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Weekly
Frequency Copyright © 2010 by Ralfee Finn. Not new, but still current,
The planets morph into motivational speakers this week, and as they hold forth on a variety of subjects, daily routines shift gears. Expect to feel the thrill of possibility, especially as imagination flourishes, enhancing the capacity to envision. While there are no guarantees that every dream will come true, the sheer force of this positive potential could help you to overcome the tug to “make like a slug.” For some of us already functioning at our peak, that might mean having too much to do. But for others who may be foundering in inertia, the planetary patterns of the week translate into movement – and lots of it. So dust off some of what you tucked away because there just wasn’t enough time. There’s plenty of time, now, to be busy with what you want to do. A Sun/Venus/Chiron/Neptune conjunction, in Aquarius, is the source of this week’s potential for creative visualization. This entire bundle signifies active imagination that is specifically focused on love in all its many manifestations, from the amorous to the empathetic. I am thankful for this conjunction because it can inspire the desire and the ability to address the very real needs of individuals and their communities through compassion. The devastation in Haiti may be local, but the poverty and deprivation we’ve witnessed and continue to witness in that particular locale is global. It is everywhere. And only a combined collective creative effort by concerned individuals to envision solutions is going to effectuate the necessary transformation. Don’t worry…I am not lost in woo-woo land. I’m simply acknowledging the power of collective imagination. A Mars/Saturn sextile is the source of this week’s “just do it” attitude. Mars represents physical energy, Saturn symbolizes structure, and when they work together, they provide a deep reservoir of determination and stamina. This configuration is well known for its pragmatism, and that’s just the kind of co-creative force that’s necessary to balance the idealism of the Sun/Venus/Chiron/Neptune conjunction. Rather than thinking these signatures would be at odds with each other, imagine that the Mars/Saturn sextile is advising the conjunction in Aquarius on how to transform its altruistic visions into realty. A Jupiter/Pluto sextile expands the stage for some of these imaginings. This sextile is fundamentally about power and is typically interpreted as a desire for influence and authority. But it can also be seen as a desire for spiritual power. I realize that sounds like an oxymoron, especially in our current culture, where many of us are mistrustful of spiritual leaders of every ilk. But I’m talking about the transformative power of the sacred, a transformative power that transcends the various institutional structures through which it is expressed. A power that speaks directly to the heart, a power that each of us can experience and be inspired by. That inspiration is much needed this week, given that we are also in the midst of the separating Saturn/Pluto square, which is sure to turn some attitudes sour and dour. Do your best to resist the temptation to align with the stern and the grim. As the week unfolds, allow yourself to move into positive action. Each of us has the potential to be a catalyst for change, and making a difference in the world can be as complex as figuring out how to adopt an orphan in need or as simple as lending someone a helping hand or a kind word. If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon sign, read that, too. Aries March 21-April 19 Interaction with friends will provide the comfort you are craving, so don’t decline those invitations. Not every event will be life changing, but allowing yourself to mingle will change your attitude. TaurusApril 20-May 20 Appreciation for your efforts at work boosts your confidence. Allow yourself to enjoy your new approval rating and let it restore your commitment to excellence. Gemini May 21-June 21 Engage in creative activities and your efforts will be rewarded. You may not see instant results, but what you put in motion will gain traction, and that will eventually yield tangible success. Cancer June 22-July 22 Focus on relationship issues if you must, but be aware, your first relationship is with yourself. Before you blame partners, take responsibility for your contribution. Leo July 23-August 22 You’re in a profoundly idealistic mood about relationships – all of them, including the cat, dog, and goldfish – but that doesn’t exempt you from expressing your feelings. Don’t be afraid to “share the love.” VirgoAugust 23-September 22 There are several realistic ways to improve your finances, and none are get-rich-quick schemes. Trust your intuition and have the courage to implement your vision. LibraSeptember 23-October 22 The willing support of friends may surprise you, but if you take their offers seriously, you will be able to accomplish what’s been previously postponed. ScorpioOctober 23-November 21 Right now, it is all about the home. So don’t be surprised if you’re obsessed with how to enhance your living situation so that it better reflects your internal vision. SagittariusNovember 22-December 21 Do whatever it is you do to restore your optimism. The situation may be difficult, but you have what it takes to move out of constriction into an expansive fresh start. CapricornDecember 22-January 19 It doesn’t have to turn into a financial emergency, but avoiding the drama, means assuming leadership. Stay steady, be reasonable, and others will follow your example. Aquarius January 20-February 18 Align yourself with what you know to be positive and true, and you will not only set an example for others to follow. You will also invigorate and energize your daily routines. PiscesFebruary 19-March 20 There’s no need to be anxious about all those things you normally worry about. Instead of brooding about what will be, enjoy what is. January 27, 2010 I’m not sure whether we are reflecting the stars this week or if the stars are mirroring us. And I’m also not sure it matters. What I do know for sure is that many of us are polarized, divided, and antagonistic, a mood that is mimicked by a couple of celestial patterns. For some, this oppositional stance is a welcome opportunity to identify and