Oct 2011
money don't get everything, it's true
30/Oct/11 09:45
With Jupiter in good aspect to Pluto this week, and the sun getting into the mix (from Scorpio), we saw a deal on Greek debt that - for the time being - has reduced tensions in Europe, and buoyed the stock markets across the world. Although the optimism in September couldn't be attributed to these aspects, we did learn during the Jupiter-Pluto trine that consumer spending increased last month.
Of course, power issues took on a more typical Scorpionic tone as Occupy Wall Street protesters clashed with police all across the country. The injury, in Oakland, of an Iraqi War veteran during the protests served to galvanize the movement in cities from New York to Memphis to Denver.
As we head into November, there will be a great deal of Neptunian energy around to put various spins on what has happened over the past few months, and a heavy does of Sagittarius will get us to believe we are right and that the cause (whichever one) is worth fighting for. As I've been saying for some time, with Uranus in Aries we are seeing many "rogue" groups - the Tea Party, Wikileaks, Anonymous, and now OWS - trying to course-correct by going to extremes.
Whether you see them as heroes or terrorists depends on your political perspective more than anything else. What is clear is that people are once again interested in politics. And the economic strain we've been under since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 is providing the fuel for that fire.
Of course, power issues took on a more typical Scorpionic tone as Occupy Wall Street protesters clashed with police all across the country. The injury, in Oakland, of an Iraqi War veteran during the protests served to galvanize the movement in cities from New York to Memphis to Denver.
As we head into November, there will be a great deal of Neptunian energy around to put various spins on what has happened over the past few months, and a heavy does of Sagittarius will get us to believe we are right and that the cause (whichever one) is worth fighting for. As I've been saying for some time, with Uranus in Aries we are seeing many "rogue" groups - the Tea Party, Wikileaks, Anonymous, and now OWS - trying to course-correct by going to extremes.
Whether you see them as heroes or terrorists depends on your political perspective more than anything else. What is clear is that people are once again interested in politics. And the economic strain we've been under since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 is providing the fuel for that fire.
tunnel vision
25/Oct/11 08:50
Each month, as we head into the new moon, we begin to feel the pull inwards. Generally speaking, it is a quiet time of the month.
Not so lately, and especially not this time around. The new moon will be at 3:56p EDT on Wednesday the 26th, in the sign of Scorpio. The Scorpio new moon is a powerful one, an opportunity to get in touch with inner power, but also a point where life and death meet. The Scorpio new moon is always fairly close to Halloween and Samhain, after all.
But before we get to Scorpio, the moon is passing through Libra. Of course, the sun just left the sign of the Scales a few days ago, and it was a busy time. That's because with Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto in cardinal signs, the sun "triggered" these cosmic giants and the aspects among them.
In fact, for the last several months, each time the moon has been in a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) it has also triggered the "Cardinal T-Square" in the sky. That's about a third of the time! If you look back three or four months, you'll see how much change we've really had. The Euro crisis, Occupy Wall Street (and beyond), and the emergence of class warfare as a topic of political discussion all would have been just about unthinkable six or seven months ago.
As we move into the new moon, we'll be looking both forwards and backwards. Change certainly isn't going to stop or even slow down, new moon or not. But a quick glance at the headlines shows that there is a good deal of retrospective for things that have been in the news: Qaddafi is buried, Wikileaks may be stopping operations, and Michelle Bachman and Rick Perry are drifting farther from the center of attention.
This new moon represents something of an implosion of power. Personally and collectively, it is not a quiet time, but a pull towards our deepest core. Assume that life is going to change: what types of transformation would you like to bring about? What are you willing to fight to hold onto?
These questions need honest answers. We'll be asking them over the next few days, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
Not so lately, and especially not this time around. The new moon will be at 3:56p EDT on Wednesday the 26th, in the sign of Scorpio. The Scorpio new moon is a powerful one, an opportunity to get in touch with inner power, but also a point where life and death meet. The Scorpio new moon is always fairly close to Halloween and Samhain, after all.
But before we get to Scorpio, the moon is passing through Libra. Of course, the sun just left the sign of the Scales a few days ago, and it was a busy time. That's because with Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto in cardinal signs, the sun "triggered" these cosmic giants and the aspects among them.
In fact, for the last several months, each time the moon has been in a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) it has also triggered the "Cardinal T-Square" in the sky. That's about a third of the time! If you look back three or four months, you'll see how much change we've really had. The Euro crisis, Occupy Wall Street (and beyond), and the emergence of class warfare as a topic of political discussion all would have been just about unthinkable six or seven months ago.
As we move into the new moon, we'll be looking both forwards and backwards. Change certainly isn't going to stop or even slow down, new moon or not. But a quick glance at the headlines shows that there is a good deal of retrospective for things that have been in the news: Qaddafi is buried, Wikileaks may be stopping operations, and Michelle Bachman and Rick Perry are drifting farther from the center of attention.
This new moon represents something of an implosion of power. Personally and collectively, it is not a quiet time, but a pull towards our deepest core. Assume that life is going to change: what types of transformation would you like to bring about? What are you willing to fight to hold onto?
