Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
THE MEANING OF THE TIME
Many people assume that astrology is used to predict
events, and that a recognition of astrology's validity implies
an acceptance of fatalism and a denial of individual free
will. Over the centuries, astrological prognostications have
certainly played an important role in the lives of world
leaders and the fate of nations. But predictability, and the
fate which it implies, are far more complex issues than
simply a destiny written "in the stars", about which the
individual can do nothing. In the following pages, your
birth horoscope is analysed according to the planetary
movements which are occurring over the next year. On one
level, it is a "predictive" analysis. But its purpose is not a
foretelling of concrete events. It is an exploration of the
inner changes and cycles which occur in every individual
and which often mysteriously coincide with events in the
outer world. These planetary movements will not tell us
what WILL happen. They describe the stage the individual
has reached in his or her life, and what kind of responses
can be expected to external situations which might occur at
any other time, but mean something special because of the
special time at which they are occurring.
The German poet Novalis once wrote, "Fate and soul are two
names for the same principle." This profound perception of
the identity of inner and outer worlds is often difficult for the
person unfamiliar with the deeper psychological dimensions of
astrology to recognise. Carl Jung echoed Novalis' sentiment
when he said that a person's life is characteristic of the person.
We are complex creatures, made up of many facets, and all
the different dimensions of the human psyche will seek,
sooner or later, to find their place in the light of day and
achieve expression in the outer world. But some aspects of the
personality are inherently in conflict with other aspects. Some
will elbow others out of the way because we identify with these
at the expense of other, less developed attributes. Human
development, like that of any other living thing, proceeds in
stages, in an elaborate dance of interwoven themes. When the
time is right, certain aspects of the individual will strive for
expression. In order for us to achieve that expression, we may
need to create, or find ourselves drawn to, external situations
which make us conscious of what we were unaware of before.
Some life events are not the expression of any individual need,
conscious or unconscious. They reflect great collective
movements into which we may all be swept up. Wars,
plagues, famines, and holocausts may supercede any
individual effort at self-awareness or choice. But in those
spheres where our lives are our own, and not merged with the
collective, we may have many levels on which to fulfill the
expression of our individual horoscope patterns. We cannot
be certain whether particular events are inevitable, or whether,
with foresight, they might be avoided or transformed. We
cannot be certain of the extent to which we are required to act
out or redeem conflicts which have been part of the family
psyche over many generations. These things contribute to
what we loosely call "fate". Also, the choices we make at any
point in time may have unforeseen and far-reaching
consequences on the kind of events which occur later on.
Cause and effect may play more of a role in "fate" than we
realise. What is clear from the study of astrology is that no
outer event is devoid of meaning, or unconnected with
individual psychological issues. "Good" luck and "bad"luck
are not luck at all, but reflections of what in ancient Greece
was known as kairos - the right moment.
Analysis of the year's planetary movements by computer is
necessarily limited, primarily because no computer can
ascertain what an individual has learned from experiences
which have occurred in the past. Every stage in life is
processed by individual consciousness, and the degree to
which we are self-aware, and have some understanding of our
deeper needs and conflicts, may have a powerful effect, not
only on how we respond to events, but on the events
themselves. Consciousness, rather than fate, may determine
whether we are able to turn a painful or difficult time into one
of inner strengthening and self-knowledge, and whether we
can take advantage of the right moment to develop abilities or
pursue goals which previously we might not have realised were
possible. Our choices may be circumscribed by our genetic
inheritance on the physical level, and by social and collective
factors which place limits on our possibilities for growth. We
may also be circumscribed by our own self-doubt and
blindness, and wind up fating ourselves through reacting
blindly to the emotions which a particular situation stirs in us.
The paragraphs which follow only sketch in the barest fashion
the possible areas in which outer events might occur,
according to the year's planetary movements. They focus
primarily on the inner developments, conflicts, changes and
realisations which reflect the real meaning of the time. We
perceive the outer world through deeply subjective eyes, and
interpret events in accord with our own highly individual
psychic constitution. One person might look at a glass of
water and say, "Ah, it's half full, there is plenty for me to
drink." Another might look at the same glass and declare,
"Oh, it's half empty, there isn't enough for me to drink." One
person might view rejection by a loved one as a reflection of
the other person's failings. Another might view it as an
opportunity for a deep examination of his or her expectations
and assumptions in matters of love. When a group of people
describe the same event, they describe it in as many ways as
there are people in the group. What matters in the end is the
meaning of the time for each of us as individuals, and what
the time can offer us in terms of the greater unfoldment of the
essential self.
Chapter II
THE YEAR'S MAIN THEMES
The paragraphs which follow describe the main planetary
themes which are likely to dominate the year, and which
may permeate virtually every area of your life. They are
like the bass line in a piece of music, and set the underlying
tempo and key. Although other planetary movements may
form a musical counterpoint, highlighting specific issues in
different ways at different times over the next twelve
months, these main themes provide the overall backdrop
for this particular stage of your development.
The dominant energy
Because you are not usually afraid of intensity or intense
experience, the underlying energies at work over the next
year are not likely to twist you in too many knots - although
you may sometimes find that the emotional challenges push
you to the limit. You are likely to spend a good deal of
time focused on relationships of all kinds, and perhaps also
on domestic and family matters which ordinarily you might
not wish to be so closely involved with. The atmosphere is
likely to be changeful as well as emotionally deepening, and
you may sometimes wish things were more stable and
secure. But you have sufficient imagination and inner
strength to cope with any challenges which come your way
on these highly personal levels. You may even find that an
increased emphasis on your feelings and needs can help
your creative expression and your ability to actualise your
dreams, through a greater sense of connectedness with
others. Try not to react to feelings of increased
vulnerability with a defensively independent attitude or an
overly theatrical spirit of "poor me". This year could prove
wonderfully rewarding on many levels, if you are prepared
to give plenty of time and thought to the ways in which you
interact with other human beings.
Learning self-sufficiency
Saturn square Moon: Beginning of September 2007 until beginning of July 2008 |
During this period you are likely to discover a new sense of
strength, self-containment and serenity. But this process
may challenge old habit patterns. You may feel as though
you are carrying burdens in your personal life from which
you cannot see any escape. You may also feel lonely and
unappreciated, and others may seem to be insensitive,
unresponsive or indifferent. Although you are usually able
to be quite realistic about others' emotional limits, and
externally quite capable of managing for yourself, deep
down you have probably been troubled by such depressing
feelings in the past. You may have experienced much
loneliness in childhood, or the weight of responsibilities
you were really too young to carry. However, before you
descend into a trough of self-pity and resentment, you may
need to recognise the nature and meaning of the process
which is taking place within you. You are experiencing a
period of emotional maturing which could leave you with
much greater self-sufficiency, and at the moment you
probably need to learn how to nourish and nurture
yourself. The more you demand that others do something
to make you feel better, the less likely you are to get what
you want, for you are likely to be as closed to them as you
accuse them of being to you. And if you try to hold on to
relationships which are passing or proving unviable, you
may be doing so not because you truly want and need them,
but because you are afraid of being alone.
In the past, you may have depended too much on the
support of family members or community to provide you
with a sense of safety and security. You may also have
expected too much from others, secretly hoping that they
would provide a kind of parenting which could keep you
protected and sheltered from loneliness and change. Now
you may have to accept the fact that others cannot provide
unconditional love all the time, and you may need to be
able to take them as they are without becoming bitter or
cynical, or blaming yourself for being unlovable. You may
also need to accept your own limits, and understand that
you cannot be available to everyone all the time. Learn to
value yourself and look after your own well-being, for at the
moment it is likely that no one is going to do it for you to
the extent you might wish. If you feel burdened with the
responsibility to look after someone else right now, you
may need to learn to say no; or, if you cannot, then you
may need to learn to delegate responsibility or find a
balance which honours your own needs as well as those of
loved ones.
You are probably feeling very restricted and trapped.
