Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Pisces is a curious place for a planet like me to be, let's face it. After all, I am Mars - my job is to assert, to differentiate, to leave a mark. Yet Pisces is all about transcending the individual will, merging, states of non-differentiation… not at all the kind of neighbourhood I feel comfortable in. You may well be puzzled about how this little combination works out; I know that Garry often is. Stick around, and I'll give you my side of the story.

I guess the first thing to say is that this is not a salubrious combination if you want to compete. You wouldn't believe how bad Garry was at sports when he was at school, for instance. What would happen would be - well, nothing to be honest; he would just give up. And this was never a clearly thought-out strategy; he would just come over feeling all conflicted, experiencing volitional gridlock, making it impossible for him to do much of anything. It strikes me that this is one facet of the Pisces symbol of two fish swimming in opposite directions; emotional stuff (to use the technical term), going off hither and thither, a lot going on but all cancelling itself out and producing precisely nothing.

I wouldn't say, on the basis of my present experience (over half a human lifetime of being in Pisces), that people with this combination are inevitably no good at sport. But I think the trick is, that it's no good for one versus one sports; you have to put your Mars-in-Pisces-Person (from this point on called MIPP to save space) in a team, and emphasise to them that they are playing for the team, not for themselves. Or I guess it could also work if you convinced the MIPP that they're fighting for the greater glory of God. You know how some boxers, for instance, will start proclaiming that they 'Wanna thank the Lord' when they've just succeeded in pummelling an opponent half to death? If you wanted to coach a MIPP to have any success in the ring, that's how you would want them to be; believing that they aren't boxing for their own advancement, but for the glory of God. Or country… the point is, there has to be something greater at stake, otherwise the MIPP isn't going to get it together.

Give them a transcendental ideal - even if it's only that of winning for the team - and they can suddenly get themselves into gear. I have seen this happen. Not, it has to be said, with Garry - but there are complications in his case, not least of which is a Libran ascendant, making it particularly difficult to get him up and motivated when a decent bit of ordinary self-assertion is needed.

Organisation is another thing we might look at. When he was a kid, Garry was pretty much of a shambles; disorganised, floor of his bedroom covered with a layer of comics a couple of centimetres thick. This never really left him, and he went through his adult life - up as far as his first Saturn return - with the idea that it was best to be a bit chaotic, because that way you were operating at an intuitive level, which was better than the intellect, more spiritual. Daft, I know, but that's the way he thought. . . .

What else can be attributed to me? Well, it gets a little tricky; I wouldn't want to claim things that belong to another planet. For instance, when Garry left university he made no effort to find a job; his entire agenda was that he was going to go somewhere and just 'be spiritual'. As I remember it, continuing to drink large quantities of beer was also a big feature in the agenda. He did eventually go into a Buddhist monastery and stay there for six years; but whilst I'm sure that my residence in Pisces helped the endeavour along, I can't claim all the credit. His Sagittarian Sun would be most unhappy if I did.

It's certainly safe to say that, within the monastery, Garry achieved a lot more, learned a lot more skills and just applied himself a lot better than he'd ever done before. At school the typical comment he attracted was 'could do well, but needs to apply himself'. He was reminded of this many years later when, during one of his periods working in an office job, he made some stupid joke instead of telling his staff what to do; one of them said, 'Oh, you're wasted here, Mr Phillipson', then paused a moment, and added, 'Mind you, you'd be wasted anywhere.'

I'm not suggesting for a moment that it's the destiny of Mars in Pisces to be wasted in the real world; the point is that, as I've already said about sports and competing, it's very important to give Mars a context that engages it, so it really feels as if it's working for the group, for something bigger than its own gratification. . . .

And one more thing to do with this Piscean lack of definite boundaries. Garry has been prone to psycho-somatic illnesses. And I'd have to claim a big part of the responsibility for that. At times in his life when he's been stuck and frustrated, he's developed a range of symptoms which I won't trouble you with now, all of which have cleared up as soon as he's taken the decisions he needed to take. So although he didn't thank me at the time, and in fact hasn't thanked me since, I actually helped him to grow as a human being by making him ill.

So, in conclusion: Mars in Pisces? It's capable of most things, but the motivation is key. Things have to serve some common cause, some greater good, otherwise the MIPP is going to zone out. And it can be a ferocious organiser, but Mars in Pisces needs to overcome the idea that you just have to 'tune in' to the cosmic mind, or what have you, and everything will flow. Once it has finally become convinced that this doesn't work - that it's fine to trust Allah, but you should tether your camel first - it should work just fine, and you will be assured of many happy years of trusty service from your Mars in Pisces too.

Labels: Mars

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:48 AM :: |

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Monday, November 26, 2007

The Mindbody Connection

Recently a post from the advice column on the role of "Mars problems" in medical issues prompted one of my brilliant readers to suggest in a comment the work of Dr. John Sarno. After a quick Google I was hooked and ordered his book: The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders." I like the way he melds the words "Mind" and "Body" to show that the two are really united rather than two separate entities.

This is the third of three books Dr. Sarno has written on chronic pain.

His premise is that many of the health problems that plague our modern culture are the result of repressed emotional pain and anger that we are unable to bring to a conscious level, so the body creates a distraction in the form of back pain, sciatica, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders etcetera. Dr. Sarno's program consists of first eliminating any medical cause for the presenting problem and then encouraging his patients to examine their emotional motivations to see where they might have an underlying emotional conflict that is not being expressed appropriately. In 75% of the cases that he treats this mere attention to the patient's emotions creates the cure; 25% are referred for psychotherapy to uncover the unconscious root of the problem. Dr. Sarno has found that individuals who have a high need to be perfect, or "good" and who impose strict pressure on themselves develop a "reservoir of rage" that without expression is converted into physical problems.

Dr. Sarno writes:

What is actually causing the pain in these people is not the herniated disc, or some of those other structural things, but a condition of mild oxygen deprivation, which is brought about by the brain simply altering the blood flow to a particular area. This mild oxygen deprivation is what causes pain in muscle.

Take sciatica as an example. There are a number of spinal nerves going into the leg via the sciatic nerve and the brain would mildly oxygen-deprive them. That would then, of course, give you pain in the leg, and give patients feelings of numbness and tingling. It would also produce actual weakness. But doctors have assumed that these changes and symptoms in the leg were the result of some damage to nerves in the low back -- as a result of herniated discs and things of that sort. . . .

He calls this syndrome tension myositis syndrome or TMS.

This is of course extremely exciting to me because of my research into the astrology of health problems which nearly always stems from an unexpressed or repressed Mars or some other block in the flow of energy in the body that results from emotional blocks. I'm only halfway into the book but already it is helping me to understand more about the way the energy system operates in the physical body from a medical point of view.

This is another example of how science and real healing have diverged in our twentieth and twenty-first century world of science which denigrates the role of the mind, body and spirit and prefers to believe that the physical body is a machine for which emotions play no role. I believe that this idea is the root of our spiraling health care costs and an associated deterioration of health and I am so glad to see more physicians stepping out to connect the dots between the body, mind and spirit.

Labels: health

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:37 PM :: |

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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Mars Rx and the Art of Self Defense

Art by Laura Cameron, thanks to DragonsLordnet.com

Robert Wilkinson has a compilation of points on the current retrograde of Mars through Cancer. This cycle is particularly powerful right now since Mars is still stationary after its recent retrograde turn:

We know it is a time of potential energetic tugs of war we should avoid. These are the circumstances that drain us and turn ordinary interactions into goopy emotional bogs. In those circumstances, it's better to refuse the reflection or projection, and be caring while showing strength of character. We get to care about what we care about, and if it's not good enough for another, then maybe it's time to agree to disagree.

We know there could be many old feelings and perhaps hurts come up from subconsciousness, whether ours, another's, or even from the collective unconscious. [Mars is quincunx Chiron right now.] That's why it's important to slow things down as we examine how we do or do not want to respond. We know there could be over-reactions from that which has not been allowed to express itself in our lives, and also how important it will be not to take things too personally or negatively.

