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Dear Friends,

The Moon is now in the last quarter square phase.  This phase calls for taking responsibility for what was begun, consciously or not, at the Capricorn New Moon of January 15.  Mars is still retrograde in Leo, which is usually a time when it is best not be overly aggressive or assertive.  When Mars is retrograde, Venus becomes more pronounced, and Venus attracts.  Venus will have traveled through Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces by time Mars goes direct.  These are the final signs of the zodiac, and we have attracted the ending of something in our lives, whether we realize it or not.  When Mars goes direct, Venus will be in assertive, self-centered Aries, and it will be time to work on ourselves first, and then see what comes next.

Jupiter has moved into Pisces, bringing a desire to unify ourselves with something larger, but this desire could be misleading, as Jupiter is also sextile to Pluto in Capricorn, demanding that we take a deep, hard look at where we need to accept responsibility for making a change.  Pisces is where we hide, and if we cannot face the pressure to make the necessary changes, Jupiter in Pisces could fuel more refusal to do what needs to be done.  This will only make matters worse, so please step up and do what you know you need to do.

Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto are all moving toward a cardinal T-square in mid-summer, with Jupiter joining Uranus in Aries opposing Saturn, all squared by Pluto.  We are already feeling this energy, but everyday, we get closer to its complete manifestation.  This will cause many shake ups and surprises in the cardinal houses of your personal horoscope.  Out with the old and in with the new!  There are new things for us to do, whether we want to or not!  We need to move with the energy and be ready to accept what the future holds.  Now is a good time to remember the old saying that “time waits for no man.”  (If you don’t know where these points are in your chart, then now is a good time to find out! )*

This all background to what is happening this week.

On Sunday, Venus will join Neptune, starting a new cycle.  Neptune represents inspiration on the positive side, and illusion on the negative side.  We must have dreams to inspire us, but we must also be realistic: This is the message from the Saturn/Pluto square.   We would all be wise to measure our success by the progress we make, not by the presence of a “perfect” ending.  By the time this July is over, we will all have radically different ideas of what we need or want in order to be happy.  If we use our dreams to inspire us and we use our energy to move towards that goal with common sense, respect, and responsibility, then we will weather the upcoming challenges well.

Mercury will hit the last degree of Capricorn on Tues and Venus will be in the last degree of Aquarius on Thursday.  When a planet is in the last degree of a sign, it is time to end something.  Mercury is the messenger and Venus represents love, money, and relationships.  Capricorn is the sign concerned with tradition and responsibility and its ruler, Saturn, is in Libra.  Libra is ruled by Venus and Venus in Aquarius is ruled by Saturn.  We call this a mutual reception, which means that they are working especially well together.  Being responsible and working together for mutual benefit is always a good idea, and this is what we should have been doing over the past few months.  Saturn in Libra, especially since it went retrograde on Jan 13th, has been showing us where cooperation is needed.  Venus is Aquarius may well have been “divorcing” us from something that or someone who wasn’t good for us.  A certain level of detachment is a strong trait of Aquarius energy.  Perhaps the time for “working things out” is over with respect to the dilemmas that have been facing you for the past 2 or more years.  Saturn will move back into Virgo and oppose Uranus in Pisces on April 26th.  This will be the final showdown for these two planets in mutable signs.  Mutable signs like to fix things, but if the thing cannot be fixed, then Uranus will bring a surprise ending, change the playing field, and when they meet again in cardinal signs in July, a new way of relating will be necessary.  One thing is for sure, if we don’t release what we need to so that the situation can end, it will continue to provide a source of unhappiness and drama that will prevent us from accessing the happiness that is every one’s birthright.

Venus will move into Pisces, and this sign is co-ruled by Neptune and Jupiter.  As I have mentioned, Jupiter is already in Pisces and Neptune is still in Aquarius.  These are the balsamic signs, which means they are about endings.  These signs represent a time to wrap things up, to catch up on unfinished business, and to tie up loose ends.  Well, that is perfect!  The heavens are reinforcing their message.  We need to make room for the new things coming our way!  We need to get the old things finished so that we have energy for the new things!  Both Pisces and Neptune have an affiliation with dreams, and we know that Neptune is our inspiration.  Pay close attention to your dreams: journal and meditate about them.  They are images from your deep subconscious mind trying to lead you to happier pastures.  Mars is retrograde through March 8th in Leo, bringing up things from your heart that need attention.  Your dreams will be a good source of information.  If you have a bad dream, just remember that it is only a message, and try to find the upside of the dream, the positive aspect.  For instance, I had a dream the other night that something was chasing me.  I was terrified.  Once I woke up, though, I realized that whatever it was couldn’t catch me, so I had no need to be fearful.  Well, I do have some fear about a few things right now, so this realization gave me both comfort and the strength to persevere.  A simple change in perspective can make a huge difference.

Friday February 12th brings an adjustment period as retrograde Mars forms a quincunx with Pluto.  It is time to take responsibility for something before we can move forward and realize our dreams.  Pluto is square to Saturn in Libra that day, so expect the adjustment to involve money or other concrete resources, real estate, and - of course- relationships!  This is the final day of the balsamic moon just before the New Moon in Aquarius!  The New Moon is a time to set intentions and commit to creating something with the energy available.  I’ll be writing about the Aquarius New Moon next week, but you can come to the Standard on Miami Beach this Wednesday, February 10th and get the scoop early!  Hope to see you there!

Its on, people!  Don’t waste time hiding or being fearful… Accept responsibility, be practical, be kind, and be prepared for the unexpected.  Its coming your way soon!

With love,

m

*for a donation of $5 or more, I’ll snail mail you a printout of your chart so you will know where your planets and house cusps are.  Please email me at markspringle@gmail.com and put CHART OFFER in the subject line.  I’ll send you a paypal link and request your birth data and mailing address at that time.