There may be objective reasons for this; but equally, you
may be trapping yourself because you find it so difficult to
express what you want and don't want. You may be too
frightened of being separate and causing disharmony in
your emotional life. Yet if you are not honest with yourself
and others right now, unexpressed anger could place too
much stress on your body, or you might inadvertently
alienate the very people you are so fearful of losing
because your resentment may show itself in covert if not
overt ways. In some ways, you cannot win right now: Your
choices are between self-affirmation and the risk of
loneliness, or self-suppression and the risk of long-term
resentment. Whatever you do, you will pay a price; inner
strength of the lasting kind does not come cheap. But
ultimately honesty about who you are will reap rewards in
the future, while dishonesty now will result in the same
problem reappearing even more powerfully in a few years'
time. If you learn to define your own needs, you may upset
one or two people. You may even have to say goodbye to
one or two people, or put up with a period of coolness or
friction. But you will also discover that you have loyal and
loving support from those who truly understand you. And
if you can stand on your own feet, you will be able to enjoy
relationships much more in the future because you can
grant greater freedom both to your loved ones and
yourself.
Change in the environment
prog. Moon conjunction Ascendant: End of November 2008 until mid January 2009 |
You may be experiencing a kind of birth right now, for the
preceding couple of years of uncertainty are now
crystallising into a need to make important changes in your
environment. Emotionally you are probably surer of
yourself than you have been for a long time, and more in
touch with your need for a broad framework of ideas and
social contacts. This may make you want to leave existing
conditions, emotionally, physically or intellectually, because
you have a better understanding of what you need and can
no longer drift or put up with people and environments
that are uncongenial. You may experience a strong wish to
move house or even uproot and change community or
country, because you are probably on the lookout for new
experiences which can give you greater emotional
fulfillment. As long as you are clear about what you are
doing, this could be an excellent time to make such
changes, which may be long overdue.
Your restlessness may make it hard for you to settle, even
if you inaugurate the changes you seek. For many months
to come you may be making adjustments, feeling your way,
meeting new people, and gradually implementing the
improvements which you now know are necessary to your
life. You may also find it hard to understand your own
moods, for your likes and dislikes are changing too, and the
kinds of people who once attracted you may no longer
seem so pleasing. The external shifts you long for may
reflect internal changes which have been gestating for a
long time; you have outgrown the psychological skin in
which you were living and now must become accustomed to
new emotional responses and needs. Have faith in yourself
and your own judgement, for your instincts are functioning
soundly right now and the changes you feel you need are
probably appropriate - provided you can pursue them with
your feet on the ground and an awareness that you need to
preserve what you truly value while moving into a more
emotionally rewarding future.
Easy expression of feeling
prog. Moon sextile prog. Ascendant: Beginning of November 2008 until end of December 2008 |
Although you may not really notice the changes occurring
in your emotional life at the moment, they are definitely
there - subtle and quiet, but also very positive. You are
probably at peace with yourself, and consequently your
ability to express your feelings to others is greater than
usual and allows you to open yourself to others' support as
well as deepen your understanding of their needs. Your
personal image and your emotional needs are working in
quiet harmony right now, and because of this you are likely
to feel more confident on the personal level and more able
to trust that others will like and respond to you.
You may find that you can express inventiveness and
intellectual inspiration in ways which make you feel good
about yourself and are pleasing and exciting to others as
well. Although greater emotional openness and confidence
are likely to be very much in evidence in your one-to- one
encounters and your feelings about your family and home
environment, they can also enhance your working life and
improve your interaction with colleagues and employers.
You may also feel very lively, emotionally and physically,
and eager to encounter new people and new experiences.
This might be an excellent time to enjoy the benefits of
travel and contact with different environments and
different cultures.
Another important theme
There is another important dynamic at work this year,
which may sometimes support and sometimes contradict
the energies described above.
You tend to live close to the world of myth, and life needs
to be larger than life for you to feel you are truly alive. For
this reason you will probably respond positively and
creatively to the new perceptions and experiences you are
likely to encounter over the next year. Your sense of
future potentials may be strongly activated, and you will
probably find the necessary confidence and spirit to try out
all kinds of new ventures and possibilities. You are not
usually afraid of taking a gamble with life, and over the
next twelve months you may need to take some risks to
make the most of the opportunities likely to come your
way. This does not mean that everything will come up
roses, without any effort. You may have a tendency to feel
so special and lucky that you lose contact with reality, and
get yourself in trouble through carelessness, extravagance,
arrogance, or a tendency to make an exhibition of yourself
in a bid for attention. Try to be aware of your weaknesses
as well as your strengths right now. This could be a time of
golden opportunities and a great burst of creative energy.
A little restraint, and a semblance of humility, could help
you avoid angering others who might feel you are treading
on their toes.
Opportunities for achievement
Jupiter conjunction prog. MC: End of January 2008 until beginning of October 2008 |
At the moment you have, as they used to say in Victorian
times, "good prospects". You may feel unusually optimistic
about where you are going in life, and intense restlessness
may be combined with a sense that great opportunities lie
just around the corner. Try to take advantage of any
professional openings that come your way, provided they
do not involve you in illegal activities or cause you to
trample over others, because what you begin now is likely
to yield fruit later and help you to rise in life. You may be
feeling constricted in your work and limited in your goals,
and you are probably glimpsing distant horizons with
greener pastures which may make your present situation
seem banal or unequal to your potentials. If you are
prepared to do the groundwork and find the patience
necessary to anchor these intuitions, you could be opening
up a much more creative and materially rewarding phase of
your life.
You may need a field of work which can allow you to
develop and fully express your intensity, passion, and depth
of insight, and if your present work situation cannot
provide you with a vehicle for these aptitudes then you
might need to look around for avenues which could prove
more rewarding. At the moment you are likely to
experience "luck" in such a quest - not because some
impersonal fate favours you, but because you have the right
combination of sound thinking, inspiration, intuition,
confidence, and willingness to take risks. But you will also
need discipline and tenacity if you are to turn potentials
into solid reality. Therefore do not expect that the heavens
will open and drop a pot of gold in your lap without your
lifting a finger. The opportunities you encounter may at
first seem humble; or you may get help, advice or support
from someone in authority which could prove invaluable to
you later. Don't turn this away just because some effort is
required on your part. The only negative element likely to
afflict you at the moment is that you might feel you are
entitled to something for nothing. But any "good luck" you
experience is probably firmly rooted in your own talents as
well as in your past efforts to make something out of your
life. And future rewards will probably be firmly based on
any efforts you make now to turn your vision into reality.
Giving generously
|
Jupiter conjunction prog. Moon: Beginning of April 2009 until mid February 2010
The same themes are also emphasised by:
Jupiter trine Moon: Beginning of January 2009 until end of January 2009
|
On the emotional level you are likely to feel unusually
contented, secure and happy at the moment, and able to
give generously to others. Your trust in those close to you
is likely to be strong and unshakeable, and old insecurities
from the past may not trouble you during this time. You
may also make some worthwhile new friendships, especially
with women, and you might begin a new romantic
relationship which could help to expand your horizons and
broaden your viewpoint. But despite such enjoyable
experiences, this period is not really concerned with
romance; it involves the opening up of the heart on an
everyday human level. You are probably able to feel
tolerant and compassionate toward others' foibles because
you can accept yourself, and may be less in need of
protecting yourself from hurt than at other times in your
life. You have always had a trusting emotional nature, even
if on the rational level you have believed such an attitude to
be naive or gullible. In the past you may have experienced
more than your share of bruising because you gave your
heart at the wrong time or in the wrong place, or believed
the best of people and then discovered you should have
expected the worst. But at the moment your instinctive
faith in life is likely to be vindicated by experience. This
could prove an extremely positive time, in terms of helping
you to heal past experiences of hurt or disappointment, for
you can look forward to the future and believe that it will
be bright.
You may be especially attuned in your relations with family
and your feelings about your home, and you may feel
particularly open and receptive in any personal
interchange. In fact, whatever you are feeling right now,
you are likely to feel it on a grand scale, with a certain
theatrical flair and intensity. On a deeper level, old wounds
from the past, especially from childhood, may now be seen
in a different and more meaningful light, and from a
broader and more philosphical perspective. This can help
you to forgive others' insensitivity in the past, as well as
encouraging you to place more trust in the fundamental
decency of human nature. During this time you may feel
like indulging yourself - not only emotionally, but also with
basic physical pleasures such as food. This could be an
especially pleasant experience, although you may have to
be careful of excesses which you will pay the price for later.