We know not to get too crabby or defensive, and whenever possible be nurturing and caring in ways that alleviate these in ourselves and others. This is about recognizing what needs strengthening inwardly, and taking care of old needs that haven't been taken care of in our lives up to now. Definitely don't internalize any new hurts, and readdress old ones when appropriate to come out of those old reactive patterns.

There could be old hurts or concerns expressed by others due to prior defensive stances, and if we are feeling drained, it is most important to be open and above board in targeting specific needs in the moment while not getting deflected into what was, or should have been, or old stuck emotional turf battles.

We know we will have to reconsider the mental attitudes and perceptions that created recent decisions or old hurts. We will re-trace the ground we've covered the past 2 1/2 months but with an eye to redoing or undoing or getting clear about how to be strong, flexible, and courageous as we review and rethink recent beginnings. Relax, don't get wired by the reversals and slowing and generic touchiness, and see it as a chance to redo and rethink some things, preparing for a whole new life to come in 2008 when Mars goes direct.

We are learning to slow down and rework whatever needs caring for in order to strengthen recent life decisions. This can help us strengthen our determination, steadfastness, and sense of responsibility, securing past and future expansions. Sidestep passive-aggressive, selfish, petulant, immature, or short-sighted people, or if you must confront them, defend your need to care for yourself while guarding against useless or petty shots.

During Mars's retrograde journey it will make a sextile to Saturn in early December which will help provide the discipline required to do the slowing down that Robert speaks of in this piece. Saturn provides the strength and responsibility to add a strategic note to the reactivity of Mars as we work backwards to resolve situations that are yet to be completed.

Still, I caution you not to try to bury your aggressive urges or hide from any inner rage that comes up now. This is a time to learn from our anger as Mars teaches us to defend our boundaries and protect ourselves from those that harm us. The suppression of our own Mars is the root of many of our physical ailments and now is a time where we have greater access to the hidden Mars that lies in our subconscious.

In late December Mars leaves Cancer and passes back into Gemini where it confronts Pluto for the second phase of the Mars/Pluto opposition. Power is the issue here, and the work that we do now will help to prepare us for that phase!

Labels: Mars retrograde

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:42 PM :: |

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Saturday, November 24, 2007

Zeitgeist! Movie review

Synchronistically, Kathryn and Elsa and I seem to have watched this movie at the very same time so its entry into the astroblogosphere is well-timed.

Zeitgeist is a not-for-profit full-length film that is being distributed over the internet. You can watch it in several ways: at the Zeitgeist site itself where you can find credits and sources, or I believe it has been segmented for easier viewing on YouTube.

For those of us who have studied conspiracy models for quite some time there is little information here that is new, but it is assembled in a stunning and powerful montage of images and events. The film is divided into three parts:

Part I - The Greatest Story Ever Told, delivering a critique of the Old and New Testaments in light of their derivation from earlier myths, including some lovely astrological detail.

Part II: All the World's a Stage, creating a vivid imagery for the questions surrounding September 11 and associated events and coverups;

Part III: Don't Mind the Men Behind the Curtain, delineating the use of the world's major bankers to control the financial destiny of nations and individuals.

This movie is a must-see because it opens the door to some of the darker events of our history and their underlying meaning. Many of the statements made in this film are without question true and accurate. However, the film makes the same mistake made by David Icke, another great source of conspiracy material, in that it throws speculation and rumor into the film and calls it all fact. The facts are chilling enough without sensationalizing them with questionable conclusions.

Still, this is the most comprehensive and visually evocative manifestation of conspiracy material that has been around for generations, and well worth watching. The more people are exposed to this kind of idea, the more they will turn off their televisions and begin to question what is really going on with our governments. Over the next day or so I'll post some of my favorite books on the subject in the bookstore in the sidebar.

And just in time for Pluto's entry into Capricorn, the sign of governmental structure!!

Labels: conspiracy

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:00 AM :: |

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Friday, November 23, 2007

I missed my Blogiversary!

Astrodynamics is two years old as of last week! Thanks, everyone, for the inspiration to write every day, an exercise of devotion that has taught me so much about life as well as astrology, and opened up so many doors for me!!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 1:46 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Gemini full moon and other planetary news

The Moon will be full in Gemini tomorrow morning at 10:41 am EST. At the Full Moon the lunar principle gains more power, and the instinctive unconscious is more available to us. The Gemini Full Moon brings a facility for language and communication, and learns through a variety of experiences. Because the Sun in Sagittarius is opposite the Moon in Gemini, there is a tension now between these two polarities. There are two faces to Gemini: the light side and the dark, and there is a thirst for learning as much as possible about both. For Sagittarius, however, there is just one way, and the journey is to find that one way.

This is a time for study, for philosophy, perhaps for travel and adventure! The lunation forms a tight Grand Cross to the lunar nodes which reveals a sense of destiny in this event. Decisions made and adventures taken at this time could play a role in the unfolding of our ultimate experience. The approaching trine of Venus to Neptune (exact on the 26th) adds creativity and romance, and an ability to delve beneath the surface of the mundane details of the material world to find beauty and mystery beneath. Music, writing, painting - all are favored during the week of this Full Moon!

Saturn is widely square to the lunation, adding a need for boundaries and limitations to confine our thirst for adventure to that which is practical and realistic. But with Jupiter within days of a conjunction to Pluto, and both in Sagittarius, the urge for expansion appears limitless. The addition of Saturn provides a place from which to manifest the creative vision that springs from Jupiter's sense of possibility. Pluto acts here either as an ally, if we are working WITH the gods, or as a destroyer, if we work against the flow. Although this aspect won't be exact until December 11, for the next two weeks the planets are within 3 degrees and working closely together.

In the waning stages this week is a Grand Trine in Water between Mars in Cancer, Mercury in Scorpio and Uranus in Pisces. There is a flow to things now that we haven't seen for some time, and in water there tends to be an extra degree of sensitivity and compassion. We are experiencing an astrological lull now in the general planetary atmosphere, but individuals are always experiencing planetary dynamics of their own that are creating change on an individual level.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 1:23 PM :: |

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Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving musings and the essence of gratitude

photo from corbis.com

I love Thanksgiving as much as the next person. Sharing a feast with friends and family, a few days off at home - cranberry sauce and mashed sweet potatoes with caramelized apples. Not to mention the pumpkin pie that Rich bakes from scratch, using fresh pumpkins from local farms.

Still, history is written by the winners, and like so many of our holidays the actual history of the Thanksgiving holiday is lost to the mists of legend. According to most accounts, our Thanksgiving holiday commemorates the feast held by the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts to celebrate their first successful harvest and the assistance of two Native Americans, Samoset and Squanto, who taught the Pilgrims how to tame the land and nourish their families. But there is some evidence that the primary purpose of the feast was to sign a treaty with the Wampanoag tribe for the land that the Pilgrims occupied, and that the 90 Native Americans who attended the feast actually brought a substantial amount of the food.

Native Americans who greeted the early settlers provided aid and assistance to the newcomers. When the settlers did not return their hospitality, refusing to marry their women and disrespecting their spirituality with efforts to convert them to Christianity, they began to rebel. The early settlers from England viewed the natives as savages rather than equals to be respected.

We all know what happened next.

The idea of holding a celebration to give thanks for the harvest is an ancient one. The ancient Greeks and Romans held celebratory feasts to thank Demeter/Ceres for the year's bounty, from which comes our "cornucopia," or horn of plenty. In ancient China, a Moon Festival celebrated the harvest moon with feasting. Ancient Egyptians gathered in thanks to the goddess Min who presided over fertility and plenty.

In our modern American culture Thanksgiving has become associated with the excess that is destroying its spiritual fiber. We eat too much, we drink too much, and then we sit around and watch football. The day after Thanksgiving we converge at the mall where we spend too much money and buy too much stuff, for which we then need to hire professional organizers.

