Aquarium Age

The Aquarium Age: Feb. 8-14

By Ralfee Finn

The planets continue to dial-up the intensity this week, inflaming already heated situations, individual and collective, and turning exchanges, personal and political, even more belligerent. Today, February 8, the Moon, in Cancer, once again acts as the completion piece of the puzzle for a Cardinal Grand Cross, and its emotional presence sets the tone for the week, a tone that has the potential to infect most interactions with fears about safety and security. What’s more, just as this Grand Cross is separating there is a lunar eclipse, in Leo, on Saturday. And because eclipses always turn the concerns of daily life inside out, revealing what was previously hidden, you can anticipate even more surprising events to rattle regular routines. But that’s not all. Jupiter Retrograde began on Monday, February 6, and as Jupiter retraces its path, we will revisit much of what’s transpired since the middle of December, including the seesaw effect of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, which reaches its full force on March 1. Yes…it is as intense as it sounds, and many already suffering from Trumpitis and Post Traumatic Trump Disorder are also at risk for Trump-Fatigue. So even when the days are overwhelming, be sure to include self-care as part of your schedule. Resistance is not futile, but it is going to be a long haul and you want to be as healthy and present as possible for as long as it takes to right the course of the spaceship we call Planet Earth.

Today and tomorrow, February 8 and 9, the Moon, in Cancer, moves into an opposition with Pluto and a square to both Uranus and Jupiter. This configuration is called a Grand Cross and it operates almost literally as a cross to bear. Because it occurs in Cardinal Signs—the astrological Signs known for action—and because the Moon is literally the mover and shaker in this formation, it amps up the already highly charged emotional atmosphere with concerns about safety, something Cancer is always worried about. This same Grand Cross occurred on January 11 when the Moon was also in Cancer.  The Moon occupies this position once a month, every month, as it cycles through all twelve Zodiac Signs. But it rarely triggers an ongoing T-Square, especially when part of that interaction involves Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto.

One of the reasons for the Moon’s repetitive role is the ongoing opposition between Jupiter and Uranus that began in early December and continues until the beginning of March. Both planets made “course corrections” during their opposition. Uranus Direct began right after Christmas, and Jupiter Retrograde occurred two days ago on February 6. The energetic signature of this opposition is going-to-extremes and Pluto has more or less been at the midpoint, squaring both Jupiter and Uranus, guaranteeing those extremes are related to power issues, individual and collective, personal as well as political.

The other significant bit of information about this seemingly endless Jupiter/Uranus opposition and its T-Square to Pluto is that it occurs at degrees that are related to astrological events in 2020.  Currently, Jupiter and Uranus have been opposing each other and holding steady between 20 and 23 degrees Libra/Aries. On January 12, 2020, Pluto will conjunct Saturn at 22 degrees Capricorn and that conjunction is within minutes of a square to the second exact Jupiter/Uranus opposition that takes place on March 3, 2017. The final exact opposition in this series of three Jupiter/Uranus contacts occurs on September 28, 2017, at 27 degrees Libra/Aries, which forms an exact square to the position of Pluto in the United States chart. (Yes…countries have birth charts.) More about the US Pluto Return over the course of the next several weeks.)

While this may seem like superfluous information at the moment, it is not. What is being set in motion during these months and leading up to September 28 has a direct impact on how the Pluto/Saturn conjunction of 2020 plays out and how the Pluto Return of the United States manifests; the exact Pluto Return is in 2022. Pluto/Saturn conjunctions are always about a new regime and most often that new regime is conservative. The Pluto/Saturn conjunction of 1982 brought us the Reagan Administration. The 1947 conjunction can be seen through the formation of the State of Israel and the ensuing conflict with Palestine. But this next conjunction is likely to break the pattern of conservatism, given that we are in a period of revolution against a radically conservative agenda, if that’s what you can call the Trump manifesto.

Of course, there is no way to predict what the next Pluto/Saturn conjunction will bring but chances are it will be directly related to current events, especially the great quickening to safeguard our planet, which so many are experiencing in reaction to Trump’s mendacious disregard of previous protective policies.

The eclipse this weekend also adds fuel to the fire of tumult and turmoil. Eclipses always reveal what’s been previously hidden, but because there have been so many surprises of late, it’s hard to isolate what’s due to the eclipse and what’s due to Jupiter/Uranus.

As always, the best way through the maze of current intensities is to hold fast to your Higher Power, whatever its name, and to let those principles align you with kindness and compassion toward your fellow travelers.

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

Aries March 21-April 19
It’s a process, and your challenge is to hold steady through what seems to be a constant and random flux that leaves you up one minute and down the next. Yes, it is bewildering but it is also a necessary phase, if only because it is galvanizing your commitment to find creative solutions to several pressing problems.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Certain conversations are necessary even if they are uncomfortable or painful. So rather than shy away from what has to be said, concentrate on how you can constructively convey your opinions. It takes a lot of energy to hide what you’re feeling, and while it’s not always easy to tell the truth, ultimately it makes life much easier.

Gemini May 21-June 21
This would be the appropriate moment to take stock of your finances with an eye toward figuring out how you can create better financial stability. I’m not suggesting you have anything to worry about. I am simply advising you to face your anxiety about money matters and find a strategy you can stick to.

Cancer June 22-July 22
You can blow your lid and try to shout down all your worries about what’s going to happen next. Or you can harness those feelings and use them to help you determine what it is you need to create for yourself to feel safe and secure. It’s not an easy choice because anger always feeds a momentary bliss. But it seldom provides a lasting solution.

Leo July 23-August 22
The focus is on relating, specifically how you relate to significant others, both personal and professional. Anticipate that if you’ve been holding back, you might have the urge to get it off your chest, but also anticipate that your partners may be experiencing the same need to clear the air. Either way, you can’t really lose, especially if you remember to be kind.

Virgo August 23-September 22
You are redefining your boundaries in an effort to build and maintain better interactions with others. This need to know where you end and another begins is not new—you’ve been wrestling with this issue for a while. This is simply another phase in that process and it promises to be quite effective and beneficial.

Libra September 23-October 22
It’s an extraordinary time and you’re doing your best to rise to the occasion even if that means dealing with stresses and strains you’d rather ignore. Be confident in your ability to handle all those obligations and still have the time to take care of your needs. I’m not saying it will be easy, but it can be done.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
It’s not that you aren’t interested in working—you are definitely ambitious—but you also have a strong desire to focus on your personal interests. Of course, you can do both, but figuring out how to prioritize your time and energy could be a problem. So take a deep breath, and give it some time and thought before you move ahead.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You can frame it as a financial crisis or you can look at it as a question of values, but either way, you’re feeling tremendous pressure to perform. I’m not suggesting that the stress isn’t real, but I am suggesting that you take a moment to really think about who is exerting that pressure. You may find it’s you—and that’s something you can actually change.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
I’m not sure how you can remedy the situation without putting the kibosh on just how much time you spend taking care of others. And while I know this might sound harsh, you may have to limit the time you spend taking care of others so that you have enough time to take care of yourself.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
This eclipse reveals previously hidden information about significant others, and while I’m not suggesting awful secrets or even a scandal, I am advising you to take a deep breath so you can take in these discoveries. Take your time digesting this information. There’s no need to impulsively move into action.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Be prepared for dreams and visions to deliver potent information that will help you solve several situations that have remained unresolved despite your best efforts to bring them to completion. These insights may not follow a straight line, so also be prepared to contemplate their symbols and metaphors so you can grasp their deepest messages.

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This article was originally published on February 9, 2017.