Astrology Stress Zones for May-June 2009 Pt. 1 - Mars stimulating Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Aquarius

by Robert Wilkinson

Mars activates and accelerates the pace of events in our lives. People currently going through dynamic activity, a hectic fast-paced period, or having the hardest time in late May are Aries, Cancers, Libras, and Capricorns born the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April, July, October, and January. The first half of June this applies to Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius people born the last 10 days of those months. The last half of June this applies to those signs born the first half of May, August, November, and February. If you were born in these zones, focus on what constitutes responsible action, given these birth periods show more highly agitated energy than usual.

Mars tests us to get a grip on our energy and shows us how well we are demonstrating self-control or not. Mars is our "fight or flight" principle, and symbolizes what aggravates us, so if you are affected by its transit, beware of hasty action, argumentativeness, or impulsiveness.

A way to use what I post here is that if you know your chart, examine the Mars effect in light of planets you have in the signs that are conjunct, square, or opposed to/by Mars. Because this month and next it moves forward through the last half of Aries and the first 22 degrees of Taurus, that span is specifically activated.

For instance, if you have Mercury in the last half of a Cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) or the first 21 degrees of a Fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), examine the challenges relative to your mind, interpretations, or thinking patterns, as well as other planets influenced by Mercury. If you have Venus in the last half of a Cardinal sign or first 21 degrees of a Fixed sign, examine what is said in light of your likes and dislikes and other Venus-influenced areas in your chart.

If you have Mars in the last half of a Cardinal sign, or the first 2/3 of a Fixed sign, regard what is stated in the context of Mars-ruled affairs and activities. This shows an important shift in your Mars cycle, so heads up! You can also apply what follows regarding this month if you have an Ascendant (Rising sign) in the second half of a Cardinal sign or first 21 degrees of a Fixed sign.

The last half of May, late Capricorns are seeing the first emergence of something begun in late January or early February 2009. The first half of June this applies to Aquarians born in late January relative to something begun in the first half of February 2009. The last half of June this applies to Aquarians born in early February relative to what began in late February 2009. This time shows a new life direction or the beginnings of new ways of expressing yourself, so get grounded, and remember that "as the roots, so the flowers.".

Effort now affects future success. Don't allow hassles or aggravations around the home or with family to put you off, and be a good communicator. You'll get new insights into how you view your early life and family situation. Just try not to get aggravated by neighbors and expect intense activity around the home.

Capricorns and Aquarians need to be less abrupt in communicating, less aggressive or hassled by neighbors, and more compassionate, moving into new initiatives. Avoid impulsive or blunt responses. Be open to alternative ways of understanding and communicating, as well as direct and sincere in your interactions.

This affects Capricorn's way of viewing their home, family, early life, goals, ambitions, and friendships. It affects Aquarius' way of viewing their environment, siblings, public standing, and profession.

In the last half of May, Aries born the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April confront the end of a 2-year cycle, so begin anew with an eye to what culminated in late January of the cycle that began June 2007. The first half of June this applies to Taurians born in April relative to what began late June or early July 2007. During the last half of June this applies to Taurus people born the first half of May relative to what began July 2007.

This month speeds things up, so apply new skills and strengths, and face a future that's already underway. Quickly finish what you need to, realize an old way of life is over, and there is a need for new effort and directions.

Since it continues to be a time of endings and beginnings, embrace the new, get ready for the pace to quicken, and try not to be too blunt, impulsive, abrasive, or leap before you look. Above all, stay simple and direct in your actions, and find the right concentration to do whatever you have to.

This primarily affects Aries in the areas of self image, health, desires, shared values and resources, regeneration, and how to let go of that which is obsolete in the life. It affects Taurus in the areas of partnership, marriage, business colleagues, self-undoing, and how to view motives relative to the "movie of their lives."

These are ending somehow, and a new two year pulse is opening up. Aries should take the initiative in ways that feed momentum, and totally embrace what's emerging. Taurus should show thoughtful sensitivity, do what must be done, and stabilize the new while letting go of the old. Both signs should let go of old ways of doing things that don't work any more.

The last half of May fulfills an old cycle for Cancers born the 2nd and 3rd weeks of July. The first half of June this applies to Leos born in late July, and the last half of June it applies to Leos born the first half of August.

This period is one of following through on what's culminating in your public or professional affairs. This cycle began for mid-July Cancers April 2008. For July Leos, this cycle began in May 2008. For Leos born the first half of August, this cycle began June 2008.

Learn as much as you can, prepare, then be willing to take responsibility, since this is a very high profile time for you. For Cancers and Leos, this begins a phase of harvesting past labors preparing them for a new beginning between mid-September and mid-December 2009. Though there may be delays due to Mars going retrograde in late December, things should straighten out by March 2010.