I propose that we make today a day of gratitude and sincere thanks to the Universe for the true bounty that has been given to us. Some days we can find little to be grateful for: genuine trauma and despair fills our heart and it seems there is no light to be found. It is at those times when more than any other we need to look deeply into our life and find there the seeds of opportunity that wait to be discovered. Like the silver lining found in every cloud, each disastrous event holds within it a tiny light of potential rebirth and regeneration.

It is an essential truth that the aspects of our life on which we place our focus will continue to grow. If we find within our hearts the ability to be grateful, we will be rewarded by increasing abundance and plenty. I leave you with this beautiful quote:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

--Melody Beattie

Labels: Gratitude, holidays

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:02 AM :: |

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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Mary Kate and the Astrology of Twins

Mary Kate Olsen has been hospitalized with a kidney infection at the tender age of 21.

The astrology of twins is a fascinating subject, because the psychological issues and conflicts that we all carry within us are usually split between the two twins. Although Mary Kate and Ashley have the same birthdate and essentially the same birthchart, they are quite different which we would expect from fraternal (not identical) twins. But rather than disprove astrology, the difference between them can actually be seen in their birthchart.

The chart of the twins shows the Sun in the sign of the twins - Gemini. Gemini is a natural actor and tends to enjoy taking on roles of all kinds. The twins' Sun is squared by Jupiter, revealing a confidence and almost reckless nature. The Sun and Jupiter are also aspected by the planet Uranus which reveals their independence and rebellious nature, but they also have the Moon in conservative Virgo.

The Moon in Virgo is much more serious and dislikes the role playing that Gemini is involved in. The Virgo Moon does not like to take the risks that the Sun/Uranus personality does, but prefers to live a life that is more circumspect and geared towards one's security. To complicate matters even more, their Virgo moon is squared by Saturn, the "celestial taskmaster." The Virgo Moon squared by Saturn shows an individual with a serious nature who feels that they have to work harder than anyone else in order to have a place at the table.

Without going into a lot of geeky astrological detail, we see two very basic personality types here: the radical bohemian actress who slips in and out of characters and lifestyles and the cautious, security-oriented type who is a hard working and shuns the spotlight. We can see that most recently Mary Kate has played the role of the outgoing twin, rebelling by dropping out of college and taking on a minor role in the hit show "Weeds," while Ashley has adopted the more cautious and hard-working persona, the brains behind the Olsen's clothing line. Ashley is the quiet one who hides from photographers while Mary Kate adopts wildly stylized outfits that make her the photographer's darling.

Mary Kate has dominated the gossip pages with her well-publicized falling out with Paris Hilton over their mutual beau Stavros Niarchos, as well as her documented bout with bulimia and other eating disorders. Mary Kate was the first to drop out of NYU (with Ashley following behind) and Mary Kate seems to be the one that becomes more rebellious and individualistic (Sun/Uranus), whereas Ashley seems to be more isolated but grows stronger and more disciplined (Moon/Saturn). It's interesting that Mary Kate is left-handed, commonly considered to show that the right side, the creative side, of the brain is dominant. Ashley is right-handed and more logical. Mary Kate's academic strength is writing whereas Ashley's is math. Ashley has a history of dating older men which would fit with her association of Saturn, the Lord of Time, and is currently rumored to be dating Lance Armstrong who at 36 is 15 years her senior. True to her rebellious nature, Mary Kate was most recently linked with Max Snow who was evidently disliked by her sister for being a "lowlife."

At age 21, like everyone does, the twins are going through a double whammy of Saturn and Uranus transits that can be quite challenging. The Saturn cycle creates pressure and puts blocks on our desires, whereas Uranus induces a wild sense of reckless abandon and need for change. Mary Kate seems to be the one to take on the stress of the challenges faced by the twins, and it appears that it is Mary Kate whose health is suffering as well.

Labels: Celebrities, twins

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:02 PM :: |

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Monday, November 19, 2007

Did crop circles foretell the Exploding Comet?

Crop Circle Connector seems to think so:

Modern crop pictures often concern themselves with comets and their strange behaviours. Could the recent outburst of Comet 17P Holmes have been shown in English crop pictures from the summer of 2007, or from any other summer over the past few years? Upon careful study, I found that few if any crop pictures from the years 2007, 2006, 2004 or 2003 could possibly be interpreted retrospectively in terms of an "exploding comet". Yet literally dozens of crop pictures from the year 2005 could be so interpreted, in a fairly clear and obvious fashion.

It seems a bit far-fetched to me, but see what you think.

Then read Kathryn's take on the upcoming transit of Comet Holmes over the fixed star Algol:

The coming Jupiter/Pluto conjunction in Sagittarius, the sign of Faith, coincides with one of the dates that Comet Holmes is expected to reach Algol, Dec 11th 2007. This could indeed speak of calamity and strife arising from despotic leaders in the name of religion or even global/galactic horrors. However, this stupendous comet and these aspects could also herald the birth of a new way of thinking and being. An illumination of spiritual consciousness that is leading us into a wonderful new era under the guidance of some very wise men or women.

Labels: Comets

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:54 PM :: |

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Sunday, November 18, 2007

Sunday Links!

There are some great articles out there today - for your reading pleasure I suggest:

Just in time for the conjunction of Pluto with the Galactic Center, Melody reveals that we are entering Night Five of the Galactic Underworld and other exciting astro events.

The Weather Alternative forecasts weather for December. So far Ken is way more accurate than the Weather Channel.

Kathryn has a synchronistic moment with Comet Holmes.

Elsa posts the five-part A&E series: Secrets in the Stars.

Dharmaruci speaks in parables revealing the mystery of Pluto Transits.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 4:48 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Setting Intention and Retrograde Mars

When Mars is traveling retrograde, or if Mars is retrograde or otherwise afflicted in our birthchart. It can be difficult for us to meet our needs and achieve our desires. This is not necessarily always because those desires are wrong, but sometimes more time and attention is needed for them to blossom.

Patience and focus is required when we are in a gestation period. The moment of conception has passed but the time of birth is a ways off still. This is a time to nourish our idea and prepare for its fulfillment. It's also useful to ask the Universe to ensure that the goal manifests in a form that is for our highest good.

Retrogrades don't create blocks like a Saturn or Pluto transit does, but if either of those guys is in a difficult aspect to Mars in our chart we will find ourselves especially blocked now.

This is a good time to cultivate trust in the wisdom of our higher selves as we develop confidence and strength that will aid us in the ability to manifest desires that are wise and serve us on the path to true empowerment.

Labels: Intention, Mars

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:22 AM :: |

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Friday, November 16, 2007

From the advice column: Will I ever receive a proper diagnosis?

I have a particular interest in energy medicine and the underlying causes of illness as they appear in the birthchart. This is particularly true of mysterious symptoms that defy diagnosis. That said, I am not a medical professional and my comments are not to be considered a substitute for regular medical care. Still, I strongly believe that most illnesses originate in an energy imbalance and that correcting this imbalance can improve our health.

Q: Twenty years ago, I had an attack of shingles in my head.. leaving me with vertigo, deafness, no taste or smell on the left side of my head, paralysis there too, and intellectual deficits. Up until this point, I was a journalist. Afterwards ? Well I had days when I couldn't remember what side of the envelope the stamp went on. The nerves at the lower end of my spine got involved somehow and though I can walk, etc. I've lost functions of elimination... I have to use catheters daily to drain my bladder etc. (I know TMI...) this has been for two years now.. I underwent several tests this summer to try to find out the underlying cause of my physical problems.. and got.. No answers. I'm wondering what to do next ? Is there any light at the end of this long and painful tunnel?

A: Your chart shows difficulty expressing the energy of Mars, something I like to call a "Mars problem." Mars, being the god of War, is the planet that urges us to defend our borders, to respond appropriately when attacked, and gives us the drive to get what we want. Mars is our desires and often is tied into our physical energy (although the Sun is also an important piece of the vitality puzzle). This is a very complex issue and situation but I will try to shorten and simplify it to fit into this format.

