“Is it over yet?”   I have answered this question multiple times over the past month, and each time I can hear the horror in people’s voices when I answer, “not anytime soon!”   It’s been a rough road since the beginning of June when the current eclipse cycle began.  Week after week we are being bombarded with very intensive astrological energies with no end in sight.

By the way, you have seen nothing; this week is going to be INTENSE! Buckle your seat belts — hazardous conditions ahead.

The Astrology:

Your major weather player this week is the Sun.  The Sun currently is in emotionally fluid Cancer.   Under normal circumstances, the Sun provides us with the ability to shine, be ourselves, and be individual.   He gives us the ability to know ourselves and remain loyal to the truth that lives within our hearts.   When the Sun has positive outlets from other planets, those planets provide us with a path to express our specialness.  However, when the Sun is afflicted (fancy word for difficult to express itself), our ability to shine can feel stymied, and we may feel pressured to conform to others or the collective consensus.  In fact, the urge to be unique and special can be threatening to others, who in turn may criticize or envy another’s sense of individuality.

As with the last few Cosmic Weather Forecasts, this forecast will continue to be challenging.  The Sun will be highly afflicted as it squares Uranus in Aries, opposes Pluto in Capricorn, and then squares Saturn in Libra.  In the midst of this intensive solar energy will be a Solar Eclipse on July 1 (I will focus exclusively on the Eclipse in a future blog) forming a cardinal grand cross.  If you are dizzy after reading all that, join the club!  I am dizzy thinking about it.

Your Cosmic Weather Forecast

Each week, I attempt to look at the current astrological signature and ask, “What is the lesson in this?”  What are the planets trying to tell us, and more importantly how do we understand this energy to make sense of it in a productive manner?  After all, what would be the use of knowing the energies of the planets if we could not use them to our advantage!

What can we learn from a grand cross?  A grand cross is an accumulation of astrological energies that have manifested over a period of time that have a profound influence on the collective.  Since they do not occur with regular frequency, they tend to bring about life altering energies.   Our natural tendency is to attempt to defend ourselves against their (the planets) onslaught, yet this only works for so long till we are forced to make particular changes and decisions that we have little choice in.  In many ways, if we are heavily influenced by these energies (major configurations such as Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in cardinal signs such as Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn) it is going to feel like we are being pulled in many directions until we hit “rock bottom” because there is no easy route out or any quick fix to our problems.  In fact, the intensity of our problems will persist until we make an active decision to change what we are doing, which might ultimately include a different path.

This week you will notice areas of your life that need changing.  What areas do you feel frustrated (Sun square Saturn) in?  Where do you feel obstacles are hindering (Sun square Saturn) your movement?  Are there areas of your life where you are reacting impulsively (Sun square Uranus) with knee jerk reactions?  Where do you feel worried, paranoid, obsessive, or uneasy (Sun oppose Pluto) in your life?   The areas of our lives that become highlight give us a hint about what changes we need to make in our lives to make them free of conflict and less stressful.

In Kabbalah, we are taught that what we see is only a small (very small) part of the big picture.   Often we are so afraid of change that we stay stuck in our current patterns much to our own dismay.   This week we are provided (via the stress of the aspects) an opportunity to see the bigger picture.  Often the scary change is for our better good, and often open doors and opportunities that would not be available to us.  The only condition is that we are brave enough to see.

Tarot Tune-Up:  Shuffle your favorite Tarot or Oracle deck.   Ask the following question, “Despite my current obstacles and frustrations, how can I best let my light shine?”   Pull 3-cards.  Let me know what you pulled!

“Ready.  Set. Go!” is the anthem as four planets converge in the sign of Aries.  This includes the fiery and free spirited New Moon which occurs during the morning hours in most of the United States.  The New Moon always brings forth the end of one cycle, and the beginning of another. However, this New Moon is the same degree as the solar eclipse, which occurred in the sign of Aquarius on January 26, 2009 — bringing forth the issues of late January to the surface in both mundane and personal matters.   Take a few moments to reflect on the events of your life during the end of January, and you may see new beginnings occurring in the areas of your life affected by the eclipse.

The great news is that a New Moon in Aries has enormous energy, and can provide us with the momentum necessary to create movement in a quick and effective manner.   The Sun and Moon conjoined with benefic Venus, and quick spirited Mercury provide a matrix of grasping the possible.  Although, the Moon in Aries is intense, impatient, and restless its desire to pursue the difficult and unobtainable gives us the momentum needed to reach our goals.  In addition, New Moons in Aries can jump start circumstances or situations that we have considered moving forward with, but we may as have yet had the time or motivation to initiate.

Moreover, this New Moon is squared (obstacles) the planet Pluto which rules obsessions and compulsions.   You will notice a sense of urgency (just watch the evening news about the economic crisis) over the next few weeks to turn over a new leaf, create a new plan, enact a new strategy, and begin a new phase of life.  In essence, this combination is a struggle between fear of change, and unavoidable change.  The instruction of the aspect is for us to focus on the areas of life that we can no longer afford to ignore and make a concentrated effort in utilizing this New Moon cycle to create a new productive foundation to move forward with.  

We ushered in 2009 with the mantra of, “Yes, we can!”   The cosmic forces are propelling us to a new level of determination, motivation, and vision.   We will begin to hear a new roar of an Arian nature pushing forth with a new chant and new slogan of “Yes, we will!”

Storm Cestavani
March 26, 2009
6:48 AM EDT