It’s not easy to write a column on September 11. It’s a day that still carries too much grief, especially here in New York City. The violence of that attack as well as the violence that has ensued since that day wearies the heart. The attacks of 9/11 shifted the center of cultural gravity. We do not live as we once did. And while there were terrorist attacks prior 9/11, and far too many lives had already been lost, for reasons that do not have to be explained, it became our reference point—our before and after.
Recently, an anchor on an early morning television show said that she was sure that everyone remembered where he or she was when Princess Diana died. It was, she said, the JFK moment of her generation. I was startled by her comment. First, that the assassination of a president can be characterized as a moment. But more importantly, her statement made it clear that the center of our cultural paradigm had tilted so much toward celebrity that Diana and JFK could be seen as equals. Don’t misunderstand—the princess was fabulous, and she did great work. But JFK was a world leader and his effect on more than one generation is incalculable. 9/11 would have been the correct equivalent.
So here we are, twelve years later, still reeling from the aftershocks of a new world order that is increasingly run by fundamentalists of every denomination, on every side. Pluto was in Sagittarius on 9/11, opposed by Saturn, in Gemini—a pernicious interaction characterized by fanaticism. Pluto transited Sagittarius from January 1995 through nearly the end of 2008, a journey that brought to light deep fundamentalists currents, currents that have always found their expression as dogma and literalism. Sagittarius symbolizes spiritual pursuits, as well as religious and philosophical traditions; its domain is the search for meaning and truth; its shadow is the fear and the uncertainty that meaning cannot be found. Sagittarius is where we realize that there are many truths—perhaps too many to offer comfort and certainty in the midst of the chaos of existence.
Ultimately, Sagittarius, with its arrows aimed high, urges us to realize that each of us must know our own hearts and minds in order to arrive at the existential certainty we so desperately seek; each of us must seek the reconciliation of heart and mind, body and soul. As Pluto transited Sagittarius, religious fundamentalism—”the one way and one way only” antidote to existential despair—could no longer tolerate the increasing awareness of the diversity of our planet.
Saturn was in Gemini on September 11, 2001, and its placement in the Sign of information and communication can be seen as the symbol of that diversity. Saturn symbolizes structure and limitation. While it can be argued that the “information highway” was already gaining momentum, from a practical point of view, it was still in its early stages. The complexity of what the Internet would become as well as what it would reveal about us was still (and some might argue is still) to be seen. Saturn’s journey through Gemini from August 2000 through June 2003 laid bare the potential of cyberspace to shift systems. On 9/11, as Saturn and Pluto faced-off, the planes came crashing down and with them the systems through which we previously delineated our diverse worlds.
Of course, we grieve the lives lost on that day. But we also grieve the lives lost everywhere that ignorance prevails and fundamentalism, in its efforts to find certainty destroys the wisdom of diversity.
This week, we are in the wake of a Mars/Saturn square, an interaction that also represents violence. The influence of this configuration often hardens hearts toward others but it also can manifests as bitter self-judgment. Rather than devolve into a litany of all that’s wrong with you or someone else, let go. Relieve your inner fundamentalist of its dogmatic insistence on being right. Listen to your opposition. You don’t have to agree with what’s being said, but you also don’t have to react out of fear.
Being non-reactive won’t be easy, especially when it comes to issues of personal and political freedom, because this week, as Mars pulls out of its square to Saturn, it also trines Uranus, a combination known to feed the need for freedom even if that means overriding the freedom of others with sheer brute force. Notice where you want to dominate and control the situation simply to have your own way. And be careful of self-righteous rationalization. People often accuse those who support non-violence as being overly idealistic; dreamers, John Lennon would say. But violence only begets violence, a lesson it seems we almost always fail to learn. Some will argue that violence is simply a component of human nature. That may be true. But so are kindness, compassion, and love.
If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that, too.
Aries March 21-April 19
There’s no room for “enforcement” this week. Just be precise in your communication with significant others, and even if they cannot reciprocate with equal clarity, avoid being judgmental.
Taurus April 20-May 20
Take a deep breath, gather your strength, and repeat this process as many times as it takes to ground you in the truth of your heart. While this phase isn’t easy, it is a necessary piece of learning to honor your intuition.
Gemini May 21-June 21
You won’t be able to hold back, so rather than waste precious energy attempting the impossible, focus on channeling your intensity into projects that need attention and energy.
Cancer June 22-July 22
There’s no need to be mean spirited with others because you are afraid you won’t have enough. I’m not suggesting you give everything away, but I am advising you to consider the true value of generosity.
Leo July 23-August 22
Try not to let anxiety motivate you to make choices you might later regret. Yes…there are real issues to confront and transform. But it’s essential to say “no” to self-depreciating hypercritical self-judgment.
Virgo August 23-September 22
Inner torment will not produce the result you are looking for. Find a positive outlet for your anger and anxiety. Be willing to explore all the possibilities from therapy to ballroom dancing.
Libra September 23-October 22
While your finances need attention, the real emphasis is on identifying your true and ultimate value. Remember, the material world is transitory. Find the resources that will sustain a connection to a higher, ultimate power.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
You can muscle your way through difficulties and run the risk of overpowering others as you meet your own needs. Or you can find the determination to create inclusive solutions that meet the needs of the many.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Channel your intensity into creative endeavors and you will relieve a tremendous amount of internal turmoil and stress. I am not suggesting this as the solution to all that ails, but it will offer temporary relief.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
Make “spontaneity” your magic mantra and you’ll avoid the pitfall of relying on habits that no longer serve. At the start, you may feel uncomfortable, but as you gain momentum, you’ll enjoy the freedom.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
A shift in your professional alignment could be financially beneficial. So pay attention to where you are resistant to change, and then consider the possibility that you are holding on simply for the comfort of the familiar.
Pisces February 19-March 20
While a solution might seem simple that doesn’t mean that the effort it takes to implement that vision is easy. So don’t despair if it takes time actualizing the ideal. Remember…the process matters more than the outcome.
A Special Note to Readers:
While I was on vacation from the Aquarium Age, I thought a lot about whether I want to continue writing the column each week. I actually added up the words that comprise seventeen years of weeklies and monthlies and it’s somewhere around 1,100,000 words. That’s a lot of words, especially about the same subject. It is not surprising that over the last couple of years I would often find myself writing and thinking, “Didn’t I say that already? I must have.” And I’m sure I have repeated myself far too many times to count.
I have loved writing this column and I have loved how it has written me. Finding ways to express the esoteric through a practical, human framework accelerated my understanding of how to do that in my own life. And I am thankful for that.
I am also thankful for you. The readers of the Aquarium Age are smart, conscious, concerned, and kind human beings who are making an effort to surf the seas of conscious living here on Planet Earth. We are of the same tribe. And I am grateful to have my efforts so well received over the years.
I thought I should stop writing the column. I felt I had run out of things to say—and I may have actually exhausted my creative resources on a weekly astral weather report. I have a slew of reasons, all completely valid, as to why I should stop. But my heart is still too close to the column to let go. So I decided to follow my own advice, advice I am sure I’ve repeated over these many years, and listen to my heart.
So I have reached a compromise position. I will continue to write, but only if I can stretch my creative boundaries to see what satisfies my craving for creative freedom. I will continue to write the column, but not always in the same format. Sometimes I will omit the advice for individual Signs and other times, I might make the entire column Sun Sign advice. And occasionally, I will write a monthly instead of a weekly and take some time off. I’ll simply see how the muse moves me.
I hope you will continue to enjoy the information shared on these pages.
My very best to all the readers of the Aquarium Age….
Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-888-937-9264, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2013 by Ralfee Finn