Aquarium Age, Blogs

Aquarium Age: September 5-11

By Ralfee Finn

The sky is busy this week and as the planets arrange themselves in a variety of planetary patterns, the regular routines of daily life reflect their astral diversity, so don’t be surprised if you feel pulled in several directions simultaneously. A strong creative flow infuses the days and nights with inspiration, as does an equally strong impulse toward romance, while underneath it all an even stronger current of grounded determination underscores efforts made toward tangible goals. Use this week and the next couple of weeks to breathe vitality into all your aspirations. Remember, the next several weeks are the only retro-free zones until the second week in December, so now is the time you’ve been waiting for.

A Venus/Uranus opposition is the source of creative as well as romantic impulses. It’s in effect now, exact and separating on September 12, and ending on September 19. Oppositions signify tension, but tension can be a great stimulant for creative process and/or sexual attraction, so enjoy this creative and romantic quickening even if it feels a little prickly. And as I always advise with Venus/Uranus contacts, also keep in mind that these attractions can dissipate quite quickly when the astral contact is over. From a creative perspective, even if you don’t have time to execute all your ideas, keep track of them. You can always work on them later. From a romantic perspective, try not to make impulsive commitments you might later regret.

The grounded energy of the week is attributable to a Saturn/Uranus trine. Saturn, in Capricorn, goes direct tomorrow, ending a retrograde that began in April, and as Saturn moves forward, we move into an even deeper Capricornian mood—serious, sober, and somber about almost every issue. Saturn’s forward motion also infuses a new level of determination to get any and all jobs done, no matter what it takes. Uranus is now retrograde, retracing its first foray into Taurus that began on May 15. It retrogrades back into Aries on November 6, Election Day in the United States, and stays there until March 6, 2019, when it reenters Taurus. I’m not sure how to interpret this Uranian move back into Aries on that particular day—the only thing I am sure of is that there will be lots of surprises no matter what the pundits, political or otherwise, predict. A Saturn/Uranus trine is a determined combination of energies that can be aimed at difficult tasks because it supports endurance and perseverance. But be aware, as Uranus goes through the first degrees of Taurus, we will be looking back on what transpired over the summer of our discontent, which will engender plenty of temptation to redo what might have already been overdone.

Mercury moves into Virgo today, where it immediately forms a trine to both Saturn and Uranus, turning this already positive partnership into a Grand Trine in Earth, heightening its already positive influence. Because Mercury moves quickly, this Grand Trine doesn’t last long—just barely until September 10—but it is nonetheless powerful enough to stimulate clear, level-headed thinking. And that would be a welcome relief.

A Sun/Pluto trine also begins this week. (I told you it was busy!) This enterprising partnership is exact and separating on September 11, but its effect continues until September 18. Sun/Pluto contacts are always about power, so try to be aware of how you hold your own. Are you domineering? Understated? Do you delegate well? Use this intense interaction to make progress toward refining your personal power, but be careful how you wield that power, particularly when it comes to managing others.

The ongoing Jupiter/Pluto sextile is exact on September 12, and even though this is a positive interaction, it doesn’t necessarily manifest benignly. Jupiter/Pluto contacts feed an appetite for power that’s so strong it could convince you to grab power, no matter what the cost, without considering the consequences. It could also trick you into thinking that you have more power than you actually do. Try not to pay too much attention to any man or woman behind any curtain or on any screen that inflates your ego and urges you to displays of power that might cause harm to others. Instead, trust in your own common sense, and if you don’t have any—and some of us don’t—try not to give your power away to a snake-oil salesman whose promises sound impossible, because they are.

Mars hits 0° Aquarius—again—on September 10, and that’s likely to translate into even more information about the 2016 presidential election and the Russian efforts to corrupt it. It’s impossible to imagine that more could be revealed—but that’s seemed impossible for quite some time and it hasn’t stopped the flow of revelations.

It’s too bad we can’t binge-watch the entire Trump World debacle instead of having to live through it. Simply going to the final episode to find out what happens and then going back and watching how the pieces fit together would spare us so much misery. I continue to feel as if I’m living in some strange, alternate universe—a nightmare, really—where the heartless have taken over, committing atrocity after atrocity, while the rest of us are forced to watch in “real” time—no fast-forward or final episode available because it has yet to be created. I guess that’s part of the reason daily life feels so ponderous. And this nightmare is not just occurring in the United States. It’s happening all over, as part of some massive catharsis of fear and hatred—a healing process we must go through before we can move into a much more conscious, peaceful way of life. Even better than binge-watching would be the ability to identify now how this horrible period helps us to right Planet Earth—our precious spaceship—and get back in touch with spiritual value systems that honor all life everywhere.

