The madness of King Donald continues! And as he persists in the deconstruction of the American government, those aware of the damage being done also continue to be baffled about how to stem the tide of greed and ignorance before we reach the point of no return—although climatologists are likely to say we are well past that time. It’s no longer enough to be unhappy about what’s taking place or to be angry—or to process through any other stage of grief. There’s no accepting the violence being done to Earth and all her children. But it is also unacceptable to think that countering that violence with violence is a viable solution. We are at a Wheel Turning moment, again—we’ve been there often in the last nearly 20 years. But never before has it felt so immediately threatening.
From an astrological perspective, the madness of King Donald persists because of what’s being triggered in his chart. He has a Mars Return on Thursday, August 31, and when Mars returns to the position it occupied at birth, there is a tendency to experience a renaissance of will. Mars is the archetype of the warrior and Mr. Trump seems to be growing increasingly confrontational. What’s more, he is still in the pulsation of the eclipse effect, which occurred on his Mars and his Ascendant—we’ve been witnessing a live report on how that contact can play out. And it is fascinating, living through its exaggerated form is also distressing.
For the rest of us living in this brave, new and surreal world, this week plays out through a Mercury filter. Mercury goes direct on September 5, and as many of us have learned through the last many years of Mercury Retrograde, even though the retrograde phase is over, it takes a few more days to gather forward momentum. This time, Mercury goes direct conjunct Mars on the eclipse sensitive degree and that’s likely to stimulate the otherwise normal slog of forward momentum. A Mercury/Mars conjunction signals hyperactive conversation and negotiation, so anticipate that even the normally reticent have a lot to say, and for those who lean toward the verbose…well…you just have to pull up a chair and settle in for a diatribe.
Saturn went direct on Friday, August 25, on Mr. Trump’s Moon, in Sagittarius, where it sat for nearly the entire summer as it simultaneously opposed his Sun. This may be one of the reasons he’s having such a hard time settling down. Between the eclipse effect, Uranus trine his Ascendant, a Mars Return, and Saturn trying to squelch his sense of his own glory, it’s been a rough ride. Unfortunately, we’re on that ride with him. (More about Saturn next week.)
From an astrological perspective, it is possible to see Mr. Trump and his hungry ghosts, both cabinet members and followers, as the very worst manifestation of Uranus in Aries. Aries is the Sign of individuation, and as part of Uranus’ nearly seven-year journey through Aries, we’ve all been learning a lesson on what individuation actually is. Aries has a bad reputation in some astrological circles, primarily because Aries anything—Sun, Moon, Rising, and all the other planetary positions—is direct. And sometimes that Aries bluntness is hard to take. Not because they are always right, but because once Aries puts it out there, there’s no taking it back. (I have Aries Rising, and someone once said to me (and not with love), “You’re just the most direct person I’ve ever met.” My response was, “And that would be bad…how?”
The thing about Aries is that it represents the will to be an individuated self, distinct from other selves—think about that for a moment, because without that impulse there would be no separation, no one being separate from another. For the last seven years, Uranus, the planet of revolution, has been feeding the fire of that individual will to assert, and as a result many have come into a deeper awareness of what it means to be separate and what separation can cost. It goes without saying (but I am going to say it anyway,) that it’s possible to individuate and still stay connected to others—other separate selves—especially when we recognize that a far deeper unity underlies all the differences in personality. And that may well be one of the lessons Mr. Trump and his cadre of selfish hungry ghosts are here to teach: You can’t actually have a self completely disconnected from others. It’s simply against nature. Which may be why the Earth is convulsing from the cruelty and violence of a selfish view that has persisted well before this “new and improved’ regime, a view that isn’t solely limited to Republicans or Americans.
But of course, it is important to remain optimistic about the future—something I try to remember daily. As a friend recently pointed out (as recently as this morning), as Trump’s egregious behavior escalates, people continue to wake up to the need to assert their individuality and move into positive action. The multitude of grassroots movements that are taking the lead on any number of dire situations is a good indication that he is catalyzing consciousness—although that may not be his intention. And perhaps this is the ultimate gift of the Reign of Trump: It is uniting us in our efforts to heal our planet and literally save our lives. As we witnessed last week through the interest and participation in eclipse-watching, we’re still in awe of the vastness of the sky—the only place that actually knows no bounds nor separation.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
Be passionate about all you do and your fire will inspire others to engage in a new and more vital way. And when I say all, I mean every part of life, from the big to the small, whether it’s laundry, breakfast, work, play, music, movies, or the need to let go and just relax.
Taurus April 20-May 20
You’re finding your groove despite the noise of external or internal turmoil. Try not to let self-doubt create unneeded interference. Stay focused on whatever it is you’re doing because it’s feeding body, mind, heart, and soul. That’s the kind of nourishment that enables authentic personal growth and transformation.
Gemini May 21-June 21
Telling you not to worry would be sufficient, but I don’t think you’ll listen, especially when it comes to partnerships. So instead, I’m simply going to remind you to rely on your innate gift of communication. Just remember, when it comes to really connecting with others, a good listener can be the crucial role.
Cancer June 22-July 22
There are real opportunities for you to make tangible, actual financial gains, but to take advantage of these opportunities you have to be willing to put yourself out in the world and make a variety of contacts. Not every introduction will deliver benefits, but some will and that makes all the difference.
Leo July 23-August 22
Immerse yourself in creative endeavors and allow imagination to inspire your point of view. I’m not suggesting you become irresponsible or ignore reality. I’m simply advising you to find moments of joy that feed your heart—those are the moments that make it possible to endure the difficult times.
Virgo August 23-September 22
You’re definitely leading the way, and while that’s important and you deserve the recognition, don’t get carried away by all the attention. Yes…the spotlight feels good and you should enjoy it. But at the same time, it’s important to stay balanced in all your interactions, so share that light where you can.
Libra September 23-October 22
Take advantage of the opportunity to make real progress in refining your relationships and don’t let minor snags throw you off track. Acknowledge those you love by being authentic in thought, word and deed—they know you care and recognize the depth of your intention to heal.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
It isn’t always easy being true to yourself and at the same time acknowledging and respecting the needs of others. It’s a conundrum, especially for you, dear Scorpio, because you feel what isn’t being said and it’s not always easy to decipher the code accurately. Don’t give up—there’s enough time to honor your needs as well as the needs of others.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You’ll need strength this week to stave off a bout with the blues, so you’ll need to monitor how you’re spending your time and energy. There’s nothing to be worried about; it’s simply a matter of knowing what you need to sustain and maintain your equilibrium.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
You’re in the unlikely position of wearing your heart on your sleeve, and while it’s not the most comfortable stance, it could be quite healing, especially if you let yourself be truthful about what it is you’re feeling. I know you are normally quite forthcoming, but this requires a new emotional awareness and depth.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
It’s important to share your wisdom, if only because giving voice to what you know to be true will help you refine what you are experiencing—and it will also help others to do the same. Rather than holding back, share what you’re thinking. If your ideas need more work, recognize it and move on.
Pisces February 19-March 20
Yes, you are much busier than you anticipated and it’s going to take a lot of constant contact to keep several situations on track. But you can do it—all you need is determination and discipline, both of which are abundant right now. Roll up your sleeves, get to work, and be sure you enjoy the process.
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