release frustration. For others, the tension is unwelcome and unbearable. For still more, the air seems rife with resistance and hostility. And for the rest, or at least those not tuned out through apathy or indifference, the charged atmosphere seems ripe with opportunities for growth and transformation. No matter where you find yourself along the spectrum of this week’s energy field try to keep in mind that opposites can also be seen as complements, especially if we are willing to synthesize what separates and divides through understanding and reconciliation. The first major “rub” of the week is the second exact square between Saturn and Pluto on January 31. (The first exact contact occurred on November 15, 2009.) Saturn represents structures, Pluto symbolizes power, and squares signify friction. From a personal perspective, the friction generated by this square could spark self-destructive behavior or a need to behave badly in the lives of others. Check your intentions before you put in motion consequences you might later regret. From a collective perspective, this square continues to exacerbate the crumbling foundation of systems that no longer serve. Of course, how you identify those systems depends upon your political persuasion. For my money, the Lobbyists would be the first to go, and then, once the field was cleared of special interests, it would be easier to see which politicians are actually interested in public service rather than self service. The second major source of irritation this week is a Mars opposition to the Venus/Sun conjunction. Finally, Mars can give us something to shout about. For weeks, it’s been “out there” on its own, and now as it opposes Venus and the Sun, several weeks of repressed frustration can unload. Just be careful where you download, as well as whom you download on. If you spent the last several weeks seeing everyone as an enemy, frustrated about making forward progress, or exhausted by more than you can handle, you could be tempted to aim your anger at whoever just happens to be in your way. Emotional release is certain to feel good, but it may accomplish more harm than you can imagine. So don’t indulge tirades. Lots of us will aim our anger at President Obama, blaming him for recent failures that keep us tethered to the status quo and under the spell of a cultural paradigm that continues to enslave us through a commitment to ignorance. Perhaps too few of us realize that many of the seemingly insurmountable problems we are facing were put in motion by the previous administration. And while President Obama is not a saint, we are a nation of instant everything. We want instant remedies, including some sort of political penicillin that will bring the financial fever down and make the headaches from what we don’t understand go away. But there is no instant cure to what ails. There is only the moment-by-moment work of conscious living. And no leader can do that work for us. We must each do our own, one realization at a time. January 20, 2010 The world continues to wobble this week. The planets are still “in process” and as they adjust to their new positions, so do we. Expect life to be wonky, and also anticipate feeling more than a little frazzled, as nervous systems, already stretched, are forced to stretch just a little more. The days unfold with an episodic structure, each chapter a story unto its own. Some of what transpires bristles with excitement, but what’s needed to handle the thrill is the ability to breathe, deeply, and there’s barely time to breathe at all. But it’s not just excitement that constricts the breath; we will all be struggling to integrate the reality of loss and grief from the devastation in Haiti. The best news this week is Mercury Direct, and as Mercury’s forward motion gathers momentum, most of the regular routines of daily life start to stabilize. Just don’t expect complete stabilization. Mars is still retrograde, in Leo, and until next week, still disconnected from intimate interactions with all other planets, except the Moon. This Martian “attachment disorder” ends this week, when Mars opposes the Sun/Venus conjunction, in Aquarius. Be prepared for sparks to fly, as more than a month of congested retrograde frustration finally has something to shout about. Mars is, after all, in Leo, a position that feeds a need for drama so don’t be surprised if previously postponed meltdowns can no longer be denied. We have nearly seven more weeks of Mars Retrograde, which could translate into seven more weeks of feeling thwarted or discouraged, or into seven more weeks of reflecting on where your ambitions might be best realized through individual creative endeavor. Unfortunately, we are also in the grip of a Saturn/Pluto square. (Yes…I did forget to mention this square in last week’s column.) This abrasive interaction fuels a fervent, obsessive devotion to principles, ideologies, and perspectives, so don’t expect you or those you love to be inclined toward compromise any time soon. The next exact contact between Saturn and Pluto is January 31, and as they tighten their grip, we could experience the “tightening” of political and religious rhetoric. As the hyperbole ramps up, so will the urge to take a stand. (Personally, I think we should agree to a moratorium on political and religious commentary until we can hold a position of respect for differences of opinion. But I realize I’m a dreamer.) The good news is that a Sun/Venus conjunction, in Aquarius, trines Saturn, soothing some of the strident edges of this square. Try to think about the effect of your criticism before you start pointing or wagging a finger. What we need more of in the world is compassion, not hard ideological stances that only exacerbate already polarized positions. When Jupiter entered Pisces on January 17, it moved into a sextile with Pluto. Jupiter/Pluto contacts are fundamentally about power. Sextiles are positive interactions. Jupiter in Pisces is about expansive empathy, which means this sextile has the potential to generate genuine compassion. As the week unfolds, you may find yourself wishing you had an oxygen tank attached to your cell phone, but I don’t think there is an app for that, yet. So keep breathing your way through the days and at every opportunity offer a helping hand to those in need. January 13, 2010 The stars and planets dial up seven new