"Kind and inspiring energy surrounds some truly willful and contentious aspects this week, and we can use one to deal with the other. An ongoing summer-long grand trine with Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn continues to feed our spiritual presence and helps us find creative, practical, spiritually-sound solutions if we reach for it. This grand trine is bisected by two oppositions this week as Venus opposes Neptune, and Mars opposes Pluto, an unusual and pregnant pattern. It epitomizes the Chinese definition of crisis: danger entwined with opportunity. It breeds vision and action on a good day, and sends us running after a delusion on a bad one. Choose with care, and tap into the vision. While summer lingers at its peak, some intense inner process or conflict or tension that’s been brewing for a while may come to a head as energized warrior Mars opposes powerful Pluto. Mars is not alone, it strengthened as it is flanked on one side by Mercury, which gives Mars a voice, and on the other side by massive Jupiter which loans Mars substance, expands the issue, and brings out our philosophical longing for freedom. This line-up inspires us to reengage our life whole-heartedly and with creativity. We’ll have plenty of energy to relax in the shade or deal with adventure and unusual circumstances but may find it hard to buckle down to mundane efforts. We can feel a pool of energy underneath us, sometimes just out of reach, but one that can feed any strong emotion or effort, like anxiety, anger, transformation or enthusiasm, if we get started there ourselves. So let’s be careful what we start. These three planets are lined up in Cancer, a sign we normally associate with leadership around creative fertility, mothering, home and homeland, nesting, safety, protectiveness and defensiveness; America’s home sign. All while the Sun is in expressive, extroverted, Leo, a sign that likes to play the big stage. This line up inspires us to speak up for ourselves in little ways and big ones. It encourages us to reach outside of our comfort zone and expand our purview in a good moment. But if we feel our boundaries are disrespected, or if we feel unsafe, or worse, our homeland or children unsafe, watch out. Our fierce reaction can channel our inner grizzly bear. Watch this unfold around the Trayvon Martin case, and notice more subtle versions echoing around the house. Sometimes an abrupt response and firm boundary will be the appropriate response and can change the direction of history. Because this protective-reactive energy is so close to the surface, we can over react when we perceive a slight or if our feelings are hurt, and growl when a simple clear answer would work better. Cancer’s shadow side is a hair-trigger defensiveness, crab-like, snapping claws, in response to any danger to its tender core. This release of built up tension adds extra power on concrete ways, so fires flash quickly, accidents occur with extra vigor, even a dropped soda bottle opens with a larger geyser. We tend to over react once we’re triggered. Be careful working with flammable materials and channel this enthusiasm wisely. To deal with this constructively, when we feel a reaction come up from within, rather than exploding with Leo-like melodrama, we can be our own best audience, listen and discover clearly what we really feel underneath any polite exterior, but choose carefully what we express to others. Once we know what we feel, we can tap into the ongoing Mars-Jupiter courage to lead rather than react. Speak up, state what we need and feel, honor the needs and feelings of others, and see if we can negotiate an honest compromise. Or part ways amicably. This energy is also ready to pour into launching a new venture, nesting our home or homeland, and into any creative endeavor. Arts festivals and summer theater could really sing (though they may be overplayed a bit), and express in a grand scale the complex story of the human condition. They’ll be a lot more fun to watch than living the story out again ourselves. Opera anyone? This weekend begins under an expressive impatient Aries Moon; enjoy the enthusiasm and extra courage. Fires, both literal and metaphorical, spread quickly. Don’t try to suppress the fires, as they may only accelerate in response, try instead to contain them, respond honestly, and let them burn out. Let great discussion and great love is what catches fire. Early next week the mood slows down, grows more stubborn, fertile and sybaritic as the Taurus Moon forms another grand trine with Venus and Pluto. We could just sleep through it, but a powerful vision can arise out of a loss or problem. Catch up, follow through, and deepen. Plant, rebuild, recover, and dream. Channels of communications open midweek as many new ideas get tossed on the table. Our minds meander, the conversations wanders, and interesting things are found on obscure country roads. But watch a hidden but explosive accident-prone strain and an urge to make a sudden change as Mars squares Uranus. Though it could be like Bilbo heading out without a handkerchief, the beginning of a great adventure."
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 21:24:59 +0000