Sun Enters Aquarius

January 20th to February 18th

In modern astrology, the fixed sign of Aquarius rules the 11th House, which is said to be that of “Hopes and Wishes” and also “Ideals and Aspirations”. The glyph for Aquarius is the Egyptian sign for “water above and below”. Therefore, Aquarius is said to symbolize the realm where the invisible waters of heaven pour down onto mankind, in the same way that a soul is poured into a human body. Aquarius has always been linked with Ganymede, who according to the Greek myth was the first mortal to become immortal. He was taken to Mount Olympus to become a “Cup Bearer” for the gods. When we see a symbol for the sign of Aquarius, we see a “water bearer”, which is Ganymede, pouring nectar for the Gods. He was the first man to understand the waters above and bring them down to others, the modern notion of “ideals”.

What is “above” is immortal and what comes from “below” is mortal and the waters of Aquarius are said to transcend both. When we tap into this flow our ideas, thoughts and requests flow up into the heavens where the Gods can look on them favorably. When the Sun moved through Aquarius, it was the coldest time of the year. However, as the earth reaches its darkest point, it holds the promise of future life. Underneath the ground, the roots are starting to prepare for new life. Everything in nature has to be self sufficient. Aquarius, as a sign, is infamous for non conformity. Uranus, its ruling planet shows the same traits. While most of the planets spin on an axis that is almost perpendicular, Uranus’ axis is almost parallel to the ecliptic. Aquarius is a sign of individuality and of looking to the future. The past has gone in exactly the same way as the old year has gone and Aquarian energy can only look to what is happening now and what will come in the future. Nothing practical can be done, but it is a time to give birth to ideas. It was a time when innovations and inventions were devised. During the darkest part of winter, the light comes from within. Anything that doesn’t serve will show itself and be corrected in spring. One of the greatest qualities of Aquarian energy is independence and it’s during the middle month of the winter that life itself is developing independently.

In Aquarius we find an energy that is “above” all the other signs. This is air energy, but unlike Gemini and Libra, this is energy that goes beyond the individual, to encompass humanity itself. Aquarian energy lifts above the mortal realm and the drudgery of daily life and taps into something higher. Therefore, Aquarius energy is always on the cutting edge, able to see further into the future and to greater heights than the other zodiac signs. It is a sign that is forward thinking; it is non conformist, balks at tradition and celebrates originality and individuality. It will rebel against repression of the human spirit. Thus Aquarius, as an air sign, is more exulted. Aquarian energy is often concerned about the plight of humanity. When people stage protests or speak out against oppression, they are using Aquarian energy. Where other signs may see what “is”, Aquarian energy sees what “can be”.

Sun Enters Scorpio

The world of Scorpio is where we'll encounter power struggles, intense emotions and cathartic transformation, but we'll also find deep acceptance of ourselves and the door to unconditional love. In Libra, we're challenged to acquire the fundamental skills of relating to others on a one to one basis. We learn how to interact, how to compromise and how to balance who we are with what we perceive in the other person. While Libra focuses on the surface topography of relationships, ensuring that we dance together in symmetry and grace. Scorpio, on the other hand, delves into the deeper, messier issues that inevitably arise. In Scorpio, we deal with power struggles, deep psychological dynamics, control urges, and the aspects of ourselves and others we'd rather not know about. Scorpio navigates the undercurrents, the hidden and unspoken.

