Aquarium Age, Blogs

The Aquarium Age: March 11-17

By Ralfee Finn

Nervous systems are likely to grow increasingly twitchy this week, as Uranus and Pluto form their seventh and final square on March 16, turning up the heat on the caldron of change—personal and collective—and bringing it to a roiling boil. We’ve been in the unrelenting grip of this fractious interaction since spring 2012, and so much has shifted during the last three years that it’s impossible to deem any one event as emblematic of the entire cycle or to deem this last contact as the most significant.

We usually feel the brunt of any pernicious planetary interaction as the planets separate out of exact contact, which means the days following this final square are likely to be even more intense than the days leading up to it. But because we are also in the shadow of a solar eclipse that occurs on March 20, we may already be feeling the full force of Uranus/Pluto because an eclipse effect can be felt six weeks before and/or after the actual event. All of this activity coalesces into the probability that very few of our fellow travelers will be able to handle the stress and strain gracefully—for most, it’s just too much to cope with. Try to be kind to each other, please, especially to children, who tend to experience these astral pressures more keenly than grownups. And by the way, pets also tend to feel the intensity, so don’t be surprised if the dogs are restless and the cats are way more fussy than usual.

Uranus symbolizes invention, innovation, and insurrection. Pluto signifies death and rebirth. Squares represent friction. And certainly that entire bundle describes “the condition our condition is in.” Those born in the first two weeks of the Cardinal Signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—were hardest hit by this series of squares. (Folks who are aware of their personal birth charts and who have the Moon or other planets at the early degrees of the Cardinal Signs have also felt the harsh brunt of this configuration.) And while it’s true that not everyone has suffered—some have even flourished under the influence of these squares—all of us have been subject to ongoing social/global issues in need of viable solutions, solutions that require all of us to participate in creating new paradigms for our collective survival.

Planetary patterns are cyclical—the planets move in fixed orbits, and because of that, just as history repeats itself, so do significant astral signatures. This is what makes it possible to make predictions. Of course, predictions aren’t always accurate because while the patterns are repetitive, the circumstances they occur in are not exactly the same. Reactions or responses, individual or collective, are dependent upon a multitude of factors. Nevertheless, it’s possible to observe historical trends and from those trends to see patterns of planetary influence.

The repetitive cycles of Uranus/Pluto signal times of social upheaval. Human rights, civil rights, gender rights, labor rights and all the many movements for social justice take center stage during Uranus/Pluto phases. For example, the conjunction that started the squares we are currently experiencing began in the mid-Sixties, when Uranus and Pluto formed a conjunction in Virgo that was exact in l965-1966 and separating during the Summer of Love in 1967. The Selma March on March 7, 1965 took place under the influence of a Uranus/Pluto conjunction. In that chart, Mars was retrograde, opposite the Sun, and moving into a conjunction with Pluto and Uranus, a strong indication of the potential for violence. Unfortunately, the chart for the final Uranus/Pluto square has Mars separating out of a conjunction with Uranus and a square to Pluto, a similar signature, with the same indications for violence.

Mars signifies the warrior, and for the last week or so it has been moving into a conjunction with Uranus and a square to Pluto, both of which are exact and separating today. From a personal perspective, expect to be agitated about a wide variety of issues. From a collective perspective, as Mars continues to ignite the revolutionary spirit, we’re likely to see even more violence in all those places that are already rife with egregious conditions.

When Gandhi broke an unjust law by making salt on April 6, 1930, an act of defiance that challenged the British Empire, Uranus was in Aries. Pluto was in Cancer, almost exactly opposite its current position in Capricorn. The Dharasana Salt March and the violence by the police against the satyagrahis (those trained in non-violent resistance) brought the struggle for India’s independence to the world’s attention. Gandhi called non-violent resistance satyagraha, which can be translated as “truth force”, a philosophy that profoundly affected Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as Nelson Mandela. Gandhi knew that the means never justifies the ends; he understood that every action plants a seed, a seed that holds the blueprint for what will grow. If you sow the seeds of violence, you will only harvest more violence. Thus, for revolution to truly work it had to occur through the soul-force of truth.

It’s always a good choice to apply the soul-force of truth to every situation—it makes us better humans to answer to a higher imperative. These next weeks and even months are the perfect time to make satyagraha a part of your personal process. The world wobbles less when we hold onto what matters most.

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

Aries March 21-April 19
Patience, Grasshopper—it is all finally moving in the “right” direction. But that doesn’t translate into “your” direction. You still need to allow the situation to unfold in its own time and on its own terms. Continue to lead your team with intelligence and compassion, and you won’t be disappointed in the outcome.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Pay attention to what you are fixated on, if only because that will be the next step in your personal work. Yes, the intensity of your internal dialogue could weigh you down or cause you to make decisions just to relieve the tension. But if you stay clear about what needs your attention, you’ll not only get through this phase—you’ll emerge victorious.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Even if the situation feels out of control, that doesn’t mean that you can’t play a positive role in the outcome. Apply your innate mental dexterity to the problem(s) and use that skill to discern what needs immediate attention and what needs to transform over time.

Cancer June 22-July 22
You can devolve in a tantrum over what should or could have been done, or you can focus on how to bring greater clarity to the overall situation, especially those areas that involve partnership and teamwork. Yes, I am suggesting that you lead, but I am also suggesting that the best solution is inviting others to contribute.

Leo July 23-August 22
Use this time to gather your strength, not because you are in any danger, but because over the next several weeks you will be asked to integrate, apply, and coordinate all the wisdom you’ve gathered over the last several years. Sounds like a gigantic task, but you’re more than ready to be a positive example for others.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Maintain the broadest possible perspective on all that’s occurring and you’ll find the stamina to make it through a wide range of changes. I’m not suggesting this process is easy, but the right view will hold you steady on your course—and that will have exponential benefit.

Libra September 23-October 22
It’s been a long haul—three years of relationship “challenges” that have rocked your world to its core. You’re in the final stretch, and while I can’t guarantee that the intensity is over, I can tell you that it’s lessening. Over time you will feel the relief of having your internal as well as external equilibrium restored.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
You’re redefining yourself through a personal revolution of how you spend your day-to-day as well as how you participate in the world through work and service. Some of that process is about simply taking care of your wellbeing, but a larger part is about how you care for others.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
It continues to be an issue of worth, and whether you measure your worth through material means or through self-confidence is up to you. But here’s a hint: Money matters, but a true evaluation of who you are as a human being is not dependent on your bank balance. Be true to yourself by honoring your gifts and talents.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
You have my sympathy, not because I feel sorry for you, but because it hasn’t been an easy ride—and with Pluto in your Sign, it’s hard to imagine that it would be a laugh-riot. But (and this is a big but) over the next several weeks, there will be real opportunities to catch your breath, and that will be a relief.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
The conversations continue, and even if you find yourself repeating yourself, don’t worry. The overwhelming dissonance in the air has actually made it difficult for people to hear what’s being said. So…very few people will actually notice that it’s the same story, and some of what’s being discussed really needs to be reinforced.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Read Sagittarius, above, and add this: You’ve been confronting issues of self-worth for the last three years, and while some of that has played out as financial issues, the majority of this process is about coming into a greater awareness of the value of your inner resources.

Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-212-222-3232, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2015 by Ralfee Finn

This article was originally published on March 14, 2015.