Dear Friends,

On Dec 31st, we had a Lunar Eclipse at 10 Cancer which was followed by a Solar Eclipse at 25 Capricorn.  Taken together, these eclipses are pointing the way towards a brighter future.  For both eclipses, the Sun was in Capricorn, reminding us that the more positive qualities of the Capricorn archetype will be useful guides in our advancement.  These qualities include patience, diligence, strength, and loyalty.  The Lunar Eclipse asked us to release aspects of the past that were holding us back and preventing us from engaging our inner Capricorn.  The Solar Eclipse was an invitation to embrace this inner Capricorn, to allow the very best of the our Capricorn natures to integrate and direct us in the coming months.

As an Earth sign, Capricorn is practical.  Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, currently in Libra and squaring Pluto, also in Capricorn.  This brings a need for balance and the requirement to take responsibility for our situations, especially those whose nexus was in late 1982, when the current cycle between Saturn and Pluto began.  Looking back to what was developing in our lives in late 1982 could help shine some very revealing light on our present day situations.  Balance is achieved by correcting a force with an equal and opposite force, so the further off track we may have been, the harsher the corrective balancing energy may be.  Balance and “easy” or “gentle” are not synonymous, so beware of thinking that because Saturn is in Libra that things should be somehow “easy.”  As a matter of fact, Saturn is still in opposition to Uranus and will be through the summer of 2010, and there hasn’t been anything easy about this opposition since it started in late 2008.

Solar eclipses are new moons, a good time to set intentions, and they have a power which lasts for a year or more.  25 degrees of Capricorn has a Virgoan flavor, so the co-ruler of the Solar Eclipse, along with Saturn, was Mercury, who was stationary direct conjunct Pluto for the eclipse.    With each of the rulers of the eclipses having a direct Pluto connection, we can bet there was nothing gentle or easy about them!  Pluto demands getting to the bottom of things, no matter what!  Mercury stationing and conjunct Pluto at the Solar Eclipse was making some hard truths evident.  There will be no wiggle room as we must accept this deep reality about our situation and learn how to move forward in a very patient and diligent way, all the while paying attention to the details!  Every good Virgo knows that the devil is in the details.

Venus was heavily involved in both eclipse as well, conjuncting the Sun at both eclipses, while her cosmic counterpart Mars was retrograde in Leo.  When Mars is retrograde, he allows Venus to be the stronger of the pair.  Venus is the principle of attraction that operates in the universe, kind of like magnetism.  Venus in Capricorn, especially at the Solar Eclipse, was asking us to be practical and cautious and to adjust our needs and desires on a very basic level.  Venus in Capricorn is not extravagant or luxurious.  She is somewhat business-like and understands that, for the time being, practical concerns take precedence over more frivolous matters.

This sets the stage for our entire year to come!  No matter what happens or where we go from here, we must remember that our stage is set.  Venus and the Sun have moved into Aquarius where, once again, Venus is cool and detached, more concerned with concepts and ideals over the mundane realities of life.  They will travel together through the first week of February, but as the Sun follows Venus, we approach the Leo Full Moon on January 30th (EST).  A full moon is a time to realize and to release.  The full moon energy is a combination of the light of the Sun being reflected off of the shadow of the Moon.  The Sun in Aquarius brings to mind the higher qualities of Aquarius: humanitarian pursuit of the common good and making room for the individual within the group.  The Moon is Leo shows us where we need to look for the purest forms of Self-Expression without the Leo shadows of ego or pretense.  Understanding the need to integrate our deepest and most spiritual yearnings within the larger social framework of our lives will be the result of this check up.

Mars will be retrograde conjunct the Full Moon, giving us the strength to express our subconscious desires for Self-Expression.  Because Mars is retrograde, Venus will be the leader of the two.  Venus will be in the Gemini decanate of Aquarius, bringing a fact finding quality to the reserved but social planet of love and money.  Furthermore, there may be a need for communicating our needs and desires with others in order to gain the information we need to feel safe and secure about moving ahead.  This is further supported by Mercury’s continued daily approach to the North Node on Feb 2.  Mercury joining the North Node in Capricorn will symbolize a time when we will have received the message of the Full Moon and find that practical way to take responsibility for processing and communication what needs to be processed and communicated.

Some of us may want to act, to propel our egos onto a stage where we can release what we have been holding, but now may not be the time for overt action.  The real action that needs to happen right now is between our ears and in our hearts.  With Jupiter newly in Pisces, direct the need to act towards charity and activism rather than more ego-centered action.  Doing so will buy the time we need to gather and process information, and it will also honor the humanitarian influence of Aquarius.  We are still in the beginning stages of a very deep and meaningful change, and acting out of discomfort or frustration could set us back more than it moves us forward.  Mars is the action planet, and he will be retrograde until March 10, while the Sun wont be in an action-oriented sign until he enters Aries, the sign ruled by Mars, until March 21st.  In the meantime, we should be taking account of what is really important to us, what we need in order to feel safe expressing our true Selves, making a plan for success, and listening twice as much as we speak so that when the time comes to act, we can do so with confidence and effect.

I would like to thank all of you who read my column for your support and to let you know how dear you are to me.  Last week, I did a poor job of explaining the Venus synodic cycle and its phases.  I also inadvertently mentioned the upcoming Leo Full Moon as a Lunar Eclipse, which it is not.  I’d like to blame Mercury Retrograde for these shortcomings, but in reality, they were were my mistakes, plain and simple.  I don’t think my message was off track because of these mistakes, but in the name of taking responsibility for my actions, I wanted to acknowledge these mistakes to you.

Being practical and grounded, “keeping it real,” will be a very important thing to do for this entire year.  Saturn will be opposing Uranus twice more before then end of July, and the second time in late July will involve a Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, cardinal (action) signs, and the Pluto square.  Whatever we thought about 2009, by the end of 2010, we wont even remember 2009!  Being practical, diligent, loyal, and grounded as these events unfold will be our best protection against the sling and arrows of outrageous fortune.

with love

m

Dear Friends,

How are you feeling as you sit to read this?  On New Year’s Eve, we had a Lunar Eclipse at 10 Cancer.  This eclipse required that we release something from our past that was preventing us from moving ahead in a responsible, sensible, and pragmatic manner.  Just this week, Saturn stationed and is now slowly moving backwards through the heavens, giving us time to integrate the lesson of his first ten weeks in Libra.  Whenever a planet moves into a new sign, there is a shift of planetary energy into a new mode of expression.  Saturn was in Virgo from September 2007 to October 2009 and the emphasis was on work, health, and service.  In October 2009, Saturn moved into Libra, bringing the focus of its energies to Libra-ruled areas like relationships, balance, and harmony.   We have all had a pop quiz these past ten weeks to see how we are in our relationships.  Now that Saturn is retrograde, we have some time to ponder the results of our quiz and to make the adjustments necessary in order to move forward with more balance.