But eating, drinking and good company are not the only
likely expressions of this time - although these things will
probably be an important part of your life at the moment.
If you look a little deeper, you may see that many old
emotional patterns and attitudes are being gently changed
by a brighter, more trusting, and more generous spirit
which can leave you more open to life experience and more
hopeful for the future.
Chapter III
SIGNIFICANT TRENDS
IN EACH SPHERE OF LIFE
Because the cycles of the planets create a complex and
intricate pattern in the heavens, not every movement in
your horoscope will dance to the same rhythm at the same
time. There may be periods when the year's main themes
seem to fade somewhat, because some special issue has
brought other feelings, attitudes and responses to the fore.
Some of these trends and patterns may be brief and some
longer-lasting, giving variety to your life experience during
the course of the year.
1. The sphere of emotions
There may be periods during the year when matters
concerning your emotional life take priority in a difficult
way. You might experience some times of personal
unhappiness, and you may feel like blaming others at the
time. But if you can achieve some awareness of the deeper
psychological issues involved, you could turn such
difficulties into positive learning experiences. Unhappiness
is not a permanent state any more than happiness is, even
if you might feel that way at certain moments, and the hard
times will pass. Conflicts with loved ones may occur which
leave you feeling resentful or unfulfilled, but it may be
important to take such experiences as opportunities to
resolve emotional patterns from the past which have
secretly been causing you trouble for a long time.
Learning to let go
|
Pluto opposition Venus: Mid January 2008 until mid November 2010
The same themes are also emphasised by:
Pluto trine prog. Venus: For several years, until November 2008
|
During this time you may have to learn some useful lessons
in letting go. It is not likely to be an easy period in your
personal life, for close relationships may be disturbed by
the eruption of intense and somewhat primitive feeling -
anger, jealousy, possessiveness, or a deep sense of loss. It
is possible that you may undergo a painful conflict or
separation, and this may unleash emotions which you find
difficult to cope with. You may also find yourself
compulsively attracted to someone who proves very
complicated or difficult, or who is attached elsewhere. Or
your partner may experience such a compulsive attraction,
forcing you to cope with your own emotional reactions.
Although you have always had a deep need for drama and
emotional intensity in your close relationships, the drama
likely at the moment may prove too much of a good thing.
Such complicated situations are likely to challenge your
values and ideals of love. In order to avoid creating
unnecessary problems for yourself, you may need to focus
on what is changing within you, rather than reacting to a
difficult external situation with rage, spite, or resigned
martyrdom.
Certain deeply held ideals may now prove to be unviable in
your life, and your attitudes toward love and partnership
probably need to change -whether you admit it or not.
Even if you feel you are being coerced into this change, it is
possible that something wiser and deeper than the
conscious ego knows you have outgrown a phase of your
life and are ready for a new one. Try to be aware of this
deeper level within yourself, for then you can find the
wisdom to cope with any frustrating external circumstances
in a spirit of hope, rather than one of depression or
bitterness. You may need to grieve for what has been lost -
even if this loss is of an old attitude or set of expectations
rather than an individual - and you may need time to
discover what you want for the future. You may have
placed too much emphasis on the romantic and intensely
personal aspects of love, and you may have inadvertently
neglected the importance of friendship and shared ideals. If
you become involved in a new relationship which seems
complex or overwhelming, try to appreciate what it can
offer without assuming it will be a permanent aspect of
your future. Before you sign anything, look realistically at
what is in front of you. This is a transformative time, when
you are leaving many things behind. A sad sense of
endings may alternate with an exhilarating sense of new
beginnings. Try to move through this period in a spirit of
trust. But don't cling to what is passing or may soon pass
from your life.
Feeling hurt
Chiron conjunction prog. Moon: End of September 2008 until beginning of August 2009 |
Your emotional state may not be particularly serene at the
moment, and you are likely to be troubled by conflicting
feelings. Deep down, an important healing process is
occurring, but you may not initially recognise it. Others
may not seem very understanding or sensitive to your
needs, and you may experience a sense of being unfairly
shut out or rejected by loved ones. Yet much of what you
experience in others may reflect your own withdrawal, for
you are probably not able to give as much emotionally right
now as you might at other times. You may feel mistrustful
or suspicious of the motives of others, or expect hurt or
rejection even if there is no apparent reason for such
anxiety. You are likely to feel rather negative, and you may
project these feelings outward onto other people,
experiencing them as unfeeling, and possibly incurring an
unsympathetic response because of your own secret
animosity toward them.
It may be important to understand such moods. They are
not merely unpleasant fancies, but have a deeper and
potentially positive meaning and effect. You could be
experiencing a resurgence of past emotional unhappiness
which has not been properly digested and integrated into
your life. Any distressing feelings you experience now
could be mixed with the memory of long-forgotten efforts
to reach out to others, perhaps during childhood, which
resulted in an indifferent, preoccupied or hurtful response.
You may be feeling a little sorry for yourself right now, and
perhaps also a little self-denigrating. But these feelings are
probably linked with a time when rejection, or the inability
of loved ones to meet your needs, produced impotent anger
and a sense of wounding which never properly healed.
Your present emotional state may be a reconnection with
all that has been wounded in you through your need to be
loved. The potential healing of this time can come from a
recognition of the ways in which, perhaps unconsciously,
you might be carrying a deep sense of grievance toward
those who - possibly through no fault of their own - have let
you down.
The sense that other people cannot really be trusted to
respond to your needs is probably not a new one. You may
have experienced it intermittently throughout your life, but
you might not be fully conscious of the negative
expectations you have of others. At the moment you may
feel particularly vulnerable about your need for a secure
home and family life which can give you safety and a sense
of belonging. You may have depended too much on others
to fulfill these needs, and at the moment others might not
be available, or are unwilling to help. This offers you the
possibility of learning greater emotional self-sufficiency -
not in a spirit of angry cynicism or self-martyrdom, but
from a genuine recognition that others cannot be
everything. As you come to terms with those periods in
your life when your emotional expectations might have
been disappointed, your ability to accept others' limits will
increase. If you can avoid self-pity or angry blame, you
may discover that you are much freer emotionally after this
period passes, and more willing to nourish yourself when
others are unable to do so. During this time you may do a
little emotional growing up, and you could emerge a far
stronger and more compassionate person because of it.
A time of fruition
prog. Moon opposition Sun: Beginning of July 2008 until end of August 2008 |
A turning-point in your emotional development has
arrived, reflecting the fruition of values and ways of
relating which began around fourteen years ago. It may be
a time of some tension and turbulence, but it is also a
period when you can see clearly the shape of your own
deepest instinctual and emotional needs, and how these
accord or conflict with your direction and self-image. It is
likely that you will come to these realisations within the
context of a relationship, in which you must find a way of
balancing your need of another person with your own
separate identity. This need not be negative or unpleasant;
but much depends on how able you have been over the last
few years to honestly express who you are and what you
need. If you have been sacrificing your emotional
requirements in the name of pursuing particular life-goals,
your pent-up emotional frustration may cause conflict
between a concern for material order and structure and a
longing for connection with higher or deeper realities.
If you have been allowing emotional dependency on others
to obstruct your urge to be a separate individual, you may
also experience conflict and may be challenged to assert
your own values and ideals with greater honesty and
openness. The issues you are facing are concerned,
ultimately, with a dichotomy between your need for
closeness and your need for separateness, and external
conflicts and relationship issues may highlight the fact that
you need to achieve a new and more creative balance
between the two. Although you may experience many
tensions, this is an extremely productive period which will
put to the test all the efforts you have made in the last few
years to honour and express both aspects of your
personality. And if you have not got the balance right in
the past, you will have ample opportunity to do so now,
laying the groundwork for a more flexible and honest way
of interacting with life in the years to come.
