Aquarium Age

The Aquarium Age: January 18-24

By Ralfee Finn

So here we are—it’s another intense week of transition on Planet Earth. In just two days we will witness a new regime take power, a regime that seems hell-bent on returning to the days of yesteryear. It is possible to view this next phase as the last gasp of the old imperialist paradigm and its army of hungry ghosts—greedy, avaricious and disconnected beings—who relish in their ignorance of the abiding interconnectedness of all life, which is our true state of reality; hungry ghosts whose actions throughout history have decimated the indigenous populations of the world, devouring all available resources in an attempt to sate the insatiable appetite of their ignorance.

The Trump reign can be seen as an audacious attempt to cling to that historically mendacious ground. With little thought for their fellow travelers, they seem determined to not only dismantle every social safety net, but also to place the planet and all its inhabitants in jeopardy. Alas…those who have struggled to create awareness about the ultimate goodness of open hearts must endure the learning process of the unaware over the next several years. It won’t be easy—but turning the Karmic Wheel never is.

As if timed for the inauguration, the ongoing Jupiter/Uranus opposition continues to dial up intense mood swings, personal and political, individual as well as collective. As it did last week, the seesaw effect of this opposition disrupts and disturbs the regular routines of daily life. Also just like last week’s Full Moon, this week’s waning Moon continues to be the key to the ongoing tumult as it triggers the emotional extremes of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition. (For more explicit information about the Moon’s ongoing role, see last week’s column.)

Today and tomorrow, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter, in Libra, and both the Moon and Jupiter oppose Uranus, in Aries. The Moon represents the emotional body; Jupiter symbolizes expansiveness and excess; Libra signifies relationships of every denomination; and Uranus is the emblem of the revolutionary, with or without a cause. But as it happens, this week the cause is deep—it is personal and political. And even though the week’s politics are focused on the United States Presidential Inauguration, this inauguration is no longer local. The world grows increasingly small, especially when it comes to climate change, making all local politics global. From a collective perspective, the entire Moon/Jupiter/Uranus bundle begs the question: Is it possible to have a relationship with my country when I strongly disagree with its leaders? From the perspective of the individual, issues of personal freedom are paramount: Can I have a relationship with a significant other without losing my individuality?

But there’s a new thread to weave into the fabric of the week: On January 19 and 20, there’s a pernicious Mars/Saturn square that’s exact and separating, and the power of this fractious interaction is likely to turn things even more mean-spirited than they already are. Mars, as many know, is the principle of the warrior, ready and able to take a stand for what he believes in. Saturn signifies the ability to distill wisdom from experience, and while it is often understood as the great inhibitor, Saturn symbolizes structure as well as limitation—it’s the voice of reality. As these two forces clash, more violence is likely to occur in all those places where there’s already too much animosity—and that violence could just as easily be expressed through word as it can through deed. It also sets the tone for the Trump regime: vitriolic, pugnacious, and never quite stable.

For the last several years, I’ve been writing about the Uranus/Pluto squares and how, historically, the cycles of Uranus and Pluto highlight issues of social justice and movements that arise to find solutions to all issues of inequality, whether racial, gender, economic, religious, or simply human (as Ms. Streep so eloquently pointed out). Resistance to the movements for social justice is part of the process, and it’s important to recognize what gives rise to that resistance, because it is the next obstacle to overcome. Certainly, we’re in the thick of that resistance and all its consequences for the planet.

You may think that my condemnation of Mr. Trump and his cronies lacks compassion. As I have often written, compassion is not synonymous with permission or agreement. I can have compassion for someone who doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, but my compassion doesn’t condone harmful behavior. Normalizing what and who Mr. Trump represents won’t serve anyone, but it especially won’t serve all the people who will suffer as a result of the anger and ignorance that elected him. It also won’t serve the highest good of the planet to normalize the ignorance that fuels choices intended to turn back the clock. Too many beings will suffer from the choices he makes at this crucial moment in time and space.

Those committed to personal and planetary transformation will have to find new, positive and non-violent ways to counter his policies without losing the ground of kindness. It’s a huge task, but it can be done.

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

AriesMarch 21-April 19
Continue to take as many deep breaths as are needed to keep yourself on track. Yes…other people are hell (as Sartre said) and dealing with their mishegas is never easy. But you’ve got your own craziness to take care of. So rather than point a blaming finger, take responsibility and get on with it, one day at a time.

TaurusApril 20-May 20
Try to tread lightly this week. Don’t worry—nothing’s ‘wrong’ but everyone around you is likely to be more than a little touchy, and given that sensitive air, a light touch has the potential to work wonders. You don’t have to surrender your needs; you just have to consider the needs of others first.

Gemini May 21-June 21
You might have to step onto the battlefield, and although a confrontation could help clear the air, it might also leave a lingering bitterness, yours or your opponent’s. So rather than engage, see if there is a way to postpone the argument until the air is a little more conducive to compromise.

Cancer June 22-July 22
The friction plays out between your work/career responsibilities and your desire to be home and attending to personal matters. You don’t really have to choose one over the other—even if it feels like that at times. Prioritize your time and energy, and you’ll be able to strike a balance that works.

Leo July 23-August 22
The challenge is finding the discipline to stick with your creative endeavors despite the many distractions vying for your attention. I’m not suggesting you put on blinders and ignore the world (although that would work). I’m suggesting you dedicate a specific amount of time each day to your work.

VirgoAugust 23-September 22
Significant others, personal and professional, are likely to apply more than the ‘normal’ amount of pressure to convince you to make a greater contribution than you are already making. Go ahead…do more, if you think it will help. But don’t forget to replenish your reserves with time for self-care.

LibraSeptember 23-October 22
It sounds like the same old song, but it’s not, if only because you need to articulate all your concerns before going forward. You may think you know what you want and need, but successfully blending your desires with the desires of others requires complete authenticity.

ScorpioOctober 23-November 21
It is a fiscal challenge: Can you handle your existing resources well enough so that you don’t have to worry about what’s coming next? Don’t worry—I’m not predicting gloom and doom. I’m simply advising you to be aware of your spending habits so that you can move freely through your world.

SagittariusNovember 22-December 21
You may feel like you’re in a crowded house, but not necessarily because you’re living with lots of people. You’re being asked to define how you want to live and who you want to live with. You don’t have to make decisions right now. You simply need to contemplate what home really means to you.

CapricornDecember 22-January 19
Resist the temptation to brood over conversations that slid off the rails, and instead learn the necessary lessons and move on. This isn’t about being cavalier about the feelings of others. It’s about learning how to engage in meaningful conversation that’s truthful and kind.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Rather than worry about how others see you and their opinions about your behavior, take your own inventory. Acknowledge what needs to shift and then work on those issues. As you do, release the idea that something is wrong with you—you are a work in process and doing the best you can.

PiscesFebruary 19-March 20
You can argue all you like with the powers that be but no one has more authority over your choices than you. So if you don’t like the rules and regulations impeding your personal freedom, change them. I’m not suggesting anything illegal. I’m reminding you that you are not a victim.

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This article was originally published on January 20, 2017.