Seeing Stars with Mark 8 - 14 May 2010
Dear Friends,
Uranus is still occupying the weeping degree of 29 Pisces, with Jupiter following close behind at 25 degrees. We may still have more tears shed, especially since the Moon will join these two planets on Sunday. In mundane (political) astrology, the Moon represents the “people.” Uranus rules the energy of awakening and revolt. Jupiter expands whatever it touches. The fact that this is the first time that the Moon has passed over Uranus at his degree makes me curious as to how “the people” will choose to express this energy. All eyes should be on Arizona, Wall Street, and the Monday morning commute, as well as airline travel (Uranus rules the sky, Jupiter rules long distance travel).
Complicating matters, Mothers Day could be an especially volatile day with people on edge as family issues take center stage. The eclipse patterns of the past few years have been slowly moving us away from the bad habits of our past, and we may still be uncomfortable when faced with our pasts in the form our of parents and siblings. We are being called to take responsibility for ourselves here and now, so make an effort to keep family visits and long distance calls firmly rooted in the present. It’s time to move forward.
Mercury remains retrograde, but he will be making his turn to direct motion on Wed May 12th at 2 degrees Taurus. The Moon will also be in the early degrees of Taurus on this day. Hopefully, this will bring a mood of stability and calm to our divided nation, but it may also lend an air of obstinacy and further polarize the left and the right, the rich and the poor, the fearful and the excited. No matter, Uranus moving in to Aries at the end of the month will erase any complacency. In the meantime, it would be well to understand the message of Mercury’s station. Mercury is trine to Pluto at this station, reminding us again (for the 3rd time this cycle) that we need to transform the way we think and communicate.
Taurus rules resources, including natural resources, and Pluto is the lord of the underworld. Mercury is trine to Neptune (the ruler of the oceans) and Chiron, the wound, is in Pisces, the sign of the ocean depths. Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, or should I say a petroleum geologist, to see that we have created quite a wound in the Gulf as we mine the ocean depths for resources. (Also, I’d like to take point out that this disaster is not a “natural” disaster as I have heard in the media. Honestly, how could anyone believe that this is a natural disaster? It is a man-made disaster that could have been prevented if the oil companies drilling off of the US coast were held to the same standards that they are held to in Brazil and Norway.. read more about this topic here.)
Taurus also rules farming, so we should take a good hard look at the way we produce food in this country. I have noticed that during this entire retrograde period, people have been talking quite a bit about food, the movie Food Inc, and other farming or nutrition related matters. This is a good thing. Saturn is still in Virgo, asking us to look at our health, and good nutrition is certainly a cornerstone of good health.
I wonder if the general public and corporate America, no to mention the US government, will recognize that this is a serious wake up call in our history? How many more huge ecological disasters must we create for ourselves, how many millions of creatures must be killed with generations of surviving creatures genetically mutated, and how many more people displaced, their livelihoods destroyed, before we finally get the point that instead of doing things the same old way that it is time to come up with some new, renewable, and less damaging ways to provide for our needs? Wind, wave, and solar energy all exist in infinite supply, and the technology exists to harness it. We may lack the infrastructure, but this is the best reason why we must build it! Before cars and AC were invented, we lacked pipelines, too! As soon as corporate America finds a way to make money off of wind and solar, you can bet they will be shoving “renewable” energy down our throats! Luckily, we have Pluto in Capricorn, the sign that rules corporations and big business. Pluto purges, destroys, and rebuilds the things that are no longer working. This process will take 15 more years, but already in the first 2, we can see some behemoths swaying, if not falling: Lehman Bros, Goldman Sachs, Washington Mutual, Prudential, Toyota. I cry for thee not.
Mercury rules the signs of Virgo and Gemini. Saturn has been retrograde in Virgo opposing Uranus, reminding us that integrating better health and habits, that learning how to adjust and accommodate, and upgrading the status quo are the most beneficial ways of creating a brighter future. Venus is in Gemini, moving into the focal point of a t-square with the Saturn-Uranus opposition. Venus in Gemini is fickle, changing her mind often and talking too much. Mercury’s relationship to Pluto won’t let all of that trash talk go unpunished, so be careful what you yourself are saying. Gordon Brown would do well to read my blog.
The Taurus New Moon rounds out our week on Thursday May 13th. The New Moon occurs at 23 degrees and 9 minutes of Taurus, which is the Capricorn decanate of Taurus. Well, Mercury just retrograded in the sign of Taurus, so we should be up to date on our Taurus issues! Money, resources, talents, and real estate are all good places to focus our attentions. We should use the new perspective that we have gained with Mercury retrograde to help us set our intentions for this lunation. The Sun and Moon are sextile to Neptune and Chiron, and with the oil spill in the Gulf still active and fresh, we can certainly see that we are misusing and wasting more than we are stewarding and renewing. Can we see any similarities between this tragedy and some more personal issues concerning our stewardship of our own resources? Now is the time for a long, hard, and honest look. The Sun and Moon are also trine to Pluto, once again reminding us of the need for deep transformation with respect to these Taurine issues. What is wasted or taken for granted must be valued appropriately. What we use must be used more consciously. What is overlooked must be revisited. We must look deeper, beyond the obvious, and we must accept that something must die in order for something else, better, to be born…this is the lesson of the Phoenix.
Saturn is the co-ruler of this New Moon since he rules Capricorn. Pluto is occupying Saturn’s sign, demanding accountability and responsibility. Saturn himself is in Virgo, opposing Uranus at the weeping degree, while both planets are square to Venus in Gemini, the planet that rules the economy, which is in turn ruled by Big Business, ruled by Saturn. For me, this intertwining of business, resources, money, and responsibility with Uranus about to move from the weeping degree to the first degree of Aries means that the proverbial manure is about to hit the fan. We have already seen a refusal by the Goldman Sachs brass to accept responsibility for their actions. BP hasnt had an impressive response to the oil leak in the gulf. Many others on Wall Street took taxpayer funded bailouts and then gave themselves big bonuses before paying the tax payers back. This is not responsible. Pluto will not let these abuses go unredressed. The problem, however, is that when Wall Street pays, we all pay. Of course, each and every one of us has some culpability in this situation, so let’s embrace our inner Capricorn and accept our responsibility.
Find a steady rock to cling to, make sure it is on high ground, well placed, and store some provisions in a safe place. If you can, store some extra for those you love. Someone will need, for sure.
with love,
m
SAVE THESE DATES:
May 12 Zodiac Lounge: Taurus New Moon Miami Beach, FL
May 18 I’m at The Bodhi Tree in LA!
URANUS 2010: Tune IN and Turn ON West Hollywood, CA
I’ll be available for one-on-one sessions in all of the cities I visit this year, and of course, I am always available via phone or Skype anytime from my home in Miami.
You may not know this, but all of success depends on your word of mouth. I do not advertise, except through this site and through my Facebook postings and tweets.
Please share this column with your friends and family who have an interest in astrology, who need a new way of looking at the world, or who simply may be in the areas I visit.
Many Thanks for your continued support.