The challenge for the next couple of weeks and maybe even months is how to handle our awareness of the intensifying intensity brewing almost everywhere—it’s simply impossible to ignore. The constant blare is a psychic assault that few of us are able to endure. It is the source of an undermining sense of futility that many fellow travelers don’t know how to slough off. This week, my instinct is to call on the ghosts of revolutions past to be present for the next many months—even years—as Planet Earth decides its evolutionary path. (We could actually use a little help, at least until the ET Intervention—and they are really taking their time.)
Searching the Internet for names that might inspire, I came across the most commonly referenced iconic leaders—Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Che Guevara, and of course, recently resurrected from almost total obscurity to become a modern cultural icon, Alexander Hamilton. What was particularly striking about the results was the absence of women whose names are familiar as revolutionaries. To find any, I had to Google “famous female revolutionaries.” Of course there are the usual iconic names—Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Simone de Beauvoir, Margaret Sanger, Betty Friedan, and Frieda Kahlo, but unless you’re willing to dig, you won’t find many others and they won’t be household names. I know there are many women who have broken barriers, achieved greatness, and changed the world, but hardly any women are categorized at the same level as men; because of the way our world has turned, most female revolutionaries are defined by their fight for women’s liberation.
We are in the midst of a revolution (which is why I am looking for guidance from experienced leaders), and while the planets are making that perfectly clear, you don’t really need astrology to know that the world is changing. Nothing is as it was and nothing will ever be the same again. Capitalism is clutching to whatever it can at whatever the cost, hoping to secure its antiquated ideology by continuing to enslave and exploit. Communism has given way to consumerism and in the process lost it altruistic gloss. Republicans in the United States are becoming extinct at the same rapid rate as other endangered species. And Democrats are growing balls—but mostly the women, which is why I was searching for female leaders of revolutions past.
A prediction: the leaders of our current revolution will be women, and as they shift the paradigm of political power, they will become the household names of the future. One of the secrets of feminine power is that it includes, not through denial, ignorance, or fear but through knowing that a true revolution embraces everyone. Be careful not to mistake that wisdom for acquiescence—there’s nothing compliant about a mother protecting her young, and it is clearly up to women to protect younger generations from a bleak future.
A Mars/Saturn square is one of the astral configurations at the core of this week’s intensities. Mars represents physical energy—it’s the muscle of the physical body and it represents the ability to take a stand; this is why it also symbolizes the warrior. Mars is currently in Aries, which amplifies its fighting spirit. Saturn delineates every type of boundary through its assumption of authority, and when that authority clashes with the need to assert, lots of folks feel the need to display their might by fighting for what they believe is right. Ugh is my first response to this square because the last thing we need is more violence in our already too-violent world.
That being said, sometimes it’s better to take a stand than to retreat into passivity, and because there’s no correct way to handle the intensity of this square, each of us must decide how to align and what action to take. While Mars square Saturn was exact on Monday, we’re still in the separation phase, which is often more intense; and that phase lingers until January 29. Choose your causes wisely and your brawls with even more discernment because it’s very easy for skirmishes started under this influence to balloon into full-scale battles all too quickly.
That quick trigger is exacerbated by an even more pernicious influence: a Mars/Pluto square that begins on Friday, January 25, is exact and separating on February 1, and sticks around until February 9. This square picks up where the Mars/Saturn square left off and is certain to exacerbate tension everywhere there is a standoff or power struggle, individual or collective. Brexit and the U.S. government shutdown are the best examples of the latter; we can only hope that the influence of Mars squaring Saturn and then Pluto doesn’t erupt into violent demonstrations or military action too.
As Jupiter trines Mars, it supports all sorts of Martian endeavors, which unfortunately might make it a little harder to avoid conflict—Jupiter expands and enhances everything it touches. But on a positive note, this trine has the potential and power to light all kinds of good fires—when it is in a positive union with Mars, we often feel as if we are super charged with energy and purpose, which makes it possible to climb almost any mountain.