  The water sign of Scorpio is fixed and by modern Astrology, ruled by Pluto. Pluto, the moving emissary of Scorpio energy, is associated with power issues, elimination, death, rebirth and deep transformation. It transforms by forcing us to peer far below the surface, with eyes open, to behold what lurks there. But this can be difficult for the average person. Most people don't exercise their Pluto energy on a fully conscious level and some avoid it at all costs. It is not a journey for the weak, although it can ultimately strengthen those who undertake it. Transformation, the utmost Plutonian agenda, is essentially the process of evolutionary change based on new information and experiences. Repeated, continual change and adaptation gradually produces a fundamental shift in who we are because the process forces us to frame ourselves and the world differently. This can be an upsetting, frightening or painful experience, since it tends to shine light into dark corners that have remained happily hidden for some time. It can force us to acknowledge and deal with aspects of ourselves, others and life that we'd rather not know about.  Pluto demands that we learn to look upon these secret parts of ourselves without flinching, but also with compassion and understanding. One is never the same after taking the pilgrimage. One emerges scathed but renewed, with a fresh picture of the complexity and the simplicity, the fragility and the resiliency of the human soul. We often have a new appreciation of ourselves as neither flawless nor defective, but as simply human.   It is this deceptively simple realization that opens the door to a more compassionate realism and unconditional acceptance of oneself and others. This does not mean we must condone malicious or maladjusted behavior; rather, we have a more grounded awareness that we all do the worst things for the most poignant of reasons. Scorpio and Pluto challenge us to bring light to the depths of who we are, so that we can know our true inner reality, the truth of what forms the bedrock of our human experience.

Sun Enters Scorpio

 

The world of Scorpio is where we'll encounter power struggles, intense emotions and cathartic transformation, but we'll also find deep acceptance of ourselves and the door to unconditional love. In Libra, we're challenged to acquire the fundamental skills of relating to others on a one to one basis. We learn how to interact, how to compromise and how to balance who we are with what we perceive in the other person. While Libra focuses on the surface topography of relationships, ensuring that we dance together in symmetry and grace. Scorpio, on the other hand, delves into the deeper, messier issues that inevitably arise. In Scorpio, we deal with power struggles, deep psychological dynamics, control urges, and the aspects of ourselves and others we'd rather not know about. Scorpio navigates the undercurrents, the hidden and unspoken.

The water sign of Scorpio is fixed and by modern Astrology, ruled by Pluto. Pluto, the moving emissary of Scorpio energy, is associated with power issues, elimination, death, rebirth and deep transformation. It transforms by forcing us to peer far below the surface, with eyes open, to behold what lurks there. But this can be difficult for the average person. Most people don't exercise their Pluto energy on a fully conscious level and some avoid it at all costs. It is not a journey for the weak, although it can ultimately strengthen those who undertake it. Transformation, the utmost Plutonian agenda, is essentially the process of evolutionary change based on new information and experiences. Repeated, continual change and adaptation gradually produces a fundamental shift in who we are because the process forces us to frame ourselves and the world differently. This can be an upsetting, frightening or painful experience, since it tends to shine light into dark corners that have remained happily hidden for some time. It can force us to acknowledge and deal with aspects of ourselves, others and life that we'd rather not know about.  Pluto demands that we learn to look upon these secret parts of ourselves without flinching, but also with compassion and understanding. One is never the same after taking the pilgrimage. One emerges scathed but renewed, with a fresh picture of the complexity and the simplicity, the fragility and the resiliency of the human soul. We often have a new appreciation of ourselves as neither flawless nor defective, but as simply human.   It is this deceptively simple realization that opens the door to a more compassionate realism and unconditional acceptance of oneself and others. This does not mean we must condone malicious or maladjusted behavior; rather, we have a more grounded awareness that we all do the worst things for the most poignant of reasons. Scorpio and Pluto challenge us to bring light to the depths of who we are, so that we can know our true inner reality, the truth of what forms the bedrock of our human experience.

Sun Enters Libra

On September 22, 2014, the Autumn Equinox, the Sun enters Libra.  Libra is the seventh sign of the Zodiac is a Cardinal Air sign, ruled by Venus and marks the midpoint in our journey around the zodiac, peering at Aries from the opposite side. The Sun enters Libra around the time of year as the Autumn Equinox and the origin of the word Libra derives from the Latin meaning, “balances” or “scales”. Libra is the natural ruler of the Seventh House of the Zodiac, commonly referred to as the “House of Marriage and Partnerships”.