The Solar Eclipse at 25 Capricorn on January 15th brought the need to incorporate the Capricorn qualities of restraint, practicality, dependability, patience, and authority to our emotional nature.  We are just completing a year of massive changes socially, economically, and politically, and perhaps even personally.  Part of this process of change has been fueled by the need to evolve from past habits that, although at one time useful, do not serve us well now.  The Lunar Eclipse on December 31 put a definitive stamp on that need.  If we are to grow successfully and happily into our futures, we must accept that some our past must be released to make room for the new.  Letting go of the past is difficult, often because we are so used to the patterns of our pasts that without them we feel adrift, lost, and unconnected.  Well, maybe we are, but that isn’t bad, and sometimes we must accept a certain level of discomfort if we are to grow.  Remember those “growing pains’ we had as children and teenagers?   Well, just because our physical bodies stop growing, does not mean that our emotional and spiritual bodies stop.  The Solar Eclipse is pointing out to us that now is not the time to be sentimental, scared, or dependent.  We must use our more practical and earthy qualities to see us through this time of apparent turmoil.  Panicking during a crisis is not the answer to surviving it.

On this same day, Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn is stationing as it conjuncts Pluto.  Mercury represents our minds and our ability to process and share information.  In Capricorn, Mercury is very practical, systematic, and patient.  Normally quick and fleeting, Mercury in Capricorn is slower and methodical.  Pluto brings intensity to any situation and cuts straight to the core of the matter.  Again, the message for us is to be focused on the REAL issues, the core of the matter, and to address them with the gravity they deserve.  Superficial or careless attention to the issues facing us will only make them worse.

Both of these eclipses involved a Sun-Venus conjunction in Capricorn.  This cycle started in late March 2009 with Venus retrograde in Aries.  This was a time when we should have been doing a personal makeover, shifting our desires to be more in line with what we need, creating the possibility for receiving more from ourselves and our experiences.  Now, we are in the “accepting” responsibility phase of the cycle.  Whatever we did or didn’t do, we are now being called to take responsibility for it, even as we are called upon to release the worn out expressions of our pasts.  While Venus was conjuncting these two eclipses, Mars, the rules or Aries, was retrograde, making Venus the more powerful planet.  Venus rules Libra and Taurus, and as such has dominion over relationships, finances, and creativity.  Finding practical ways to implement these themes into our release of the past and focused engagement with our future will surely bring good results.

The higher octave of Venus is Jupiter.  Where Venus works on a personal level, Jupiter works on a social level.  Jupiter expands our experience.  On Sunday, January 17th, Jupiter will move into Pisces, a sign which it rules.  Pisces is the sign we associated with spirituality, sacrifice, and selfless devotion.  Jupiter is very happy in its own sign, and we will see people being more generous and more focused on expanding their spiritual connectedness.  This is great news, because the world could use some of this healing, selfless energy right now.  It is interesting to me how we are already seeing this outpouring of kindness and generosity with regards to the tragedy in Haiti.  The response to this natural disaster seems more swift and more coordinated than responses to other natural disasters in the recent past.  We CAN learn from our mistakes.

Venus herself will move into Aquarius on Monday, January 18th.  Aquarius is the sign we associate with humanitarian ideals: it is the great Red Cross of the zodiac.  Although Venus looses some of her personal charm in this sign because of the “big picture” view of Aquarius, energetically, it distills the larger message of Jupiter in Pisces down so that it can be consumed on a personal level.  We may see people behaving in more humanitarian or altruistic ways during this period, and since Venus rules money, we can also expect people to open their wallets for the causes in which they believe.

The lunation begun by the Solar Eclipse of January 15th will come to a head with the Full Moon at 10 degrees 14 minutes Leo on January 30th (EST) which will be conjunct Mars retrograde,  giving us the strength to express our needs.  Mercury will be retrograde only in Earth signs this year, and this makes the call for practical and common sense approaches to our lives very clear.  Now is the time to be practical, loyal, patient, determined, and realistic: these are all qualities of Earth signs.  Authority, structure, and common sense should be the guidelines we use to make decisions and to direct our thoughts and our actions.  Saturn and Uranus are still in opposition, and Jupiter will enter this equation once he moves into Aries,  expanding the upheaval we associate with Uranus at 1 degree of Aries, a very significant degree of Aries.  The summer has some big surprises in store, so get a jump on things and start being PRACTICAL.

with love

m

Dear Friends,

I am always interested in the way cycles play out.  Astrology is the study of cycles: astrologers study the cycles of the planets and the cycles of human development.  There is a correlation between the two, without doubt.  We can understand the development of human cycles more easily with the aide of planetary cycles because the planetary cycles are mathematical, and therefore we can anticipate them.  Once we know what to look for, it becomes easy to see it.

A good example of this would be the Neptune, Chiron, and Jupiter triple conjunction in Aquarius over the past year.  Aquarius rules the Internet, as well as networking, and we have seen an unprecedented increase in the use of and reliance upon social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter over this past year.  Of course, Chiron can be the wound or the healing of a wound, so all that glitters is not gold.  For some, the reliance upon social networking sites may actually increase feelings of isolation and loneliness because the Internet is no substitute for real face to face interaction.  On the other hand, I am sure there are withdrawn people who have become more open and more connected from using these tools, as well.  Twice this past week from different sources, I have heard Sartre quoted as saying, “Freedom is what you do with what has been given to you.”  Yes, this is the basis for astrology, as I practice it. Astrology is a better tool when used descriptively, rather than predicatively.  We all have a certain astrological DNA with which we are born, but we can certainly overcome the “negative” aspects through our own use of our own gifts, and we all have them.  This is the message of the movie “Precious,” as well as the example that many high profile people present.  Obama, Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, and a host of others have had very difficult beginnings in life and made it to the top.  Of course, there are plenty of people who had superior DNA who have ended up at the bottom of the heap, too.  Our intentions, along with the choices we make, direct our happiness.

The year began with a Lunar Eclipse at 10 Cancer, describing the need to release the past.  The immediate past has been dominated by not only the triple conjunction in Aquarius, but the Saturn and Uranus opposition.  Saturn represents the structure we need to support our growth, and Uranus represents the need to innovate.  Of course, Pluto is in Capricorn, which is ruled by Saturn, and Pluto makes deeps changes that result in evolutionary progress.  This past year has been a time when the need for stability and structure has been competing with the need for upgrades to the system.  Well, we are near the end of this phase.  Beginning the New Year with the Lunar Eclipse in Cancer signaled that now is the appropriate time to release the past, both recent and distant.  How can we move forward and encourage growth when we are stuck in the past, clinging to what no longer exists.

On January 15, we will have a North Nodal Solar Eclipse at 25 Capricorn.  North Nodal eclipses look to the future and mark a time when we need to focus on what is in front of us.  For the two week period between these eclipses, both Mars and Mercury are retrograde.  Retrograde planets give us time to work out the math of our lives.  They give us a second chance to learn a lesson or to do some inner work so that we can move forward successfully in the outer world once the planets are direct.  The Lunar Eclipse asked for a release of the past, the retrograde planets give us time to “do the math” on that request, and then the Solar Eclipse comes to usher in the future, free from the drag of a past that doesn’t serve us any more.  It is so poetic to me, and so powerful.  By now, we all know what we need to do, the question is: Will we do it?  This is why I started the column with that quote from Sartre.  We are free to make powerful changes for ourselves, but will we?  This is the “rub” to which Shakespeare refers in “Hamlet.”  Lucky for us, Saturn will be retrograde.

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, so we look to Saturn for a message about how to proceed bravely into this new world unfettered by the dross of the past.  On Wednesday, January 13, just 2 days before the Eclipse, Saturn will station retrograde.  Saturn is the schoolmaster, often stern, but when he is retrograde, he is more like a patient tutor.  He knows we will need more time to get secure with the new foundation we are supposed to be laying for ourselves.  Too much freedom all at once can be terrifying, so Saturn is allowing us time complete the releasing process while simultaneously integrating the new structure on a deeper level before requiring more hard work from us once Saturn re-enters Libra with a square to Uranus in Aries on July 26.

Also sitting with the Eclipse is Venus.  Venus rules beauty, balance, money, and relationships.  Venus is the receptive, open principle of love, whereas Mars is the assertive, selfish principle.  Mars is retrograde in Leo through March 10th, working on deeper interior levels to activate the heart and to make sure that what we release and what we create during this period is real and true for us.  If it is not, then we haven’t learned the lesson of Saturn in Virgo and the drama of the past two and one half years will have been wasted.  Since Mars is retrograde, he is taking a backseat to Venus, which allows the principles of love and beauty to direct the transformation into the future.  This is great news!  The only person we are fighting is our Self!  Once we can learn to honor our needs and desires free from the past and with an eye to a bright future, we can begin to experience the abundance of the universe.

While Saturn is retrograde, he will opposes Uranus in Pisces once more on April 26th to finish stocking up our tools boxes and to finish off whatever loose ends are still nagging us from the past.  By the time he approaches the cardinal opposition on July 26, we will be ready to begin with the new, second phase of the Saturn-Uranus cycle for the next 22 or so years, living happier, more fulfilled lives and teaching what we have learned along the way.

Solar Eclipses are New Moons with a longer shelf life.  This New Moon sets the tone for the entire year.  This is a year of new beginnings whose success will be based upon our ability to break out of the old patterns of the past which have kept us emotionally chained to situations which, in reality, ended long ago.   The times, they are a changin‘, and so must we.  No need to feel guilty about or weighed down by the past.  Release it all and allow the seed that is pulsing with life deep inside of you to put out roots and grow.  Life is for living.

with love

m

Happy New Year Friends!

Well, can we all agree that 2009 was a year of change?  I hope so!  More changes are coming, and they are all good, assuming that we let go of what we need to let go of.  There has been much in the media about tonight’s “blue” moon, which is the second full moon in any given month, but more importantly, tonight’s Full Moon is a Lunar Eclipse.  A Lunar Eclipse is like a Full Moon on steroids: its effects last up to 6 months or more.

The eclipse is happening at 10 degrees Cancer 15 minutes, which is the Scorpio decanate of Cancer.  Also, the South Node is in Cancer, so this eclipse is a South Nodal Eclipse.  South Nodal eclipses require us to release something, and Cancer represents our past, our subconsciousness, and early childhood.  There is the need to release something from our pasts to which we cling, like an anchor that keeps from breaking free from the bottom and rising to the surface.  Cancer is also concerned with security and family issues, and we can see that these two ideas reinforce each other.  Full Moons bring things to a head so that they can be released, and this Full Moon is showing us what we need to release in order to break free from the tyranny of our out-moded pasts in order to bring more stability and security into our lives.  All things change, and we are certainly not the young children we once were, but sometimes, we cling to the coping patterns that we established as young children, even if our circumstances have changed.  However, if we are still coping in the same manner, we might find that even though our circumstances have changed, our emotional security has not.  By now, we all should have a pretty good idea of what patterns we need to break.  This was the challenge of the Saturn/Uranus opposition over the past year or more: to identify what needs to go (Uranus) and what needs to stay (Saturn).

