The Week of May 14-21, 2007 - Mars enters Aries, A Taurus New Moon, Mercury opposed Jupiter square Uranus sextile Saturn and Sun enters Gemini

by Robert Wilkinson

This week continues the influence of the recent Full Moon of Taurus-Scorpio, a.k.a. the Wesak Festival that has opened everyone on Earth to a new form of compassion to accept or demonstrate. The swirl of the now just passing Fixed T-square has opened a void where we will attract what we need to enter the next phase of the future-in-the-making. We'll see some things nailed down!

We've recently gone through T-squares to the Saturn opposition Neptune through Mercury and Solar transits through Taurus. Though T-square are usually considered a negative and frictional influence, the ones we've just been through have offered us chances to purify whatever we needed to, dropping old ways to create space for more appropriate efforts now. We've shifted magnetism, letting go of old forms of whatever so we can attract whatever assets, resources or values that will support our next outreach. That has meant a shift in both perception and action.

These T-squares burst things wide open, as the Sun tends to illuminate and vitalize what needs to become part of our life experience. Especially since the Taurus energies sextile and quintile Uranus, renovate, revolutionize things, and generally go for the unique, unusual, or innovative. The Sun squares show we've opened a Neptune cycle while fulfilling the old Saturn cycle started Summer 2006.

Recent weeks have brought many some major decisions breaking old deadlocks, ambivalence, or procrastination. It's been a great time for accepting greater responsibilities and duties and leaving lesser concerns behind. We can achieve clarity around roles we want to play, overcoming any lingering hesitation around doing what we have to in order to make some new way of being real.

So we've solidified many things even as we've turned a big corner. Even if it's been very peculiar as a result of the Sun square Neptune, we've had opportunities to reverse magnetism by seeing what's been jamming our gears in relationships, and what we needed to end to embrace actions and attitudes that will bring us the results we want in the future. And due to the recent exact (and therefore on--going!) Jupiter square Uranus and Mars square Pluto we've also had a sensation like something very BIG is coming. Welcome to the NOW!

As I explained last week:

These squares show us what we should not take for granted, and how to be alert to shifting developments that could turn a different direction on a moment's notice. Any time we're confronted with squares and oppositions we are shown ways to reorient and understand how to find the balance where needed and turn the corner in crucial areas, since squares are either the emergence of something (waxing square) or the fulfillment and culmination of a process (waning square), while oppositions bring forth awareness. These times are not necessarily great for launching new things, but they can be great at moving things forward that have already been planned in the past.

Though squares are usually associated with difficulty, I believe they can mark important points where we shift direction in ways appropriate to who we really are, breaking free of old ideas about who we used to be. The aspects working on everyone at preset can also show things spinning out of control fairly quickly, so be thoughtful as Mars implements the dream we embraced back during the transits of 30 Pisces. I described this "dreaming the future archetype" in this article where each year our thoughtforms take on extra power to take up the new and let go of the old.

Jupiter square Uranus around 18-19 Mutable requires us to pay attention to details and be able to multi-task by ordering things into their appropriate place in the larger scheme of things. You can find out more about the Jupiter square Uranus and Saturn opposed Neptune by going to this link.

The Saturn opposition Neptune, as noted for many months, is behind the tension of the gap between the ideal and the reality, the theoretical and the practical. Continue not allowing nerves, temperament, or unexpected diversions to cause sideways explosions result in messing up perfectly good opportunities. Get oriented, get your drive in gear, open your vision and understanding, and be compassionate while bringing closure to old life movies.

We still are dealing with the long term effects of the multiple eclipses of last September and this past March which you can find more about by consulting the forecast from a few weeks ago.

Venus continues to herald things to come since it is closing the gap between Saturn and the other planets, creating a Locomotive pattern where all the planets are now in 2/3 of the signs. This week Venus continues to help us get clear about new visions and dedications deriving from recent life-shifting decisions. With the Moon transiting Aries through Leo this week, the Locomotive is continues to be emphasized, so expect imbalances that can lead to power if you know how to "fill the empty spot" to achieve balance and perfect rhythmic response to forward movement.

Saturn is no longer the nozzle for the other planetary energies as it has been for months, but it will be one of the brackets, along with Pluto, framing the Locomotive pattern that predominates for  months to come. I'll explain the difference between the Bucket and Seesaw patterns we've been living with for awhile and the coming Locomotive pattern and its lunar variances in the near future.