For my money, we need to climb the mountain of peace, and while it may take a long time to reach the summit, it’s still a worthy journey. The first step is stopping your internal wars. Identify where you are struggling with yourself and do something about it. Learn about the nature of your own mind. The second step is noticing where you are projecting onto others and taking positive steps to neutralize those battle zones. The next step is to practice peace wherever you go. There are ways to end violence; we just need to implement those tools as we interact with our fellow travelers.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
Anything is possible, especially if you can channel your Martian impulses into positive action. Refuse to be resentful, belligerent, or intolerant—three of those Disney Dwarfs that tend to stay hidden but still have the power to undermine efforts to create peace. Instead, find a way to communicate your vision and intention through action that empowers and encourages others to do the same.
Taurus April 20-May 20.
Your mind is moving at a rapid pace but that doesn’t mean every thought is worth acting on, especially if some of those thoughts are driven by grudges you just can’t seem to shake. Rather than indulge harsh feelings, find a way to transform that powerful mental energy into positive action. If necessary, consider some short-term therapy to unpack the problem and neutralize it.
Gemini May 21-June 21
You can spend your time arguing with people about the way things should be, or you can roll up your sleeves and get to work implementing your ideas. Yes, there will be authority figures to deal with, but if you’re clear about what it is you want to create and how you want to create it, you’ll find far fewer obstacles strewn across your path than you are currently encountering.
Cancer June 22-July 22
The key to diffusing tensions with significant others, personal and professional is fully devoting yourself to your vision. Don’t confuse this with an obsequious attitude that hopes to soothe opposition through agreement. It’s important to take your stand, but to take it in a way that promotes a Higher Love. Be true to what matters most to you and others will follow your lead.
Leo July 23-August 22
True healing of the heart often requires a period of mourning—you have to grieve for what’s lost before you can move forward. Give yourself the time you need to acknowledge and appreciate your disappointment—just don’t linger there too long. Instead, give yourself permission to move forward. Of course it won’t be easy letting go, but it will be well worth it.
Virgo August 23-September 22
Rather than being pulled in several directions simultaneously spend a moment getting clear about where you want to move forward and why. Once you have a clear idea of what you would like to create, devise a strategy that allows you to channel your efforts into that vision. If you are clear about how best to spend your energy, you won’t waste any on useless fights that fail to serve a greater good.
Libra September 23-October 22
Once again it’s a relationship challenge, as you attempt to create an emotional equilibrium that allows everyone you interact with to feel powerful while at the same time maintaining your own sense of power. This is no easy feat and few accomplish it. But if you’re willing to acknowledge your limitations, you’ll find healthy boundaries that empower everyone.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
It’s all about how to communicate: it’s not the content, although that’s important; it’s the tone of delivery that determines everything, including forward motion. Take a moment to reflect on how to present an upbeat message, even if you are worried and uncertain about the outcome. It’s like that old cliché: you can catch more flies with honey. Speak your truth with the intention to heal.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Your mind is on love, as Jupiter and Venus stir a passionate desire for romance, but you’re worried about what it might cost to pursue those feelings. Always say yes to love in your own heart. Your feelings may not be mutual but even that is okay. Simply allow yourself to feel—it’s good for the heart—and emotional integrity will eventually lead you to the joy of shared affection.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
On the one hand, you like being in a leadership position because it satisfies your desire to be an expert. Yet on the other hand, some family members and friends could find your assumption of authority disturbing because it challenges the existing dynamics. It is possible to quell some of their anxieties, especially if you are willing to find the solid ground of peaceful compromise.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
Try not to let careless words, yours or others’, ignite an internal conflagration that steals all your mental might. Yes, harsh words were spoken and yes, they can’t be taken back. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay mired in hurt feelings or painful regret. Here’s some help: If you’re the one who used your words as weapons, apologize, and if you received the blows, forgive.
Pisces February 19-March 20
Rather than devolve into petty disputes about whose contribution is greater, concentrate on knowing the value of your participation. Just be aware that there are other participants who have an equally important role to play, so rather than resent their presence, welcome it. If you keep the bigger picture in mind, you’ll establish a healthy environment where everyone flourishes.