Scorpio is the co-ruler of this Eclipse, and Scorpio is know for its depth and its focus.  Mars and Pluto co-rule Scorpio, so they also co-rule this eclipse.  Pluto purifies by removing toxins, and as well as know, the removal of toxins can be difficult.  Pluto also pressurizes, so that the weak links can be identified, removed, and rebuilt better and stronger.  Pluto works from the depths, showing itself on the surface only after the most importantpurifications have taken place.  Mars is retrograde in Leo, creating the space to internalize our heart’s desire so that it can be molded into the new framework that Pluto is building.  With Pluto, all renewal is a function of removing the dross, so welcome this energy into your lives by removing all things which you no longer need.  A ritual closet cleaning or tooth brushing the corners of your living room would be a great way to pay homage to this energy.

Of course, Pluto is in Capricorn, so structure, order, and detail are required.  This is no time to go crazy and throw the baby out with the bath water.  Pluto is sitting with Venus and the Sun, all in opposition to the Moon (of course, the Sun-Moon opposition is what creates a Full Moon), and Mercury retrograde and the North Node are both in Capricorn, as well.  Capricorn is a serious sign which recognizes the need for structure.  However, Pluto also sees where some serious renovation is required.  The predominance of planets in Capricorn all opposing this Cancer Moon makes it clear that although release and change are necessary, there are some things worth saving, and we need a plan.  Mercury retrograde gives us the ability to re-think and re-organize so that as we give way to Pluto’s demand, we can also recognize where we are better off maintaining the status quo.  Pluto is fine with this, for he has no interest in purging that which is healthy.

Venus rules money, and we all know that money has been an issue this year.  How does money affect our emotional security?  If you are like me, having some makes you feel more secure.  Well, we cant have it if we spend it all of the time, and Venus in Capricorn is a miser, for sure!  In order to get interest, you have to have some capital to begin with.  Again, Venus sitting with Pluto and the Sun, with 2 other luminaries in Capricorn, are making it clear to us that less is more.  Self-restraint and long-term planning will bring much more lasting security that the instant gratification of our insecurities, which is what we normally do when we shop to feel better about ourselves.  Perhaps for this reason, Mercury and Mars are retrograde, demanding more introspection and analysis, rather than action.  Now is the time to plan rather than act, and even though the beginning of the year may feel “slow”because of these retrograde planets, the intent is for us to plan, to organize, and to re-group.  By the time action is necessary, and it will be, we will have a plan to put into action.

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives!  Be joyous and celebrate!  Renew yourselves by giving thanks for what you have and still need, and by thanking the past for its lessons and gifts.  Honor nature’s cycle of renewal and rebirth by releasing what needs to go so that there will be room for all of the bounty to come!

with love and many wishes for a New Year full of happiness!

m

Happy Holidays Everyone!

The holidays are upon us and everyone is scurrying around like mad trying to get last minute preparations completed, but I would like to take some time to review the significance of the Winter Solstice which is happening, technically, at the very moment I am writing this missive for you.  The Winter Solstice marks the day when the Sun enters 0 degrees Capricorn in the Northern Hemisphere and we associate this with the first day of winter.  Capricorn is one of four cardinal signs.  Every time the Sun enters a cardinal sign we have a change of seasons: 0 Aries is Spring, 0 Cancer is Summer, and 0 Libra is Fall.  Cardinal points are points of activation: they signal a time when a new energy needs to express itself.  The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, a day with more darkness than light.  This is the time of year when we need to turn inward and tend to our own subconscious needs.  The longer days of summer are a time of enjoying the outdoors, vacations, and general external involvement, but the longer nights of the winter stimulate more introspection, review, and goal setting for the upcoming year.

The ruler of Capricorn is Saturn, who is currently in Libra.  Libra is the sign that deals with relationship, balance, and harmony.  Capricorn is concerned with structure, tradition, and authority.  From now until the Sun enters the next cardinal point of Aries in March 21, our mission as defined by the solstice is to cultivate balance and harmony with respect to the authority we recognize in our lives, the traditions we honor, and the structures or habits we have created over our lifetimes.  Relationships in general will be balanced, including our relationships with ourselves.

At the time of the Solstice, the Sun is conjunct Pluto.  Pluto is the planet of evolution.  Just as fish lost their gills so that they could move onto land, Pluto always requires that we let go something in order to grow.  The loss is necessary so that we can evolve to the next higher state of our development.  Growth cannot occur without change, and Pluto is the agent of that change.   Pluto pressurizes our experience, and as the pressure increases, the weak spots in our structures begin to fail, and we experience crisis.  Usually, this crisis requires that we let go of the weak area so that it can be rebuilt anew, stronger and more in tune with our needs.  With Saturn in Libra, this will be an especially good time to identify those weak spots, because Saturn, the builder, will balance out the weak area by building it back more strongly.  Once this has happened, we will feel great, like we have a new set of internal armor able to protect us from further assault.  Of course, identifying the weak areas wont be so fun, but this pain is necessary to make us aware of the need for growth.

The day before the Solstice, Mars went retrograde in the sign of Leo.  Mars represents the animal instincts: the need to for us to create action in order to satisfy ourselves.  Mars usually spends about two months in each sign, moving through its cycle with the Sun in roughly 2 years.  Mars entered Leo on October 17th of this year, went retrograde at 19 Leo on December 20th, and will turn direct at 0 Leo on March 10th, remaining in Leo until June 6th, 2010.  Whereas Mars usually only spends 8 weeks in a sign, he will spend 31 weeks in the sign of Leo!  This is certainly significant.  When a planet is retrograde, this gives us a chance to correct something that we have done poorly — or not at all — certainly not to the best of our ability.  When direct, Mars is a warrior, but when retrograde, Mars is a guardian.  Leo rules the heart, and as such is always concerned with vitality and that which makes us feel alive and vibrant.  With Mars retrograde, the challenge is to sit still and to protect the source of our connections with Life.  When Mars is retrograde, the time is not right to pursue or to challenge.  Sitting still and protecting what makes us feel vibrant and alive will allow us to reconnect with our Source so that, when the time is right, we can move forward again with renewed strength, vigor, and clarity about what is important to us and what is not.

Of course, the fact that Mars goes retrograde in Leo at the same time that we enter winter, the time of introspection and goal setting, is very convenient.  This past year has been one of great turmoil and upset for many, many people.  Even if not directly, we have all certainly been affected indirectly by the meltdown of the economy, the shift in the financial markets, the slump in the housing markets, the governmental reforms, and emotional meltdowns of many of our friends and loved ones.  Well, Pluto has been doing his pressure checks and the weak areas have been exposed.  We are all responsible for taking care of what needs to be taken care of.  With all of this change and upheaval, it makes sense that now would be a good time to regroup, to acknowledge our losses and our weaknesses, and to reconnect with the source of our happiness and to set new goals so that when the time is ripe for action, we can move forward and continue to evolve towards our higher selves.

For even more assistance with this review, Mercury will go retrograde on December 26th.  Mercury is the messenger, and when he is retrograde, the message is for us!  Mercury will turn retrograde at 21 Capricorn and turn direct again at 5 Capricorn on January 15th, 2010.  When Mercury is retrograde, we have a second chance to do something, to correct a mistake, to adopt a new perspective.  When Mercury is retrograde, it is never a good time to begin something new, to sign contracts, or to buy big ticket items because we do not have all of the information we need to make an informed decision.  Mercury retrograde is a time to re-do, re-think, re-organize, and re-connect.  It is rare that Mercury and Mars retrograde at the same time, but the message is CLEAR: do not push, do not be aggressive, do not start anything new.  All of this retrograde activity, happening at the time of the Solstice, is designed to give us time to reconnect with our heart and the things which nourish us when nothing else will.  If we are spending all of this time chasing rainbows or fighting dragons, we will miss our chance to reconnect with our inner Source, and when we return finally ready to rest and re-connect, we will have missed our chance.   As mentioned above, Mercury is ruled by Saturn in Libra for this retrograde, and our thoughts should be focused on redefining the authority of our lives, our understanding of what it means to be responsible, and nurturing harmony through the creation of balance in our relationships.

Now more than ever, it is important that we take the time we need in order to reconnect with the deep inner workings of our own psyches.  Change is upon us, surrounding us like an angry swell on the vast ocean.  Allowing our attention to wander could have grave consequences, being irresponsible will certainly create havoc.  If we are clear about who we are, what is important to us, and what we need to protect, then no amount of change can threaten our security, even if our external experience shifts, rocks, or rolls.

My wish for each and everyone of you, as well as for all beings everywhere, is that this time of introspection, protection, and reconnection will create more happiness and more growth in each individual experience, thereby creating a society of people more in touch with themselves and better to able to love everyone else.

With love

m

Dear Friends,

I hope your holidays are merry and bright so far, and continue to be for the rest of the season.  As you know, time moves in cycles: a time to plant, a time to grow, a time to reap, etc.  Astrology is a study of those cycles.  Many cycles can happen concurrently: we have moon cycles (a month), sun cycles (a year), and combination cycles, like the current Saturn and Pluto cycle (38 years), the current Saturn and Uranus cycle (44 years), or the current Jupiter and Saturn cycle (20 years).

Each planet represents a sign, and each sign represents an archetype.  Archetypes are universal symbols of a certain type of energy or mode of expression.  An archetype is larger than life and pure.  As humans, we are a complex mixture of these twelve archetypes.  As the planets travel through the heavens, they share with us a message about how to express the archetypes each of us carry in our unique way.  These archetypes are symbolized by the planets and the signs through which they are moving, and these movements occur in cycles.  Understanding the cycles we are in and the expressions of the archetypes in the cycles can be a beacon for us.  If we understand the message of the cycle, then we can better direct or express our own personal archetype.

I have spoken at length about the larger cycles of Saturn with Pluto, Uranus, and to a lesser extent, Jupiter, over the past two years.  All of these cycles are riunning concurrently, along with the solar and lunar cycles, not to mention many others.  I emphasize Saturn in my column because the archetype represented by Saturn is FORM: structure, discipline, tradition, and authority.  Without these things, we would not be individuals, we would be one undifferentiated mass.  We need Saturn in order to have FORM: shape, direction, structure, authority.  Just as biblical tales refer to the chaos out of which God brought form, Saturn is the symbol we use for this archetype in the language of astrology.

Pluto represents transformation and purification; Uranus represents rebellion and change, and Jupiter represents expansion and optimism.  (I am simplifying here for ease of explanation.  All archetypes embody both positive and negative expressions of the energy.)  Each of these planets is at a unique point in its cycle with Saturn.  With Pluto, the cycle started at 27 Libra in November 1982.  Libra is the sign of harmony and beauty, relationships and balance.  This promise of this cycle is to transform our relationships and to bring balance and harmony into them.   However, with Pluto, nothing can be transformed without letting go of the impurities.  The “letting go” is the hard part, because sometimes we have to let go of things to which we are attached because they are preventing our evolution.  With Uranus, the cycle began in October 1988 at 27 Sagittarius.  This cycle promised to broaden our minds and our horizons through the inclusion of new and seemingly radical perspectives in the Saturn-ruled areas of our lives: authority, government, tradition, and all other structures.  The issue here is that the status quo never wants to relinquish power to the younger, more radical generation.  When the phase is full, as it has been for 2+ years now, there is a struggle, a tug of war between the old and the new.  Saturn always wins (we must maintain some sort of structure), but Uranian ideas are incorporated into the status quo, so that what once seemed radical (racial equality became law in the US the last time Saturn opposed Uranus) becomes common, and what was once common (allegedly, abstention from pre-marital sex) becomes old-fashioned and out-dated.  With Jupiter, Saturn began their current 20 year cycle at 22 Taurus in May 2000.  This cycle promised to bring structure to our expansion with regards to our stability, our finances, and our values.  The trick for this cycle was to learn that less is more.  Even when there is the possibility of having more, more isnt necessarily better.  Obviously, many of us missed that message, or we wouldnt be in the financial situation in which we find ourselves today.  However, perhaps through this trial, we are learning the lesson that less IS more and that things we can sustain long-term are worth the effort and perhaps even the sacrifice that might be necessary in order to sustain them.