This week Mars finishes the aftermath of its square to Pluto, ending its stay in Pisces and jumpstarting a LOT when it enters Aries on May 15th at 7:06 am PDT. The week begins with the Moon in Aries. As I noted last week about this weekend leading up to the coming week:

The Moon enters Aries on May 12 at 7:19 pm PDT, meaning May 13 everywhere east of Iceland. This is said to be a good sign for treating garden pests, so do what you are inclined to do. It makes some great aspects in Aries at this time in history, so a lot can be accomplished. Of course, as noted it moves through the zone of the Grand Irrationality as well, just before it triggers the Grand Fire Trine May 13-14, bringing renewed focus on whatever initiatives we've begun under those influences these past two months.

The Moon enters Taurus on May 14 at 7:48 pm PDT, so it's fairly fast in motion, showing we'll be experiencing things faster than we usually do. Also, over May 13-15 Mars is in the final degree of Pisces, so do your dreaming as you watch the Autumn 2006 and Spring 2007 Eclipses kick into major motion. This is a point of no return, so say goodbye to the old and greet the new already in motion like an express train!

The recent Wesak Festival is opening us all to our unique way of receiving and expressing a form of compassion. Keep learning discernment, detachment, dispassion, and generate as much goodwill as you can as you surf your way through the squares. We're all preparing to turn a major corner or two that will reorient important life sectors after Venus enters Cancer May 8. This is the time we've been waiting for, so it's full speed ahead on what's been set into motion in the past.

The New Moon of 26 degrees of Taurus occurs at 12:27 pm May 16, beginning a time when we shall see "the appearance of the beloved on the balcony" if we have defined our specific role, function, and imagery precisely according to our individual needs. Though quincunx Pluto, it is also sextile Mars, showing adjustments and sacrifices that will yield very productive action toward the emerging new reality.

Of course, it is also in a widely separating square to the Saturn-Neptune opposition, finishing up the Taurus T-square lessons we've been learning the past few weeks.  Remember that any time the Moon goes through a Fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) we have major effects related to the ongoing Saturn opposition Neptune challenging "right action" on our part. The opposition was exact from mid-February through mid-March 2007, persists through the next few weeks, and will be exact from late May through mid-July 2007. Every time the Moon triggers this effect, it reminds us of the strength we've received as a result of breaking up old patterns the past 18 months.

These T-squares are highly active now due to the Taurus transits, creating reverberations related to past Fixed squares and crosses from 2005 and 2006. I've explained in prior articles that these squares and crosses:

... for the most part 1) broke some things up forever, 2) challenged us see what to clear out, 3) made us evaluate what to "put on the shelf for the future," and 4) opened up solid paths of personal, social, and spiritual development associated with things, heart, magnetism, ambition, and idealism. We were all challenged to one or more of the following: persevere despite difficulties, cut our losses when blocked by intransigent obstructionists, stabilize what which was unstable, or break apart that which was stuck in the mud.

Any square to the Saturn opposition Neptune shows us how to release important Fire energies through Saturn, offering us a chance to transcend old limitations and generate new heart power and brought important questions to the forefront for all of us. What is our message? Where is our heart's interest? Where is our play, our creativity, our enthusiasm, our spontaneity, our pleasure? These can show us the way to our higher purpose.

Following the Lunar T-square in Taurus temporarily re-activating the Solar T-square, it slips into Gemini at 7:34 pm PDT and enters the Gemini zone of The Grand Irrationality, which is bringing major forks in the road for all.

As noted in other articles,

The Grand Irrationality is why everything feels much weirder than it used to, with hard edges and widespread irrational and/or compulsive behaviors more and more evident. Sometimes these energies grow stronger than at other times, depending on where the planets are. The link to The Grand Irrationality will explain more about this widespread long term influence in depth, along with internal links in that article that explain more about the larger field and what we can do to maneuver it successfully.

Right now the hot zones of The Grand Irrationality fall at approximately 27 Sagittarius-1 Capricorn, 20-25 Aquarius, 11-14 Aries, 2-7 Gemini, 24-27 Cancer, 15-19 Virgo, and 6-10 Scorpio at this time in history. This pattern is setting up the generally strange atmosphere, a lot of compulsions coming to surface as well as forks in the road of our destiny in several areas of life, and overall one long hard edge of choices, changes, and a future that never is quite as logical as we may like.