2. The sphere of the physical world
Matters concerning your physical and material life are also
likely to prove important, and some of these may prove
very rewarding over the next year. You may enjoy the fruits
of a long period of hard work. Or new opportunities,
arising as if out of nowhere, may give you the sense that
things are really working for you on the worldly level, and
that you now have a chance to express yourself in ways that
create tangible, financially and professionally satisfying
results. Try to make the most of these opportunities; you
may surprise yourself by what you are able to achieve.
The turn of the Wheel
Jupiter conjunction Saturn: Beginning of May 2008 until end of December 2008 |
You may be chafing against many structures in your
working and personal life right now, for you are likely to be
full of restlessness and vague aspirations toward a freer,
bigger, and better existence. A desire for change may be
deep and also perfectly valid, for you could be realising the
extent to which security needs and defences against hurt
and chaos have made you too inhibited or rigid in the way
you have interacted with life and with others. You have
probably always experienced some conflict between a
desire to grow and find a better future, and a desire to
preserve whatever makes you feel stable and safe. In the
past this conflict may have resulted in many swings of
mood, from optimism to pessimism and back again, and
also in a tendency to misjudge the nature of experiences
and interpret them as wholly good or wholly bad. Right
now you have a chance to achieve a better balance between
hope and self-preservation, and to make choices which are
both forward-looking and sound. You may be trying to
grow beyond old patterns at the moment, and this could be
an extremely positive and creative shift. But you may need
to be careful about how you make changes, and what you
seek to change. Because you might be acutely aware of
frustrations now which you may have been able to tolerate
or even welcomed in the past, you may throw caution to the
winds and begin to kick at things which are in fact valuable
and meaningful to you. This is a time when you can make
constructive changes in your inner and outer life, and also
enjoy a glimpse of deeper or higher patterns at work which
give your life order, meaning and coherence. It is worth
making the effort to do some careful reflecting, because the
potentials of the time are very great.
You may need to reevaluate the ways in which you use
defences, overcompensation or rigidity to protect yourself
from irrational moods, feelings and fantasies which
threaten your sense of self- control. Something within you
may be seeking to move beyond these defences and fears,
in order to gain greater confidence in yourself and others.
You may also need to understand your own inhibitions, so
that earlier painful experiences in your life can assume a
positive meaning as important contributions to your inner
development. On the outer level these efforts to grow are
likely to result in you struggling against restrictions which
you feel curtail your freedom and your joy in living. Some
structures in your life may indeed be outworn and past
their sell-by date, and you may need to make major
changes in your material and emotional life. But first try to
understand why these constrictions are there in the first
place, and why you yourself might have chosen them -
consciously or unconsciously - for reasons of your own.
When you have your own motives and needs in perspective,
you will be able to apply the right combination of optimism,
intuition and realism to make necessary changes without
betraying your deepest values and needs.
You are likely to be more than usually philosophical and
reflective at the moment. This should be encouraged, for
you may acquire greater freedom as well as greater wisdom
from any efforts you make to handle restlessness in a
constructive manner. You may begin to search for answers
to some of life's deeper questions, and through such
exploration you could achieve a more universal viewpoint
which puts personal and transient feelings in a broader
perspective. If you feel attracted to exploring deeper
subjects such as psychology, philosophy or spiritual paths,
by all means do so; you are probably in need of a broader
backdrop to understand your life situation right now, and
greater knowledge of life and of human behaviour can help
you to acquire this backdrop. Whatever happens to you
during this time, don't just take it at face value. Consider
what the experience might mean to you, and what it has to
teach you. You are growing and deepening as an
individual, and any effort you make to facilitate this
process will probably be well rewarded by increased
strength and maturity in the future.
However, you may also have to deal with some less
pleasant mundane issues. You may have to face challenges
which make you question your work and your place in the
world, and frustration may bring your temper to boiling
point or generate a sense that you have failed. Try to keep
your mind focused on what you can learn from such
situations, because you could turn them into strengthening
lessons which, when the time is right, help you to achieve
what you want later on.
Keep your feet on the ground
Jupiter opposition Sun: Mid February 2009 until beginning of March 2009 |
This is an important and potentially very creative time,
when your sense of individuality is likely to be heightened
and you may wish to seek new opportunities for self-
expression. You are probably feeling restless and bored
with the life you have been living, and your intuition may
be telling you that there are greener pastures if only you
could free yourself of present restrictions and
responsibilities. If you do not do any reflecting right now,
you may simply feel intensely frustrated, and inclined to
kick against what you imagine to be the obstacles in your
path - whether these obstacles appear as your partner, the
law, or your bank account. If you pursue such a blind
course, you could waste a good deal of time, energy and
money paying for the consequences of your actions.
However, if you are prepared to do some careful thinking
and planning, you could discover new goals and talents
which need development, and also a new self-image which
gives you greater confidence, flexibility and self-esteem.
For you to feel your life is fulfilling a deeper pattern or
purpose, you may need to explore new avenues through
which you can develop practical skills which help you to live
a useful and productive life. This may involve you in
learning a craft, or working in the healing and helping
professions. Although you may feel you want bigger and
better material or emotional outlets right now, on a deeper
level you may be seeking a sense of meaning which can give
your life dignity and your individual efforts value. The
problem is that, even if you recognise this deeper need, you
may be rather impulsive and rash in the ways you seek to
make room for more inspiration and expansion. Equally,
you may find that your partner acts out your restlessness
for you, and disruption in your personal life may provide
the trigger for the realisation that you yourself need to
move on. Try to reflect on what you really want and
believe in. Then turn your mind toward how you can
achieve it, while respecting others' rights and boundaries as
well as honouring the structures you have built in the past
and might still value. This is a time when opportunities
may come your way which could take a few years to bear
fruit. At first you might not even recognise them as
opportunities. Be patient. If you are willing to put what
you believe into practise, and are prepared to do the hard
work in between, your future could open up and change
dramatically and for the better.
3. The mental sphere
The development of your mind, and the cultivation of new
skills and spheres of learning, may also occupy a lot of your
energy at different times during the year. The life of the
mind is as important as the life of the heart and the life of
the bank account, and this time could prove very important
in enhancing your level of knowledge and the application of
your talents. But you may also be challenged by difficulties,
especially in communication with others and in the general
tenor of your mental attitude during this time. If you find
yourself unusually negative, critical or depressed, try to find
out what is really troubling you, and how your own attitude
might be contributing to any external problems you
encounter. This might be wiser than taking it out on others
or inadvertently causing difficulties in your material and
emotional affairs because you are not conscious of the
effects of your own mental attitudes.
Breaking down the barriers
Chiron opposition Uranus: End of February 2009 until end of December 2010 |
You may experience some stress for a time, and you may
long to forcibly break free of whatever you feel is
restricting or blocking you. External circumstances may
seem to conspire to hold you back in ways you find
intolerable, and feelings of frustration are liable to be
compounded by a sense that what is happening is extremely
unfair. Although anger and impatience may be justified, it
would probably be unwise to react violently, sever ties, or
disrupt a stable situation in order to release tension and
anxiety. If you strike out blindly, you may cause yourself
many difficulties, both with those in authority and with
those close to you. Try to contain your emotions right now.
Your best course during this time may be to use your
powers of self-control and reflection to understand what is
happening inside you. Then you can make necessary
changes, while still retaining a sense of balance and an
appreciation of where you may have to accept unavoidable
limits.
Outer events may act as a trigger to activate a deep
internal need for change and freedom. You might not fully
realise that you have outgrown certain old structures and
attitudes. You are probably craving more breathing space,
and the freedom to interact in close relationships according
to your own values and needs, regardless of conventional
social or sexual roles. You may discover how badly you
need change because you are denied it at the moment; and
nothing is quite as effective in teaching us about ourselves
as being told what we cannot be or have. The chief danger
of this time lies in the possibility reacting too violently to
feelings of constriction. This could cause you emotional
and even physical harm, if you are impatient, angry, and
careless when driving or handling mechanical or electrical
implements. But if you can sit still long enough to carefully
reflect on where you may have outgrown something in your
life, then you can work to shift your circumstances in a
constructive rather than a wildly impulsive way.
