Written by Pam Younghans Art: "Liberation" by Janosh: "The energy of Liberation gives you the Pluto is often called the Great Transformer, and his influence is This process is brought clearly into our awareness midw eek, as Pluto Pluto entered Capricorn in early 2008, and is one of the main forces We've seen many such structures collapse in the past 18 months. Our It would seem we still have a long way to go in some of these areas, To ga in more clues into the possible manifestations, let's explore a Mars represents the force of the ego, how we assert ourselves, how we The motivating force changes this week, as Mars enters emotion-driven While Mars in Gemini may have contributed to our tendency to assert In its highest manifestation, Mars in=2 0Cancer combines activity with It is only when we get out of balance, when we have tried to take care If you feel significantly more vulnerable or combative while Mars is Mercury plays an important role in helping us be more self-aware this Libra is the sign of balance, harmony and equality. Mercury's journey But, Mercury in Libra is also very aware when things aren't quite It may help to taste the ingredients of this week's T-square one at a Any time Mars and Mercury are at odds, we have a greater tendency to It will be important to remember this week that It Is Never Personal. Keeping that in mind, we move on to the Pl uto-Mercury square. This one Since Pluto is in Capricorn, the sign of authority figures, we may see The third, and the most consequential of the aspects involved in our T- Cancer and Capricorn, being opposite each other in the zodiac, If we were climbing a mountain with these two characters, Capricorn Cancer might choose to sleep in a bit longer, enjoying the comfort of And perhaps the next day Cancer would be content to sit in camp, Oh -- and did I mention? Cancer packed lunch for both of them for the These, of course, are very stereotypical characters. Not all In any opposition, the two polarities have a tendency to polarize Pluto and Mars are both very assertive planets, which means that So, what is the common or middle ground, then? The highest expression In best manifestation, Capricorn's authoritative, goal-driven traits And, when elevated, Cancer's protectiveness and feelings of These are some underlying themes we may see playing out this week. And along for the ride, Mercury in Libra will be challenged to Venus also takes a role, although less prominent, in our play this We may have opportunities both to see the depth of these commitments, Venus enters Leo on Wednesday, and immediately bumps into the energy Fortunately, the work week wraps up with a subtle but enlivening Venus- Blessings, Pam NorthPoint Astrology Blog: I've been posting to my blog once or twice About the Journal
NorthPoint Astrology Journal
Your guide to astrological energies for August 24 to 30, 2009
Highlighted Aspects
Monday: Chiron biquintile Mercury, Vesta conjunct South Node; Tuesday:
Venus conjunct South Node, Venus conjunct Vesta, Mars enters Cancer,
Mercury enters Libra, Mars square Mercury; Wednesday: Pluto square
Mercury, Venus enters Leo, Neptune biquintile Mercury, Pluto opposite
Mars, Pluto quincunx Venus; Thursday: Mars semisextile Venus; Friday:
Venus sextile Mercury
strength to let go of your judgements about yourself. The freedom that
arises strengthens your self-esteem and self-image. "
Transformation is the keyword this week. To "trans"-form is to go
through the process of changing from one form to another, and that's
exactly what we're doing.
strengthening now, as he slows his backward motion in anticipation of
going direct on September 11. Pluto is known for his ability to
initiate deep change, taking us through a cleansing process that
involves releasing old forms so that the new can take their place.
squares Mercury and opposes Mars on Wednesday. The effects of this T-
square will actually begin on Tuesday, when Mars enters Cancer,
Mercury enters Libra, and these two planets form a square aspect to
each other.
behind the changes we have been seeing in so many structural elements
of our lives. Capricorn represents that which gives form, and when
Pluto visits Capricorn, his attention is turned toward first
dismantling and ultimately rebuilding those forms and structures that
no longer serve us or have faulty foundations.
guidance in the rebuilding is to know that we cannot just rebuild
using the same materials and the same blueprints as before. In the
larger society, what has disintegrated has done so because it could
not hold up to the criteria of a more enlightened humanity. In
personal circumstances, what has fallen away has done so because it is
no longer in alignment with our individual higher purpose and
integrity.
and so there is more dismantling ahead of us. Every time we have a
Pluto transit, as we do this coming week, we have the opportunity to
take stock of some area of life, to do conscious purging and
renovating of those areas that do not meet the higher standard.
bit about the other two planets in our T-square: Mars and Mercury.
Both change signs this week, and so will be presenting us with new
situations to work with.
pursue the objects of our desires. Mars has been in mentally-focused
Gemini since July 11, and so in the past six weeks our rational mind
has been fully involved in our efforts. And, since Gemini loves
variety, we may have found ourselves going in several directions at
once or trying to do too many things in the day, in some cases to the
point of mental and physical overwhelm.
Cancer, where he will journey until October 16. Cancer is the
nurturer, the therapist, the homebody -- and with fiery Mars in this
maternal sign, we will be motivated more by our emotional
sensitivities than our intellectual interests for the next seven
weeks.
our ideas more proactively, Mars in Cancer may involve situations in
which we emote more readily. We may feel particularly sensitive during
this time, so that we either want to hide under a rock and not take
any risks, or when we do go forth, our armor is securely fastened as
we look for threats around every corner.
receptivity, so that we take action based on our intuitive knowing of
ours and others' emotional needs. At the same time, like a healthy
crab, we have strong boundaries in place, and understand that we can
never protect another from the growth they are needing to experience.