Your Sun is conjunct Neptune, both in Libra - a lovely and creative placement for imagination and beauty, but Neptune does tend to drown out our physical energy at times. This Sun/Neptune conjunction is the apex of what we call a "T-square", meaning the Sun and Neptune are square to a tight conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer on one end and Mars and Chiron in Capricorn on the other. This is a powerhouse of a dynamic that when balanced properly can give you a great deal of power for change and evolution. But when it gets blocked that powerful energy can implode within us.

Let's break this dynamic down: The conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in the first house seeks a an independent, innovative and exciting approach to life. However, their placement in the sign of Cancer combined with your Cancer ascendant makes it difficult to do things that are truly for you. You are geared towards taking care of others, and hope that this will serve you in the end.

This combination of Mars and Chiron in Capricorn show that you are a hard worker and very disciplined with a tremendous focus on what needs to be done. You are able to push through most obstacles and keep your eye on the goal. This can lead you to ignore signals your body is sending you to warn you of impending health crisis until it is too late. The conjunction of Mars and Chiron often signifies a difficulty expressing ones own needs which is reflected in several places in your chart. The Sun conjunct Neptune also can be a signifier of one who is sacrificed or made a scapegoat. And in Libra, the Sun strives to achieve balance and often gives up one's own self in the process.

The opposition between Jupiter/Uranus and Mars/Chiron can be explosive. Jupiter opposite Mars expands the aggressive instinct and requires an outlet for this increased energy. Uranus opposite Mars evokes rebellion and resistance to control. Chiron opposite Uranus heightens the flow of energy through the body and in itself can create energy imbalances if not grounded properly, and the opposition of Jupiter to Chiron, while it provides an enhanced perception of multidimensional reality, can also increase health problems should they occur.

The picture I am getting here is of a person who has a tremendous amount of energy and spark of life, but who gets bogged down with the day to day responsibilities of watching out for others. Aries is on your midheaven, revealing the key to achieving your highest goals and aspirations is through aggressively asserting your needs and independence.

At the time that your first shingles attack occurred you were undergoing quite a few transits of Mars which were stimulating your need to express yourself in a more powerful way. Perhaps there were things you were angry about that were buried in the need to do what needed to be done. This was exacerbated by a transit of Jupiter across your Aries Midheaven that opposed the conjunction of the Sun and Neptune and set off the whole six-planet T-square combination. Without an outlet, all of this energy just imploded into the shingles attack (shingles are an immune system disorder that is commonly associated with stress).

About three years ago your Moon progressed into Aries (the last time this happened was 30 years before if you can remember back that far) which enhanced your need to have that Aries experience of independence and asserting one's own needs. Xena the warrior princess is the Aries archetype of women: she is noble and kind but doesn't take any s*&t from anyone! This would have been an excellent time to take up kickboxing or some other kind of aggressive activity that would help to release some of this energy and increase your sense of empowerment. If you had no such outlet again the energy would have imploded into your nervous system.

At the same time you began your Chiron return, when transiting Chiron was conjunct Chiron in your own chart and again set off the T-square dynamic. Chiron brings to the surface all of our hidden painful wounds from the past, demanding that these wounds be brought into conscious awareness where that can be healed. Resistance to this process can lead to health problems.

I want to emphasize that the opposition of Chiron and Uranus, which is very common in the charts of people born between 1953 and 1985, shows a particularly sensitive nervous system.

Without doing a full reading on this individual I am reluctant to make specific recommendations, but understanding what is needed to regain the balance of appropriate aggression and expression of one's own needs and desires (Mars) is the first step to recovery.

Labels: advice, health

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:44 AM :: |

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

Mars Rx and the US Sun

As noted previously, Mars turns retrograde today. Mars will only travel 1 degree during the entire month of November, between 11 and 12 degrees of Cancer, making its effect more potent.

Mars will be sitting within one degree from the US Sun which is at 13 degrees Cancer, making this an interesting time for the US, especially since President Bush's Sun is at the same degree of Cancer. When Mars is retrograde it can be difficult to get things done, although that will be nothing new for the current US government.

I love the way Barbara Palliser says it:

Retrograde phases are famous for throwing up delays and obstacles into our path, but I have a theory that it's when we don't turn with the change in direction that we end up walking into the wind with a sinking feeling that the universe is attempting to thwart every best effort we make. Then it's a quick downward spiral into futility and hopelessness, punctuated by inappropriate fuse-blowing, courtesy of life's little banana-skin-on-pavement moments, until we find a way to go with the flow instead of fighting against the current stream of energy. As it's Mars that is the planet in question I'm not sure how possible it is to kick and scream your way to inner poise, so it might be best to develop a good sense of humour pretty quickly to see you through this settling-in phase.

To me the beauty of astrology is the ability to be prepared, to see the underlying dynamics and therefore be better able to appreciate the ride.

Labels: Mars retrograde, US chart

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 3:29 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Low esteem and materialism go hand in hand

Researchers have found that low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem. The also found that as self esteem increases, materialism decreases. The study primarily focused on how this relationship affects children and adolescents. Lan Nguyen Chaplin (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Deborah Roedder John (University of Minnesota) found that even a simple gesture to raise self-esteem dramatically decreased materialism, which provides a way to cope with insecurity.

This is no surprise to astrologers, who place self-esteem and material needs in the second house of the birthchart. The second house, associated with Taurus, deals with our material needs and our desire for wealth and financial security, but also with our values and our sense of self-esteem, our talents and skills and how we feel about them. Clients with a challenged second house often find that their ability to achieve financial security is tied closely with their self-esteem.

This article goes on to say:

In the book “Happiness: Lessons From a New Science”, Richard Layard exposes a paradox at the heart of our lives. Most of us want more income so we can consume more. Yet as societies become richer, they do not become happier. In fact, the First World has more depression, more alcoholism and more crime than fifty years ago. This paradox is true of Britain, the United States, continental Europe and Japan.

I encounter this when I work with people in increasing abundance and opportunity in their lives through visioncrafting. Many of my clients have achieved wealth and material success but they are not satisfied by it. When consumption becomes a goal in itself rather than a means to achieve a level of security it exceeds the capacity of the second house to improve our contentment, and we fall into the Taurus shadow realm of greed and attachment.

It's interesting to have statistical confirmation of this as well.

Labels: materialism, Second house

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 10:56 AM :: |

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Vladmir Putin and the "moral right" to stay in power

Vladmir Putin announced today that he had a moral right to continue to wield influence in Russia. It has long been suspected that he would take steps to stay in power after his term as president runs out next year, and to many these words are confirmation of that intention.

Though Vladmir Putin (see Astrodatabank birthchart) is a Libra with four planets in that sign of harmony and beauty, the intense sign of Scorpio is rising in his chart. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, and Pluto is concerned with matters of power. Pluto in Putin's chart is prominently placed at the Midheaven, the highest point in the chart that reveals our highest aspirations and goals, so it is clear that for Putin, the desire for power is a guiding force that motivates his career and his life.

The Libran influence is made even stronger by the placement of Venus, Libra's ruler, in the first house of personal identity. Venus shows a facility with personal relationships and in Scorpio there is a charisma with a sexual undertone that is clearly visible to the casual observer from its placement in the first house. Jupiter in Taurus (ruled by Venus) in the seventh house of partnership and open enemies (also ruled by Venus) expands this Venusian theme, and the fact that Jupiter is opposite Venus provides yet another Venusian signature. This guy is as lucky as you can get, but Venus is not all sweetness and light. Venus can also be self-indulgent, especially when opposed by Jupiter in Taurus, greedy and fickle, and in her form of Aphrodite she was legendary for the wrath that she exhibited to those who failed to worship her.

The combination of Libra and Scorpio is a potent one, because where Scorpio is sensitive to the ebb and flow of power and has a secret desire to achieve a powerful end, Libra can be manipulative in its diplomacy and use flattery and subtlety in order to meet its goals. For Libra, like all the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Capricorn), the end justifies the means, and without a strong sense of justice this combination can lead to a relentless pursuit of power (Pluto/Scorpio) using personal charm (Libra).

This is an old pattern for Putin, as shown by the placement of the South Node (representing our karmic past) conjunct that midheaven Pluto and squared by his charming Venus on the one side and and by Jupiter on the other. If Putin were on a spiritual journey of self-realization, he would find himself moving towards his North Node which lies on the nadir of his chart and encourages us toward introspection and self-awareness as well as creating a home for ourselves where we can find inner peace. The end of his Presidency could provide an opportunity for him to step out of the spotlight and pursue a new comfort with his inner life, but it appears that he is determined to remain stuck in the South Node for some time.

This announcement by Putin of his "moral right" to stay in power comes just as transiting Jupiter is making a trine to the Pluto/Midheaven combination in Putin's chart. Jupiter, in its role of King of the Gods, brings confidence and a sense of righteousness and we are clearly seeing this in Putin's grandiosity right now, and when transiting Jupiter enters Capricorn next year it will retrograde back and forth in a square to Putin's Sun increasing his desire to stay in power. However, a transit of Neptune across the nadir of Putin's chart and in opposition to his Pluto/Midheaven over the next couple of years could erode some of this confidence and create significant doubts and challenges for him.

Still, Putin has survived many planetary cycles and his influence is likely to continue unabated, in one form or another.

Labels: International politics, Vladmir Putin

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:51 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

The end of the Relentless Optimism

cartoon by Pritchett Cartoons

The realism of Saturn in Virgo is beginning to have an effect on the continuing determined optimism of Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius with some of the more inflated (Sagittarius) stocks, mostly in tech, falling to more realistic levels. Apple, buoyed by the frenzy over the Iphone, fell almost 40 points in less than a week, and Google, having climbed 130 points in less than a month, fell 100 over the past few days.

The rise of these stocks coincided with the square of Jupiter (expansion) to Uranus (tech), an astrological signature that was considered by some to bring about a sudden downward shift in the markets; the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaked just at the point of the partile (exact) square. These signatures rarely work the way they expect them to, particularly where Uranus is involved, and the shift was in the upward direction rather than down. Uranus works by surprise, and will tend to bring whatever you least expect! But now that its influence is on the wane, Saturn is injecting reality into the situation and bringing Virgo's cautionary nature into play.

This is not just an American problem, although the problems in the US with the falling dollar and housing market are causing a ripple effect in markets around the world. Asian markets fell yesterday, as did Canada's. There are fears about the long-term stability of the US economy due to the falling dollar and housing market and I predict that the final conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius in mid-December will mark the end of this long cycle of optimism.

At that point speculation will be a fool's game and old-fashioned saving will come back into favor.

Labels: Jupiter in Sagittarius, Pluto in Sagittarius, Stock market

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:13 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Monday, November 12, 2007

Jupiter/Saturn, Sunspot cycles and 2012

Thanks to John and Susan Townley for finding this article about the research of the late Rhodes Fairbridge of the effects of Jupiter on our earthly climate. It has been known for some time that Jupiter has an effect on sunspots which correlate to changes in our climate, but no one really understood why. It turns out the answer may be in the relationship between Jupiter and Saturn.

At times, the sun is at the solar system's centre of gravity. Most often, this is not the case-- the orbit of the planets will align planets to one side or another of the sun. Jupiter, the planet with by far the largest mass, most influences the solar system's centre of gravity. When Uranus, Neptune and especially Saturn -- the next largest planet -- join Jupiter on one side of the solar system, the solar system's centre of gravity shifts well beyond the sun.

The sun's own orbit, he found, has eight characteristic patterns, all determined by Jupiter's position relative to Saturn, with the other planets playing much lesser roles. Some of these eight have orderly orbits, smooth and near-circular. During such orbits, solar activity is high and Earth heats up. Some of the eight orbits are chaotic, taking a loop-the-loop path. These orbits correspond to quiet times for the sun [solar minimum], and cool periods on Earth. Every 179 years or so, the sun embarks on a new cycle of orbits. One of the cooler periods in recent centuries was the Little Ice Age of the 17th century, when the Thames River in London froze over each winter. The next cool period, if the pattern holds, began in 1996, with the effects to be felt starting in 2010. Some predict three decades of severe cold.

I wrote on the solar minimum cycle last year, although the solar cycle is said to be eleven years whereas the solar cycle that is the subject of the research above is a 179 year cycle and is probably a heliocentric cycle rather than the geocentric cycle (with the earth in the center) that we use for our astrological calculations.

This table provides an interesting view of sunspot activity over the past ten years. Because the Maunder Minimum seems to have correlated with the Little Ice Age, we would expect sunspot activity to be higher when the climate is warmer, but that is not the case since sunspot activity is at a low right now.

Astrology is largely a symbolic system, but correlating the physical attributes of the planets with life on earth is an interesting exercise!

Labels: Jupiter, weather

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:25 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Return of the Magi: A Film by Kelly Lee Phipps

Thanks to Phil Brown for his post announcing the trailer for Kelly Lee's new film, Return of the Magi: A Documentary of Astrology. Kelly Lee lives in Asheville and came to Raleigh for a fun and exciting evening with the Network of Triangle Astrologers and I had the opportunity to ride over with him and Beth and eat dinner before his lecture. He told us about his hundreds of hours of interviews with many astrologers over the past few years and the movie he has been putting together.

Kelly Lee's site has a huge download, check out the trailer on YouTube:

Labels: Astrology in the media

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 2:51 PM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Kali and the Scorpio New Moon

Beth Owl's Daughter writes on the festival of Diwali which celebrates the dark:

Yesterday I ruminated that perhaps our modern culture's “jumping the gun” on the Yule season has something to do with our deep fear of the dark and, ultimately our fear of death as an endless night.

Such fears are universal, and are dealt with in similar ways throughout the world. For instance, tomorrow’s New Moon kicks off the festival of Diwali. Diwali is possibly the biggest holiday on earth, in terms of sheer numbers of participants. And it is certainly one of the most joyful. Celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe, it is a "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps dispel the darkness of evil, and goodness triumphs.

and the worship of Mother Kali:

Hers is a somber, serious tantric puja that is intended to diminish the ego as well as our negative tendencies that hinder spiritual progress and material prosperity. It is performed as an intense invocation of the fearsome Goddess to destroy evil - both in the outside world and within us. It is especially performed to seek protection against drought and war, for general happiness, health, wealth, and peace.

read more here...

Labels: blogosphere, New Moon Scorpio

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:26 AM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- New Moon in Scorpio and the Wild Feminine

Spiritual Aspirations, by Willow Arlenea

The New Moon in Scorpio occurred last night in Scorpio (November 9, 7:03 pm EST) . In Scorpio we delve into the underworld of our emotions and face the raw reality of life and death. Transformation is the key here: digging up the dead and dying debris of our psychological history in order to make room for something new to be reborn.

The New Moon was at 17 degrees Scorpio, very near the midpoint of the sign of Scorpio. The midpoint of the fixed signs are considered powerful times of transformation; the ancient Celts called these astrological points "Gates of Power." Where the cardinal points of the Solstices and Equinoxes are gateways into new seasons, in the fixed signs we have a concentration of strength and focused intention (and yes, stubbornness!) that offers an opportunity for powerful new beginnings and change.

Scorpio is a water sign and it is therefore of the feminine/receptive (yin) polarity, but there is a fiery quality to Scorpio and its passionate nature - the Wild Feminine. The Wild Feminine cannot be tamed; her unbridled sexuality is the reflection of her ability to create life. She is connected to her true nature and to the Earth as well. This is the essence of the Scorpio experience.

In which house of your chart does this New Moon Fall? This will give you a clue as to where you will find the opportunity for a new chance to become connected to the wild archetype within your self. Whether you are male or female, the Wild Feminine brings us deep within ourselves and our emotions whereas the Wild Man archetype is more of an external experience that has to do with living a life that is outside of the cultural mainstream.

Intensifying the New Moon experience, which typically lasts about three days from the exact lunation (lunar aspect), is a square from the New Moon to Neptune which opens the doors of perception and spirit and inspires our creativity. However, there is a danger here in losing our grounding and our center, especially with the New Moon also in opposition to Ceres which creates tension between the two poles of nurturing (Moon and Ceres). Ceres is more connected to nurturing the soul in physical form, whereas the Moon rules over emotional security. Food-related issues may be of interest during this time, or matters of the family.

The intensity of our experience will continue when Mercury enters Scorpio on November 11. There is a tendency here to be somewhat obsessive and a bit compulsive, but the power of Scorpio focuses the intention and enables us to manifest our thoughts more easily. Be careful what you think! Magic is afoot...

"In order to converse with the wild feminine, a woman must temporarily leave the world and inhabit a state of aloneness in the oldest sense of the word. Long ago the word alone was treated as two words, all one. To be all one meant to be wholly one, to be in oneness, either essentially or temporarily. That is precisely the goal of solitude- to be all one. It is the cure for the frazzled state so common to modern women..Going home is sanity...It takes out weakness by the pounding. It removes whininess, enables acute insight, heightens intuition, grants the power of keen observation, and perspective"

--Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Labels: Goddess, New Moon Scorpio

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:59 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Thursday, November 08, 2007

A Look at Shia LeBoeuf

I'm working on an analysis of Musharraf and Bhutto, but meanwhile the National Ledger has my article on the recent crisis of this young actor who, at 21, is experiencing a confluence of the Saturn and Uranus Squares (transiting Saturn is square (waning) to natal Saturn and transiting Uranus is square (waxing) to natal Uranus). This is a challenging time for anyone!

Labels: Celebrities

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 10:04 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Matthew the Astrologer's Guides to Compatibility

If you haven't caught Matthew's series on compatibility yet, don't miss it! He offers dating tips for all of the twelve signs, along with hilarious videos for extra emphasis:

For Pisces - Goldilocks and the Twelve Signs - "He was so cute, so furry, so lovable. And as always, Pisces was convinced that it would be the same story tomorrow when she woke up sober and he was gone."

For Aquarius - This is Not the Aquarius Guide - "An Aquarius is born with the knowledge (on some level) that the individual differences between us are like different songs playing on different radio stations at the same time. Even though you can only listen to one station at a time, you (above all others) realize that the same air is being pierced by hundreds of signals at hundreds of frequencies... each one carrying unique sounds. You are born knowing that, whereas most of the rest of us never even catch on that such a thing is happening all around us, all the time."

For Capricorn - Your attention please: "Comrades: Certain forces have conspired to, at times, deny Capricorn the love and romance that Capricorn requires to function as a powerful, independent entity. In order to more efficiently address this matter, you have all been assigned to one of twelve cadres. You will receive your final score when you return home, or to the factory, or to Re-Education Camp, where you will have a glorious time supporting our future triumph over the forces of solitude."

For Sag - They're Off and Running: "Sagittariuses are always being accused of treating their love lives as if they were a sporting event, rather than like love lives. And why not? There's anticipation, competition, and... more often than not... someone loses. So in that spirit, here's the handy Sagittarius race card for who's in the running, with odds of a win. No horse in this race is a guaranteed winner, but some bets are a lot safer than others. Then again, no guts, no glory..."

For Scorpio - CSI Romance: "There's a mystery to be uncovered here. A blow to the heart... an intense, passionate experience causing shortness of breath, rapid irregular heartbeat, and a flood of endorphins throughout the nervous system, clouding judgement. Although it's enticing, you can sense the ever-present spectre of danger... and that only increases your curiosity. Congratulations! You're a Scorpio in a relationship!"

For Libra - Teen Heartbreak Comix: "You hear a lot that Libras are all about the romance because it's a Venus-ruled sign. I'm not sure that's entirely the point. I think most people are suckers for a good romance story, with all the twists and turns required for Boy to finally be with Girl. And Libras love the "love story" part of Love. That's probably why you find so many Libras who have an interest in astrology... it's like one of those "making of" documentaries on a romance movie DVD."

For Virgo - Compatibility Within a Tolerance of +/- 0.2 milliliters: "Humans are driven by biosocial factors to pair-bonding. Further, the efficiency of each bond ("compatibility") is variable with each individual involved, in part due to personality-based initial conditions ("Sun Sign"). Virgo attempts to place this within a rational context and draw accurate conclusions."

For Leo: Compatibility with Overture and Curtain Lights: "Welcome to the twelve-screen multiplex of Love. Today we're going to see if we can successfully hook our friend Leo up with the man/woman/movie of his/her/its dreams. And if you're a true movie fan, you know that the right review from the right critic can improve your chance of being really entertained... despite the sticky floor and overpriced popcorn. Of course, even your favorite film critic can get it wrong once in a while... and what's more fun than uncovering an under appreciated cinematic gem?"

For Cancer: Miss Crabtree's Schoolmarm's Guide: "Hello, children, I'm Miss Crabtree, your Compatibility teacher this semester. We're going to do things a little differently this year. I'm going to be handing out your grades at the start of the class, based on how easy or difficult it's going to be for me to get along with you. Stop fidgeting, Leo! You can bring your mark up with hard work. I'm not going to just hand any of you a passing grade. Okay... I just did that with most of you. Spit that gum out, Capricorn! I'm sure I'll enjoy this experience with all of you though, and so will you. Otherwise, you can take your sass to the Principal's office."

For Gemini: Should I Stay or Should I Go: "Welcome back to the exciting final round of "Should I Stay, Or Should I Go?" Today's contestant, Gemini, is on the verge of walking away with the Grand Prize... true love! Now Gemini, all you have to do is answer one question correctly. The cash value of the question represents the degree of difficulty involved. Naturally, you might want to pick an easier Sign... but playing it safe all the time didn't get you as far as it has"

For Aries: Love is a Battlefield: "As much as a cliche as it might be, I still find that when an Aries approaches me about their love life, the question may be "Is so-and-so my soul mate?" or "Should I continue to pursue whatshisface?"... but the real question is "how much of a fight am I going to have to put up to get things right?" But you want romance, and whether you're a man or a woman, you love the challenge."

Labels: blogosphere

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 8:28 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- New earth-like planet discovered!

"This discovery of the first ever quintuple planetary system has me jumping out of my socks," says group member and veteran planet hunter Geoffrey Marcy, an astronomer at the University of California at Berkeley. "We now know that our sun and its family of planets is not unusual."

The new planet was found in the constellation of Cancer, in the first multi-planet star system similar to our own that has been discovered.

read more here...

Labels: wonders of the universe

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:39 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

From the Advice Column: How do I go forward?

Q: My main problem is this: My marriage has broken up, I need a full-time job but am having problems getting one, I have several important health issues, and I am nearing retirement age but can't retire for around 18 months. What do I do in the meanwhile to obtain a full-time income and fill my life?

A: Your chart is an interesting one because there are so many elements that don't connect. We usually think of a difficult chart as being one with lots of squares and oppositions because those are aspects denoting inner conflict, but it can be just as difficult when there are many facets to our personality that have nothing to do with one another. For example, your Capricorn ascendant requires you to be dutiful and responsible, while your Sun/Mars conjunction in Pisces seeks a more flowing life and connection with all beings. And then you have three planets in Aquarius including the Moon which are more unemotional and rational, preferring to live in a life of ideas.

Many of the health problems that I see in my practice have to do with the blocked expression of Mars. Mars is our vital energy force, and in your chart it conjuncts the Sun which is another expression of our vitality. In Pisces Mars is more concerned with taking the easy and uncomplicated road than in really standing up for itself and setting good boundaries, and in your chart Mars and the Sun are squared by Chiron. In its role of Wounded Healer, Chiron makes sure that our issues continue to rise to the conscious level where they can be dealt with, and it also identifies an issue in your chart around setting good boundaries and meeting our own needs.

You are very sensitive to the aggressive instincts of others and are likely to shy away from confrontation as a result. You prefer to keep your chin up and plow on through (Capricorn) rather than stop and say, "Hey! You hurt my feelings." Your Aquarius Moon can rationalize away any emotion that is distasteful and this can lead to migraines if emotions become stifled.

This is not an easy time for you but it can be a time of great change and transformation if you approach it with courage and a sense of adventure. Over the past couple of years, as you may know, the Saturn/Neptune opposition has been aspecting your Venus as Neptune crossed over it and Saturn opposed it. At the same time Pluto was opposing Uranus in your chart, creating an urge within your for change and challenging you to rid yourself of anything that no longer served you. Pluto has been stationary as it turns direct right on Uranus in your chart since July, so this has no doubt been an intense time. You are getting some relief from that, but of course you have now begun your second Saturn return which will complete in April through June of 2008.

Saturn is trine your progressed Sun through June while it is returning to its place in your chart, so there is an opportunity for you to build solid structures that serve your new, and more authentic (Uranus), life. Saturn is opposing your Sun right now and this will impact your Saturn return. You are likely to feel challenged in every direction as this transit is bringing out the pain and isolation of your natal Saturn/Sun opposition. The beauty of Saturn is that he does reward us when we do what he wants. He wants us to spend time alone, planning for the future, setting goals, and avoiding despair.

It is really crucial during this difficult time that you avoid negative thinking, since your retrograde Saturn will lead you down a path in which you could create problems for yourself. I have learned in my own life that positive thinking is a habit that can be formed by watching the tapes that you play inside your own head, and then changing them. When you catch yourself thinking thoughts of despair, turn that thought around and turn it into something positive. Example: "Nothing ever works out for me" becomes "I am able to create the destiny that I desire."

This is a time for you to focus on yourself and what it is that you need. This will be very useful to your Mars which will help your sense of vitality and therefore your general health. Your progressed Moon, which has been in Pisces for the past two years, will cross into Aries at the end of February 2008. At that time your Will is likely to become stronger which will help you to harness the direction of your life. This is really a time for you to take charge of your own destiny. Set goals - make lists of what you want to accomplish during the next third of your life. Look ahead to the future and learn from the past, this is Saturn's lesson.

Five of Cups from the Aquatic Tarot

Labels: advice, health, Mars

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:57 AM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- For my Pakistani readers

I had a request for a simplified version of the post on Pakistan for those who are astrological newbies which I appreciate because even though I usually try to simplify the language sometimes I forget or get carried away with the process. So here it is. The original article with all of the astrological details can be found here.

The nation of Pakistan was created when a Muslim state was carved out of India at a time when five planets were tightly conjunct in Leo within a 15 degree range. Leo is concerned with self-expression and recognition, and all five Leo planets are placed in the fourth house of home and ancestry showing that most of the affairs of this nation take place within its borders rather than on the international stage.

The force that impels us to build structures and achieve lasting importance (Saturn in Leo) is tied forever to the destructive force (Pluto). Pluto seeks regeneration and will destroy anything in its path that does not lead to the highest good. In the chart of an individual, this aspect indicates a heavily fated quality to the person's life, and the same can be true for a nation.

In the chart of Pakistan, this archetype that forces continual regeneration is connected to the very essence of the country and its leaders (Sun) and describes the way that its people work together (Venus). Until all people in the nation can work together for the common good of the country, the force for constant regeneration and rebuilding will continue to tear the country apart as it challenges those structures that are created for only a segment of the population.

The underlying drive and motivation of the country (Mars) is to protect the tribal family (Cancer). In addition, the Pakistan chart shows Mars in a weaker conjunction to Uranus in Gemini, adding a reckless and revolutionary (Uranus) quality to the way the nation approaches war as represented by Mars. This is a violent aspect and shows a tendency towards explosive of rhetoric. The placement of the Moon in Cancer also demonstrates the fiercely protective nature of the country, and the Moon is unaspected which creaties difficulty in forming allies and allegiances to other nations.

We would expect to find a strong Jupiter in a chart of a nation founded as a religious state, and here we find Jupiter in Scorpio sitting right on the descendant of the chart and opposing the ascendant. Jupiter in Scorpio shows an intense approach to matters of philosophy and religion and because Scorpio is a fixed sign there is a tendency towards dogmatism. Jupiter on the descendant illustrates the need to share those dogmas with the world, and a square from Jupiter to the Sun describes an arrogance and self-righteousness and an inability to compromise.

Over the past couple of years a transit of Pluto to Uranus has set off the revolutionary fervor within the country. An opposition of Pluto to the Cancer Mars will continue to create upheaval for the next few years. In addition, a transit of Uranus will the stage for additional revolutionary activity. Things are coming to a head now because of the passage of transiting Mars over these sensitive points over the next few months.

Yesterday, President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution. He has been rounding up and arresting opposition leaders, and also replaced the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in advance of the Court's meeting later this month to decide the legitimacy of his candidacy in the October elections. Neptune in Musharraf's chart exactly squares Mars in the Pakistan chart, and his rule has always had a mysterious and confused quality. Both will be set off by transiting Pluto over the next few months leading to tumultuous times for both.

Labels: International politics, Pakistan

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 6:08 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Monday, November 05, 2007

More on the Pakistan chart

Sally at Astroworld tells me that many astrologers use the 1956 chart for modern Pakistan since that is the date that Pakistan was declared an Islamic Republic. It took nearly eight years after the establishment of Pakistan as a nation (the 1947 chart) for the various factions to come to an agreement. (See yesterday's post for a review of the 1947 chart). My source is the Book of World Horoscopes by Moon Moore uses the 1947 chart with a birth time of midnight. Other sources use 9:30 am as the time of birth.

I don't agree with the use of the 1956 chart for Pakistan since a new constitution was enacted in 1973 and that is the constitution which is in use today, so it seems that if any modern chart is to be used it would be the 1973 chart. But still, the nation of Pakistan did not change with the signing of the Constitution, so I feel the original chart still holds the essential nature of that country. So until I learn more on the subject I'll stick to the 1947 chart. I welcome your comments and thoughts on the subject.

Labels: International politics, Pakistan

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:45 AM :: |

---------------oOo---------------

Sunday, November 04, 2007

State of emergency in Pakistan

photo by Caleb Kenna.

The nation of Pakistan was created when a Muslim state was carved out of India at a time when Saturn and Pluto were tightly conjunct in Leo, with Mercury, Venus and the Sun also in Leo forming a tight stellium of five planets in Leo within a 15 degree range. Leo is concerned with self-expression and recognition, and all five Leo planets are placed in the fourth house of home and ancestry showing that most of the affairs of this nation take place within its borders rather than on the international stage.

With the conjunction of Saturn and Pluto, the force that impels us to build structures and achieve lasting importance (Saturn in Leo) is tied forever to the destructive force of Pluto. Pluto seeks regeneration and will destroy anything in its path that does not lead to the highest good. In the chart of an individual, this aspect indicates a heavily fated quality to the person's life, and the same can be true for a nation.

In the chart of Pakistan, the Saturn/Pluto archetype is connected to the very essence of the country and its leaders (Sun) and describes the way that its people work together (Venus). Until all people in the nation can work together for the common good of the country, the Saturn/Pluto conjunction will continue to tear the country apart as it challenges those structures that are created for only a segment of the population.

Mars in the chart falls in Cancer, indicating that the drive of the country (Mars) is to protect the tribal family (Cancer). In addition, the Pakistan chart shows Mars in a disassociate (or out-of-sign) conjunction to Uranus in Gemini, adding a reckless and revolutionary (Uranus) quality to the way the nation approaches war as represented by Mars. This is a violent aspect and shows a tendency towards explosive of rhetoric (Uranus in Gemini). The placement of the Moon in Cancer also demonstrates the fiercely protective nature of the country, and the Moon is unaspected (except for a quincunx to Uranus), creating difficulty in forming allies and allegiances to other nations.