Others may precipitate change against your wishes, and
you could experience a sudden loss or a separation initiated
by someone else rather than yourself. If this is the case, try
not to fall victim to outraged pride, or rage against life's
unfairness. You may find with hindsight that you yourself
have needed such a change all along, but were too afraid to
acknowledge it because of the disruption and hurt you
feared might ensue. Try to look beyond the manner in
which change is being foisted on you, and consider what it
could really mean for your future. This is not a good time
to brandish grievances or indulge in vindictiveness in the
name of principles. Nor is it a time to feel sorry for
yourself because life has dealt you an unfair blow. Try to
deal carefully and objectively with what is happening
around and within you, so that you can turn a period of
disruption into a creative movement which could allow
freedom, inspiration, and new ideas into your life.
Erratic thoughts
Jupiter opposition Mercury: Beginning of January 2009 until end of January 2009 |
Your intuition is likely to be extremely active now, and so is
your grasp of broad principles. This may focus your mind
on the future and on an overall picture of where you wish
your life to go. At the moment you have the ability to
make connections and see beyond immediate facts to the
potentials which lie behind them. This could be an
excellent time to engage in any study which requires a
universal viewpoint and an ability to intuitively understand
the relationship between events and facts. You have always
had an eye for the big picture, and at the moment this
tendency to look toward distant horizons is likely to
overwhelm a more cautious or pragmatic approach. You
could get many positive glimpses of future possibilities,
especially in terms of developing new skills and talents,
because you are likely to be more optimistic than usual and
able to aim higher because of it. A strong desire to
broaden your life may lead you to learning new skills,
especially in areas concerned with healing, health, and
psychological balance. Thus many important opportunities
could come your way right now, unlocking talents and
potentials which you could continue to develop for many
years to come.
The only problem is that you may be so impatient to grasp
the big picture that you could ignore the little one - to your
own cost. You might be inclined to sloppiness in your
thinking, inaccuracy in your recollection or retelling of facts
and information, and carelessness in handling financial
transactions and contracts of any kind. Try to make an
effort to read the small print if you sign anything, and
remember what you have in the bank before you spend or
speculate. Also, you are likely to want to follow your
hunches and intuitions right now, perhaps to the point
where you may feel you have a special telephone line
connecting you with cosmic truths. Such a high estimation
of your gifts could make you a little dogmatic and self-
righteous when you express your ideas to others. All this
may be a by- product of high spirits and a healthy influx of
enthusiasm and optimism; and there is no harm in
believing you are right, as long as you can recognise that
others may be right as well, as far as their own lives are
concerned. Try to exercise some patience right now, in
order to get the best from this creative time. Mental
restlessness, curiosity and expansiveness could yield very
positive results, as long as you are realistic enough to
recognise the importance of the small steps necessary to
get where you believe you could go.
4. The spiritual sphere
What gives meaning to any emotional, material or
intellectual challenges and changes you might encounter is
your spiritual life, and here too you may experience certain
important changes in perception and attitude. Such
changes may be subtle and slow to register on your
awareness, but they may profoundly influence the way you
experience and interpret what happens to you over the next
year. Never underestimate the importance of the meaning
you assign to events, because the clearer your vision, the
more likely you are to work with the time in constructive
and creative ways. You may experience a deeper sense of
connection to the greater whole of which you are a part,
although such a feeling may not remain with you all the
time. You may also be open to new ideas and ways of
looking at life which make the world seem bigger, richer,
and more meaningful.
Jumping hurdles
Jupiter opposition Uranus: Mid April 2009 until beginning of January 2010 |
You are probably extremely impatient for change at the
moment, and likely to kick hard against any restrictions in
your life. You may need more freedom and are probably
determined to get it, even if this means precipitating
confrontations or separations in your relationship life. If
you try to avoid or suppress the need for change, it may
come to you anyway, since those around you may pick up
your hidden restlessness and frustration and react in
unpredictable ways. It is also possible that events in the
world outside may contribute to sudden changes occurring
in your personal life, which initially may seem disturbing
and unwelcome, or, at the least, utterly unexpected.
However, you may need to let certain old structures go
right now, and perhaps even an old relationship which has
fulfilled its purpose. Whatever explodes, the dominant
feeling in you is likely to be immense relief, even if you
must experience some loss or separation; for it is possible
that you have been building up pressure for a long time.
This could prove an immensely creative and freeing time,
provided you do not go rampaging about kicking down
structures which you need in your life. Try to exercise
some patience and reflection, so that you can make
constructive decisions rather than feeling like the passive
victim of changes which you don't wish to admit you desire.
This is also a time when you are likely to feel particularly
idealistic and in need of a sense of greater meaning in your
life. You may become involved in a spiritual quest or an
ideological commitment which seems to offer a broader
perspective on life, and you may encounter new ideas and
new people who bring with them a more exciting vision of
the world. Although you may need to exercise some
discrimination in terms of the ideals you espouse right now,
nevertheless this would be an excellent time to explore the
world of ideas and examine just what you really do believe
in. On the deepest level it is not so much the form of your
life as the attitude you take toward it which may be badly in
need of an overhaul.
Doors are opening
Jupiter conjunction Jupiter: End of December 2008 until mid January 2009 |
This is a time of great opportunity, but you might not
immediately recognise it as such. You are likely to be
feeling particularly optimistic about the future, and
expectant that good things are coming your way. They
probably are; but not necessarily in material form, and not
necessarily tomorrow afternoon. You are more likely to
encounter opportunities that can eventually open doors to
a deepening connection with the invisible realm, and a
stronger intuitive sense of creative and spiritual energies at
work in your life. But the results may not be apparent for
some time to come; and if you are hoping for instant
gratification or free gifts from heaven, you could allow this
potentially productive time to pass in a pleasant optimistic
state which leaves nothing lasting in its wake.
You are in fact beginning a new twelve-year life cycle,
which is related to the ways in which you grow and discover
meaning in your life. This is a subtle process, because it is
only with hindsight that we realise that particular choices,
actions and individuals have been instrumental in helping
us to find and begin the next stage of the journey. For this
reason the people who enter your life right now may be
particularly important - not because they give you
something immediately recognisable as benefits, but
because they may offer knowledge or an opportunity which
you could greatly benefit from later. You need to be
willing to try new things out - things you might never have
thought of doing before, but which could, even with small
beginnings, expand into major spheres of expression in a
few years' time. This is particularly true of talents which
you know you have but which are lying undeveloped
because other, more urgent concerns have made them
seem unimportant or unviable. You will get out of this
period what you put into it. But the opportunities are
there, if you are quick enough to see them, and willing to
do some groundwork before you expect to see results.
On a deeper level, this is a time when you can look back
over the last twelve years and discern an intelligent pattern
at work in your life. Even if you are not conventionally
religious, you may experience a powerful intuitive sense
that something within you is guiding your life, and that
even unpleasant events and experiences have had
something to teach you. Slowly, you may be formulating a
world-view or philosophy of life which, over the years, can
provide a framework in which you can place your life
experiences in order to make sense of them and see them
in context. At the moment you may be able to recognise
the shape of that world-view, even if you are not ordinarily
philosophically inclined. On the surface level, this period
may not generate many fireworks. On the deeper level it is
enormously important - especially if you can find the
courage to pursue new viewpoints and perspectives which
can help your life to expand. If all you are feeling is a
condition of general restlessness and dissatisfaction, you
may need to look more deeply into yourself, to understand
where you need to open doors and look toward more
distant horizons.
However, you may also experience times of doubt and
disillusionment, and you may wonder whether what you
believe in is really worth the investment of energy and
faith. Such periods of spiritual depression could, however,
prove rewarding in the long term, because they may
provide valuable insights into unrealistic expectations or
too rigid a world-view or spiritual perspective. If you can
reflect on what is happening, rather than falling into
cynicism, the testing times you experience may ultimately
help to shape an enduring faith in yourself and in life.
