After getting used to the new environment, Sun and Venus together encounter both Jupiter and Saturn. Though meetings with Jupiter tend to be grand and fun, especially while he is in Leo, as he is now, this meeting is somewhat challenging, as the Sun and Venus were square to Jupiter from their position in Scorpio. (Venus squared Jupiter on Nov 9, and the Sun squared Jupiter on Nov 13.) Jupiter can spout beautiful promises of adventure, triumph, and opulence, and it is certainly tempting. But even while listening to Jupiter’s glorious visions, Sun and Venus see Saturn just ahead on their path and pause with trepidation. Before taking Jupiter’s extravagant leap of faith, we are meant to have a dose of reality checking, thanks to our elder Saturn’s time-tested wisdom. (Venus was conjunct Saturn on Nov 12, and the Sun will be conjunct Saturn on Nov 18.) Saturn knows what he’s talking about. He has seen it all before and is here to remind us of the mistakes, risks, and dangers we could run into if we do not proceed with caution. He means well and wants us to succeed in our endeavors, but he is stern sometimes… We are fortunate to have this balanced perspective right now as we go forth on the path.

However, to really know a person, in a deep sense, and what it means to have a combination of particular planets in particular signs and houses with particular aspects, it takes time and keen observation. That is why I like working with people for a series of sessions over a period of time. We can go so much deeper into personality, life, or relationship dynamics, all of which the chart will illustrate in perfect fashion. Yet it takes time to unravel those mysteries written in a symbolic language. Like any relationship, it takes time and participation with someone to get to know them beyond the surface appearances or presentation. The same is true in a relationship between a counselor and a client and between an astrologer and a chart. 

The exact hits:

Sep 25: Jupiter trine Uranus

Oct 5: Mars trine Uranus

Oct 8: Mars trine Jupiter

(As an aside, I am especially thinking about my Leo rising friends who had Jupiter going through their 12th house for the last year, expanding their “troubles” [Jupiter tends to increase everything, not just the positive]. In actuality the 12th house is only “trouble” for the ego. In the 12th house we are forced to face karmic debts, look at repressed hurts and undeveloped parts of the self, and transcend personal desires and attachments. Focusing on spiritual pursuits and tuning into the Oneness is one of the purposes of the 12th house. Another is to offer a span for the completion of life lessons. Wonderful in theory but it’s usually a relief to have respite from 12th house work, which often goes unseen and unappreciated, and can even be hidden from oneself. Now, Leo rising people will have Jupiter in their 1st house over the next year, offering a new beginning and expanding their sense of self, so that will feel quite different from the 12th house transit.) 

The Sun opposed Pluto on Jul 4th and squared Uranus on Jul 8th, once again triggering the life-changing Uranus/Pluto Square that started in 2012 and won’t complete until 2015 (I have written a lot about this in other posts, so I’m not going to focus on it here).Then the Sun squared Mars on Jul 19th. For the preceding week while this aspect was building, and for a few days after, irritability and impatience could be high, especially for Cancer and Libra people, yet this same aspect also lends the energy, enthusiasm, and readiness to plunge into action as needed.

Saturn in Scorpio and Uranus in Aries are quincunx for the whole month of July, but this aspect peaks on Jul 20th & 21st. Saturn and Uranus are very different energies — Saturn, being the old man father archetype who demands hard work, discipline, tradition, structure, precaution, practicality, and doing things by the book. Uranus, on the other hand is the wild card of the gods — associated with unpredictable, sudden, lightning bolt change, with a quick and brilliant spirit. Uranus seeks freedom at all costs no matter how shocking to the system and the old framework... The quincunx is an aspect that represents a relationship that is not in harmony, yet not in conflict either. Rather it is one in which there is no grounds for connection at all. The quincunx is where we must learn to make colossal adjustments so that we expand beyond the perspective that we are identified with and the modus operandi we are accustomed to. In this case, the quincunx is between the signs of Scorpio and Aries. A mitigating factor is that both signs are ruled by Mars, which gives the two archetypes some common ground. Yet their ways of expressing the warrior energy is what contributes to the disparateness between them. Aries represents Mar’s diurnal face — a direct and visible approach. Whereas Scorpio represents Mar’s nocturnal face — an undercover, concealed approach. The archetypes of Saturn and Uranus already correlate with two very different agendas and motivations within us, and now a quincunx is also in the mix. So right now it might feel especially difficult to reconcile the different functions of Saturn and Uranus (and Scorpio and Aries). Nevertheless by recognizing the value of both, we support the unfoldment of the the long-term process of reconciliation.

Saturn turns direct on Jul 20th while Uranus turns retrograde on Jul 21st. When a planet is retrograde, its qualities are more subtle, less apparent, and more turned inward instead of manifesting outwardly. This suggests that when Saturn was retrograde (since the beginning of March) and Uranus was direct, the need for freedom had the upper hand, whereas the need for security was more subdued. But now that Saturn will be direct, and Uranus will be retrograde (for the next 5 months), the need for security and stability could gain the upper hand, whereas the urge for freedom could be more subordinated.

On Jul 22nd Mercury opposes Pluto, and on Jul 24th Mercury squares Uranus (two pretty stressful aspects), but then trines Saturn (a flowing aspect). There is a potential for severe mental agitation, dark thoughts, and sudden outbursts over these days, along with huge opportunities for positive transformation and breakthroughs. As they say in Psychosynthesis, the more we can tolerate becoming aware of the lower unconscious (suffering, conflict, turmoil, etc.), the more easily we can access the higher unconscious (healing, beauty. bliss, etc.). These aspects are very motivating to practice self-empathy by getting in touch with underlying feelings and needs, and self-empowerment by setting and sticking to good boundaries and healthy limits. It’s hard work but the more we can do this for ourselves the more we can experience peace and practice compassion in our relationships with others.

There are other notable transits in July, such as Mars entering Scorpio on July 25th, after being in Libra for an inordinate amount of time (since Dec 2013), but this is enough for one blog!! Thanks for reading. :-) 

For instance, Leo (fire) and Scorpio (water) are both fixed and square one another. So they can both be stubborn, which can create problems, but they are also both known to be loyal, another fixed quality. That may actually create a deeper harmony than is typically attributed to signs that are square. In contrast, Leo and Aries (both fire) are trine and may be in the comfort zone together in their fiery, enthusiastic, and spirited temperaments. Yet, Leo is fixed and Aries is cardinal, so on the one hand the difference in qualities may compliment one another — for example, Aries will start something new and Leo with keep it going. But the difference in qualities may also be a point of contention — for example, Aries will be onto the next adventure while Leo is still attached to the old one. 

Another example is Gemini (air) and Pisces (water). They are both mutable and square one another, so they might both be so changeable that there is no solid ground on which to stand. Yet on the other hand, they also both share an openness to all walks of life, adapting as necessary; Gemini is curious about all and Pisces naturally intuits the underlying oneness of all…

It is my practice to remember squares are not only negative, and trines are not only positive. All types of aspects, either within an individual birth chart, or when comparing two charts for compatibility, provide opportunities and gifts.