And, we realize when we've been pouring into a cup that has no bottom,
understanding that this depletes our stores and never truly assists
the other.
of others at the expense of our own health and well-being, when we
have taken on the role of martry, that we begin to experience the
negative side of sensitivity. When this happens, the urge either to
hide or to do battle takes over.
in Cancer, take this opportunity to revisit how you nurture and self-
nurture. When the give-and-take is equal, and when we are self-aware
enough to know when we need to replenish our inner emotional
resources, there is a much lesser need to blame others for any lacks
we feel in this area.
week, as he enters Libra and forms a square aspect with Mars on
Tuesday, and then squares Pluto on Wednesday.
through Libra is usually associated with a time when20our minds are
very focused on maintaining harmony in our relationships, and on
finding ways to bring balance and justice into any situation that
arises.
right, when the scales are tipped and one side is not living up to the
agreements of the partnership. Since the aspects Mercury forms with
Mars and Pluto this week are confrontational in nature, this is one
manifestation we may see.
time: Looking at our recipe, we can see there are three aspects at
work: Mars square Mercury, Pluto square Mercury, and Pluto opposite
Mars.
become frustrated or irritated, to feel that others are pushing our
buttons. With Mars in Cancer, we're likely to believe that they're
doing it on purpose. With Mercury in Libra, we may also feel that
they're being very unfair -- or that the only solution, if we want to
avoid an argument, is for us to just give in.
For the most part, each of us is so concerned with protecting
ourselves, and with our own perspective, that we act from that stance,
not because we purposefully want another to suffer. There is usually
very little premeditation in hurtful behavior.
reminds us of the power of our words either to heal or harm. Our
internal knowing of where our true power lies will be tested, as we
are challenged to stay in our truth without needing to force it on
another.
this manifest in the lives of those whom we see as being powerful and
consequential. On a personal level, we may find ourselves being drawn
into the role of either perpetrator or victim, and needing to find the
heightened perspective that removes us from that reaction and
interpretation.
square, is the Pluto-Mars opposition. The cycle of these two planets
means that this opposition occurs once every two years. Since Pluto
was still in Sagittarius in August 2007, this is our first chance to
observe this opposition in the signs of Cancer and Capricorn.
represent polarities in expression. Where Capricorn is objective,
Cancer is subjective. Where Capricorn is driven by what makes
practical sense, Cancer is motivated by what feels right.
would want to get up before dawn, take in the nourishment needed, and
get on the trail early. Capricorn would make sure all gear was in top
condition, then charge to the top of the mountain as directly as
possible. Once there, Capricorn would pause briefly to feel the sense
of accomplishment, and then would move on to think about what
challenge to undertake next.
the warm sleeping bag. Cancer would choose to start hiking when the
sun was rising, stopping first to check the fledgling birds in the
nearby tree before leaving camp. Cancer would stop at various places
that felt nurturing along the trail, especially if there was a place
to sit beside the clear-running stream. Once at the top of the
mountain, Cancer would want to sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun
before taking the trail back to camp.
creating a comfier nest, while Capricorn scaled the next mountain on
the list.
day's hike, and made sure Capricorn had food to take for the next day
as well.
Capricorns neglect their self-care, and not all Cancers would stay
home rather than climb the next mountain. But this scenario offers
insights into the archetypes of these two signs, and perhaps gives us
some information about how the Pluto-Mars opposition may play out.
further -- to take their perspec tive and traits to the extreme and set
up camp there. And yet, the opportunity also exists within any
opposition for the two sides to learn something from each other, to
broaden their perspective, and to find a meeting place in the middle,
each becoming more whole in the process.
finding common ground -- or even the middle ground -- can be a bit
tricky. The danger is that Pluto in Capricorn will completely discount
and even ridicule the style and needs of Mars in Cancer. And, Mars can
react equally poorly, becoming defensive or withdrawn, and choosing to
attack out of fear.
of the two signs is clearly called for here.
are tempered with the knowing that there is more to life than the
mountaintop. There is in this perspective an acknowledgment of the
value of Cancer's feelings and nurturing style.
vulnerability are tempered by taking on goals that incorporate self-
care as a vital component. Embracing this Capricorn-style self-
discipline actually builds a system of trust within, that then can
also extend into trusting relationships in the outside world.
Mars will challenge Pluto in Capricorn to be vulnerable enough to
admit when the emperor has no clothes. Pluto will challenge Mars in
Cancer to see the bigger picture, and to take a more objective
viewpoint instead of succumbing to fear.
comprehend the value of being both self-reliant and vulnerable, and to
find that common or middle ground that utilizes the best of both
worlds.
week. A Venus-Vesta-South Node alignment on Tuesday may bring
interactions with relationships and commitments based in our past --
either from this lifetime or other lifetimes.
and to release them if they are no longer in alignment with our
integrity. And, because this alignment is in late degrees of Cancer,
we'll probably be working with issues of trust and vulnerability as a
part of our release work.
of the Pluto-Mars-Mercury T-square. Our new-found enthusiasm and
creativity, represented by Venus in Leo, meets with the stern
practicality of Pluto in Capricorn and the sentimental fervor of Mars
in Cancer.
Mercury aspect. The door opens to making sense of it all, and we may
just find that the joy we desire is alive and well -- once we r emember
to enjoy the present moment and to become the harmony we seek.
during the week, and greatly appreciate all of you who have
contributed your comments and personal stories! If you want to join
in, please visit: http://northpointastrology.blogspot.com/.
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly NorthPoint Journal based
on planetary influences and guidance received. Her hope is to offer
perspectives and insights that will assist you in utilizing current
energies for your greatest benefit and for the benefit of All.
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NorthPoint Astrology, 15000 Block 75th, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA