Thursday, August 23, 2012

Checking In

It is right to acknowledge the passages that we humans go through as recorded by watching the stars and planets.  Yesterday we had the Sun move into Virgo. Actually it is not the Sun that moves, as we know, but we who are passing in front of the part of space where Virgo roughly is.  This passage coincides with each of us is transitioning our focus into a different area of our lives. Our new focus will last for the next month until the Sun apparently moves into Libra and the next area of life is highlighted.

Virgo is known for its being critical and judgmental of one's self and others  But their theme is really about personal integrity.  So if for instance, your first house or ascending sign is Virgo, then this month you will be focusing on your personal self-maybe a new haircut or a change in your dress style, wanting to present yourself in a new way-more in conformity with who you are. This passage could also bring a change in the people you associate with, no longer feeling comfortable with the familiar.

The department of life that is governed by Virgo stays that way all through our lives-so we are always a perfectionist in the same area of our lives-for good or ill. Furthermore the Sun apparently moves through that house the same time of the year each and every year. This is the chief regular bit of astrology- the Sun's passing through the same zodiacal sign always in the same order at the same time of the year,year in and year out.

Another passage we should acknowledge is planet Mars leaving equipose Libra where balance, diplomacy and politeness rule, to raging Scorpio when our passions and desires come forth.  This passage occurred  this morning. Obstacles and challenges are no match for Mars in Scorpio as the persistence to see things  through to the end result is available. As too with the Sun, when Mars enters a new sign he enters a new house or department of life in our natal chart, signifying that our energy, drive and work will be in a new area.

However Mars' orbit around the Sun is different. Mars was last in Scorpio affecting whatever the department of life that has Scorpio on the cusp, (you need to know your birth time for this) 2 1/2 years before, October 5th -November 17th 2008.  The good part of studying the cycles of the planets is understanding that we always get new chances to redo or revisit some area of life that perhaps we didn't completely take advantage of  or get the message or learning from the last time.  Mars will be in Scorpio until October 8th. So which ever house be it self, our finances, our thinking, our home life, creative endeavors, service or health etc. will get an energetic and thorough "house cleaning" as Mars is bringing strong will powers of determination and drive to complete the task at hand.

One other passage to note of late is the conjunction of Mars and Saturn which occurred last weekend.  If you go out in the evening and look to the west you can still see them together with a very bright star Spica. They are visible in the western sky until about 10:00 PM and will be setting earlier and earlier as the month progresses.  It is important to note this conjunction as it only occurs once every 2 1/2 years (Mars passage around the Sun ending up in the same place after that time, as mentioned above;  Saturn's orbit taking 29 1/2 years).

We had the New Moon in Leo last Friday on the 17th and because this conjunction of Mars and Saturn was happening at the same time rest assured that something new is brewing.  Sun and Moon coming together and Mars and Saturn coming together at the same time are big events that do not often coincide.  Mars rules our energy, focus and work, where we are efforting and Saturn rules time.  When the two get together it can mean a whole list of things.  In the ancient world the conjunction portended a death as Mars is life force and Saturn is blockage or wall.

But taking a more positive outlook we can use the two coming together not as an ending but as a beginning (which all endings are after all).  This will be in your Libra house.  If that house is your 6th of work and service, then perhaps you might expect an invitation to do something new in the month ahead-a new line of work (Mars) that involves relationships (Libra) and will take a long time (Saturn) to unfold or be hard to do but worth the effort.