In dealing with the generic weirdness, remember that even if things get very bizarre or irrational, we are not powerless. Even if destiny is "on the move," we still can steer the process to some degree, if we don't lose our cool in the midst of the great weirdness. We’re learning in these strange times not to lean too heavily on "things making sense," and how to fly by the seat of our pants, not going funky places we shouldn't, and making choices that will propel us into an evolving future that may not make much sense but is perfect for the uniqueness we are.

Every time the Moon triggers the Grand Irrationality we experience a form of a turning point of sorts, where the seeds of the future will stand revealed. Besides May 17 when it's in the Gemini zone, it retriggers the pattern when it's in the Cancer zone May 20.

Of note is that Mercury has been in the Gemini zone May 11-13, the Sun is there May 22-26, these quickly followed by Venus in the Cancer zone and Mars in the Aries zone. This will create full 7 pointed Star patterns when the Moon is in Scorpio, as the transiting Angles will occupy the Gemini and Virgo zones four times a day, with the aspects exact in some places on Earth. I'll write more about this very important configuration in the near future.

The Moon enters Cancer on May 18 at 8:38 pm PDT. This is great for gardening, replanting, and doing things around the home that make us feel good, especially with the favorable aspects to Venus, Uranus, and the Sun. Avoid snap judgments the night of May 18 or May 19 (for Europe and points east) since Moon squares Mars and Mercury opposes Jupiter.

Get the Higher and lower minds working together, and bring a future vision or greater truth into some concrete form of understanding or perception. Since Mercury is also favorable to Saturn and Neptune, it should be fairly sound, and the rectangle should help us to a greater vision of group work, friendship, or an ideal of service. We can resolve many old dilemmas into a greater comprehension of the overview of our larger process.

Mercury's square to Uranus helps release the power of the rectangle through the T-square, so pay attention to details as you follow through on moving your life into innovative ways and directions perfect for your expanded state of awareness resulting from the long term Jupiter square Uranus.

The Moon enters Leo on May 21 at 12:57 am PDT just over two hours before the Sun enters Gemini at 3:12 am PST and Mercury sextiles Saturn a few minutes later. Overall, when Moon is in Leo these days there is maximum productivity, since it's favorable to Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury.

Overall, there's a great run of some very favorable Lunar aspects starting May 18 and last through May 23, so finish completions until the New Moon, and then let it roll! We can make a lot of progress in diverse areas of our lives at this time, so when in doubt, just do it!

The week after this coming one we shall revisit the on-going Yod, or "Finger of God" pattern created each time the Moon in Libra sextiles Saturn both double quincunx Uranus. This also happens when the Moon in Capricorn sextiles Uranus both double quincunx Saturn. These Yods are allowing us to express our individuality helping us and others let go of old "social rigidities," with needed adjustments creating joyous interactions making life freer and happier.

These Yods are most focused in May and June when the Moon transits 18-19 degrees of Libra or Capricorn. This configuration involves multiple sacrifices leading to spiritual expansions through a narrowing of focus. This can help us understand the larger sacrifices and adjustments required by the on-going Saturn quincunx Uranus.

© Copyright 2007 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Lisa Saliture]

Robert, I have seen this sentence a few times since 2006, and I'm still not quite sure what it means when you say, we will see "the appearance of the beloved on the balcony."

Can you explain this sentence in more detail?
Thanks!

[Robert]

Hi Lisa - It relates to 26 Taurus, "a Spanish gallant serenades his beloved." It is a degree of "role playing at its finest," and well defined imagery that ensures its concrete manifestation. If you do the work of defining your heart's desire, you'll see a form of it manifest "on the balcony," which can symbolize a thousand things, from higher consciousness to imagination to reality to....

[Leana]

Hi Robert,
I'm looking forward to this new moon!, it will fall in my 5th house, (Venus rules my 5th and 10th house), lately, I've been waiting for a response related to some artisic work that is being reviewed...I hope this new moon will bring good news!!!
Have a beautiful week!

[Leana]

Robert, it's me again...I just realized that this new moon will also oppose my natal Jupiter (26 Scorpio)...do you think this is negative?

[Charmie]

Dear Robert

I think I may have turned one of these proverbial corners you speak of; I recently asked you to "dumb down"some of your writing (and pray I wasn't offending you) but as I continue to read, I'm learning and this entry makes more sense to me than all the others.

Corners turned, old beliefs shed. THANK YOU!

[Robert]

Hi Leana - It will throw you into a search to find your place of greatest service to your world, and challenge you to learn to keep the initiative in your own hands while you practice new forms of self-dramatization. In any case, oppositions to Jupiter rarely lead to serious problems as long as one does not go overboard. Enjoy the adventure about to begin!!