All late Cancers and early Leos should follow through on what is culminating in their public and professional sector, take responsibility, do their duties, and remember others are observing them. Cancers should learn how to be more aware of how others perceive them, and be more responsible, playful, creative, good sports, and figure out what they really want as pleasurable activities. This primarily affects Leos in the area of home, family, truth, higher awareness, their future, and how they relate to their past.

During the last half of May, Libras born the 2nd or 3rd weeks of October are tested not to get aggravated, sidestep oppositional people, and decrease agitation or impulsiveness. This period is an opportunity to correct things that began August or September 2008. The first half of June this applies to Scorpios born in late October, and the last half of June to Scorpios born the first half of November. Scorpios can correct things begun October 2008.

Libras and Scorpios are moving through a period of tensions in relationships, and have had to shift in how they regard their health, work, or how to serve their world. If this applies to you, detach from relationship dramas that scatter you. Avoid unnecessary confrontations and don’t get hassled by impulsive, abrasive, aggressive or argumentative people.

For Libras and Scorpios in a relationship, it's an intense time for your partner. This is opening new doors of perceiving and acting with others where you are an equal rather than a follower or reactor to them.

For Libras, areas coming to surface include new ways of relating to others as an equal, and new ways of viewing opportunity, values, resources, and how you use what you have. For Scorpio, areas coming to surface include new self images, new ways of relating to their body and health, and ways of viewing work and the people who work for you.

Libras and Scorpios should embrace new ways of relating to others, since this time is a breakthrough in your way of being in relationships, and allow others to take the initiative in new ways of expressing themselves. Libras need discipline, organization, taking responsibility, and sensitivity to what they and others care about and need in their daily lives.

This is about taking responsibility and initiative for what is surfacing that will fulfill itself in September 2009. Scorpios need detachment, dispassion, creativity, and playfulness in self expression, since this is the point of shift for the cycle that will culminate between late October and mid-December, though the final act won't be finished until Spring 2010.

The next article in this series will deal with other dynamic aspects of Mars to other signs, and how the current transit of Mars through the Aries zone of the Grand Irrationality matters to all signs.

© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[charty Durrant]

Dearest Robert,
i am a HUGE fan of this sight. i am absolutely blown away by your insight and integrity. Keep up the good work - it is so valuable, especially at this time of dynamic change. I read with great interest your lates posting regarding Mars influence - got great insight and honour it as always. Though i wonder, selfishly perhaps - as my sun sign is Pisces why there was no mention of the fish in this. Perhaps we are not affected?

many many many thanks for this wonderful work

namaste!

charty x

[Aquarlis Virmoon]

Hi Robert,

No words can describe how amazingly accurate and insightful this article was being a Libran. Reading this just reconfirms your access to outer workings of astrology is reflective of by inner being (in a micro and macrocosmic way) my inner universe is being expanded!! all hail the divine mother indeed!
libra sun, virgo moon, aquarius rising
xx

[ev]

Thanks for the post. It partially clears my question cause I heard lot of times that Libra born around 12th is going through hard time due to Saturn.

So, turn out there are Mars is another thing..

Then, when things gonna be better esp. for Libra born in second week?

Jupiter this year is supposed to be blessings for Libra, as far as I know ..but not for Libran born in second week..so far.

Any good news, please please deliver on the second article.

[Robyn]

Some of this i have already passed through, but am aware of the things as they are STILL occurring.

[Valerie]

Dear Robert, I kind of rushed thru this article but everything you said about Cancer is true. I'm a June 29 Cancer but have lots of planets in Cancer, like Mercury 17, Uranus 22- and guess what, all kinds of crap is happening to me in my house. Broken toilet, broken garage door, broken lamp, water leaking from the bathroom into my kitchen. Whammo. For all my wonderful positive thinking, I'm a little pissed right now. Gues it's Mars. I don't know. Once in a while Mars gives me a good shove.

[Robert]

Hi Charty - Thanks for your praise of the work. Definitely am trying to keep up the quality and quantity, given how much is happening. There was no mention of Pisces in this article since Mars does not conjunct, square, or oppose that sign. But you did find something in the next article on the semisquares.

Hi Aquarlis - Mars is a tremendous influence as it makes contacts with various planets in our chart. Given that it rules Libra's 2nd and 7th houses, when it makes hard angles with the Sun these areas hit turning points. Couple that with Saturn on your Moon and Jupiter on your Asc, I suspect you're seeing what you do and do not need as you move into a more abundant view of everything.

