by Benjamin Bernstein Originally published in the 11/29/10 It's All Good Astrology News. Would you like to know my thoughts on what's coming up astrologically in 2011? Then be sure to read the next few editions of this newsletter, where I will be serializing and expanding upon the main points from the 2011 forecast lecture I gave earlier this month. This week, I'll be focusing on.. The Uranus-Pluto Square Uranus and Pluto will be making exact square aspects (90° angles) seven times in the years 2012 thru 2015. This aspect has been "warming up" for several years, and will be nearly exact in 2011! This aspect's "orb" (degree of exactitude) will range from 1 - 8.5° in 2011. The orb will be about 8.5° as the year opens, will tighten to around 1° in early August, then will widen back out to about 6.5° by the end of the year. The Uranus-Pluto square will be quite strong - within 3° of orb - from June thru mid-October. Uranus and Pluto Defined What will the effects of the Uranus-Pluto square be? To understand that, let's consider the archetypal meanings of the planets involved. For me, the most pertinent meanings of Uranus in this context are the humanitarian, the revolutionary, the genius, the truth-speaker, the paradigm shifter, the rebel and the awakener. The most pertinent Pluto concepts include transformation, death and rebirth, and transpersonal power. My three favorite Pluto metaphors - a phoenix burning to ash and resurrecting, a snake shedding its skin, and a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly - seem very much in play! The 60s Part 2? This Uranus-Pluto square is the first major challenging aspect this pair has made since their conjunction formed the astrological centerpiece of the 60s. (They're conjunct about every 125 years.) But since a square is much more dynamic and challenging than a conjunction,the next several years could prove even more revolutionary! A key theme here is revolutionary transformation: the elimination or restructuring of everything that has outlived its usefulness. There is growing awareness that a radical shift is needed in how the global powers-that-be operate. Governments, multinational corporations, and other global players must shift to new operating paradigms if we are to avert environmental catastrophe.  Archaic assumptions held for centuries must be revised if mankind, as well as most of Earth's other species, are to survive. The idea of perpetual economic growth must be replaced by sustainability, the global population must be kept to a manageable size, and the planet's precious natural resources must be managed with the seventh generation in mind. And why don't we acknowledge and directly experience our unity with all living things - including Gaia herself - while we're at it? Typical Uranus-Pluto Effects In Cosmos & Psyche, a magnificent book which describes how the alignment of the outer planets systematically synchronizes with world history, Richard Tarnas notes these typical Uranus-Pluto effects: Widespread radical social and political change Often destructive upheaval Massive empowerment of revolutionary and rebellious impulses Intensified artistic and intellectual creativity Unusually rapid technological advance An underlying spirit of restless experiment Drive for innovation The urge for freedom Revolt against oppression Embrace of radical political philosophies Intensified collective will to bring forth a new world Massive demographic shifts Fervent, often violent intensity, and The excitement of moving rapidly toward new horizons The Last Time Around The most recent Uranus-Pluto square occurred from the late 1920s thru most of the 1930s, the period of the Great Depression. And, just as they are now, both planets were in cardinal signs: Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Cancer then, Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn now. Cardinal signs carry the energy of new beginnings. The Outcome is in Our Hands! None of this means that we are doomed to suffer another Great Depression. As a global society,we have the ability to influence the specific manifestation of this Uranus-Pluto square, just as we do with every other planetary alignment.  To the degree that we willingly embrace the needed changes, we will collectively experience positive and thrilling quantum leaps into new and more wonderful realities. (And not just in the physical dimension!) To the degree that we resist the changes needed for humanity's evolution, universal intelligence will have to bring them about by force. Obviously, the coercive option involves much more pain and suffering. In my shamanic visions, I have experienced a new Golden Age already present in the etheric realms. It is now filtering down into the physical plane, and a rapidly expanding number of "early adopters" have started to embody this spectacular new energy. To me, humanity's transformation into a more enlightened species is inevitable. The key question at hand is how difficult we're going to make the transition. What revolutionary transformation will we planetary citizens visualize into being during this Uranus-Pluto square? That's as much your decision as anyone else's. In fact, you are making it right now based on the visions you hold, the thoughts you think, and the actions you take. Ghandi's shining words - "Be the change you want to see in the world" - are now more timely than ever.  Don't just ask what the planets have in store for you in 2011. Have the courage to embrace the revolutionary changes that are needed in your life, and in the world around you. Do your part to guide the astrological energies into their most positive and uplifting expression!      Next week: 2011: A year of Jupiter aspects. Go to top of page

