Overview of Planetary Activity For Autumn 2009

            Below you can read the outline of planetary activity this season from a generic point of view. How planetary positions and activities will influence any person specifically depends on how the planets in aspect currently in the sky make connections to the planetary positions in one’s Birth Chart. (In Astrology, this is referred to as the “Radix” chart and is cast for the date, place and time of birth.) Comparing current planet positions with natal planet positions is the basis of prediction in Astrology. To gain more specific insights based on exact transiting to natal planet positions please call for an appointment and I will be happy to clarify what themes, trends and cycles are unfolding in your life and will be into the future.

            Mercury begins the season in Virgo and retrograde. Fortunately, Virgo is one of the best places for Mercury, retrograde or direct. Mercury here has a greater capacity than usual to pay close attention to the details. At worst, harsh criticism will dampen moods and spirits so do what you can to use this energy for constructive purposes. Mercury will turn Direct on September 29^th. The ‘winged messenger’ will then resume speed and enter Libra on October 9^th and then Scorpio on the 28^th. In Libra Mercury seeks fair dealings while in Scorpio less talk and more research are favoured. By December 5^th, mercury will enter Capricorn bringing more practical and pragmatic interests to the forefront.

            Venus On September 20^th, Venus entered sober Virgo where she is meant to give more than receive. This is not ‘her’ happiest position yet with awareness we can make the most of any influence. Venus will enter Libra, her ruling sign in mid October, the 14^th to be exact. Her she yearns for the beautiful and romantic. How perfect with the fall colours in full splendour then. By November 7 Venus will enter sexual, secretive Scorpio. This could prove to feel good yet it may also be wise to pay extra attention to your finances and monetary dealings. On December 1^st, Venus will enter Sagittarius where she rejoices in artistic and cultural activities and events.

            Mars begins the season Cancer where it acts to renovate in any way necessary. This is an assertive even aggressive position for Mars. But that is what is required for renovating so make the most of it. By October 16^th, the day before the New Moon, Mars will enter Leo. Mars is a fire planet and Leo is a fire sign so you know what we can expect – big fire! Mars in Leo is dramatic, playful and exciting. Sexy and passionate are other accurate descriptions. Aim to tune in and use this high energy combination in whatever way makes sense in your life. The themes outlined in each sign include how this may make sense for you.

            Anyone with Natal Planets at the early first few degrees of the Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn and to a lesser degree any of the other signs, will experience some noticeable death and rebirth themes. These can be at least as liberating as difficult, but endings are often challenging.

            Pluto will turn Direct again on September 11^th… It makes me wonder if this date of Pluto at its most still point, when it stations or appears to stop before resuming noticeable motion for another month, will stir the pot about the September 11, 2001 crisis/conspiracy. Despite the success of the media to turn this into an act or Terrorism, there remain many who believe it was an inside job and most of these voices are American themselves. There are some good documentaries on this subject on YouTube entitled: Loose Change (I & II) and the other, which offers a very deep historical perspective is called Empire of the City. Whatever really happened on that fateful day, that Pluto turns Direct at 0 degrees Capricorn is sure to raise more than a few brows in the Astrological community and is bound to produce fresh articles on the subject as well. With that being the 8^th year anniversary of the 9/11 event, the numerological number that implies culmination, harvest, toil and testing we are bound to experience a return to that event and the many subsequent issues and events and current realities that were spawned by it.

            Pluto will be in for the next 15 years. Pluto has made its first surge forward and has advanced over 3 degrees since November, which is quite fast for Pluto. Anyone with planets in the early degree of Capricorn, Aries, Libra and Cancer especially, but in any sign generally, will have already felt the initial waves of change and transformation that being ‘touched’ by Pluto implies.

            On April 3^rd, Pluto began its retrograde retreat and will actually move all the way back to 0 degrees Capricorn by late summer, September 11^th to be exact…. By Winter solstice, Pluto will have regained its ground and advance to 5 degrees by April of next year. Pluto transforms whatever it touches, or by any other name or rank, Pluto is a powerful player and when it visits sensitive points in your chart it changes your life in ways corresponding to those points forever.

            Neptune is in Aquarius as it has been since 1999. Now it is in the final degrees of Aquarius (there are 30 degrees in any sign) and is still forming a close conjunction with Chiron and Jupiter. The closest conjunction of these three outer planets occurred in late May and this continued into June 2009. This aspect is very revealing of where wounds are present on both personal and collective levels and will activate and awaken healing attitudes or will possibly be met with resistance and denial by many since Uranus, the ruling planet for Aquarius, is in Pisces which, at it lower ebb, represents denial.

            The healing implied includes addressing issues and blocks of any kind by dealing with the subconscious has grown in popularity steadily over the past century and several decades especially, and now it is rapidly becoming common knowledge. This is what this powerful and rare conjunction is influencing. People with planets from 23-24 degrees of the fixed signs –Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius - especially will be strongly influenced by this alignment. Neptune slowly dissolves or melts whatever it touches and it can be fascinating to watch and experience. Though the process cannot be stopped, one can choose to learn to work with it.

            With Uranus in Pisces still hovering at 24 to 22 degrees of Pisces this fall not much need be said except that people with planets and sensitive points at those degrees or those of the mutable Signs Pisces, Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius will experience measurable awakenings, sudden realizations and rapid change. Where the aspect is hard, as with planets in Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius it will produce continued awakening. For some this awakening is a welcome process as it is the needed shift of consciousness leading to liberations necessary for the next set of experiences in their life journey. There are many other attitudes, beliefs and practices in the market and lifestyle patterns that also reflect the ‘old’ days of only 10 years or so ago. To those unwilling or unable to adjust and adapt to the rapidly changing times, these changes may not be so welcome at all. It is important that people at least keep an open mind and moreover, that they mobilize in consciousness and action to understand and cooperate with the awakening and changes that Uranus will bring.

            Saturn in the mid degrees of Virgo is in a strong and favourable position, again especially for anyone willing and wise enough and able to be disciplined and work with the changes that are underway. Education, knowledge, skills and new habits and approaches and strategies in general are implied by the placement of Saturn in Virgo. The old world and ways is dissolving quickly now and wisdom says adapt and learn, learn and adapt. So, if this is speaking to you, intend to watch less television if you do normally and reach out to people and resources and the internet to tune-in so that you can meet the changes with awareness, intelligence and knowledge and information that you can put to practical use. This placement marries well with the themes of the Chinese Year of the Earth ox which we are currently in and will continue to be until February 2010.

            Saturn is traveling fast now and will move from 15 to 25 degrees of Virgo by the time autumn arrives. Expect the pace of change in society in general, especially regarding the environment, the economy and new technologies this summer.

On the high side, people continue to awaken to the importance of working for change, in terms of healing or progress and success in the marketplace and so on, from the inside-out. This is where modern psychology and spirituality are forming a deep bond. Deeper yet, what the interactions of Jupiter, Chiron, Uranus and Neptune imply is a powerful spiritual healing and awakening. They are serving to activate a spiritual revolution which will be very evident in 2011. For now, much healing must occur so that people can awaken and this is not such a straightforward process. Despite many sincere efforts, the pace remains slow but it will undergo a significant acceleration beginning with Uranus in Aries in April 2010.