Hi ev - Saturn is not what is giving Libra fits, though they are learning to see a broader sweep of their lives and closing out old self-image structures adopted in 1979-1981. Mars is by far the strongest influence working in your chart at present. Jupiter can bring understanding and a more ideal form of self expression this year, IF you open to Jupiterian virtues. Remember the planets never "do" anything - they show what's possible, IF we cooperate with their best ways of showing themselves in our own behavior. As you know by now the 2nd article dealt with the other aspects at work, plus Mars and Venus moving through the Aries zone of the Grand Irrationality.

Hi Robyn - At least you know you're riding the wave, rather than just hanging on for dear life!;-)

Hi Valerie - You are now culminating many things, preparing for the new beginnings that should be clear and solid as Venus crosses your Sun, followed by Mars. Consider this an opportunity to work with the favorable Saturn sextile your Mercury quintile your Sun, favoring organized discipline and patience in dealing with aggravations (Mars/Venus square your Mercury). I suspect you'll be much happier as they move through early and mid-Taurus, favoring your Cancer.

[Valerie]

Thanks very much Robert... sure sounds good. I'll try and muster up some patience. I've been worried how much the plumbing repair/ripping up my kitchen ceiling is going to cost me. Nothing to do but wait till the plumber comes and makes an assessment, hmm. Ironically my kitchen is in need of an upgrade anyhow... :)

[Robert]

Hi Valerie - Well, plumbing is one of those things that seems to be a never ending story! That's why I learned basic plumbing years ago. As for sheetrocking, I also learned to do that years ago, though I'd rather pay someone a few bucks to get it done in a few hours than take my time which might mean a few days. May the plumbing angels make it quick, easy, and inexpensive for you!

[Isabel]

Quite accurate as usual!!!

Thanks, Robert,

Namaste and Love,

Isabel

[Valerie]

Thanks Robert, the plumber's coming tomorrow, someone highly recommended by a friend. I know a little but I'd like to depend on someone who knows what they are doing. Good thing I didn't already paint the ceiling like I was planning... maybe it's bad, maybe it's good LOL... anyway, this too shall pass! :)

[Valerie]

Epilogue: and no more whining, I promise... the plumber came and it was an (indeed!) inexpensive matter of caulk around the shower plumbing, and I don't have to rip up my kitchen ceiling, and he fixed my toilet for free... see?! Many thanks to the plumbing angels... :)

[Robert]

Hi Valerie - Hooray for the plumbing angels!! "Sometimes the magic works...." Congrats on the good plumbing karma. Sometimes a retrograde turns out much better than expected.

[robyn]

aaah robert. my boyfriends bein so this... and im so that... squares and oppositions. i don't know where anything is going.

[Patricia Weiss]

Bravo Robert!
As an astrologer myself I just want you to know how much I appreciate all the work you do to inform and prepare your readers properly with carefully analyzed aspects. You are to be commended.

[Valerie]

Well, a sequel to the epilogue, but not about plumbing. Today I lost my job!! (job was eliminated- economy cutbacks, you know the drill)I was aware it could happen and now it has come to pass. I hope the things you said above about new beginnings, etc. will hold me in good stead. Today Mars in Taurus is sextile my sun, moon and Jupiter, how very curious. All the other times I lost my job, Mars was in a much worse place. Well, now I have plenty of time to work on my horoscope column on Delmarva Almanac, maybe get my book off the ground... at the moment I'm still in shock...

[Robert]

Hi Robyn - People are always being "so this and that." Sometimes the uncertainty is there to teach us not to clutch, and breathe into the unknowns. Even the best of friends occasionally find themselves at odds. Then I suppose the best plan is to do nothing that would make things even more unstable!

Hi Patricia - Thanks for your praise of the work. I try to point out things that are usually overlooked, but which really do impact our lives.

Hi Valerie - We cannot fully embrace new beginnings as long as we're holding on to an old reality. While unsettling in the extreme, sometimes leaping open handed into the void with a maximum of faith plus hustle opens doors we'd never have known otherwise. May you be blessed with opportunities you've never imagined!

[Valerie]

Hi Robert, and thanks- all sorts of metaphors have been going thru my head. I was pretty much pushed off the cliff, into the void as you say, but I knew it was coming and I was way overdue for a job change. I'm feeling better each day, and I realize, hey I have all this time, and I've been set free. Sort of another Jupiter thing in my chart- in the 1st house, opposite Pluto, etc. I'm starting to get excited.

ps- I have just found out today that dozens of other people got laid off in the last week in north Jersey. In all areas, not just newspapers... the grand irrationality is in overdrive!

[Robert]

Hi Valerie - Certainly, we're all being forced to adapt, and learn new skills that our world needs. The trick is to keep our heads, and learn/do what we must to provide something the world recognizes it wants. And of course, there are "jobs" and other functions that the world needs, whether it knows it or not!! Think in the future, and you'll do fine.