Tuesday, July 15, 2008

“There is a fragment of old fable which seems somehow to have been dropped from the current mythologies, which may deserve attention, as it appears to relate to this subject.

Saturn grew weary of sitting alone, or with none but the great Uranus or Heaven beholding him, and he created an oyster. Then he would act again, but he made nothing more, but went on creating the race of oysters. Then Uranus cried, `a new work, O Saturn! the old is not good again.'

Saturn replied. `I fear. There is not only the alternative of making and not making, but also of unmaking. Seest thou the great sea, how it ebbs and flows? so is it with me; my power ebbs; and if I put forth my hands, I shall not do, but undo. Therefore I do what I have done; I hold what I have got; and so I resist Night and Chaos.'

`O Saturn,' replied Uranus, `thou canst not hold thine own, but by making more. Thy oysters are barnacles and cockles, and with the next flowing of the tide, they will be pebbles and sea-foam.'

`I see,' rejoins Saturn, `thou art in league with Night, thou art become an evil eye; thou spakest from love; now thy words smite me with hatred. I appeal to Fate, must there not be rest?' -- `I appeal to Fate also,' said Uranus, `must there not be motion?' -- But Saturn was silent, and went on making oysters for a thousand years.

After that, the word of Uranus came into his mind like a ray of the sun, and he made Jupiter; and then he feared again; and nature froze, the things that were made went backward, and, to save the world, Jupiter slew his father Saturn.

This may stand for the earliest account of a conversation on politics between a Conservative and a Radical, which has come down to us. It is ever thus. It is the counteraction of the centripetal and the centrifugal forces. Innovation is the salient energy; Conservatism the pause on the last movement.

I love this last statement - it captures the ongoing dialectical process that seems to be required for transformation. Statis (Saturn) and innovation (Uranus), this is the Saturn/Uranus dance. The need to let go of the old is crucial to the process of evolution, and nowhere is this seen more than in the combination of Saturn to Uranus. On election day, and for several weeks leading up to the day, both Saturn and Uranus will be squaring Mars (aggression and drive) in the US chart, signifying pressure for change that generates action.

Orr notes other negative planetary dynamics on Election Day, including a square of Neptune to Mars which can erode our sense of progress and confuse the Will, but Neptune will also make a trine to Mars in the US chart, indicating a positive harmonization between action (Mars) and our ideals (Neptune). Another negative dynamic mentioned by Orr is the Moon in its detriment in Capricorn, but he fails to add that the Moon will conjunct Jupiter, planet of abundance and opportunity.

There's no doubt that change is coming, but there's no need to spend the next few months mired in doubt and fear. The key to successfully navigating any difficult transit is to understand that change is coming, and to prepare for change. The more we hold on and try to control the process, the more difficult it is. Understanding the astrological cycles gives us a clue as to what to expect, but whenever Uranus is involved we must expect the unexpected!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 5:46 AM :: |

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Monday, July 14, 2008

Introducing: The Jolie Pitt Twins!

Now that we have a confirmed birth time thanks to my vigilant readers (6:27 pm) we can more accurately profile Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie Pitt, born on July 12 to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

The birthchart for the twins shows that their Sun is in Cancer, within ten degrees of Venus (relationships) in Angelina's chart which bodes well for a loving emotional connection between Angelina and the children. An opposition (180 degree angle) of the Sun to Jupiter suggests that they will be showered with good fortune (that's a no-brainer!), and even though the opposition is an aspect that illustrates some tension with a happy planet like Jupiter the opposition usually brings little challenge to the individual except a tendency towards excess.

The twins have Sagittarius rising in the chart and Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, so Jupiter is a strong influence there. Jupiter rules expansion, opportunity, good fortune, and a desire to find meaning in life so these things will be very strong for the twins. However, Jupiter in the chart is retrograde, which suggests that they may find it difficult to recognize the possibilities and benefits (Jupiter) that they are given.

Emotionally, they could be very intense and moody since they not only have the Sun and Mercury (mental processes and communication) in Cancer, which is the sign of moods and sensitivity, but their Moon (emotional nature) is in Scorpio which denotes an intensity of emotion that is not shared by Angelina and her Aries Moon.

They may more easily connect on an emotional level with Brad since his Moon and Venus are conjunct in Capricorn and nearly exactly sextile the Moon in the twins' chart. Because they were apparently born within one minute of each other their charts are identical and both would have Sagittarius rising, which is a very different energy than the Cancer moodiness and Scorpio intensity.

Typically with twins, one twin takes on one of the roles in the chart (in this case, the lightness and joviality of the Sagittarius ascendant) and the other twin takes on another, more hidden role (in this case, the emotional intensity). This is why twins often seem so different when they share the same chart. It is very likely in the case of these twins that one will take on the more friendly, outgoing role of the Sagittarius ascendant with the Jupiter influence, which is more positive, upbeat and potentially more superficial, and the other will take on the more intense and emotional nature of the chart.

If one twin plays out the watery emotions to a greater extent, that twin will have more difficulty with Angelina, whose chart is mostly dry with lots of Gemini (air) and Aries (fire). In fact, Angelina has Saturn in Cancer, which indicates an insecurity (Saturn) in her ability to provide nurturing (Cancer), and possibly in her ability to really be a mother at the deepest level. We know that she strives to honor her own mother in her mothering role, and Saturn in Cancer suggests that she feels she does not live up to her own high expectations.

The twins' chart shows that Mars and Saturn are conjunct in Virgo, widely square to Angelina's Saturn, which further suggests that the twins will challenge her insecurities in this area. Still, Angelina's progressed Sun has been in Cancer since 1993 and the emotional qualities of that sign are becoming more and more natural to her.

Still, the twins have a Grand Trine in water including their Cancer Sun, Scorpio Moon and Uranus in Pisces. The trine to Uranus signifies an adaptability to new experiences (Uranus/Sun) and an emotional independence (Uranus/Moon) that will be a great boon to them in later life. Grand Trines facilitate the flow of energy between the planets and in the water element the Grand Trine facilitates an ease of relating in the emotional realm.

However, Chiron (wounding and healing) is nearly exactly square the Moon which could reflect the difficulty of their birth, and it does suggest a predisposition to intensely painful emotional experiences. This may take the form of serious physical illness for one or both of the twins, perhaps around August 29 when the Moon progresses to the exact square to Chiron.

Chiron is exactly conjunct the North Node in their chart which reveals that a capacity for healing (Chiron) is in some way a part of their greater destiny (North Node). Neptune (spirituality and creativity) is a part of that Chiron/North Node conjunction as well, suggesting that an aspiration for a greater calling is something that will be more important to the twins in later life. Neptune squares the Moon, enhancing the creativity of the twins and their romantic nature, but their tendency to be moody as well.

If you're interested in the astrology of twins you might also be interested in reading about the Olsen twins, and you'll find more information on the birthcharts of Angelina and Brad here.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 1:51 PM :: |

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Friday, July 11, 2008

Photos from Saturn

Get to know my favorite planet and its moons in this stunning video including narration from one of the scientists on the imaging team from the Cassini spacecraft. At around 4:50 you'll see the Sun eclipsing Saturn which is an absolutely incredible sight.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:08 AM :: |

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Mercury/Pluto in the news

Mercury has been approaching an exact opposition to Pluto which is exact today, and we are seeing its influences all over the news. Mercury rules communication and the transmission of information, and when it faces off with Pluto we suffer from communication difficulties (like my email going down this morning), aggressive communications and the uncovering of one's secret feelings.

In the news today, the rhetoric between the US and Iran continues to escalate, with the US threatening retaliation for Iran's missile tests and Ahmadinejad dismissed dismissing these threats as a "big joke."

In other news, Jesse Jackson lashed out at Barack Obama in what he thought was a private conversation in a news studio when he thought the mike was off. Saying Obama talks down to black people, he confided to his fellow guest on Fox and Friends that he wanted to cut Obama's nuts out."

And most stunning of all, the gaffer-in-chief, the US President, left his last G-8 summit yesterday after refusing to accept global climate change targets, delivered his farewell address to the world: "Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter. (Thanks to Jill for the link.)

Fortunately, Mercury will move out of range of Pluto by tomorrow, but today you might want to watch your words carefully!

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 7:45 AM :: |

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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

The astrology of Iran's missile tests

Iran fired nine missile tests today. The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' air force, said: "Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy." This show of Iranian bravado has met with equally brash comments from US war hawks, but Reuters reports that most analysts say this is more bark than bite from Iran.

There are some interesting planetary configurations going on now for the Republic of Iran (see chart courtesy of Astrology Weekly). First, the conjunction of Chiron (wounding and healing) to the North Node (evolution of the soul) that is in place for the next few months is within 1 degree of an exact square to Uranus (rebellion and explosive activity) in the Republic of Iran chart. Second, the progressed ascendant, signifying the expression of the identity of the nation, is exactly opposite that same Uranus in the national chart.

This combination of planetary effects suggests that there is a crisis of healing (Chiron) within Iran itself that is necessary for the nation to move forward and progress (North Node). The explosion of missiles (progressed ascendant opposing Uranus) to show the world (ascendant) that Iran isn't afraid to do something radical (Uranus) is merely a distraction from the difficulties going on within the country (Chiron).




In fact, today Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised that there would be no war between Iran and the US or Israel. So why all the tough talk?





The planets suggest that Iran is in an identity crisis and this will continue over the next few months as the progressed ascendant moves slowly in opposition to Uranus in the national chart and Chiron in the sky. In addition, transiting Pluto is preparing to cross over Iran's Capricorn midheaven (signifying the government and rulers) beginning in early 2009 which will begin to transform (Iran's) place in the world. Pluto tends to bring an increase or decrease in power, but the struggle of power will be paramount at that time.





The midheaven of the Iranian national chart and that of the US chart (in Libra) are in a square formation to each other, illustrating the conflict that the governments of these two countries have seen since the inception of the Republic in 1979. Transiting Pluto already began a square to the US Midheaven earlier this year, and next year it will lock Iran and the US in some sort of major conflict for national identity.

Posted by Lynn Hayes :: 4:56 PM :: |

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