a more heart-centered future.

In this 90-minute webinar, I will begin by providing more details about this two-year journey that begins in January 2019 and completes in December 2020. I'll then describe the most significant astrological events of the first six months of the new year, and their potential impact. During the last half of class, I will walk us through each month, providing guidance based on the planetary activity, which includes several powerful Full Moons and some significant retrograde periods.

I hope you can join us! And don’t worry if you can't attend live on January 15 -- the class is recorded, and all registrants receive an email afterward with a link to the replay and the pdf of the slideshow.

Everyone who registers for the webinar will also receive calendars for January through June beforehand. These calendars show all the important astrological events, and will make note-taking easier.

To register: https://pamjan2019update.eventbrite.com

Class fee is $33. Payment options and registration may be handled online or by check to Elsie Kerns, 2007 Rabbit Run Rd., Marlton, NJ 08053.

Questions about registering or payment? Contact Elsie at: elsie@wellnesswithelsie.com or 856.988.7426

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: Your long-term goals and ambitions are central to your life experience this year. The first ten months of 2019 find you focused on manifesting your intentions, and beginning new endeavors. What you conceive in January has a gestation period, bearing fruit in October. Along the way, you will be learning the value of patience, integrity, and clarity of purpose. In essence, you are completing a 30-year cycle and making a new start in some area of your life. The greatest rewards for your hard work are likely to manifest in late 2019, when Jupiter aligns with your Capricorn Sun.

In Gratitude and Light,

Pam

Copyright NorthPoint Astrology 2018. All Rights Reserved.

 About the NorthPoint Journal

Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this NorthPoint Astrology Journal based on planetary influences and guidance received. Her hope is to offer perspectives and insights that will assist you in utilizing current energies to enhance your life experience and accelerate your spiritual and personal growth.

Feel free to share this NorthPoint Journal with others who may enjoy it! When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including all contact and copyright information.

To schedule an astrology reading, please email pam@northpointastrology.com.

Visit the "Personal Readings" page at www.northpointastrology.com to learn more about private sessions.

Copyright NorthPoint Astrology 2018. All Rights Reserved.

NorthPoint Astrology, 15000 Block 75th, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA