Aquarium Age

Aquarium Age: August 22 – 28

By Ralfee Finn

It’s a rough ride this week, with ups and downs and stops and starts all happening simultaneously, and several of these jolting shifts require an even deeper level of patience than usual. And that’s just from a personal perspective, not a political one. The political perspective is sure to have some of us reverting once again to Munch’s The Scream.  Mercury Direct began on Sunday, an event that should trigger increasingly rapid forward motion. But Mars is in the final days of its retrograde that began on June 26 and ends on August 27, which means as Mars “slows down” for its “course correction,” regular routines move slower than a snail. When you couple these opposing Mercury/Mars rhythms with the emotional currents of the week, many fellow travelers are going to find it difficult to navigate the waters of daily life. Fortunately, last week’s Jupiter/Neptune trine continues to strike an empathic chord which reverberates through the days and nights of this week. There is also a Grand Trine in Earth Signs that provides helpful support for staying grounded and practical. But all this astral activity plays out against the backdrop of an increasingly tense political situation in the United States that shows no sign of letting up any time soon. (Again, no one will blame you for mimicking The Scream.)

The best way to handle this particular Mercury Direct, is to be prepared for starts and stops—a rhythm that isn’t usually associated with Mercury’s forward motion. Put simply: bide your time and wait until the skies clear. This coming week is sluggish: Mars goes direct on August 27 (just five days away), freeing Mercury to make haste on winged sandals, but two things interfere with that rapid forward motion. First, Mars takes the next two weeks to gather its forward momentum. (Yes, that is a bummer, especially for those in a hurry to get started on all their fall projects.) Second, Saturn goes direct on September 6, which means even as Mars and Mercury gain speed, the gravity of Saturn preparing for its “turn around” holds back forward motion. If you can stand to wait (and many won’t), the best time to initiate or negotiate anything is September 8—30. Don’t forget that Venus Retrograde begins on October 5, so by the last few days of September, as Venus prepares to review her recent past, we’re back in a retrograde kinda love. The summer of our discontent may be ending, but the fall presents its own astral challenges. If you can, put your eggs in the retro-free basket of September—it’s the only retro free zone until December.

Emotional tides are problematic this week. The Moon conjuncts Pluto, in Capricorn, and then moves into a conjunction with Mars, stationary on its power degree, also in Capricorn. Mars represents the warrior and as it prepares to go direct, it’s likely to be a little prickly—Mars wants action and it’s been stymied by a retrograde for nearly two months, which means standing still at the same point only exacerbates frustration. Be careful not to channel this antsy energy into confrontations designed to satisfy your ego by diminishing someone else. Avoid arguments just to blow off steam. Be aware that Mars is still square Uranus and that their testy, fractious interaction continues to provide a current of belligerence in an already too-bellicose world.

The good news is a Grand Trine, in Earth Signs: The Sun is about to enter Virgo; Saturn is about to go direct, in Capricorn; and Uranus is retrograde in Taurus. All three Earth Signs—Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn—are practical, pragmatic, and determined, and when they align in a positive combination—and nothing is more positive than a Grand Trine—there is a strong potential to ground ideas into action. Fortunately, the ongoing idealistic trine between Jupiter, in Scorpio, and Neptune, in Pisces, offers the possibility of altruistic intentions and motivations. The potential for good work is mighty this week, especially if you can harness these two forces and make them work together. Imagine these powerful forces working for the greater good, manifesting the best of us.

Only a year ago we were in the shadow of the Great American Eclipse of 2017, and while it was a beautiful sight to behold, I can’t help but think about how ancient astrologers, especially the priests of ancient Mesopotamia, would have viewed its effect. Eclipses were not good for the king, and thus not good for the country. And often the priests would sacrifice a “false king” to spare the life of the real one. Sometimes they would even pretend that if you couldn’t see the eclipse, its effect was non-existent. I guess spin is spin no matter the century, no matter the culture.

Eclipses reveal what’s hidden in the shadows, and the Great American Eclipse took place on Mr. Trump’s Ascendant and his Mars—his persona and his aggressive tendencies—illuminating the shadows of his back story, which continues to be revealed. After this week’s revelations, and especially the courageous stand by intelligence officers, I’m thinking that backstory has to be really bad—truly awful—and much worse than can be imagined. What else would make those who hold so many powerful secrets break their silence? The putrid core of Trump World must be so subversive and pose such an imminent danger to democracy that those entrusted to defend, protect, and maintain the structures of state are refusing to remain silent. It’s terrifying to watch them come forward with their warnings—chilling, actually. But it’s even more terrifying to realize that the mad king’s staunch supporters are empowered by his reign of terror and emboldened by his immoral behavior—so in love are they with how he reflects their worship of power that they refuse to listen to common sense. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been well-trained by endless episodes of Law & Order, so well-trained that I can hear the music cues with each new revelation about how Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts have violated and continue to violate the integrity of the office.

But nothing is more horrifying than those men and women in Congress who remain committed to maintaining their support of someone they know is damaging the rule of law. It’s impossible to understand the depth of their greed, the hardness of their hearts, or their cancerous cruelty. I can only imagine that Putin’s minion has gathered so much negative data on these feckless souls that they are willing to go down in history as his agents. The only good news about their behavior—and I’m not sure it’s really good news—is that they are unwittingly stirring the caldron of revolution, and that come the 2020 elections, the American Revolution 2.0 will already be underway.

Despite the negativity of our political situation, do your best this week to stay steadfast in your intention to help others this week via altruistic actions. There are people in the world moving mountains to make positive changes and we can only assume they are inspiring others to do the same. Not every rich person is a miser—here’s an example of a positive shift that counterbalances Trump greed:

www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2018/08/16/nyu-makes-medical-school-tuition-free

Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.

Aries March 21-April 19
One of the best ways to create compassion is practicing kindness toward yourself first, because when you treat yourself without harsh judgment, you actually strengthen your compassion muscles. Stop polarizing within yourself and you’re likely to stop polarizing with others.

Taurus April 20-May 20
It’s a good week for healing emotional wounds, old or new, minor or major, so pay attention to your feelings as they arise and as you do, notice what’s easy to let go of and what isn’t. That’s where you’ll find the gold of this process, because if you’re willing to loosen your grip, you’ll create room to grow.

Gemini May 21-June 21
You might want to consider standing the entire situation on its head so you can look at it from a completely new perspective. I’m not saying that your old point of view is wrong, but I am suggesting that a fresh vantage point could reveal previously hidden information that might prove useful in problem solving.

Cancer June 22-July 22
It’s important to take the leadership role in your relationships with significant others, personal or professional. Don’t be nervous about being bossy or overbearing. If you treat others with respect, honor their contribution, and offer appreciation when it’s due, your example will create the loyalty you’re after.

Leo July 23-August 22
Communication is the key to navigating any obstacles you encounter, especially if you’re committed to being caring and loving, and nurturing to your fellow travelers. Yes, there’s a lot to do and you’re relying on a lot of people to help, but if you practice loving kindness, you’ll engender loving responses.

Virgo August 23-September 22
You’re crossing the threshold into another year, so as you move forward, take note of where you’ve been and just how much you’ve learned from your experiences. It’s been quite a spiritual journey and the next year promises to be just as rich and exciting.

Libra September 23-October 22
This is the perfect moment to spend more than a few minutes nurturing body, mind, soul, and spirit. I know you’re busy, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for neglecting the fundamentals of self-care—we can only go so far before we need to replenish our reservoirs. Make the time, and you will be glad you did.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
You’re balancing internal energies, creating better communication between your internal feminine and masculine qualities. You may not feel a need for this recalibration, but if you permit it and ride what might feel like awkward waves, you’ll notice a new sense of internal spiritual strength emerge from the process.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You’re in a deeply pragmatic state of mind, and while I wouldn’t be so bold as to say you’re hardly ever practical, I am saying that you are rarely this committed to making grounded, tangible progress in the moment. Use this energy wisely by applying it to all those places in your life that need heightened common sense.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
It’s important to listen to your intuition, so if there are internal conversations that obscure your ability to listen closely or feelings that generate too much static to hear accurately, get to work clearing those channels. You don’t need to be hypnotized to quiet the mind—a more disciplined meditation practice will likely make a big difference.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
The antidote to any strife you might be experiencing is emotional honesty—just say what you feel, even if being completely frank causes some waves to disturb the tranquility of your personal pond. Those waves have the power to start a revolution, which might be a good thing if only because it eliminates stagnation.

Pisces February 19-March 20
It will require practical wisdom to solve the spiritual dilemma you’re currently facing, so rather than seeking the counsel of someone who seems more out of this world than in it, find an advisor whose feet are planted firmly on the ground. Just make sure her intuition extends into the heavens.

This article was originally published on August 22, 2018.