These questions need honest answers. We'll be asking them over the next few days, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
can we discuss this rationally?
12/Oct/11 08:23
Probably not
As the full moon highlights the Aries/Libra axis, we are pushed and pulled between concern for self and other. On one level, that makes for possible relationship tension, as our need to fulfill who we are personally can clash with relationship expectations - that's a theme that has been bubbling around us since Saturn and Uranus took up residence in these signs.
But more generally, the conflict is between the status quo (Saturn in Libra) and the energy of change (Uranus in Aries). Pluto, contributing from Capricorn, is intensifying both sides of the equation. This full moon has not added too much to the soup, but has turned up the heat under the pot.
We can see this in news stories from all over the world, from the disgraceful trial of Yulia Tymosshenko in the Ukraine to Burma's more hopeful actions of releasing political prisoners (some of them, anyway).
Perhaps most obvious is the growing momentum of the Occupy Wall Street protests, along with the growing criticism of them. What may have seemed like a few kids "playing Sixties" a few weeks ago now has the support of organized labor and a number of others. But as support has increased, so has the backlash against the protests and the protestors.
For those who have an idealized image of the 1950s and 60s protests, it might seem that it was all about guitars, joints, and problems finding a port-a-potty. Images of fire hoses, billy clubs, and raging anger might not come to mind, but protests are not particularly welcome when they question those in power. Pluto will be gaming both sides, amping up the demonstrator's anger as well as the condemnation.
It is through the debate and even outright fighting that results that real change happens - no one was gonna do anything because a couple of hundred people were camping in a park. Note how the protests didn't even get coverage until the police began acting brutishly - as in the senseless macing of two young women.
Serious change is serious business.
a bridge too far?
03/Oct/11 09:01
Occupy Wall Street got almost no press in its first week.
Then the NYPD was caught on tape macing two young women, the number of arrests climbed, and suddenly OWS was on the map. This past weekend, the NYPD continued to do its part, by arresting more than 700 people as the protest marched over the Brooklyn Bridge.
There is controversy about whether or not the police actually led the protestors onto the roadway and then began arresting them. What actually happened is still very unclear, and likely to remain so.
Photo: Brooklyn Bridge, circa 2000, by Frank Feery.
All of this happened over the weekend, when the moon was in Sagittarius, and making generally harmonious aspects. We were building towards a Mars-Jupiter square on Sunday evening. Take it all together, there was a lot of powerful, idealistic energy around for the past few days. And as upsetting as the story is (no matter which side you take), it's clear that things could have been worse.
Today, the moon goes into Capricorn. Since at least mid-August, every time the moon has gone into a cardinal sign, there has been a heating up of the Uranus-Pluto square. The London riots, the panic over hurricane Irene, and the execution of Troy Davis all took place when the moon was in cardinal signs, as examples.
Monday and Tuesday are likely to be tense days. On Wall Street, the protestors outside may not be making as much of an impact as the Greek debt crisis has inside the stock exchange. The Uranus-Pluto energy amps up all sides of the equation, pressure from within and without.
Uranus in Aries highlights individual rebellion, but is also associated with rebel groups (Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party share the same frustration, from different perspectives). Whether the rebels are freedom fighters or terrorists depends mostly on your own point of view. Whether clamping down on them is restoring the rule of law or oppressing the people is also a matter of your attitude.
As the status quo becomes harder to maintain, both sides will push harder. Keep your eyes open over the next few days. The revolution may not be televised, but it is probably going to be on YouTube and Facebook.
Then the NYPD was caught on tape macing two young women, the number of arrests climbed, and suddenly OWS was on the map. This past weekend, the NYPD continued to do its part, by arresting more than 700 people as the protest marched over the Brooklyn Bridge.
There is controversy about whether or not the police actually led the protestors onto the roadway and then began arresting them. What actually happened is still very unclear, and likely to remain so.
Photo: Brooklyn Bridge, circa 2000, by Frank Feery.
All of this happened over the weekend, when the moon was in Sagittarius, and making generally harmonious aspects. We were building towards a Mars-Jupiter square on Sunday evening. Take it all together, there was a lot of powerful, idealistic energy around for the past few days. And as upsetting as the story is (no matter which side you take), it's clear that things could have been worse.
Today, the moon goes into Capricorn. Since at least mid-August, every time the moon has gone into a cardinal sign, there has been a heating up of the Uranus-Pluto square. The London riots, the panic over hurricane Irene, and the execution of Troy Davis all took place when the moon was in cardinal signs, as examples.
Monday and Tuesday are likely to be tense days. On Wall Street, the protestors outside may not be making as much of an impact as the Greek debt crisis has inside the stock exchange. The Uranus-Pluto energy amps up all sides of the equation, pressure from within and without.
Uranus in Aries highlights individual rebellion, but is also associated with rebel groups (Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party share the same frustration, from different perspectives). Whether the rebels are freedom fighters or terrorists depends mostly on your own point of view. Whether clamping down on them is restoring the rule of law or oppressing the people is also a matter of your attitude.
As the status quo becomes harder to maintain, both sides will push harder. Keep your eyes open over the next few days. The revolution may not be televised, but it is probably going to be on YouTube and Facebook.