Seeking absolute truths
Neptune opposition Uranus: End of March 2008 until mid January 2011 |
You may be seeking answers to some extremely broad or
profound questions at the moment. An external situation
of loss or confusion may provide the trigger for such a
quest. Or you may simply find yourself feeling deeply
discontented and in need of a new and larger world-view
which can help to free you from old inhibitions and
constrictions, especially in your attitudes toward marriage
and partnership. You may be inclined to explore new
spiritual, metaphysical or philosophical views right now,
and are likely to be attracted to some very unconventional
people and ways of thinking about life. All this could be
extremely creative, and life may never seem the same
again. But it might be wise if you don't attempt to make
important decisions or commitments too quickly, before
you have given these new inspirations a chance to
crystallise and prove their value in your life. You will
probably have to reconcile strongly mystical feelings with
an essentially rational approach to things, and this is likely
to take time as well as a willingness to explore, study and
learn as much as you can about dimensions of life you
might previously have dismissed or simply ignored.
Deep restlessness and discontent may afflict you at the
moment, and you may be inclined to seize on some new
spiritual truth or insight to explain all of life's complexities.
Be careful about any involvement with a spiritual teacher
or group. Because you are likely to be searching for truth
in a rather emotional and idealistic way, you may not
exercise sufficient care or discrimination in terms of those
whoappear to offer you enlightenment. This does not
mean you should avoid such people or ideas; they may
prove extremely rewarding and uplifting. But keep your
eyes open and your mind clear. You are likely to meet all
kinds of truths at many different levels during this period.
Political and social concerns may also occupy you, and you
may feel powerfully drawn to a particular cause or
movement. Try to be receptive to all these things, but
avoid signing anything. Certain old attitudes and rigid
structures, internal, external, or both, may begin to break
down, and you may have to free yourself from the more
restrictive aspects of conventional thinking and beliefs.
Such a process will take time, and it might be better to
avoid any impulsive decisions, actions or relationships
which could merely replace the old limitations with new
ones of an equally constricting kind. This is a time when
new worlds and new realities are likely to beckon. You
may feel enlightened and inspired; but try to remember
that, when the initial enthusiasm passes, you will still have
to settle down to dealing with your small share of existing
reality.
Through a glass darkly
Jupiter square Neptune: End of January 2009 until mid February 2009 |
Your head is likely to be in the clouds at the moment, and
although you may feel very serene and in touch with higher
realities, you may be floating a little too far off the ground
for your own good. You are especially open to the invisible
side of life; but the invisible doesn't just contain spiritual
truths. It also contains a great many of your own fantasies
of escapism and resistance to ordinary mortality, and at the
moment you are especially vulnerable to exploitation and
misinterpretation of reality because you may be seeking
some transcendent experience which can make you feel life
is meaningful and worthwhile. You may also be seeking
some practical means of solving all your worldly problems,
and your assessment of the validity and integrity of the
means may not be as clear and objective as it would be at
other times. Dreams and longings of emotional and
spiritual fusion may suffuse your waking life, and you might
feel drawn to a spiritual path or teacher who seems to
promise redemption and enlightenment in exchange for a
level of self-sacrifice you might be wiser not to embark
upon. Such longings are neither false nor negative, and the
more mystical side of your nature is fundamentally positive
and worthy of cultivation. But some of the people you
encounter in life right now may not be quite so worthy, and
you might be wise to maintain some discrimination, realism
and hard-headed objectivity about your own and others'
limits.
You may believe at the moment that luck is on your side,
and that you can get something for nothing. While a little
harmless indulgence in small-scale speculation may not
come amiss, it could prove dangerous to indulge in a
serious gamble of any kind, emotional or financial, since
your judgement is likely to be askew through the power of
your own fantasies. Be especially careful in your approach
to spiritual matters. You may too preoccupied with
redemption, and might be inclined to forget at the moment
that God helps those who help themselves. Because you
could be inclined to deceive yourself at the moment, you
may also deceive others - and be open to deception by
them. Try to put important decisions in abeyance for a
while. You have always had one eye turned toward higher
matters, and there is a good deal of idealism in your nature
- even if more pragmatic attitudes have made you deny or
conceal this quality. At the moment both eyes are probably
looking upward, and you may not notice what is on the
ground in front of you. Something beautiful and fragile is
opening within you, which deserves to be recognised and
honoured. But such feelings should not be acted upon
through decisions which affect the structures and values
you have spent many years building - at least, not until the
stars have left your eyes and you can see clearly what you
are dealing with. You may feel unusually self- sacrificing,
and uninterested in your own welfare. While compassion
may be utterly genuine and one of the most positive
dimensions of this time, exploitation may be one of the
most negative. Take your dreams, intuitions and feelings
seriously. But try to remember that you cannot give of
yourself if you have given yourself away.
5. The sphere of the Inner Self
Deeper and more profound than events occurring in any of
these spheres is the development of the Self, which
underpins everything that happens to us in life. This is the
real heart of the mystery of fate, because if there is truly a
destiny at work in individual life, it lies within, and the
astrological configurations only reflect, at any given time,
opportunities for this hidden development pattern. You
may only experience glimpses of this inner pattern at work,
through realising that some experience is vitally necessary
even if it is painful. You may also sometimes sense the
purposefulness of what is happening around and within
you, even if you cannot find a rationale for what you sense.
Through particular feelings and situations which make you
grow, you can establish a strong connection with the inner
world, even if your heart is sore or you are encountering
trouble on the mundane level. But this kind of connection
depends on how willing you are to look inward at the
deeper pattern of your life, regardless of how you are
feeling at the time, or toward whom you feel it.
Life opens up
Jupiter conjunction Ascendant: Mid March 2009 until end of November 2009 |
You have probably spent many months quietly treading
water, and now you may be ready for big changes which can
expand your horizons and enrich and enliven your
relationships. Although no single event may necessarily be
linked with such feelings of optimism and faith in the
future, you are likely to have more energy and self-
confidence, and can probably also find more humour and
joy in your everyday life. You are also likely to feel
friendlier and more generous to others, and they in turn
may respond by being friendlier and more generous to you.
You may experience a strong need to travel, for you are
probably restless and eager to explore new things; and
travel, especially to places where you can absorb different
cultures and lifestyles, might be very good for you right
now, because you are likely to be very open to its benefits
and pleasures, and agreeably tolerant of its vicissitudes.
Your interest in new contacts and unconventional ideas is
being strongly activated at the moment, and you may need
to discover new spheres of interest, new relationships of
various kinds, new places to work and live, and new mental
attitudes in order to constructively channel the restless
energy you are now likely to experience. You may feel
quite self- indulgent, but such feelings are not likely to be
excessive or harmful, and you may as well enjoy yourself
right now because you deserve it. And that is perhaps the
deepest meaning of this time - you may realise that you do
indeed deserve the good things of life, and can achieve
them if you are prepared to open your mind, heart and
spirit to new attitudes and more inclusive ways of looking
at things. This is a benign period in your life when, even if
other factors are causing you conflict, you are likely to have
greater faith in yourself and are able to find meaning in the
events which happen around you. Take advantage of this
increased optimism to open doors you might previously
have been too diffident to enter. Any new venture, study,
or friendship you begin now is likely to prove fruitful and
rewarding in the months to come.
Feeling vulnerable
Chiron conjunction Ascendant: Mid April 2007 until end of January 2009 |
You are probably feeling rather vulnerable at the moment,
and it may seem as though your usual mode of dealing with
the outside world is somehow failing you. You may
experience strong feelings of shyness, or extreme sensitivity
to others' criticism or disapproval, real or imagined. You
may also find yourself withdrawing from those close to you,
and needing a lot more time to yourself. Your outlook is
changing, and your energy is flowing inward rather than
outward. If you try to push against this inward direction,
you may find yourself hurt or disappointed because others
do not appear to have much time for you. In fact you
probably need a good deal of time and space for yourself
right now, and it might be wise to listen to your instincts
and avoid those situations and people who are not
nourishing to you, but are merely habitual.
You may find that you are particularly sensitive to any
feeling of isolation or rejection by your peer group. Such
heightened sensitivity may be a pointer to how important
these issues really are to you, and how, in the past, you may
have ignored your own needs and nature in order to
present yourself to others as you thought they wished you
to be. Whatever restrictions or rejections you experience
now, try to keep your balance, and don't react with a
backlash of anger or a flood of self-pity and martyrdom.
Your perceptions may be distorted by a low mood, and you
are likely to misinterpret what others are doing and saying.