We would expect to find a strong Jupiter in a chart of a nation founded as a religious state, and here we find an angular Jupiter in Scorpio sitting right on the descendant of the chart and opposing the ascendant. Jupiter in Scorpio shows an intense (Scorpio) approach to matters of philosophy and religion (Jupiter) and because Scorpio is a fixed sign there is a tendency towards dogmatism. Jupiter on the descendant illustrates the need to share those dogmas with the world, and a square from Jupiter to the Sun describes an arrogance and self-righteousness and an inability to compromise.

Transiting Pluto has opposed Uranus in the chart over the past couple of years, setting off the revolutionary fervor within the country. It is now moving towards an opposition to the Cancer Mars in the chart which will continue to create upheaval for the next few years. In addition, transiting Uranus will make the closing square to Uranus in the chart next year, setting the stage for additional revolutionary activity. Things are coming to a head now because of the passage of transiting Mars over these sensitive points (Mars and Uranus) over the next few months as Mars retrogrades back and forth over the natal Mars and Uranus.

Uranus in the Pakistan chart is one degree from an opposition to the Galactic Center, meaning that the recent opposition of Pluto to Uranus coincided to the conjunction of Pluto to the GC at the time of the Full Moon on October 26 which included a conjunction of the Sun to Chiron in the Pakistan chart, illuminating the wounded areas in the chart which require healing. Chiron in the chart is exactly square to the Midheaven, the outward expression of the national government, and the Full Moon set off that square as well.

Yesterday, President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution. He has been rounding up and arresting opposition leaders, and also replaced the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in advance of the Court's meeting later this month to decide the legitimacy of his candidacy in the October elections. Neptune in Musharraf's chart exactly squares Mars in the Pakistan chart, and his rule has always had a mysterious and confused quality. Both will be set off by transiting Pluto over the next few months leading to tumultuous times for both.

Labels: International politics, Musharraf, Pakistan

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:35 AM :: |

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Saturday, November 03, 2007

Jupiter/Uranus and the Brightest Comets

I am finally getting labels on my posts so you'll be able to find what you're looking for more easily. In the process, I found the old posts from mid-January 2007 regarding Comet McNaught, which was at that time the brightest comet to appear in over 70 years. Sure enough, Comet McNaught visited us at the first phase of the square between Jupiter and Uranus.

The second phase of the square occurred in the middle of May this year, and Comet Holmes was the harbinger for the final phase in late October.

The combination of Jupiter with Uranus brings surprises and expands our ability to conceptualize. Could this mean an opening for messages from beyond??????

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 3:41 PM :: |

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Friday, November 02, 2007

News from Mars and Sirius ramblings

The planet Mars has a lot in common with its namesake, the god of war. Both rule over areas of life where we need to harness our aggressive side - where we try to get what we want and protect what we have. Mars rules over boundary disputes and describes how well we protect our own boundaries and how concerned we are about the boundaries of others. Mars also has a lot to do with our physical energy and vitality and rules over personal impulses and drives of all kinds.

Mars has been in Cancer since the end of September. Typically Mars spends only 57 days or so traveling through a sign, but due to its retrogradation it will remain in Cancer until May of 2008. Mars retrogrades at 12 degrees 27 minutes Cancer on November 15 and will remain stationary within one degree of that point during the entire month of November, making this an extremely Marsy period.

When a planet is stationary in preparation for and during its retrograde turn, it demands our attention. I always compare transiting planets to cars with loud boomboxes - when they travel by our planets they get our attention, but when they park in front of our houses for long periods of time they demand that we take some action to resolve the issue.

Mars generates a tremendous amount of energy, and sometimes what we perceive as anger is simply the release of a build-up of energy. This is why I recommend increasing physical activity during intense Mars cycles so that this unreleased energy doesn't erupt into conflict or implode into health problems. This will be particularly important for those of us with planets from 7-17 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Aries). If you find yourself fatigued and exhausted, you are likely having a mars problem.

Mars will travel retrograde until February, so its time to hunker down and deal with our anger issues. Where do we need to better defend ourselves? How can we express our anger more appropriately? Where are our boundaries being violated and where do we need to calmly and with self-respect set better boundaries to protect ourselves? If we do good Mars work now we will be in great shape when Mars and Pluto face again in late December (that Mars/Pluto opposition cycle will complete in March so we have plenty of time to get it right!).

With Mars traveling retrograde we are internalizing more of these issues that are ruled by Mars ,and it may be more difficult to actually get anything accomplished. John Townley writes, "Rash actions taken as Mars is about to go retro usually end up in overextension and delay, such as Hitler’s invasion of Russia only two months before Mars went retro in the summer of 1941, the Allied invasion of Italy which hit a dead stop at Monte Cassino (summer of 1943), and but for the atom bomb, the same would have again applied to an invasion of Japan in the summer of 1945."

Mars turns retrograde within two degrees of the fixed star Sirius as noted by Rob Tillett at AstrologyCom (he reports the retro turn in the middle of the thirteenth degree but according to my calculations Mars turns at 12'26" Cancer, not 13.

I have a particular interest in the star Sirius because of its connection in Freemasonry and the writings of the theosophists as well as the ancient Egyptians. The Dogon tribe in Mali correctly identified that Sirius was a binary star system long before this was known by astronomers, leading to all kinds of speculation about extraterrestrial visitation. The rising of the star was celebrated during the secret mystery festivals at Eleusis, and was considered by many ancient peoples to be the Central Sun of the Milky Way Galaxy.

My solar fire interpretation file has this to say about Sirius:

The mundane becoming sacred. The brightest star in the sky apart from our sun. Known to the Egyptians as "The Scorcher" or "The Shinning One", this star is one of the great stars and it has the ability to make the mundane sacred. To make the ordinary charismatic. Small actions which may lead to large consequences. This may be positive for the individual or their needs may be sacrificed to the collective.

I don't know what kind of orb you would attribute to the fixed stars, but I would lean towards a tight one, probably tighter than the two degrees we see here. Still, it will be an interesting thing to watch!

Labels: Mars, Sirius

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:02 AM :: |

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Thursday, November 01, 2007

A glad goodbye to Mercury Retrograde and a Mea Culpa

My everyday readers are very familiar with my terrible proofreading, but today I was worse than usual. I generally start preparing to write the Skywatch article days in advance so that I won't be caught at the last minute but that didn't happen today and I was scrambling to finish it this morning before an appointment. Unfortunately it contained quite a few errors and thanks to those of you who wrote me with various corrections which I have made today. I'll go through and check it tomorrow to be sure it's comprehensive and makes sense. I will attempt to blame it on Mercury Rx, but you all know it has more to do with my Gemini ascendant.

As it turned out, I realized that the appointment that I rushed to finish Skywatch for had already been rescheduled until next week, and then I spent three hours unsuccessfully trying to find a hotel or cabin for our upcoming weekend in western North Carolina that would take our dog. When I came home Rich said that he spent five minutes on the computer and found one.

When I arrived at my office my wireless network wasn't working, so I called my computer guy. He arranged to meet me after my client session. Naturally, by the time he arrived the network was working!

Tales from the trenches. Fortunately Neptune turned direct yesterday after having stationed for the past week or two in a sextile to Jupiter which has been a sweet aspect with which to end the month. The combination of Jupiter and Neptune brings a fresh and hopeful perspective that we can all definitely use! It will be within orb for another week or so which should help us recover from any lingering retrograde effects!

Labels: Mercury Retrograde

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:56 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Mercury goes direct tonight!

And not a minute too soon. After 7 pm Mercury will be traveling direct again.

Some astrologers say that the shadow period of Mercury extends after Mercury makes that direct turn, but in my experience any lingering effect of Mercury is usually not very noticeable. Mercury is stationary now as it prepares to retrograde, and because it is such a quick-moving planet its turns occur more quickly than, say, Uranus or Pluto whose "stations" can have powerful effects for weeks at a time.

Labels: Mercury Retrograde

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 12:54 PM :: |

---------------oOo--------------- Skywatch is posted!

You can read it here. Busy day today!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:50 AM :: |

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