signals this week, and as these celestial signatures shift, daily life here on Earth becomes increasingly discombobulating. Write “it” down, even if your memory is impeccable, because tracking and adjusting to these many new directions is sure to strain the brain. Also, set your internal compass on steady. Not every new planetary wave offers a smooth ride, and several are more than a little bumpy. (1) Mercury goes Direct on January 15 – that’s the good news, especially if you’re champing at the bit to get new plans and projects up and running. Mercury symbolizes all things related to language and communication, as well as travel and commerce. It has been retrograde since the day after Christmas. No one seemed to mind Mercury’s slo-mo rewind during the holidays, but now most of us are ready for a different pace. Just remember the three-day rule: It takes Mercury time to gather its forward momentum, which means January 15 through 18 is still a rough ride. The not so good news is that Mercury forward motion is encumbered by several other events, none pernicious, but all of which are likely to throw a monkey wrench into regular routines until we make the necessary adjustments. (2) Saturn goes retrograde on January 13. Saturn’s retrospective lasts until May 30, and during those five months, it will move back into Virgo, for the last and final opposition with Uranus, in Mutable Signs (more about that in the weeks to come.) As Saturn reflects, we do too, so be prepared to revisit choices, especially decisions related to relationships. (3) A Solar Eclipse on January 15 is likely to cause a tremor in the force, as unconscious drives overshadow conscious concerns. While it isn’t always easy to follow an intuitive flow, this would be an opportune time to set an intention to start listening more carefully to your deeper, internal guidance. (4) Jupiter moves out of Aquarius and into Pisces on January 17, and as the planet of good fortune moves from an Air Sign to a Water Sign, some of us could experience increased emotional intensity and sensitivity. (5) and (6) On January 18, Venus moves into Aquarius, quickly followed by the Sun’s entry into Aquarius on January 19. As these two brilliant lights travel in tandem through the deep creative current of Aquarius, they illuminate innovation and invention. Remember, each of us has every Sign somewhere in our birth chart, so all of us will experience this Sun/Venus conjunction somewhere in our lives. (7) The only real problem is Mars, retrograde in Leo, which, for the next couple of weeks, is unattached to any major planetary pattern. Yes… Mars is touched by the Moon, as the Moon moves through its normal cycle, but the contact isn’t long enough to gain traction in any true Martian sense: focused ambition and determination. Mars’ “single” status contributes to the confusion because while lots of energy is moving, most of what occurs feels intermittent, disconnected, and more than a little frustrating. This would be an excellent week to make patience a personal practice. So many shifts are happening simultaneously that most of us will simply be struggling to keep up. January 6, 2010 The first working week of 2010 begins with a strange astral disconnect, so don’t be dismayed if expectations about a fresh start in the New Year seem impossible to actualize. In one dimension of the holographic planetary picture, a strong current of change motivates the desire to shift attitudes and behavior, but another equally strong current insists on introspection before innovation. While these two forces don’t directly oppose each other, their combined influence could cause confusion about where time and energy might be best spent. A third equally powerful stream motivates a practical attitude toward plans and projects that’s guaranteed to yield tangible results, but that strong urge to “make it so” clashes with a paralyzing need for perfection. The remedy for this hodgepodge would be to take no unnecessary action and to use this time to sort through priorities, with an eye toward organizing time and energy. A Sun/Uranus sextile supports creativity, as well as the need to break free from limitation. This is a positive signature that’s sure to motivate resolutions aimed at self-improvement. Just be aware, this combination can also stimulate impulsive decisions you might later regret, so try to think before you leap into or out of situations capable of miring you in lasting consequences. The good news is that Mercury Retrograde, in effect until January 15, is an invitation to spend at least a little time considering the consequences before initiating anything new. Mercury Retrograde is a great time for review, reflection, and reconsideration about what’s already in motion. Mercury is Retrograde in Capricorn, an exceedingly practical Sign, and it is currently conjunct the Sun and Venus. A Mercury/Sun conjunction can translate into a lack of subjectivity, and when you add Venus to the mix, that already slightly skewed point of view concentrates on concepts of love. There are two problems with this configuration: (1) As Mercury moves away from Venus, it moves into a conjunction with Pluto, a position that could turn some of those amorous ideas obsessive or compulsive. (2) Saturn squares Pluto and Mercury, a position that’s fraught with impatience, as well as the tendency to fixate on the flaw. This Mercury/Saturn/Pluto combination is in effect until January 25, and during this phase it would be wise to avoid harsh, judgmental pronouncements, especially if those statements foster polarization as a solution to what ails. But it’s Mars Retrograde that skews the week toward strange. Mars, like Mercury, drives the mechanics of daily life, and its forward moving, let’s-get-it-done vigor is never happy moving behind instead of ahead. What worsens this retrograde position, is an absence of direct contact with any planet other than the Moon – at least for the next couple of weeks, a condition that’s likely to translate into a deepening sense of personal frustration that is certain to erupt emotionally, which means acting out is probable. There wasn’t a lot of time during the holidays to reflect on the year that was ending or to clarify expectations for the future, but there is still time and opportunity for a thoughtful and thorough review.
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