Try to reflect on the issues which are stirring you up so
much, and explore ways in which you can give greater time
and value to certain innate needs which you may be
overlooking or suppressing. Others may not be able to
offer you much comfort now. But you could offer a great
deal to yourself, and strengthen your confidence and
capacity to express yourself, if you are willing to turn
inward and examine the deeper meaning of the frustration
you may be feeling.
Reflection may be especially necessary with regard to your
close relationships, which may be a source of hurt to you at
the moment. Your partner may not seem to understand
what you want, or may appear to behave in hurtful ways.
Yet you yourself are probably not very responsive right
now. You may be feeling very insecure, or wrapped up in
your own grievances and therefore unaware of the effect
your moods might have on those around you. You may
feel you want to break free of a hurtful or restrictive
situation. Perhaps this is necessary. But before you act on
impulse, try to see whether there are things you should be
learning about yourself. Old patterns of interacting may
need to be changed, and your present experiences might
give you clues as to just what you are doing to frustrate
yourself. Try not to let pride or negative thinking interfere
with the potentially healing and constructive process taking
place within you.
Loss of confidence
Saturn opposition Chiron: End of September 2007 until end of July 2008 |
You may be struggling with some very ambivalent feelings
right now, and you are probably not very confident or sure
of yourself at all. You may be ignoring your strengths and
gifts, and may be inclined to think mainly of your hurts and
failures rather than of your good fortune. It is possible that
an external situation of hurt, disappointment or frustration
has triggered these dark, melancholy feelings. It is also
possible that you are experiencing considerable anger and
bitterness at what you feel to be life's unfairness, or the
unfair behaviour of another person. You may feel
particularly unhappy about the way those close to you are
treating you, and this may incline you to feelings of
cynicism or bitterness which could make matters even
worse. But the pain you may be feeling is probably linked
with more than external circumstances; it may have much
deeper roots, which lie in the earlier part of your life.
Although this may be a difficult time, it is also one in which
you can learn a great deal about yourself, and work toward
healing ongoing issues which have caused you pain for
many years. Some of the feelings you may experience are
probably related to childhood disappointments and
frustrations, and you may not have realised the extent to
which these early experiences have created deep
resentment or fear in you. In certain areas your confidence
may have been undermined, and in order to protect
yourself you have probably created defences which have
fooled not only others but even you. Now these defences
may be penetrated by external events which, in themselves,
would not have the power to shatter you, but which,
combined with a backlog of angry and fearful feelings, may
have a much greater and more distressing impact.
It is important that you do not sink into a trough of self-
pity, or go around resentfully blaming everyone around
you. It is also important that you do not blame yourself, for
it is probable that, whatever you are encountering in the
outside world, you are not at fault. But then, neither is
anyone else, if you are really honest about it. Human
nature may be at fault, or simply the fact that sometimes
life is unfair and broader social, family or collective
problems come home to roost in individuals who have not
merited such a burden. If you are able to discover where
you have been blaming others or yourself for past
experiences toward which you must take a more detached
and philosophical attitude, you may be able to shake off
many old defences which have blocked your ability to relate
to life. Also, try to find some compassion - not only for
others who may be caught in the same complex patterns as
you, but also for yourself. On this deeper level the
difficulties of the present time could prove to be extremely
positive and healing, once you achieve a perspective
detached enough to see beyond the dark fog.
Not getting what you want
Saturn conjunction Mars: Mid November 2008 until mid September 2009 |
Frustration and anger may make this time rather difficult,
although its end result is likely to be greater discipline,
tenacity and self-confidence. You may find that increased
responsibilities and obligations, failure to achieve
particular goals, or a lowering of energy which makes work
more difficult, contribute to your sense that you are not
being allowed to do what you want in life. Perhaps in some
ways you have never really felt free to do as you pleased;
and you may find yourself bitterly remembering past
situations in which you were thwarted or your pride and
sense of personal effectiveness were injured. During this
period you are likely to feel particularly resentful if
circumstances or people get in your way. It is probable that
someone or something may indeed curtail your freedom of
action, and you may need to understand why this might be
happening and how to deal with it in the most constructive
way. Because you are inclined to feel irritable and
impatient, you may provoke quarrels with others or make
sudden, impulsive decisions for very questionable reasons.
You may also be careless in your dealings with the material
world, and if you are not alert to your own mood your
impatience might make you drive recklessly or take risks
which you would avoid or handle differently at other times.
The most irritating thing one can say to an impatient
person is, "Be patient!" - but this is exactly what you need to
tell yourself, several times a day.
Your sense of frustration is likely to be focused on your
interaction with your partner. It is here that, if you are not
conscious of suppressed anger, you may inadvertently
provoke others' anger or incur opposition to your wishes
and plans. If you do encounter hostile people who appear
determined to thwart you, consider first whether they really
are trying to oppose you, or whether you are interpreting
their behaviour in this way even though their requests or
wishes are perfectly appropriate and justifiable. Consider
also whether any quarrel that erupts may be as much a
reflection of your own obduracy as the other person's. You
are not the most amenable or receptive of people at the
moment, and you may not be fully aware of hidden
resentment which communicates itself to others in subtle
but powerful ways. And because frustration may undermine
your sense of potency and masculine confidence at the
moment, you may be inclined to try to compensate by
asserting your authority over others - perhaps in insensitive
or inappropriate ways.
The deeper meaning of this time is concerned with the
development of inner discipline and the capacity to harness
and direct your will and energies toward realistic and
achievable goals. If you can view your situation from this
perspective, you may be able to turn an otherwise
frustrating period into one of hard work with good, solid
results and rewards. Your self-will may be colliding with
some fundamental laws of mundane reality, and you may
need to develop a spirit of compromise and patience. Try
not to become aggrieved and bitter. If someone else seems
to be treating you with insensitivity or harshness, it may be
important for you to learn to withdraw quietly and wait,
rather than reacting just as insensitively and harshly out of
wounded pride. You are probably learning one of life's
simplest but hardest lessons: We cannot always have or do
exactly what we want. You might also discover something
very important about whether you have truly been decisive
and self-motivated in the past. Perhaps you have a pattern
of putting yourself into situations where you wind up
failing, or doing what others want. If so, this could prove a
valuable discovery because you can only change what you
are conscious of within yourself. With reflection and
patience, this could be an enormously strengthening and
maturing time, when you really begin to take charge of your
life.
The will to power
Saturn conjunction Pluto: Beginning of October 2007 until mid August 2008 |
You are likely to feel inexplicably uneasy at this time, as
though the world were full of people intent on thwarting
you or obstructing your future plans and goals. What is
really happening is that a deep-rooted instinct for survival
is being activated in you, along with a sense that it is time
for your life to change radically. The ending of a chapter of
life, and the beginning of a new one, inevitably mobilises
those basic instincts to ensure one's survival during the
period of change. The problem is that you are probably
also experiencing fear - that the future will not work out,
that others will block or humiliate you, that everything will
go wrong. It is these fearful feelings which may make you
experience others as unhelpful or downright aggressive.
Try to recognise how your own suspicions may trigger
others into defensive behaviour. If you react without
reflection because of your anxieties and forebodings, you
may aggressively, although inadvertently, push or bully
others so that they retaliate and do indeed try to thwart
you.
During this time you could discover a surprising source of
strength, tenacity and instinctive wisdom within yourself.
You might never have realised how much of a survivor you
can be if cornered. In spheres of your life concerned with
close partnerships, you have probably had to learn to stand
alone as a separate individual, even if emotionally you
found this painful and depressing. Now you are being asked
once more to find your own path from the past into the
future. Others might not be unhelpful; loved ones may
offer their support; but something within you may not want
their help. You may need to discover what you truly are
and want from an understanding of your own emotional
needs, not from the advice others give you about the 'right'
way to live and be. This could be a lonely and anxiety-
ridden process, which is not easy for anyone. A willingness
to look at your life more seriously, and to try to understand
more about the psychological issues which have shaped you
in the past, can be of great help on the journey you are
presently undertaking.