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The Law of Attraction Made Simple By Benjamin Bernstein Originally published in the October 25, 2010 It's All Good Astrology News. Recently, I've done a lot of reading and experimenting with the Law of Attraction. This ancient principle, most recently popularized by the DVD and book The Secret, says that you can mentally manifest whatever you desire into the physical world.Many books have been written about this idea down through the generations – my current favorite is The Attractor Factor, 2nd Edition, by Joe Vitale – but at its essence the technique boils down to this: 1. Imagine what you desire as if it has already manifested. Direct a 3-D movie in your mind, living out your desired reality in your imagination in as much detail as possible. Ideally, engage all five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. 2. As you visualize, feel powerful, positive emotions. Fill yourself with happiness, euphoria, joy, bliss and ecstasy. In your imagination, celebrate the fact that what you desired is here now! 3. To insure that your visualization is in harmony with divine law, end with the Karma-Free Safety Clause: “This, or something better, now manifests for the highest good of all concerned.” This gives Spirit permission to substitute as needed to keep your manifestaton karma sparkling clean. It also lets you do worry-free, full-power visualizing! To deal with any negative thoughts that come up as you visualize – and this process does tend to smoke them out! – use the Pivot Technique. A common criticism of The Secret is that it seems focused exclusively on the selfish manifestation of material desires. However, the Law of Attraction can just as easily used to manifest things and situations that benefit others. Finally, don't worry about how your desires will manifest – that's up to Spirit. Don't tie the universe's hands by insisting that what you desire has to be delivered in a particular way, since this may delay its manifestation. However, if you can see ways in which your own efforts can help bring it about, by all means lend a hand! Go to top of page The Healthcare Bill's Passage Astrologized By Benjamin Bernstein Originally published in the March 30, 2010 It's All Good Astrology News   Even the Republicans who unanimously opposed the new healthcare bill have to admit that its passage on March 23 is historic. It's being called the most significant piece of social legislation since the 1960s. Whether you favored or opposed it, the astrological energies surrounding its passage clearly showed that its time had come. In fact, the timing was so good that I have to wonder whether Obama was secretly consulting an astrologer! As points of information, this article represents my original thinking: I have not read any other astrologers on this matter. And I'm using Porphyry houses. Transits to Obama's Chart Let's start with a look at some of the most important transits to Obama's chart. Unless you believe the “birthers,” he was born 8/4/1961, 7:24 PM, in Honolulu HI. (For more astrological information on Obama, see my “Obama Astrologized” article.) For starters, Pluto, the slowest and most powerful outer planet, was making a virtually exact sextile (60°) to Obama's natal Chiron. Pluto brings transformation, and Chiron is the planet that most specifically represents health and healing. Clearly, this energetically flowing aspect did much to set the stage. Pluto also was making another “soft” angle – a 120° trine – to Obama's natal Pluto. Since Pluto rules Obama's Scorpio midheaven (the cusp of the 10th House), this connection empowers his ability to create transformation in the world. Transiting Neptune (dreams and visions) and Chiron (health and healing) were conjunct Obama's South Node of the Moon. With these moving planets aligning with his “axis of destiny,” it was time to fulfill his karmic duty: making his vision of fair and affordable medical coverage for all US citizens a reality. He obviously didn't get everything he wanted. But, political pragmatist that he is, he did the best he could under the circumstances. Neptune and Chiron were also opposing Obama's Uranus, which represents revolution and paradigm shift. (Uranus is a powerful planet in Obama's chart: with Aquarius rising, Uranus is his modern chart ruler.) A Progressive Progressed Looking at Obama's progressed chart, we see two additional factors. His progressed Moon – the evolving mood of the soul – was conjunct Chiron! And his progressed Sun, his evolving sense of identity and purpose, was very late in Virgo – most of the way through the 29th and final degree! The progressed Sun moves at a snail's pace, taking 30 years to creep through a sign. When it finally approaches the next sign, there can be a sense of urgency about wrapping up unfinished business relating to its current placement. With Obama's progressed Sun poised to enter Libra this summer, it was time for him to wrap up Virgo-related matters. And – no surprise – Virgo is the sign that rules health and healthcare. Clearly, the moving energies affecting Obama's chart were mostly supporting his efforts to get the healthcare bill passed. But what about the chart of the country whose citizens will be so profoundly affected by it? The USA's Transits As usual, I am using the “Sibley” chart for the USA: July 4, 1776, 5:10 PM, in Philadelphia, PA. Let's start once again with powerful, transformative Pluto. It was opposing two of the most important planets in the USA chart: Venus (ruler of the midheaven) and Jupiter (ruler of the chart). Even more significantly in this context, Venus rules the USA's Sixth House of health and healing. Transiting Neptune (dreams and visions) and Chiron (health and healing), which were such major players in Obama's chart, are also important here. They both were conjuncting the USA Moon, which represents the public in a country's chart. Given the health care bill's high level of controversy, and the difficulty Obama had getting it passed, we wouldn't expect a cakewalk USA transit chart. In fact, none of the USA transits discussed so far are “flowing” by definition. The oppositions being made by Pluto to Venus and Jupiter are considered “hard” angles – challenging by definition – and a conjunction can feel either hard or soft, depending on the circumstances. Some of the toughest aspects were being made to the USA chart by transiting Saturn. Saturn is the planet most representative of conservatism and maintaining the status quo. One group this planet obviously represents is the Republican Party. Its representatives, more often than not, have fought vigorously against major US social legislation, including this healthcare bill. On March 23, Saturn was sitting right on top of the USA midheaven (taking action in the world) and making a strong square to natal Venus (the USA's healthcare ruler). Fortunately for Obama, Jupiter -- transiting in the compassionate sign of Pisces – was trining the USA Sun. The Sun represents the core of the USA's identity, and also rules its Ninth House of politics. Quantum Global Shift As extraordinary as the passage of this landmark legislation is, it's merely an early expression of even more momentous changes to come -- in the USA and around the world. As I describe in great detail in the MP3 audio recording and accompanying PowerPoint of my "Quantum Global Shift" lecture, and touch on in two articles ("The Saturn-Uranus Opposition" and "Pluto in Capricorn"), we've now entered what could be called “The 60's, Part 2.” This is a time of global paradigm shift that will leave the world profoundly transformed before the end of this decade. I will not go into great detail on these energies here, since I have covered that ground so thoroughly already (especially in "Quantum Global Shift"), but a few summary paragraphs seem appropriate. In the short term, a series of five Saturn-Uranus oppositions – the first one memorably exact on the day Obama was elected president -- finishes by the end of Summer 2010. This fundamentally represents old structures that have outlived their usefulness (Saturn) being replaced by revolutionary new paradigms (Uranus). But not without a fight! A similar theme is being played out by a series of Saturn-Pluto squares, which began in the fall of 2009 and run through the summer of 2011. Saturn's meaning is the same, but Pluto is relentlessly insisting on the transformation of everything that no longer serves the greater good into something that does. Through 2011, Uranus and Neptune never stray far from the 30° semi-sextile (and, for most of that time, mutual reception) that has connected them since the summer of 2008. Taken collectively, the energies of these two planets and the three signs they occupy during that time – Aquarius, Pisces and Aries – could be taken to mean “initiating a compassionate global spiritual revolution.” I'm seeing more people around me waking up faster than ever before – how about you? But the most momentous sky event, which started heating up in early 2009 and will last through most of the 2010s, is the Uranus-Pluto square. It's Uranus and Pluto who will be primarily responsible for the “60's, Part 2” phenomenon. In combination, they represent themes such as revolutionary transformation, superpowered technological innovation, shamanic breakthroughs, sexual liberation and sudden awakening. Uranus and Pluto were conjunct during the 60s, and it is only now that they're making their next world-shaking aspect. What started in the 60s goes to its next level of evolution now – but, of course, in the context of contemporary life. Other than that, not much going on in the world these days. In Conclusion In summary, we've had a look at moving energies working on three levels to support the passage of the healthcare bill: transits and progressions to Obama's chart, transits to the USA chart, and major sky transits affecting the whole world. And, from an astrological perspective, it appears that the passage of the healthcare bill is only the beginning of a series of momentous changes to come in the next few years. In this decade, increasingly rapid and radical transformation will be the global status quo. And not a moment too soon! It is growing increasingly clear to more and more people that humanity has now reached a crucial crossroads. We all must now develop far greater compassion – for each other, for our fellow species and for the planet – or face unthinkably dire consequences. So here's to everyone working to bring about a worldwide outbreak of compassion, love and awakening. Spread it around! Go to top of page   2012 Collaboration: What You Can Do Now to Help Smooth the Transition to the New Golden Age   by Benjamin Bernstein Originally published in the Dec. 21, 2009 It's All Good Astrology News It's an exceedingly rare thing, the chance to start anew. The chance to wipe the slate clean and stride into the light of a dawn never before seen by human eyes. That opportunity, the likes of which has not occurred for thousands of years, opened for humanity early in December. (I felt the energy shift while participating in shamanic ceremonies in the Peruvian jungle.) We now stand at a tipping point, balanced between the end of the current age and the dawn of a new one. It's as if the universe is holding its breath. And what each of us does now will make all the difference. Will we collectively create a smooth and graceful transition to a more utopian existence? Or will we do it the hard way, with a horrific transition filled with cataclysms such as those portrayed in the recent 2012feature film? It's up to us. More specifically, it's up to you. This transition is a work in progress, being shaped moment by moment by every human thought and action. When we choose fear, greed or selfishness, we vote for the hard way. When we choose love, generosity or selflessness, we vote for easy entry into something akin to Paradise. Of course, the specific choices we make are important. But never before have our motives for those choices, and our feelings as we make them and carry them out, weighed so heavily in the balance. Don't worry; perfection is neither required or expected. We are still human, after all (although our collective upgrade to homo luminous may be closer than we think). But by doing our best to think and act in the highest and best way we can - and getting as close to that goal as often as possible - we will each be helping to anchor this radiant new vibration on the planet now. I don't know how long we have to shape the nature of the 2012 transition, whether this critical window will be measured in days or years. In terms of how we can best deal with it, the specific duration really doesn't matter. The strategy is the same, and feels so good that you'll want to make it a lifestyle anyway: Choose love instead of fear Choose generosity instead of greed Choose selflessness instead of selfishness If you want to expand the list, you can add these "2012 Beingways" from James Gustave Speth's marvelous book, The Bridge at the End of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability: being, not having giving, not getting needs, not wants better, not richer community, not individual other, not self connected, not separate ecology, not economy part of nature, not apart from nature dependent, not transcendent tomorrow, not today Don't dwell on what's wrong with the world; fighting against the old power structures is rarely the most successful strategy. Instead, to the best of your ability, start living the beautiful reality you want to see in the world now. Embody the change that matches your highest vision. It bears repeating that this is a collective experiment in co-creation. There are no official leaders, no rulebook and no authoritarian hierarchy. Those who feel called to lead simply stand up and start leading; those who feel called to follow them follow. The universe is an intelligent and naturally self-organizing entity, and we humans are integrally woven into its extraordinary design. When right intention is exercised, the means for its material manifestation naturally unfolds. The magic of synchronicity will ensure that, as each person self-selects the role that best fits them, all the necessary pieces for the 2012 transition will fall beautifully into place. Choose love. Choose generosity. Choose selflessness. Above all, choose love. Go to top of page

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Manifesting Your Ideal Reality with "The Pivot" 

By Benjamin Bernstein

Originally published in the November 9, 2009 It's All Good Astrology News

The Law of Attraction comes up in many of my astrology consultations. It used to surprise me when I observed how many of my clients were doing their best to manifest abundance, but weren't seeing their hoped-for results.
 
Over the course of many such discussions, I began to see a pattern. These well-meaning people were typically following all the guidelines laid out in books and DVDs such as The Secret -- doing affirmations and visualizations, collaging together vision boards, and all the rest.  

The Problem of Negative Thought Patterns 

But the few minutes a day they were spending on these exemplary activities were vastly outweighed by the hours a day that their minds were running in unconscious or semi-conscious negative loops. And those toxic thought patterns were sabotaging the positive effects of all their conscious efforts!
 
When I bring up this point, a common response is, "But I can't help it! I've thought this way for years, and those negative tapes just keep playing whether I want them to or not!"

Two Simple Steps to Success 

Fortunately, as many of my clients have experienced, there is a way to transform destructive thought patterns into supportive ones. And it only involves two simple steps.
 
1. Every time you become aware of a negative thought or pattern, don't kick yourself. Instead, pat yourself on the back! You've accomplished an important victory by becoming conscious of the negative thought pattern.
 
2. Simply visualize the positive opposite of the negative thought. This is the "pivot," a term I learned from Spiritsong. What if you catch yourself thinking, "I'll never find a partner who suits me"? Replace it with something like, "My ideal partner is now coming into my life," and imagine the two of you enjoying all sorts of wonderful activities together. 
        If you were thinking, "I'll always be fat," think "I now enjoy a lean, fit body" while imagining yourself in great physical condition. Feel that blissful endorphin rush as you engage in all sorts of exhilarating athletic activities in your mind's eye!
        Continue each positive replacement visualization until it seems to "click" into place, or for as long as seems reasonable.
 
This is not a one-shot solution. Especially during the first few weeks, you'll probably be doing a lot of pivoting! But after a few weeks, your diligent efforts will begin transforming your minds' negative thought patterns into positive ones. And at that point, your reality will begin to shift into one that better reflects the life you desire.
 

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The Feeling Test 

By Benjamin Bernstein

Originally published in the October 12, 2009 It's All Good Astrology News

What do you do when you’re having trouble making a decision? I’ve already written one article, on how to take dictation from your higher self, that can help when you’re in a quandary. But here’s another technique which has helped many of my astrology clients. I call it “The Feeling Test.” 

Ideally, this should be done in a quiet space with no distractions. Start with an invocation or prayer, asking Spirit to send you the feelings that will guide you to your best choice. 

Start by doing whatever helps you achieve a clear, calm and centered state of mind. (Or as close as you can get!) Then visualize one of the choices you’re considering. Step into a mental 3-D movie, with all five senses operating. Let it play out for a few minutes as you imagine making that decision and experiencing its effects. 

As you do this, all sorts of thoughts, opinions and judgments may bubble through your brain. Let them do their thing, but keep your attention focused on how this visualization feels. A clever mind can rationalize and justify just about anything, but feelings tend to be a much more accurate guide. 

After you’ve spent a decent interval immersed in this visualization, and really tuned into its feeling state, gently bring yourself back to normal reality. Immediately take a few notes on how the experience felt, using emotionally descriptive adjectives like happy, sad, nervous, jubilant, or relieved. 

Then take a short walk, take a few conscious breaths, or do whatever it takes to come back to “neutral.” Then fire up the next visualization and do the same process, once again paying close attention to the feeling of this alternate choice. Repeat for as many outcomes as you’re seriously considering. 

Finally, just to cover all your bases, settle down for one final visualization. Now that you’ve run all the viable scenarios you can imagine, ask Spirit to immerse you into a vision of any other desirable alternatives that haven’t yet occurred to you. Then relax and see what pops into your head.  

Once you’ve finished your various visualizations, review your notes. And don’t be surprised if the answer you’ve been seeking has now been “refeeled!”

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New Perspectives on the Triple Conjunction in Aquarius

 

by Benjamin Bernstein

 

Originally published in the June 2009 It's All Good Astrology News

The ideal topic for this month's article was obvious to me, since we're now in the heart of the year's most important astrological alignment: the triple conjunction of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter in Aquarius. However, I have already written and lectured on this subject, and didn't want to simply repeat myself.
 
So I spent some time contemplating and researching in order to come up with some fresh perspectives on this potent partnership (including its honorary fourth member, Uranus in Pisces). If you've read my prior writing on this subject, or heard my "Quantum Global Shift" lecture, you'll see that I have included some of that material, which is essential for those new to the topic. (The previous material is "front-loaded", while the new information dominates toward the end.) In any event, you'll be rewarded with plenty of new insights!
 
The Triple Conjunction

From now through January 2010, we will have the opportunity to benefit from an extraordinary triple conjunction: Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron joining together in Aquarius!

Jupiter and Neptune share spirituality as a common theme. Jupiter represents your faith, your beliefs, and your specific religious path. Neptune, which transcends the specifics of any particular path, represents the dissolving of boundaries: mystical union and the indescribable, euphoric blending of consciousness with Spirit. Chiron, the wounded healer, represents the wound that needs healing. It also represents the mentorship that one can provide when one has progressed far enough on one's own healing journey.

And let's not forget that all this is happening in Aquarius, which is about revolution, paradigm shift and sudden change. These same energies are further amplified by the fact that Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, is also playing a major role in this configuration.

The Technical Paragraph

(This paragraph is for Astrology geeks, and can be skipped with no harm done.) For starters, Uranus is in "mutual reception" to both Jupiter and Neptune. This simply means that they're in each other's signs. Uranus is in Pisces, which is co-ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune. And Jupiter and Neptune are in Aquarius, which is co-ruled by Uranus. Uranus is also connecting by aspect, holding a 30° semi-sextile to Neptune through the Spring of 2011. (Uranus also semi-sextiles Jupiter April through July).

Spiritual Awakening and Healing

A valid interpretation, it seems to me, is the opportunity for God's light to pour through with extraordinary power (since Jupiter magnifies whatever it touches). As it does, this energy can bring profound healing to the personal and societal wounds afflicting humanity. (Aquarius is also the sign that represents humanity as a whole.) Even previously intractable problems, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear challenges being offered by North Korea and Iran, have a much better chance of being resolved under this transit.
 
I can imagine a mass awakening, with people all over the planet having a sudden "Eureka!" moment. They would realize that their kinship extends beyond their particular race or religion or culture or country. They would "grok" that they are one not only with their fellow humans, but with the sacred living spirits that inhabit every animal, insect, tree, plant and stone. Once saturated with the incomparable ecstasy of divine bliss, they would discover that slipping back into negative patterns of hate, violence and anger is intolerable, for it wipes out the supreme joy that only a heart filled with divine love can experience.

You may say I'm a dreamer, and this scenario will not play out for everyone. But I regularly associate with people who have already had this awakening, and see evidence all around the world that this type of consciousness is spreading faster and faster. This embodiment of universal love -- whose propagation will make all of our other problems so much easier to solve - is now spreading as never before!
 
The Importance of Community
 
The importance of community (Aquarius) is also becoming paramount. Those who are awakening and serving spiritually benefit from the amplified energetic and social support that they receive from associating with others on similar paths. And, on a purely practical level, we all need to be able to both depend on and assist others. This will be crucial if the coming global paradigm shifts disrupt the basic societal infrastructure and services we usually take for granted.
 
These communities won't always be large-scale, either. The old paradigm of massive structural hierarchy is giving way to a plethora of small, flexible and independent groups who synchronistically connect and separate as needed.
 
The Dark Side

Of course, we are also seeing darker manifestations of these archetypal energies. Those who succumb to fear may well let their unhealed wounds (Chiron) feed their delusions (Neptune), leading them to proclaim their rigid dogmas (Jupiter) as the One And Only True Path (Jupiter again). This applies not only to religious fanatics, but to any person or group that persists in advocating outmoded views and beliefs.
 
There has also been an unusual pattern of mass murders in recent months, with ordinary people snapping and wreaking bloody havoc. (Neptune=delusion, Chiron=wounding, Jupiter=amplification.) It seems to me that the divine light is growing so strong that it is driving insane some who cannot integrate it.
 
Powerful transits have always played out on both the light and dark sides, but, as Gandhi said so beautifully, no matter how strong evil may grow, good always wins out in the end.
 
A Historical Perspective
 
Astrological theory is all fine and good, but, as Richard Tarnas shows in his landmark (and highly recommended) book Cosmos and Psyche, it's always instructive to see what happened during previous incarnations of the same alignment.
 
The Triple Conjunction of 1945
 
The last time Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter were all together in the same place was in the late Summer and early Fall of 1945, in the sign of Libra. The events of that time were nothing if not historic: for starters, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, which led to that country's surrender and the end of WWII.
 
In this instance, we see both the dark and light sides of Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter taken to extremes. The atom bombs caused extreme (Jupiter) wounding (Chiron) that caused Japan to finally surrender the illusions (Neptune) that had kept it fighting even when there was no realistic hope of victory. But that same event made it possible for new hope (Jupiter) and a spirit of unity (Neptune) to arise as the US healed the wounds of war (Chiron) and helped rebuild Europe. The Libran signature is also evident: the restoration of balance, harmony and fairness.
 
The same light-side qualities are self-evident in another historic event of 1945: the founding of the United Nations. And, since this conjunction occurred in Libra, the list would not be complete without mention of an artistic landmark which remains one of the world's most distinctive buildings: Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum.
 
The Triple Conjunction of 1881-82
 
What about the Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter conjunction before that? It took place from mid-1881 through the first quarter of 1882 in Taurus. Taurus, being "fixed earth," is the most stable sign of the zodiac, so shocking and dramatic events are much less likely. Taurus is associated with music and ruled by creative Venus, so it is fitting that this incarnation of the triple conjunction took on a markedly different flavor. Neptune expressed divine creative inspiration, Chiron showed its maverick side, and Jupiter amped it all up.
 
The result was an extraordinary creative blossoming, which included Henry James' Portrait of a Lady, R.L. Stevenson's Treasure Island, Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, Brahms' "Academic Festival Overture," Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," Wagner's "Parsifal" and Debussy's "Le Printemps." The seeds were also planted for future creative blossoming, with the births of the mavericks-to-be Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Picasso, Braque, Samuel Goldwyn, Bela Bartok and Igor Stravinsky.
 
This glimpse into the past demonstrates that we must consider more than just the planets involved: the sign they inhabit is also of paramount importance. Thus, the fact that Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter are now in Aquarius (revolution, paradigm shift, breakthrough, awakening) and partnering with Uranus in Pisces (spiritual union, unconditional love and compassion, the dissolution of boundaries) says much about the high-side possibilities of our current alignment.
 
The Galactic Center
 
It is of more than passing interest that all of the planets we're discussing are currently in strong aspect to the Galactic Center at 27° Sagittarius. (Thanks to Mayan astrologer Clare Coriell, with whom I do a Mayan-Western "Soul Journey" Consultation, for reminding me about this!) The Mayans view the Galactic Center as the place from which life originates, and the place to which the spirit returns after death. In fact, it is the alignment of the Sun and Earth with the Galactic Center which marks the famous end date of the Mayan Long Count calendar on December 21, 2012. (For more on this, download my lecture on "The Astrology of 2012.")
 
The spiritual energy radiating from the Galactic Center has increased substantially in recent years, and continues to build. The fact that Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter are currently sextiling this point, and Uranus is squaring it, means that all of these planets - which are already about spiritual awakening - are strongly connecting to this cosmic energy flow and transmitting it down to us!
 
Wet Weather
 
On a more mundane level, the next few months could bring events involving wounding (Chiron) involving lots (Jupiter) of water (Neptune, the sea god). Weather forecasters are expressing serious concern about the hurricane season that just began. (And is it a coincidence that Asheville, North Carolina, where I live, just had its wettest May on record?)
 
Ancient Bowl, Fresh Violets
 
I can think of no better way to close than with a look at the Sabian Symbol for 27° Aquarius, where Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter are currently hanging out. (Any planet at or after 26°01' Aquarius "rounds up" to the Sabian Symbol for 27°.) The symbol is, "An Ancient Pottery Bowl Filled With Fresh Violets."
 
To me, this speaks to the time-tested indigenous, traditional and shamanic wisdom ways (the "ancient pottery bowl") being updated to fit the current times and attracting new adherents ("fresh violets"). Our post-industrial revolution mindset has led us to the brink of global environmental destruction, and we must integrate the earth-honoring perspective of our ancient ancestors into our modern lives if Mother Earth's species (including us!) are to survive and thrive. By carrying out the revolution of putting "fresh violets" (that which is sustainable from our modern lives) into the "ancient pottery bowl" (indigenous wisdom), we can chart a course from chaos and breakdown into hope and renewal.

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EFT: GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU?

 

by Benjamin Bernstein

 

Originally published in the May 2009 It's All Good Astrology News

I'm always on the lookout for tools and techniques that will help my astrology clients work through the issues that come up in our consultations. This month, I'd like to share one that I'm especially excited about: EFT.

Quick and Broad-Ranging
 
EFT -- or Emotional Freedom Techniques -- has been increasing in popularity since the mid-90s, when it was introduced by Gary Craig. It has repeatedly shown the ability to rapidly relieve serious emotional, psychological and physical problems, even if they've been hanging around for years. Spiritsong and I have both used it to reduce or eliminate various physical and emotional symptoms, often in less time than it will take you to read this article!
 
Of course, you can take classes to learn EFT (I took an excellent and inexpensive six-week course which Gary Schwartz frequently offers here in Asheville). But you can also learn everything you need to enjoy EFT's numerous benefits for free, and with no obligation. (More on that shortly.)

Clearing the Energy Blockages
 
The basic idea behind EFT is that most of our problems are caused by energy blockages. Once an energy blockage is cleared, the symptoms associated with it disappear.
 
To do this, an EFT practitioner (which can be you just doing it for yourself) uses the same energy meridians as acupuncture or acupressure. You begin with a "setup," which lets your body know which problem you wish to address. Then you rapidly tap through a series of points that stimulates each of the acupuncture meridians in turn. Now that I've learned the procedure (which didn't take long), I can do an entire tapping sequence in about 75 seconds.

"Try it on everything!"
 
While there is no guarantee that EFT will work on a particular issue, practitioners are encouraged to "try it on everything!" Some problems will disappear after one or two rounds, others may require significantly more time and persistence, and some may not respond to EFT at all. But, since the technique is free, quick and easy to do, I find that it's often worth a shot!

Links to Free EFT Resources
 
Links revised 7/23/11. Here are links to the main EFT site, a free how-to manual, and Asheville EFT teacher Gary Schwartz's one-page EFT overview.  Gary Schwartz also has a free EFT lecture on YouTube in which he explains and demonstrates the technique step by step. Here are links to each of the video clips: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, & Part 10.
 
I have found EFT to be so useful that it has joined the Divine Saturation Snap Meditation and the Divine Dictation Exercise in my bag of "frequently recommended techniques for clients." If you decide to give it a try, please feel free to send me an e-mail and let me know how it worked for you!
 

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2009 Full-Year Forecast: A Year of Extremes
 

NOTE: While this article contains three paragraphs of rather technical Astrologese, I have italicized them so that you can skip them if you wish. I have done my best to write everything else as close to plain English as I can!

Based on the astrological indicators, 2009 will be a year of extremes -- for both challenges and opportunities!

Revolution & Paradigm Shift: Jupiter Enters Aquarius

The year's primary theme -- revolution and paradigm shift - will be set up right away by Jupiter's entry into Aquarius on January 5. Jupiter will remain in Aquarius the entire year, stimulating ingenious breakthroughs and quantum leaps. These will be essential -- on the technical, social, political and ecological levels -- in order for so many humans to be able to live sustainably on our environmentally challenged planet.

Of course, revolutions and paradigm shifts can be messy and disruptive affairs, often manifesting in unexpected and unsettling ways. As you find yourself personally affected by these powerful global shifts -- as all of us already have been -- it will be helpful to remember that they are the birth pangs of a new, more equitable, more sustainable way of life. The corrupt old economic and social structures must die as the new ones are born, and those decrepit old monsters still have plenty of fight left in them.

Saturn & Uranus Oppose - Twice!

That fight is powerfully symbolized by the continuing oppositions of Saturn and Uranus. Their first exact opposition was on November 4, Election Day in the US, and they will make four more before they're done. (As I explained in my November 2008 article, this opposition was one of the factors that helped precipitate the global financial crisis.)

There will be two exact Saturn-Uranus oppositions in 2009, on February 5 and September 15. These will be times when the existing structures that have outlived their usefulness (Saturn) will be powerfully beset by the forces of revolution and paradigm shift (Uranus). As we saw during the global financial meltdown, Uranus' effects can be rapid, powerful and surprising. One must expect the unexpected. One must also have faith that, in the greater scheme, the targets of Uranus' lightning bolts must be altered or eliminated in order to make way for new paradigms better suited for our evolving reality.

Even though these Saturn-Uranus oppositions occur more than seven months apart, these two planets will stay "in orb" the entire year. This means that they will remain energetically connected, and will experience energetic "flares" throughout the year as they are aspected by faster-moving planets. These flares will be set off every few weeks by conjunctions, squares and oppositions from the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars, keeping the tension between the forces of tradition and innovation consistently stimulated.

Universal Love Spreads like Wildfire

All will not be sturm und drang, however. For most of the year, we will have the opportunity to benefit from an extraordinary triple conjunction: Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron joining together in Aquarius!

The two slower planets, Neptune and Chiron, have already buddied up as the year opens. Jupiter gets close enough to start making a significant connection with them in mid-March, then makes an exact conjunction with them during the last week of May. They squeeze in for another tight group hug in mid-July, but stay energetically joined at the hip from May 2009 through January 2010.

Jupiter and Neptune share spirituality as a common theme. Jupiter represents your faith, your beliefs, and your specific religious path. Neptune, which transcends the specifics of any particular path, represents the dissolving of boundaries: mystical union; the indescribable, euphoric blending of consciousness with Spirit. Chiron, the wounded healer, represents the wound that needs healing. It also represents the mentorship that one can provide when one has progressed far enough on one's own healing journey.

And let's not forget that all this is happening in Aquarius, which (sorry for the unavoidable repetition) is about revolution, paradigm shift and sudden change. These same energies are further amplified by the fact that Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, is also playing a major role in this configuration.

For starters, Uranus is in "mutual reception" to both Jupiter and Neptune. This simply means that they're in each other's signs. Uranus is in Pisces, which is co-ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune. And Jupiter and Neptune are in Aquarius, which is co-ruled by Uranus. Uranus is also connecting by aspect, making a 30° semi-sextile to Neptune pretty much the entire year. (Uranus also semi-sextiles Jupiter April through July).

 A valid interpretation, it seems to me, is the opportunity for God's light to pour through with extraordinary power (since Jupiter magnifies whatever it touches). As it does, this energy can bring profound healing to the personal and societal wounds afflicting humanity. (Aquarius is also the sign that represents humanity as a whole.)

I can imagine a mass awakening, with people all over the planet having a sudden "Eureka!" moment. They would realize that their kinship extends beyond their particular race or religion or culture or country. They would "grok" that they are one not only with their fellow humans, but with the sacred living spirits that inhabit every animal, insect, tree, plant and stone. Once saturated with the incomparable ecstasy of divine bliss, they would discover that slipping back into negative patterns of hate, violence and anger is intolerable, for it wipes out the supreme joy that only a heart filled with divine love can experience.

You may say I'm a dreamer, and I admit that this scenario may not play out for every human on the planet. But I regularly associate with people who have already had this awakening, and see evidence all around the world that this type of consciousness is spreading faster and faster. I have no doubt that this embodiment of universal love -- whose propagation will make all of our other problems so much easier to solve -- will spread as never before starting this spring.

Of course, there are also likely to be some darker manifestations of these archetypal energies. Those who succumb to fear may well let their unhealed wounds (Chiron) feed their delusions (Neptune), leading them to proclaim their rigid dogmas (Jupiter) as the One And Only True Path (Jupiter again). However, it is my belief that the positive incarnations of these energies will ultimately prevail.

Saturn Enters Libra and Squares Pluto

The Fall of 2009 will bring two more significant astrological events, both involving Saturn. The first is that Saturn, after having spent just over two years in Virgo, enters Libra on October 29. Since Saturn brings challenge and Libra represents relationships, watch for all of your important relationships to be tested. Be prepared to release those that have outlived their usefulness, while those that are built for the long haul will be strengthened. (Saturn will be in Libra during two time periods: 10/29/09 thru 4/7/10, and 7/22/10 thru 10/5/12.)

Saturn is quite strong in Libra (it's "exalted" there), which will help those trying to maintain the status quo dig in their heels a little bit longer. Of course, the conservative powers-that-be will need all the help they can get on November 15 when Saturn and Pluto form an exact square. This aspect, representing "challenge for growth," will be quite intense, since Pluto's job is to destroy everything that has outlived its usefulness! (Saturn and Pluto will be interacting strongly from August 2009 through late 2010, and then again March thru August 2011.) This Saturn-Pluto period, according to the respected mundane and financial astrologer Ray Merriman, may be "quite possibly one of the most intense geo-political periods of our lifetime."

The 60s, Part Two?

Finally, there are two "background players" who deserve mention: Uranus and Pluto. They're building toward a square which will not be exact until 2012, but their combined energy is already striking sparks as they tease their way toward each other. (They'll only be about 5° apart in early July, for example, which is plenty close enough for significant interaction.)

Uranus and Pluto are the volatile couple who helped bring us the 60s. They were the keynote energy for that entire tumultuous decade, radiating the power of revolutionary transformation that saw the blossoming of the civil rights and anti-war movements, feminism, and ecological awareness. The square they are building toward now, which will have seven exact iterations 2012 through 2015, will be these two planets' first major aspect since the 60s, and promises to be even more earth-shaking!

The Economy & Aspects to the US Chart

The natal chart of the United States (I am using the Sibley chart dated 7/4/1776, 6:10 PM, Philadelphia PA) is beset by numerous challenges in 2009. In fact, the rulers of all four of the chart's angles (the "power points") are under significant stress!

Economically, things continue to look challenging. The US Venus, the natural ruler of money and ruler of the US midheaven (a "power point" related to business and economic matters) is receiving a powerful opposition from Pluto that will be in orb now through 2011. While Pluto can bring massive prosperity, its first job is to destroy that which has outlived its usefulness. And, since the entire global economic system is built on the suicidal premise of unsustainable, environmentally destructive growth, the global (and US) economies  will require a major tear-down so that a revamped and truly viable economic structure can replace them.

(For an outstanding explanation of how the overwhelming power of global capitalism can be transformed into an environmentally supportive force -- and how you can help bring about that change -- I enthusiastically recommend James Gustave Speth's book, The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability. Speth is Dean of Environmental Studies at Yale, a founder of two major environmental groups [the Natural Resources Defense Council and the World Resources Institute], former chairman of the President's Council on Environmental Quality and a former head of the U.N. Development Program. The man knows his stuff, and has a gift for making this complex subject easy to understand.)

I'm not the only one who sees continuing economic hard times in the near term. There is nothing bullish in the headlines, and the stockbrokers I've talked to (including my father) speak only of continued decline. Ray Merriman, the expert financial and mundane astrology I referred to earlier, feels that the market will rise in 2009 -- but only briefly, before plummeting to new lows.

While there is more than enough challenge to the US chart, there are also reasons to rejoice. For example, the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction discussed earlier will be conjunct the US Moon, helping the public feel powerful new hope and optimism as the Obama administration gets down to business.

To be honest, there's so much going on the US chart that to discuss it any further here would make this article even longer than it already is! However, I will have much more to say about what's going on in the US chart in the February newsletter, and in my This Week in Astrology podcast.

In Conclusion

So we all have a lot to look forward to in 2009. Yes, there will be significant challenges, but they will give us the opportunity to be part of a truly historic undertaking: helping to avert global environmental catastrophe by modeling and working to bring about a truly sustainable way of life. And, by embracing this year's extraordinary opportunity for spiritual awakening, you can choose to be assisted in your worldly work by an entire pantheon of invisible allies!

Few of us are celebrating the recession or the stock market or the declining value of our homes. But we all chose to be here during this extraordinary time, and we all have our part to play in making this planet a welcoming home for the seventh generation to come. So let's get to work making something good happen!

Now that Barack Obama is set to become the next president of the United States, it seems like a good time to explore how some of his key personality characteristics and talents are shown in his natal chart. (I'm using Porphyry houses and the birth information August 4, 1961, 7:24 PM, Honolulu, HI.)

Leo: Leadership as Service

Obama's strongest sign is Leo, the sign of the "king" -- one who is naturally at home in the spotlight. He has four things in Leo: the Sun, Mercury, Uranus and the North Node of the Moon.

At first blush, one might expect someone with so many Leo planets to be a preening egotist. Fortunately, their house placement counteracts this. The Sun and Mercury are in the Sixth House of humility and service, while Uranus and the North Node are in the Seventh House of others. So all his Leo planets make him a natural leader, while their house placement helps ensure that he charts a course for the benefit of others.

Unaspected Planets: The Wild Cards

Obama rose from Illinois State Senator to United States Senator to President-Elect with stunning speed. His ability to rapidly achieve his goals by making an end run around the usual path is reflected by the presence of three "unaspected" planets: the Sun*, Venus and Uranus. (I am using the classical definition of "unaspected": no Ptolemaic aspects to anything from the Sun through Saturn.)

To have one unaspected planet is noteworthy; two is rare; three is extraordinary. (In fact, out of some 2000 consultations, I cannot recall ever seeing another chart with three unaspected planets!) Unaspected planets are considered wild cards. Being mavericks, unrestrained by the other core energies of the chart, they can plunge fearlessly into areas where angels might fear to tread. For some, this could be disastrous. For Obama, it led him to believe that he could be the first black man to be elected President of the United States.

Aquarius Rising

Most people would be comfortable applying the adjectives "distinctive," "paradigm-breaking" and "one-of-a-kind" to Obama. These words describe Aquarius and its modern ruler Uranus. Obama's rising sign -- the mask or persona he presents to the world -- is Aquarius. (He also has Jupiter and the South Node in this sign, making Aquarius a powerful force in his chart.)

Aquarian energy also features prominently in Obama's "Axis of Destiny" (the archetypal journey from the South Node to the North Node). His South Node is in Aquarius, and while the North Node is in Leo, it's conjunct the Aquarius-flavored planet Uranus. Any hope this man may have had of being "just a regular guy" was doomed from the start!

Mercury and the Golden Tongue

Obama's outstanding oratorical skills are universally acknowledged, and are clearly supported by Mercury (the planet of communication) in charismatic Leo. Plus, Mercury has powerful allies! Its energy is amplified and made distinctive by its opposition to Jupiter in Aquarius. Its tight sextile to the Moon gives his words emotional power and helps them resonate with the public. (In a famous person's chart, the Moon can stand for the masses.) Mercury trines the Midheaven, the angle associated with career and public recognition. One could even make a case that Mercury makes a loose conjunction to the Sun, a signature often seen in the charts of well-known writers and speakers.

Additional support for his gifts as a communicator comes from the Moon in Gemini (the sign of communication), opposing the Midheaven and energized by a square from powerful Pluto. And pioneering Mars, which rules Obama's Third House of communication, connects easily by trine to rock-steady Saturn (dignified in its home sign of Capricorn).

Saturn and Uranus: the Tightest Aspect

Obama has made clear that he intends to accomplish his ambitious agenda by partnering with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. His ability to work with the established powers-that-be as he brings about paradigm shift is reflected by the tightest aspect in his chart: an angle of adjustment (a quincunx) between Saturn and Uranus that is only 1/20 of a degree from being exact! (Saturn represents tradition and the status quo, while Uranus represents revolution and paradigm shift.) It seems nothing less than poetry that Saturn and Uranus create Obama's most exact natal aspect, while these two planets also made an exact opposition in the sky on the day he was elected President!

Jupiter: Bringer of Hope

Obama's chart reveals so much more about him, such as his desire for a sane and stable home life for his family (Taurus on the Fourth House cusp) and his mission to bring much-needed transformation to the world (Scorpio on the Midheaven). But let's conclude by exploring why the audacious concept of "hope" - one of the words with which he is most strongly associated -- is so strong in his chart.

Jupiter, bringer of optimism, hope and luck, permeates Obama's personality because it aspects more of his personal planets than anything else. It sextiles his Moon, opposes his Mercury and quincunxes his Venus. Hope is easily visible in his message because of Jupiter's sextile to the high-profile Midheaven, and the inspiration he offers feels so stable, trustworthy and credible because of Jupiter's conjunction to Saturn.

The Right Man at the Right Time

I feel that there is something truly magical about Obama.** It seems to me that he is the right man at the right time, for the United States and the world. I, for one, will be keeping him in my prayers.
_________________
* I state later in this article that the Sun might be loosely conjunct Mercury. Even if true, the distance between them is so great (more than 10°) that their wide conjunction would not significantly impact the Sun's behavior as an unaspected planet.

** The spiritual energy Obama radiates is shown by numerous Neptune aspects: the planet of divine connection squares the Sun, trines Venus and Chiron, semi-squares Mars and quintiles Uranus and the North Node. Chiron in Pisces, Saturn and Jupiter in the 12th House, and Neptune standing alone at the top of his chart as his most elevated planet also contribute to his spiritual vibe.

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2008’S MOST POWERFUL ASTROLOGICAL EVENT: THE SATURN-URANUS OPPOSITION

by Benjamin Bernstein

Originally published in the November 2008 It's All Good Astrology News

What’s the most powerful astrological event of 2008? Most astrologers would agree that there are only two serious contenders. Some would give the nod to Pluto’s entry into Capricorn (1/25 and 11/26), but my choice is the Saturn-Uranus opposition, which first comes exact on Nov. 4, 2008.

Exact on Election Day!

It's extraordinarily synchronistic that this opposition occurs on the day of the US presidential election! As I said in my recent article, where my astrological analysis of the candidates’ charts seemed to indicate an Obama victory, this planetary lineup indicates an extraordinary "wild card factor."

I've heard a lot of ideas about how this unpredictable energy could play out, including an attempt on Obama's life (let’s hope the arrest of those two white supremacists nipped that one in the bud!) and the election being stolen through vote tampering.

I pray that neither of these dark possibilities will manifest in a meaningful way. Instead, I focus on a much simpler and more straightforward interpretation: Saturn represents McCain (the old way of doing things) and Uranus stands for Obama (revolutionary change). And, as you'll see in a moment, Uranus usually triumphs in these situations.

The Global Financial Crisis

As Richard Tarnas definitively demonstrates in his astrological magnum opus Cosmos and Psyche, significant sky transits such as this can begin “turning on” when they’re still 15° apart. Saturn and Uranus hit that benchmark in September 2007.

It was soon after this that an increasing number of news stories about the subprime lending crisis began appearing. (Click here for a detailed credit crisis timeline.) Saturn and Uranus were only about 9° apart in early September of 2008, when the dominoes really started falling with the US government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The more exact the opposition has become, the more intense the global financial crisis has grown.

Consistent Effects Throughout History

Nor can this astrological correlation just be written off as coincidence. Every time Saturn and Uranus have opposed each other, there have been tumultuous times. The effect of their prior opposition, from 1965-1967, speaks for itself: we all know the paroxysms the world went through during the mid-60’s!

The Saturn-Uranus opposition before that, exact from 1918-1920, also occurred during a turbulent time in history. The better-known events of those years included the end of World War I, the British abandoning Home Rule for Ireland, controversies over the new psychology of Freud and Jung, the ratification of Prohibition, the formation of the League of Nations (predecessor of the United Nations), proof of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, the “Black Sox” baseball bribery scandal, American women gaining the right to vote, the rise of the Dadaist art movement (some exhibitions allowed visitors to smash paintings!), and Gandhi’s emergence as the leader of India’s independence movement. (There were other powerful astrological transits in force during these times as well, but I’m focusing here only on the Saturn-Uranus oppositions for the sake of simplicity.)

As one studies the events of these years, a common theme emerges: the forces of the established order (Saturn) struggling mightily against the forces of change (Uranus). Once in a while the forces of conservatism win a short-lived victory (Prohibition; civil rights marchers being beaten back by police in the South). More often, however, the forces of revolution win the day.

This Saturn-Uranus opposition will be exact five times from 11/4/2008 thru 7/26/2010. This period will be characterized by revolutionary transformation, with outmoded or corrupted structures (such as the derivatives-riddled global economic system) being replaced by new paradigms.

How Will This Affect You?

On a more personal level, it’s essential to recognize all the structures in your life that have outlived their usefulness. It doesn’t matter if “it’s always been done this way” - if there’s a better way to do it, it’s time to embrace a paradigm shift. Perhaps something has served you well until now -- a relationship, a way of thinking, a residence, a job -- but is no longer a good fit. It hangs poorly on you no matter how much you try to alter it. This means that it’s time to release it, and leave a void for Spirit to fill with something better! Tune in to your intuitive flashes - Uranus' method of communication - and follow them whenever you can.

This will be especially true for you if the Saturn-Uranus opposition is making a conjunction, opposition or square to sensitive points in your natal chart. Check the range from 16° to 30° in the mutable signs of Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini, as well as the first three degrees of the cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. If you have a personal planet, angle or angular ruler in that range, you can expect to feel some powerful effects.

Technical Breakdown of the Five Oppositions

If you want to dig a little deeper, here’s a listing, using 3° orbs, which gives more precise timing of when and where the five Saturn-Uranus oppositions will be most strongly felt. (Of course, significant life events can also be triggered by other significant astrological events happening in your chart during this time.)
     11/4/2008 (US Election Day): 16-22° Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini
     2/5/2009: 18-24° Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini
     9/15/2009: 22-28° Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini    
     4/26/2010: 26° Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini thru 2° Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn
     7/26/2010: 27° Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces and Gemini thru 3° Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn

Challenging Times to Benefit the Greater Good

There's no getting around the fact that we are now entering a multi-year period of challenging times. “It's all good" because such times are when we humans achieve our most meaningful growth, and make our deepest connections with each other.

Sadly, the historical status quo of the global powers-that-be has been the systematic gang-rape of Gaia, with little concern demonstrated for the resulting destruction of her species and environment. Therefore, nothing less than a radical paradigm shift is needed to ensure the survival of the majority of the species on this planet -- including the human race.

That life-affirming outcome, whatever we have to go through to get there, sounds like a good thing to me!

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CHOOSING THE PERFECT GIFT WITH THE "FOUR-PLANET METHOD"

by Spiritsong

Originally published in the October 2008 It's All Good Astrology News

September 30th was my 60th birthday - a major milestone for me -- and Benjamin gave me a perfect gift! He brought it upstairs to my office after I sent my first draft of this article to him, and we both roared with laughter: it was a wire-wrapped pink quartz necklace! You will understand why that was "a perfect gift" and such a funny, delightful moment for us as you continue to read this article.

It was because of my birthday that I started thinking about gift giving, and how helpful it is to be able to use the recipient's astrological chart to select a present that they will almost certainly enjoy. (People often make the mistake of choosing a gift based on what they would enjoy receiving themselves.)

If we know the recipient intimately, then we don't need to consult their natal chart. But what about folks you don't know as well, or those who are just "hard to buy for" people?

This article will show you how you can use the "Four Planet Method" to choose a present they will truly treasure when that next birthday, holiday or special occasion comes around. And since so many of us are weaning ourselves from society's runaway consumerism, I'll give examples of noncommercial gifts as well.

Beyond Sun Signs

Most articles on this subject advise you to base your gift choice on the recipient's Sun sign. This can be a good start, but a person is so much more than that! We're going to go deeper than Sun signs to identify a more meaningful present. We'll do this by examining the sign and house placement of the Sun (the "I am"), the Moon (emotional nature), Venus (what I love) and Jupiter (what makes me feel expansive), along with some basic aspects.

If the person's Sun sign is all you know, a basic Sun sign gift article such as this one can be of some help. It will also give you lots of ideas based on the usual qualities associated with each sign, which you can use whether you are looking at the Sun or any other planet.

I'll be using my chart and Benjamin's as examples. You can apply the principles to your own chart to see how they work, then use them to help you get "just the right thing" the next time you choose a gift.

Two Helpful Resources

Before we get started, you should know about two helpful resources. If you need to calculate a natal chart, Astrolabe's free chart calculation service is quick and easy. And if you don't already know the basic meaning of the planets, signs and houses, you can get a free copy of Kelly Lee Phipps' excellent one-page overview by clicking here.)

Start With the Sun

To identify that perfect gift, start with the Sun's sign and house, along with any conjunctions it's making. For example, my Sun is in Libra, in the First House ("I Am"), and conjunct Neptune. Therefore, gifts that are beautiful (Libra), spiritual (Neptune), and personal (First House) are indicated. Something material might be a wire-wrapped stone or crystal necklace, which is beautiful, spiritual, and personal, since I would wear it on my body. (Can you hear us laughing?)

A noncommercial gift would be something like a poem or song (Libra and Neptune) written or selected just for me (First House).

Add the Moon, Venus & Jupiter

Now let's explore the other three gift-related planets. My Moon and Venus are both in the Twelfth House. This house, which embodies the same archetypal energy as Neptune, repeats the theme of Neptune conjunct my Libra Sun: things that are beautiful (Libra and Neptune) and touch the deeper realm of Spirit (Neptune and the Twelfth House) delight me (Moon and Venus)! Thus, as we saw when we analyzed my Sun, I would deeply appreciate a recording of some beautiful music, or a picture or poem that stirs my soul - especially if they had been created by the giver.

My Venus, in flamboyant Leo, likes sparkly, colorful things. However, my Moon, in grounded Virgo, is content with something more earthy. So it gets a little more complex. But since both reside in my Twelfth House, they share in its dreamy, poetic and otherworldly flavor. A soft, flowing dress (practical Virgo) with a goddess flavor (Twelfth House), accented with a sequined scarf (Leo Venus) would satisfy both Venus and the Moon. One of my favorite kinds of gifts - a stone from a stream, or shell from the ocean, costs nothing but the time and effort to spot it and pick it up.

My Jupiter is in optimistic Sagittarius. Since Jupiter is also in my Fourth House, that uplifting piece of art that stirs my soul also graces my home (Fourth House) and expands my natural feeling of enjoyment (Jupiter trines Venus) there.

Benjamin's Sun

For someone like Benjamin, the picture is completely different. (Then again, so is he!) His Aquarius Sun conjunct Chiron in the Seventh House likes something unusual or humanitarian (Aquarius), relating to healing (Chiron), and beautiful or relational (Seventh House). So he might appreciate a gift certificate for an alternative healing class. This satisfies his innate need to be of service to others in some healing way (Aquarius Sun and Chiron in the Seventh House). Another gift that would delight him is a good astrology book (Aquarius) that allows him to be a better mentor (Chiron) to others (Aquarius plus the Seventh House = the astrological counselor!).

Benjamin's Other Planets

Going deeper, Benjamin's Virgo Moon is in his Second House. This says, "I feel (Moon) fulfilled (self-worth is a Second House quality) by being of service to others (Virgo Moon)." This reinforces the themes revealed by his Sun's placement.

Benjamin's Venus is in Capricorn in the Sixth House. Therefore, what pleases him (Venus) is something practical or business-oriented (Capricorn) that he can use day to day, especially in his work (Capricorn and the Sixth House). Once again, this repeats the themes of practicality and service.

So an ideal noncommercial gift for Benjamin would be anything that is helpful. This could be time spent helping him with a project, or freeing him from some mundane responsibilities so he has more time for his work. On the commercial side, he would love some work-related software!

Because Benjamin's themes of work and service repeat so insistently, the energy of his final gift-related planet, Jupiter, is rather overwhelmed! (It's in Sagittarius, like mine, but in the Fifth House.) Even so, just to change it up sometimes and tickle his Jupiter (expansiveness) in Sagittarius (let's just get happy!), I could take him to an inspirational (Sagittarius) movie with a romantic flavor (Fifth House).

In Conclusion

If I got Benjamin the kind of sentimental, sometimes "impractical" gift that would please me, I would miss the mark completely. As would he, if he chose something for me that was mundane and purely practical rather than beautiful or romantic.

In summary, all that we've basically done is analyze the four gift-related planets - the Sun, Moon, Venus and Jupiter - by examining each one's sign, house and (if present) conjunctions. If a repeated theme shows up,as it did with us, it makes choosing easy. If a look at the Sun, Moon, Venus and Jupiter reveals very different kinds of needs, you might focus on just one of the themes.

Start with your own chart, and see if these guidelines ring true for you. If you find that this procedure makes sense in your own chart, then you can feel comfortable using it to guide your gift-giving. You could end up with dozens of great gift ideas for that person who's always been so hard to buy for in the past!

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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAILY MAKES!
Boosting Your Intuition with a Regular Morning Meditation

by Benjamin Bernstein

Originally published in the October 2008