One more thing: On September 11, the Moon will conjunct Mercury’s position from that same day in 2001—there are other transits, but none as emotionally poignant. Many of our fellow travelers can recall exactly where we were on that day, one that lingers because it changed the world irrevocably. From an astrological perspective, 9/11 was an event that correlated to a Saturn/Pluto opposition—the midpoint of a cycle that began in 1982. In approximately 16 months, we will begin another Saturn/Pluto cycle. One of the ways to make sense of the insanity of your current situation is to see it as the culmination of events set in motion under the previous conjunction of 1982, events that came to a head in 2001. As we make crucial decisions in these next several months, decisions that will influence the next evolutionary phase of our planet, let’s make compassion one of the guiding principles. Compassion doesn’t need financing. Compassion is free because it is the true terrain of every heart, and it’s a place we all need to inhabit.

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

Aries March 21-April 19
As Saturn moves forward in your Solar House of career, you move forward with increased determination to accomplish specific tasks. While you’re always ready to conquer unexplored territory, before your schedule gets filled with the excitement of new projects, be sure to include tackling and finishing projects already in motion because they will also promote new growth.

Taurus April 20-May 20
As Saturn goes direct in your Solar House of global expansion you’re likely to experience a surge of wanderlust that will have you organizing expeditions to foreign lands. Part of this phase is an increased curiosity about other cultures, especially their beliefs and spiritual practices. If you can’t physically get there, don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to explore online.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Saturn Direct is an invitation to put aside any despair about failure, personal or professional, and to concentrate instead, on what steps you can take to strengthen your self-confidence. This phase is fundamentally about finding an attitude that allows growth, the kind that has the power to help you find new and improved tools for personal transformation.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Saturn moves forward in your Solar House of relationship, and as it gathers forward momentum you could find yourself reviewing all your alliances, especially those with significant others, personal or professional. This isn’t necessarily about ending those partnerships, although that could be a by-product; it’s about strengthening the foundation of your existing relationships.

Leo July 23-August 22
Saturn Direct intensifies the need to put improved methods of self-care into a practical plan so these necessary parts of your life can become habits rather than ideals. Yes, I am talking about exercise, meditation, and other ways that you can take care of yourself as you deal with increased responsibilities in the work place, but also in the world in general.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Saturn’s forward motion has the power to turn certain situations around, but only if you’re willing to assume a new perspective, one that enables you to take in a 360° view of the various situations that need a more grounded approach. Be aware, this new view is about revealing what needs to be built on solid ground so that your efforts eventually culminate in tangible results.

Libra September 23-October 22
Saturn moves forward in the deepest part of your Solar chart, initiating a process that’s all about family and creating an environment where you and your loved ones feel safe and secure. This does not have to be an external process only—even if you’re single or your family isn’t around, Saturn’s strength can help you build a secure center, inside and out.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Saturn’s forward motion follows on the heels of Mars’ recent exploration of the regular routines of daily life, stimulating an increased urge for conversation and dialogue with friends and family, specifically about how to plan for the future. Some of these discussions are sure to focus on money and how to plan financially, but the most important topic is how to keep the conversation going.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Saturn goes direct in your Solar House of personal resources, putting the emphasis on value, and while that does mean m-o-n-e-y, it also means your reservoirs of self-esteem and self-confidence. Although some of Saturn’s demands may seem unreasonable—it’s going to insist on a stronger work ethic, among other things—the results will ultimately be quite satisfying.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Saturn’s forward motion is about you coming into a sense of your personal power—a balanced sense that includes knowing your limits as well as having the courage to stretch those boundaries, if and when appropriate. There’s no need to worry about when or how you will experience this phase. You’re already in it, so take a deep breath and carefully consider and plan your next steps.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Saturn is the ballast to your Martian spacecraft—Mars is in your Sign—providing much-needed sobriety as you move forward into an incredibly busy phase. The only obstacle to Saturn’s seriousness is a tendency to worry about what’s been as well as what lies ahead. Avoid the temptation to brood by concentrating on walking your talk—if you’re authentic, everything will fall into place organically.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Saturn Direct sparks a desire for community activity that could result in you making a deeper commitment to leadership. This commitment doesn’t have to become a full-time job, although I wouldn’t rule out running for office within your favorite organization or even in a political race. What’s important is your involvement because it demonstrates your passion.

This article was originally published on September 6, 2018.