Libra represents our ability to relate to other people, but this is actually a very complex task. Before we can relate to others, there must be a sense of self to relate from. In Aries we saw the emergence and formation of our spirit essence in the form of the conscious ego, the basic building block of identity and ground that spirit essence in the physical world of Taurus.  We developed self-awareness through mutual communication with our immediate surroundings in Gemini.  The next building block of relationships, the basic ability to bond with another was accomplished by our work with Cancer and provided the foundation needed to express oneself as a separate entity through Leo.  Having a strong sense of self enabled us to reach out beyond that Self, to others and thereby stretch the potential of who we can be was explored in Virgo. Now we arrive at Libra, in which we continue the exploration of our relationships with others from a more objective perspective. Libra teaches us that we are both connected and separate beings, being both intimately attached to others and isolated as distinct individuals. However, distances can also be deceiving and we must ask ourselves if we’re really seeing what we think we see. The danger to avoid is what we perceive is the other person, can often be what we project our own desires, needs, issues and agendas onto that person. This can mean we’re seeing only a glimpse of the real person, while filling in the blanks with our own hopes, fears and expectations. In Libra we must learn to navigate through this and decipher which is the reflection and which is the real thing. The best way to do this is to keep relating to others until we find a way that works.

Ultimately, we must honor and experience both sides, just as the scales of Libra must be balanced from both sides. Libra represents this kind of objectivity, based on distance and separation. When we view other people as separate beings, we can see them clearer than when we’re up-close and intertwined.

Sun enters Leo

The Sun moves into Leo on July 23rd until August 22nd.  Leo is the fifth sign of the Zodiac, is the sign of the Sun, the central heart of the solar system. In ancient times the Sun came to its full glory and reached the height of its annual ascent as it joined the stars in the constellation of the Lion and ever since, lions have been portrayed as powerful symbols of solar strength, supremacy, glory, light and brilliance Located in it’s natural fifth house, the sign of Leo, will describe how and where you will be affected by influences of optimism, capacity for enjoyment and self-expression.  Your Sun is arguably the most powerful energy in your whole chart. It represents your central sense of purpose and identity. The two luminaries, the Sun and Moon, together form the inner and outer dynamics of our most personal, conscious connection to the Universal Spirit. The outward thrust of the Sun's identity and purpose and the inward receptivity and sensitive feelings of the Moon. They also reflect our experience of mother, Moon and father, Sun since we parent ourselves and others in much the same way as we were parented as children. The Fixed quality of Leo can center us in self-esteem or keep us trapped in a limited view of who we are. On one hand, Leo represents our self-esteem, playfulness, love and self-affirming purpose. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Leo is also the experience of feeling shame, humiliation, self-loathing and aimless cynicism. Which end of the spectrum we're better acquainted with tends to depend on what was affirmed about us in our formative years.  The Sun is a dynamic energy that responds to whatever we fuel it with in adulthood. Just as it's essential to take in love, praise and applause, it's also important to acknowledge and accept our mistakes and human shortcomings.

In Leo, we encounter a more crystallized sense of personal identity. This is different from the Aries form of identity.  Aries is the outer personality through which we interact with the world, whereas Leo is more the person who is doing the interacting. Aries provides the outer layer of who we are, but doesn't always reflect the fiery, molten core that lies within. Leo is our own experience of ourselves, as opposed to Aries which is what we show of ourselves to the world, which is not always the same thing. Think about all the thoughts, feelings, instincts and observations you keep to yourself and don't share with the Leo is that part of us that inherently feels terrific about ourselves and the world. In its purest form, this internal spiritual flame knows no bounds, no inhibitions, no limitations and no blockages. It is endlessly loving, curious, playful and joyous. That playfulness is at the center of our creativity in the broadest sense of the word. We tend to think that creativity applies only to painting, music or other forms of artistic talent, but creativity is more an approach than an activity. Creativity, quite simply, is the ability to take two separate things and combine them to create a third; it is the ability to create something that wasn't there before. Creativity is ultimately the expression of the Self. When you take a creative approach, you make a statement of some kind that comes from you. It says something about the creator as well as the created. Even if you're just putting together components that someone else originally created, the way you put them together can be yours alone. Without creative self-expression, we are automatons living monotone lives of blind obedience, interchangeable with every other brick in the wall. When you deny your creativity, you reject or take for granted some of the unique essence of who you are.