These three cycles are the background for the current lunar cycle.  A lunar cycle starts at the New Moon, culminates at the Full Moon, and ends as the balsamic moon turns new again.  Each New Moon represents a time to plant a seed with respect to the archetype it represents.  On Wednesday, December 16th, we will have a New Moon at 24 degrees Sagittarius, which is conjunct the degree of the beginning of the current Saturn/Uranus cycle as well as the Galactic Center.  The Galactic Center is thought by some astrologers to be the second strongest point in a chart, because it represents the Sun of our Sun, or the source of all energy in our galaxy, our solar system, and our chart.  The beginning of the current Saturn/Uranus cycle promised to radically alter and expand the structure of tradition, government, and authority.  This New Moon is the lunation where this promise can finally begin to fulfill itself in our lives.  This is the time to make a commitment to allow the structures of our lives to change in such a way that growth and evolution can occur by integrating new perspectives and means of expression.  Even a small gesture can represent a much larger dedication to EVOLUTION.  Even I,  Saturn-ruled Capricorn rising, brought myself into the Age of Aquarius this week by upgrading my 5 year old cell phone to a new Droid.  Not such a big deal seemingly, but on a deeper level, I opened myself up to a new way of life and a new way of connecting with it.  I’ve only had the phone for less than a week, but let me tell you, it has definitely revolutionized my life, or at least it feels that way now… Uranus at his best!  What are our personal feelings on authority, structure, government, tradition, and parenting (all aspects of the Saturn archetype) and how can we incorporate a new perspective in order to facilitate evolution in these areas?  What do we need to let go of in order for this process to move forward? The proximity of this New Moon to these two points in the zodiac creates a super charged New Moon that brings much promise, but just like the biblical edict tells us: Saturn helps those who help themselves.

There is much more to this New Moon, but I cannot begin to share it all here without writing a 5000 word column!  If would like to hear or know more, I am always available for personal consultations.  For this holiday season, I am offering a special rate of $120 per 75 min session!  That’s a 20% discount from my regular pricing.  I make a great gift, too, so please consider giving me to someone very special!  Email me directly at markspringle@gmail.com for more information or to schedule.

Happy Holidaze!

with love

m

Always fun and informative!   Mark and Lori lead a a discussion of the new moon energies and how to make the most of them!  For an extra $5, Mark and Lori will review your chart and explain the ways in which you can direct this energy in your life to help you to achieve your goals.  Please email birth day, time, and place to markspringle@gmail.com .    Cocktails available!

Dear Friends,

How did we survive the Gemini Full Moon on Wed, December 2?  Gemini is the mutable air sign, concerned with communication and the acquisition of information.  A Full Moon shows how we are doing in a particular area of our lives - it gives us a progress report on our current state of affairs.  I noticed that many people were complaining about their Facebook pages not working and cell phones and computers lost or broken, etc.  The ruler of Gemini is Mercury and the ruler of the Sun in Sagittarius (which was opposite the Moon) is Jupiter.  Mercury was square to Uranus that day, and Uranus always brings surprises: its up to us and the manner in which we process the surprise to determine whether or not the surprise is welcome.   Jupiter was conjunct Chiron and Neptune, a triple conjunction in Aquarius which has been in place since last January and that is slowly fading.  Also, Jupiter was opposed by Mars in Leo.  Mars is in his shadow and moving very slowly right now, so this is also a configuration that will last for several more weeks.  Jupiter sitting with Chiron and Neptune is creating a window where we can either heal ourselves or make our wounds deeper.  With this configuration operating, we have, over the past year, either figured out how to take better care of ourselves, or we have made a string of poor decisions which has dug our holes even deeper.  Either way, the opposition to Mars makes us want to break free from the wound and escape its pull.  Well, the best way to work with an opposition is to reconcile the elements of each polarity.  By allowing the healing to happen (which means facing the issues head on), we can create a better platform upon which to follow our dreams (Mars in Leo).

Imagine that the triple conjunction in Aquarius is an incubator providing a certain set of constant values, maintaining a certain fixed, that therefore artificial, atmosphere in which we are facing other challenges simultaneously.  The conditions of this atmosphere are ripe for healing, but we must also face the additional challenges of our development if we are going to grow and be truly well.  The situation reminds me of John Travolta’s early movie “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.” Just because we are insulated - or isolated - from reality doesn’t mean we aren’t affected by it and that we do not affect it.  Whether or not we face the remaining challenges will determine how successful the healing is.  The bubble only equals the playing field, but it does not guarantee success.

For the upcoming week, Mars will continue his slow march through Leo.  Mars will form a trioctile (135 degree) aspect with Pluto and Mercury mid-week, requiring humor and the understanding that we are all human and that we all make mistakes, while also acknowledging that we all have the tendency to take ourselves too seriously.  This is not a suggestion that we shouldnt be serious, but rather a reminder that a healthy perspective includes a bit of humor and insight.  Mercury conjuncting Pluto will bring the opportunity for new perspectives, but a sextile from the North Node will also require accepting responsibility for creating that perspective.  No free lunches this week, or for any time soon to come.

In addition to Mars, Saturn will also be presenting his own challenges to both Mercury and Pluto through a square aspect.  Saturn is in Libra through April 2010, bringing a third quarter square to his relation with Pluto.  Once again, this phase is all about taking responsibility for bringing balance and harmony into our lives.  This cycle started in November 1982 at 27 Libra.  It is important to realize that the situations in which we find ourselves are part of a larger story.  If we can uncover the actual beginning of the story, then we have much more understanding of the cycle and we can make better choices as we navigate through the maze.

Lately, I have been asked repeatedly to share some optimism with folks.  Well, optimism and pessimism are two sides of the same coin.  Is the glass half full or half empty?  Either way, its the same glass with the same amount of water.  Mercury conjuncting Pluto while simultaneously squared by Saturn will give everyone the opportunity to take responsibility for creating their own optimism.  This is good news!  Nothing is “happening” to us that we cannot direct.  However, if we choose not to direct ourselves, then we will be directed.  How optimistic is that?  We are captains of our own ships, and if we want to sail from Miami to Panama, we can do it the short way or the long way: its up to us to chart the course.