Periods of transformation such as this one are not
inevitably reflected in an external crisis or upheaval. Or
one might encounter or be drawn to people who reflect
with strange accuracy the feelings and attitudes one carries
within oneself. At the moment 'survivors' - individuals
whom life has battered but who have somehow managed to
struggle on undefeated - may be particularly attractive to
you. On the emotional level you are likely to feel
uncertain, more negative than usual, and mistrustful not
only of others but also of yourself and your capacity to
navigate rough currents. In fact you are quite able to
handle whatever situations arise right now -but you must
listen to your instincts, and understand yourself better,
rather than relying either on rational answers or the easy
black-and-white formulae of the collective. You may
discover a source of wisdom and power within yourself
which could affect all your future actions and allow you to
achieve greater psychological independence. You may also
be within reach of material or professional goals which you
have worked long and hard to achieve, but which may in
themselves seem somehow threatening because success
may isolate you from others whom you have left behind.
Try to let go of whatever in your past has been outgrown.
You are carrying excess baggage which you are better off
relinquishing.
Patience is a virtue
Uranus opposition Mars: Mid April 2008 until beginning of February 2010 |
Try to keep your head and stay calm during this period.
You are likely to be full of energy and initiative, which
could prove very creative. But you may also be wildly
impatient and inclined to be enraged by any interference or
obstruction, and this could prove very problematic if you
cannot control your impulses. You may be eager to go
your own way and pursue your own desires, for a great
freeing of energy is taking place within you. But beware of
doing it with such force and rebelliousness that you
provoke open confrontations or even physical accidents
because you are not looking where you are going. The
fundamental meaning of this time is creative and positive.
But an extremely high charge may have built up within you,
particularly around the issue of your will and self-
assertiveness. You will need all the patience and
containment you can find, to prevent this charge from
erupting in erratic, unpredictable and possibly unpleasant
ways.
One important issue on the deeper level is the extent to
which you might not have handled your aggressive instincts
sufficiently well in the past. You have always had a strong
need to retain your autonomy within close relationships,
even if this quality of independence has been masked by
the need to please and be loved. You may have found it
difficult to express your will in a balanced way, perhaps
because you are too dependent on others' approval, or find
it hard to cope with anger in yourself or others. Things
could be in danger of exploding at the moment, possibly
because you can't compromise, or may simply wish to
charge ahead regardless of others. You may need to find
new ways of defining your needs, wishes and goals. You
may even feel so alarmed at the prospect of asserting
yourself that you try to suppress the changes which are
taking place within you. But this could be most unwise,
since you might then unconsciously provoke others into
expressing anger toward you, or become enraged at the
wrong moment, such as when you are behind the wheel of
your car.
Patience and reflection are extremely important at this
time. You may try to escape the tension building up within
you by seeking release through strenuous physical activity,
or financial risk-taking. Neither would be advisable, as
your judgement is probably not clear and your physical
coordination may be marred by impatience or insensitivity
to your body's needs. You will probably have to make
certain changes in terms of your outer life, so that you can
enjoy greater freedom, autonomy, and initiative. But try to
move toward these goals consciously, slowly and carefully,
rather than explosively or unaware of what you are really
doing. Try to reflect on where you may have found
difficulty in the past with issues of will, assertiveness and
aggression; and alter what you can in your own attitudes
before you take on the world. This is not an inherently
negative time, but it is likely to be an unstable and
unpredictable one. To get the best from it, you will need
qualities which could be in short supply at the moment:
patience, foresight, tact, and a willingness to recognise the
possibility of your own collusion in any frustrating situation
in which you might now find yourself.
Chapter IV
CONCLUSION
The Greek philosopher Herakleitos once wrote that
nothing is permanent except change. The human psyche is
always in a process of change and unfoldment, and the
planetary configurations which reflect your pattern of
development over the next year will change to new
configurations which reflect new patterns over the years to
come. When we miss opportunities, they usually come back
again in a different form and on a different level, because
life not only changes but moves in cycles, reflected by the
planetary cycles in the heavens. Whatever "fate" might be, it
is not a rigid design which denies us freedom to choose,
grow, make mistakes, re-choose, and grow again.
Each of the sections given above describes planetary patterns
which, at core, will be shared at some time and in some way
by other human beings. What we experience is not as unique
as we might think; we all go through joy, pain, good fortune,
loss, loneliness, togetherness, light and darkness, and we all
have certain needs and drives in common. But the timing and
distinctive expression of your constantly changing growth
pattern is unique to you, and so too are the individual heart,
mind, body and spirit which experience that pattern. Whatever
might occur in your outer life over the next year, finding
meaning in it, and connecting that meaning with who you are
and what you really seek in life, can unlock previously
unsuspected funds of energy and creativity, and can give you a
greater range of choices in the future. We are taught as
children to "use time wisely". What does this mean? Perhaps
the most profound meaning is that time has qualities, and
each moment of time has a special meaning for us as
individuals. And understanding and working with these
qualities and meaning can transform how we experience the
circumstances of our lives.
APPENDIX
Suggested further reading
On planetary cycles and movements:
«The Gods of Change» by Howard Sasportas (transits of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto)
«Transits: The Time of Your Life» by Betty Lundsted
«Transits» by Rob Hand
On individual planets and their meaning:
«The Astrological Moon» by Darby Costello
«Prometheus the Awakener» by Richard Tarnas
«Venus and Jupiter» by Erin Sullivan
«The Inner Planets» by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas
«The Luminaries» by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas
«Exploring Jupiter» by Stephen Arroyo
«The Outer Planets» by Liz Greene
«Saturn» by Liz Greene
«Neptune» by Liz Greene
«Chiron and the Healing Journey» by Melanie Reinhart
On the subject of fate:
«Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle» by C. G. Jung
«The Astrology of Fate» by Liz Greene
Other Astro*Intelligence reports written by Liz Greene can enhance the value of this report,
because the greater your understanding of yourself, the more intelligently you can work with the
meaning of the time. For an in-depth analysis of your birth horoscope, you can order the
Psychological Horoscope Analysis. For deeper insight into your relationships, the Relationship
Horoscope can offer a new perspective. If you are still looking for your vocation, Career and
Vocation can provide new impulses for you. And for a greater appreciation of the unique
personality of your child, or of your own childhood, you can order the Child's Horoscope.
A wider view of your personal perspectives for a period of six years is offered by the Long-term
Perspectives.
You can order these reports at the same sales point from which you received the report you are
reading, or from one of many other licensed distributors in many countries of the world.
On the Internet, you will find more information about these reports and other valuable
astrological services at the web address given on the front page of this report, or by searching for
the keywords "astro*intelligence" or "Liz Greene".
Technical Information
In order to create this analysis, the following astrological factors have been examined:
- major progressed aspects (conjunction, opposition, square, trine, sextile) of the Sun, Moon,
Ascendant, MC, Mercury, Venus and Mars to natal planets and angles.
- major aspects ( conjunction, opposition, square, trine, sextile) of transiting Pluto, Neptune,
Uranus, Chiron, Saturn, and Jupiter to both natal and progressed planets and angles.
- conjunctions and oppositions of transiting Mars to both natal and progressed planets and
angles.
- aspects between progressed planets, especially progressed new and full Moons.
Special importance is given to stations of transiting planets close to natal planets and angles.
Importance has been given not only to the nature of the specific progressed or transiting planet
and aspect, but also to natal configurations which echo the progressed and transiting aspects, to
house positions of natal, transiting and progressed planets, and to the overall balance of
elements and configurations in the birth chart. Internally the results of the Psychological
Horoscope Analysis are used for the evaluation of each chart.
Because the importance of any transit or progressed aspect is not limited only to the time of the
precise aspect, but extends for some time before and after, orbs of aspect have been used. These
recognise the buildup and gradual diminishing of the energy of a particular planetary movement.
Consequently some configurations are described which may not reach exact aspect until the
following year, but which are already beginning to show their effects, or which have already
made an exact aspect in the previous year.
The report which results from these considerations is assembled from selected interpretation
text sections. Not all transits or progressions which occur during a year are included in the
printed report, only those selected by Liz Greene's model of interpretation. As in all works by
Liz Greene the Placidus house system is used.
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