Copyright
2003. All Rights Reserved
For the last six months, I've been looking at the movement of
Uranus and Saturn into water signs (Pisces and Cancer) as an
opportunity to celebrate our connections with each other rather
than focusing on our differences. Water, as an undifferentiated
mass, unites all things, gives life to all things, and absorbs
most things. Rituals and ceremonies use water to represent
birth, fertility, and cleansing, from baptism to rain dances
to alchemy. Morning dew, tears, and amniotic fluid illustrate
these properties of water.
From a Jungian
perspective, water represents the feeling side of life, where we are
all connected through common human emotions. September 11th united
us through emotions of grief, compassion, and outrage. Most of the
world community felt elated when the Berlin Wall came down in the late
1980's.
While I
agree with other astrologers and writers who see Uranus and Saturn
in water signs emphasizing water quality, water rights, floods, droughts,
and tsunamis, I'm more interested in how we will be affected, psychologically
and spiritually, over the next two to seven years. Is this a revolution
in spiritual consciousness, a wake-up call to nurture our creativity,
or a baptism in transforming old emotional insecurities that can separate
us into feeling at home within ourselves and more deeply connected
to one another?
The answer,
undoubtedly, is all of the above and more. And yet, learning to love
our questions and living our way into the answers is part of the fluid,
watery process we find ourselves in. Recent and current planetary alignments
point us in the right direction, providing the map and describing the
landscape we must navigate. Here are some of the pieces of the map
from where I stand.
Harmonic Convergence
In August,
1987, many of us celebrated the Harmonic Convergence when time stood
still and a window of opportunity opened. A grand fire trine linking
Jupiter in Aries and Uranus in Sagittarius to a stellium of planets
in Leo emphasized the importance of open hearts, wisdom, courage, and
creativity. It was an invitation to the Pluto in Leo generation--the
baby boomers-- to step up to the plate and use their considerable talents
wisely for the benefit of all.
A yod to the Moon in Gemini from Pluto in Scorpio and Neptune in Capricorn
signified the need to open our minds, transform old thoughts, and practice
right speech and right mindfulness, two aspects of Buddhism's eight-fold path.
May, 2000 Alignment
In early
May, 2000, seven planets were positioned in Taurus. An alignment of
this magnitude is rare and reflects larger social and cultural changes.
Just as the alignment of seven planets in Aquarius in February, 1962
ushered in a revolution of consciousness--the civil rights movement,
the end of colonialism in Africa, environmental awareness, the women's
movement-- the Taurus alignment represented a revolution in values,
the economy, the environment, and a time to bring the beauty of spirit
into form.
We've witnessed
the Stock Market's roller coaster ride, the WTO Demonstrations in Seattle,
and the increasing tensions between global economic policies, humanitarian
rights, and environmental protections. In order to manifest the beauty
of spirit, we have to ask ourselves: What do we value and what is important
to us, sharing this very small planet in the 21st century?
Mars' Perihelion
and Perigee
Mars made
the news in August, 2003 as it came closer to the Earth and the Sun,
simultaneously, for the first time in 60,000 years. Fires raged in
the Cascades of Oregon, only 35 miles from where I live. Guerrilla
warfare in Iraq replaced the accepted rules of combat. Friends, family,
neighbors, and clients were experiencing emotional conflict and inner
turmoil.
In mythology,
Mars, god of war, was accompanied into battle by Phobos (fear) and
Deimos (panic). And it is true, on a psychological level, fear and
panic are often masked by anger and aggression. When we feel scared
and backed into a corner, we often bare our teeth and growl or even
attack.
But Mars
was also the god of agriculture for the Romans and the word Mars means
to shine. So, there's another level of interpretation available that
says this is a time to grow, to shine, and to become who we really
are. What does it mean, psychologically, when Mars approaches our planet
so closely? Certainly, we've seen its' neurotic expression, seen in
the examples above. And in its' wisdom manifestation, is Mars in Pisces
trying to remind us that we are spiritual beings on a human path?
So, Mars
energy is up and in our face from the end of July when Mars went retrograde
until November 8 when Mars returns to 10 degrees of Pisces, its' position
when it went retrograde. And that is the exact time of the upcoming
Harmonic Concordance!
Harmonic Concordance
A lot is
being written about the lunar eclipse and the configuration of planets
on November 8, 2003 called the Harmonic Concordance. Here we have the
template that brings the meaning of the 1987 Harmonic Convergence,
the May 2000 alignment, Mars' perihelion and perigee, and Uranus and
Saturn in water signs into focus.
The alignment,
made up of grand earth trine and a grand water trine that form a six-pointed
star, contained within a hexagon, is breath-taking. The six-pointed
star is a symbol common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which seems
to remind us again of our connections rather than our differences.
It is the union of all opposites--masculine and feminine, light and
shadow, conscious and unconscious. The union of water and earth is
creation and nurtures all life.
The sextiles
that link the planets within the star form a container of opportunity
to bring the beauty of spirit into manifestation. This is the shape
of the honeycomb, nature's perfect storehouse. (We could learn a lot
from bees right now, and if you haven't read The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd, get hold of a copy). This alignment is the divine
feminine: Quan Yin and Tara, the Virgin of Guadalupe and White Buffalo
Calf Woman, the Holy Mother and Shakti.
It is the
yin energy of connection. We are reminded that we are spiritual beings
on a human path and we each have a way to bring the beauty of spirit
into form. Some of us are teachers, some of us are healers, some of
us are artists and artisans. Others are parents, volunteers, or community
activists. Whatever your gift is,seize the opportunity and midwife
it into form, using the energy of this extraordinary and beautiful
alignment on November 8.
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