The seeds of change have been growing for quite some time since Saturn in Virgo started opposing Uranus in Pisces back on election Day, November 4 2008.  We have one more definitive opposition in these signs on April 26, 2010 before these planets move on to oppose each other in the cardinal signs of Libra and Aries on July 26, 2010 for the last time this cycle.  This final opposition will be the beginning of a new phase for everyone!  Between now and then, it is up to each of us to create our lives, our experience, and our selves in the manner which most reflects who we are, the talents and dreams we have, and the tools which we have been given or developed.  Remember Herbie from Rudolf?  He wasnt an elf, he was a dentist.  He knew what his talents were and he had the tools for success, he simply had to find the proper place to use them.

By the end of December, Mars and Mercury will be retrograde, we will have a significant Sagittarius New Moon on December 16th near the Galactic Center just before the Winter Solstice, and New Years Eve will bring a significant lunar eclipse that will end the year with quite a BANG!  There hasnt been such a strong lineup of energy in the skies since I started this column over a year ago.   Now is the time to create growth in our lives, without a doubt.  But growth requires change, so let’s let go of what doesn’t serve us anymore, no matter how attached we are to it.  Smokers are attached to cigarettes, but that doesnt make them good for us.

Please join me for the Zodiac Lounge Sagittarius New Moon cocktails and discussion group on Wednesday December 16 at 7:30p at the Standard Hotel on Miami Beach’s famous Venetian Causeway.  I will be posting details soon, or you can email me at markspringle@gmail.com !

Love to all and to all a good night!

m

Hello Friends!

Here we are with the holiday season in full swing!  Next week is Thanksgiving, and the Christmas decorations have been on sale since Halloween!  As our grocery lists get longer and our time disappears, the tensions slowly builds, our fear and resentment start to colonize like bacteria, and before we know it BANG! we go postal at the dinner table with all of our friends and family there to witness the explosion, creating more self-abasing fodder for years to come.  The joy of the holiday season….

OR, we can accept our past as something that no longer exists except in our minds, accept the people in our lives for the flawed beings that they are, give thanks for the bounty in our lives, and give thanks for the very fact of life itself (we could have been returned to this earth as ants or coral, dust mites or mosquitoes!).  I recently had a great session with my friend Laya Seghi and she determined, using a Psych-K balancing technique, that I needed some help integrating the following statement:  I forgive myself and others for all of the wrongs done to me, and I accept full responsibility for my own life. This statement really captures the essence of the cosmic line up for me this week.  Pluto in Capricorn squared by Saturn in Libra is making doubly clear that we must take responsibility for our own lives and accept the beds we have made for ourselves.  This does not mean that we cannot change the linens!  As adults, it takes two to tango (or two to tangle, if you grew up in SC), and even though we love to blame our dancing partners, the reality is that we cannot be independent and free while also claiming to be manipulated and held back.  Either we claim responsibility for ourselves and own our experience, or we deliver our power over to others.  We cannot have it both ways.

Assuming we leave the victimized mentality behind and take responsibility for ourselves, we can look back and see how we also contribute to the continuation of negative patterns and the repetition of unfortunate experiences from our pasts.  Low self-esteem is certainly at the top of my list, along with the need to please others, and a misunderstanding of what a “good” relationship is.  However, I accept these qualities about myself, and I now understand that the people who played their part in these patterns of mine were lessons sent to me by the universe so that I could learn that these things were not good for me.  Now, I can look back and understand that the people and situations which caused me so much pain and drama in the past were my best teachers, because through the example of our shared experiences, I now know that when my self-esteem is low, I should engage in activities that make me feel good about myself, not worse.  Duh… but how many of us will debase ourselves further in this frame of mind?  When I disagree with another person, I now know that I have the right to my own feelings and the right to protect them even if the other person is angered by my actions.  I also know that in a good relationship, communication and allowing everyone the space to own their own feelings, whether we agree with them or not, is healthy.  I love reminding Paul, when we argue, that agreement is not required.  I love it even more when he tells me the same, because I have usually lost sight of that truth at that point, and I appreciate him bringing me back to reality.

Claiming responsibility allows healing, which is another major cosmic theme right now.  Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune are still involved in their year long conjunction, soon to end in January 2010.  With Saturn in Libra, the sign of relationship, our lessons will now include drills on relating well.  We heal our ability to relate well when we accept responsibility for ourselves and our feelings, and when we accept responsibility for expressing them appropriately.  If we allow others to do the same and practice patience (as their skills may not be as honed as ours), then our relationships will bloom and prosper, or end.  Should a relationship end, this should be viewed as progress, because it shows that at least one of the folks has learned that the relationship has served it purpose and that it is time to move on to the next lesson.  All things change, even - and especially- long term, healthy relationships!

Jupiter expands whatever it touches, and over the next two weeks, Jupiter will be aspected by Mercury, Venus, and Mars.  The angles of the relationships will determine the direction of the expansion.  The angles will involve a mixture of easy flow, tension, and conflict.  The trick to managing most of this energy will be to engage from a healing, self-referenced, and responsible  perspective.  If crazy Aunt Beth is demeaning and rude, then imagine how unhappy, bitter, and disappointed with life she must be.  If Dad spends more time watchingtv than interacting, then remember how poorly equipped, and subsequently isolated, he is not to have meaningful interaction with his loved ones.  Yes, it is difficult at times, but so is making a living and raising a child, but we do this, too.

Mars will build to a tri-octile aspect with Pluto over the Thanksgiving weekend.  Tri-octile aspects reveal tension and the need for the release of that tension.  Interesting, as this is exactly what family holidays reveal, too!  Take a deep breath, take responsibility for yourself and your experience, remember the shortcomings, difficulties, and disappointments of those around you, and allow the greater connectedness of the universe to show you the humor and pointlessness of maintaining your old patterns.  Humor is great way to acknowledge something without engaging in conflict, just make sure your humor is not sarcastic or passive-aggressive.  Be light, be funny, and accept that families are imperfect and flawed by definition.

I forgive myself and others for all of the wrongs done to me, and I accept full responsibility for my own life…and full responsibility for enjoying it!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I’ll meet you back here on December 4th!

with love

m