Hi Charmie - You're most welcome. Your suggestion inspired me to try to work more with imagery. That way the content stays high level, and the images gives the mind something to relate to. Will try to continue to find descriptors to match the configurations.

[Leana]

Amazing! Right now I am putting into "practice" becoming a little less "Leo-dramatic" in my relationships, and in fact being more "detached", something is being transformed (that new moon will also trine my natal Pluto...)...I'm also putting more of my passion and energy into these new forms of art that i am creating...
Thank you Robert!

[Saturn's Daughter]

Hi Robert,

Thanks as always for your insightful posts. I have a question... not sure if you can/will answer here or if this is a paid question. I have been dating a libra off and on for a bumpy while now. As my handle implies, I am a capricorn. Obviously the sun sign square has made for um, interesting times.

My question: are any significant developments to be expected with venus in my 7th house (cancer) and mars moving into his 7th house (aries), not to mention this week's new moon in taurus? It seems kind of astro-momentous to me, but I try to keep my expectations manageable ;) Saturn's recent retrograde taught me that in a major way...

Peace,
SD

[Robert]

Hi Leana - Well, maybe you're substituting one form of drama for a more authentic self-expression. Great that you're putting the energies into your art, since your work will be infused with that atmosphere. And of course, you're welcome.

Hi SD - Your ruler is changing signs in a few weeks, and has been trine whatever Jupiter rules and is in. Transits to the 7th focus those particular energies in relationships, so you'll both be more Martian and more Venusian, you more the former and him the latter. That could mean all kinds of things. With the aspects Venus and Mars make to each other for awhile, things will be "momentous" and yield harmony down the road a ways.

[Larissa]

Hi Robert -- why some sources say that Mars enters Aries on May 15, and some say May 16? What is EST for that? Thank you

[Aditya]

Hi Robert, lets hope in an hour we can say goodbye to atleast some of the weirdness happening in our lives. The last one week has felt like all the things i have learnt and experienced have been for naught. Though i know thats not true, but it sure felt like it. My birthday is 21st March 1974 1755UT, Dehradun India. One very good astrologer in India has said that my troubles will come to an end in October 2007. May I ask what event of note will happen in October 2007 which concerns my natal chart. I hope its not a large request.
Thanks and Namaskar to your Soul

[Robert]

Hi Larissa - It's 7:06 am PDT, 10:06 am EDT, and 3:06 pm GDT. And I don't know why some put it on the 16th, since it's not then anywhere in the world.

Hi Aditya - Well, the only thing I can find re: October is that Jupiter will finally move past the opposition to your Mars. Of note is your Mercury conjunct Jupiter in Pisces, which is in maximum development mode right now with Rahu conjunct both, which means that in Sept-Oct Ketu will be conjunct transiting Saturn which opposes your Mercury and Jupiter. Try to take a broader view, see yourself as a student for the next year learning a new way of viewing things, study, read, write, and keep your mind on objective things rather than subjective concerns. Cut back on some things as you work patiently to expand other things. Get clear about what roles you want to play in the world, never put yourself down or allow yourself to be put down or taken for granted by another, and by knowing the stages of development for any given thing, speak in ways that clarifies what to others is an illusion or vagueness around something they sense but do not really know.

[ebru]

Hi Robert,Im a reader from Turkey,may be you remember I had written before.Last year eclipses in september was very bad&good,Im engaged in november 22 I think its after 2 months of the 22 september eclipse,this is very nice but 7 september eclipse was very bad.2007 march eclipses wasnt very noteworthy at least so far.My birthday is 20st Feb 1973 Mersin,Turkey,.Im worry about the next eclipses in august and september.
And Im getting married in 16 June,Im worry about some things can effect my marriage,what can you say about next eclipses? p.s.:sorry for long question and my language :(

[Aditya]

Hi Robert, Thank you for your reply. Jupiter opposition Mars is a pain at the moment. My job is probably the most challenging in the world and I only Just have enough money to get by. I hope this aspect of my life will change in October.
Quote,
"and by knowing the stages of development for any given thing, speak in ways that clarifies what to others is an illusion or vagueness around something they sense but do not really know." Unquote
What illusion may this be Robert? Something concerning my life or something else. I do have a few views regarding current society and civics. I keep these views to myself as I believe I will face fierce opposition if I said these aloud. Namaskar

[Robert]

Hi ebru - Please, no apologies, since I don't speak or write your language either. You do better at mine than I would do at yours! As for your worries about future eclipses, please don't worry about things that haven't happened yet. Let tomorrow's troubles (if there be any at all) take care of themselves when they come; for now, celebrate your future and feel how alive you are! I will write about those eclipses in a few weeks. For now, enjoy the Grand Fire Trine just beginning.

