April 2008
In the News this month is Sam Newman, recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Newman has been having a transit of Pluto over his natal Sun and South Node.
In addition, his natal Mars is retrograde, but has recently turned direct by secondary progression. Sun and Mars, the most masculine of archetypes, both having a lot to do with energy and vitality, are being transformed. The site of the disease was in the seat of his manhood, the prostate. Fortunately, they caught it early and his prognosis is excellent.
Pluto comes back for another hit over his Sun and South Node in the months ahead while it is also making a quincunx, the health aspect, to his natal Mars.
These are profound transits which will likely alter the way in which he sees himself, as ego is let go, and a new more complete person emerges. No longer can he continue to be the person he was.
The psychological transformation associated with this cycle will no doubt take a while to unfold, but that is the nature of Pluto.
Pluto retrograde
2 April 2008
All the planets (apart from the Sun and Moon) appear to move backwards from time to time. Though retrograde motion is only an illusion from our perspective on Earth, retrograde cycles are nevertheless highly significant.
The further a planet is from the Sun the longer its retrograde cycle and the shorter the arc over which it passes at these times. Both Pluto and Neptune spend about five months of the year retrograde. Stationery at 1.08 Capricorn on 2 April, Pluto will continue its retrograde motion until early September, moving back into Sagittarius in mid June. It will turn direct in September and re-enter Capricorn in late November.
Pluto retrograde, while common, is still an important cycle. Pluto is more than four light-minutes distant from the Earth and its retrograde cycle reminds us of its link to the deepest levels of the Underworld. This is the first retrograde passage of Pluto since entering Capricorn, so we have an opportunity now to pause and reflect on events that have transpired since January’s ingress.
What have we learned about ourselves and what do we still need to learn? Pluto teaches us to see the truth of who we are.
When we look honestly at ourselves we can incorporate more of what is unconscious into our conscious lives, leading to personal growth. This can also help us forge deeper, more intimate connections with others.
When Pluto makes an important transit to our birth chart we may have to let go of something dear to us. These experiences are often painful.
Who are we beneath our material goods, our jobs, our money, our relationships, or even our health? Who are we when we have nothing? Pluto forces us to come face to face with who we really are.
Whatever the actual events associated with a Pluto transit, Pluto cycles are relentless processes that cannot be avoided. If we try to avoid pain, we avoid looking within, we avoid seeing and this often makes things far worse. If transiting Pluto is touching a planet in your natal chart, now is good time to look deeply within yourself. You may even find buried treasure hidden within.
Aries New Moon
6 April 2008
The Sabian symbol for this Aries New Moon at 16 Aries is; two prim spinsters sitting together in silence. Joined together they witness the passage of life, perhaps they are waiting for something to happen? Perhaps they are reviewing life and its meaning. At this time we can all pause to reflect on the past, the present and the future. Mars, ruler of Aries, is in Cancer and squares this New Moon, while Jupiter is in Capricorn. Neither Mars nor Jupiter is especially comfortable in these signs, and they form a T-square to this New Moon, adding some pressure. Perhaps some major adjustments will become necessary once we see what it really going on.
Taurus New Moon
20 April 2008
Scorpio Full Moon
The Moon is in the first degree of Scorpio with the Sun just having entered Taurus. How do our values differ from others values? Who is right and who is wrong? Are we right to judge others? Do our priorities conflict with our partner’s goals or aims? These are some of the questions we might now be asking.
Standing up for what we value is especially important now, but so too is not devaluing another’s way of seeing the world. Perhaps other’s values do need to change, or perhaps we need to examine our own. Values are not just about money. More importantly what value do we personally place on the Earth? Truly it is priceless.
Mars in Cancer opposes Jupiter in Capricorn
April 24 2008
As mentioned, Mars is not comfortable in Cancer, nor is Jupiter comfortable in Capricorn. The natural enthusiasm and exuberance of each of these fiery planets is curbed, frustrated, watered down, and/or made impotent by these signs and yet they are also in a powerful alignment. Conflict, push pull, too much or too little, outer versus inner, up versus down; us versus them, getting the balance right with this aspect may be tricky. Don’t bite off more than is digestible, nor should we underestimate ourselves nor others. We may not be getting what we want from our relationships just now, and may be questioning whether they are a true expression of who we are and where we wish to go in life.