Hi Aditya - I was speaking to your Mercury-Neptune aspect, which gives you the power to dispel illusions or a lack of clarity in others. You know phases and stages of things instinctively, so sense when things are building and when they are disintegrating. I have a similar aspect, and yes, I have to be judicious when and how I express views about (or to) society since I have confronted fierce opposition when I've say certain things. Most of us find it tedious dealing with screaming egos. Still, with that aspect, welcome to a life work of announcing certain things at certain times to dispel confusion or a lack of clarity around things. Sometimes there's nothing else to do but express your view, whether others receive it well or not. But of course that is up for each of us to decide if, when, how, and why.

[Cindy]

Robert,

I’ve been reading your articles for a while now and wondering if you could help me out. I am planning on having that surgery to loss weight within the next couple of months and would like to know how doing something like that will be effected by all of the activity going on with the planets at this time. Born 11th Dec 1957, San Bernardino, CA at around 11pm.

Thanks for any insight you can give for such a huge undertaking.

Regards, Cindy

[Robert]

Hi Cindy - All surgeries (and travel, and marriages, and...) should be scheduled on good days astrologically speaking. Surgeries should never be scheduled on a New or Full Moon, if natal or transiting Mars are afflicted, or during Mercury Retrograde (except to fix what's been botched or wasn't right to begin with). Anything done between the stomach and the thighs probably should not be done with the transiting Moon in Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio or Sagittarius. It's somewhat complicated, but a competent electional astrologer can give you dates when you can have successful surgery. The problem is usually that not every day is excellent for certain procedures, and doctors are notorious about scoffing at such things.

[DianatheHuntress]

"You can even play them easy"....remember that Beatles line, Aditya? Yes, truer now... in the immortal words of one famous American (Mark Twain), "If you want to truly understand something, try to to change it"...........

With Love, Diana } ------*

[Aditya]

Thats a powerful order for someone like me. I guess I have been around people including close family who think i know nothing. Though thanks to Robert I am discovering my own strengths.

[Robert]

Hi all - It's great that everyone who comes here gets strength and encouragement from each other, and finds support they need with or without my feedback. Blessings be to the Sangha!

[DianatheHuntress]

(YOU are the blessing, Robert... you cool cat you!)

[suz-d]

robert.... the last couple of days have been like -- insane and pretty intense!

fights, tensions, a girlfriend breaks her arm and hand by falling, my pal has an couple of insane days at work, with explosions, I cant concentrate as I had probems / anger upsets in my house....my stomach all upset..... etc etc....

could this have to do with mars going into aries? or what....

your wise counsel always apprecaited

[Robert]

Hi suz-d - Probably more a combo of Mars square Pluto, sesquisquare Saturn and biseptile Jupiter with the New Moon square Saturn and Neptune while septile Mars. The eclipses continue to work their magic....

[suz-d]

May 18-
------Get the Higher and lower minds working together, and bring a future vision or greater truth into some concrete form of understanding or perception.

--------We can resolve many old dilemmas into a greater comprehension of the overview of our larger process.

this all appeared to start coming into view and operating this morning- May 18

-------Overall, there's a great run of some very favorable Lunar aspects starting May 18 and last through May 23, so finish completions until the New Moon, and then let it roll! We can make a lot of progress in diverse areas of our lives at this time, so when in doubt, just do it!

firm commitments also came in this morning.

the upsets came as a result of

-------a combo of Mars square Pluto, sesquisquare Saturn and biseptile Jupiter with the New Moon square Saturn and Neptune while septile Mars

but now, it appears all those squares and aspects are now starting to work their magic! whew! what a time we live in...!!!!!

thnx R

[Aditya]

Hi again Robert, Based on what you have always written ro me as below,
Quote
"never put yourself down or allow yourself to be put down or taken for granted by another," Unquote

Am I surrounded by people who conciously or unconciously treat me like that? Or is it me who reads between the lines a bit too much.

In my natal chart Pluto Squares Saturn, Saturn Squares Sun, Mars Square Moon. Also Pluto Opposition Sun and Neptune Opposition Mars.

Thanks for any input.
Namaskar