Aquarium Age - Transformational Astrology

To all the readers of the Aquarium Age: the Weekly Frequency is back! And thank you to the many readers who sent kind words about its return—they are much appreciated. The monthly column proved too dense for lots of readers to digest easily and there is so much going on right now, and so much that will continue to go on for the foreseeable future, that I thought it might be a good idea to go back to the basics. I may skip a week occasionally—everyone needs a break from routine—and rather than publishing on Wednesdays, the column will start on the first of each month and repeat every seven days.

Daily life continues to vibrate with what has become the normal unsettled pace, and because reality (if there is such a thing) also continues to feel splintered in a thousand different pieces, lots of us are going to be spending a fair amount of time attempting to put the shards of what was into a legible mosaic of what is. Unfortunately, too many of us are trying to arrange the hodgepodge of broken pieces into a semblance of normalcy and it just can’t be done. Most, if not all, of the institutions that once held the foundations of daily life together have been torn asunder and there is absolutely no going back. But the planet’s evolutionary need to preserve itself and move forward could provide a new view of the madness, a view that includes novel if not eccentric solutions—not intended to piece reality back together, but motivated to generate workable, sustainable solutions to the destruction and decay that surround us.

Many of our fellow travelers are depressed and despairing about our collective situation but despair, while a necessary element in reaching the global healing process, won’t serve past a certain point. We need to create new solutions to persistent problems and that requires shifting our focus from feeling helpless to becoming active in manifesting remedies for the madness. As always on this free-will planet, it’s a choice. Each of us plays a part (even if we think we are too insignificant to matter) and when we assume that participatory role, helplessness can dissipate, giving hope a chance to dominate. We create our reality as we go along, adding our consciousness to the mix, and until one of us becomes the hundredth monkey and the collective reaches critical mass on how to improve conditions without causing additional harm, that consciousness-mix is a mess—or put more politely, a work in progress.

This week the planets begin to shift their focus, turning away from the deeply, internal emphasis of Pisces toward an active, external one, symbolized by Aries and its fiery need to take action.

But the internal emphasis isn’t completely over. Mars is still in Pisces conjunct Neptune, the Ruler of Pisces. This conjunction is exact on May 18 and completely behind us by May 25. It’s a truly empathetic planetary coupling that affords an opportunity to inhabit another person’s perspective. The downside is its ability to dissolve borders; the upside is its potential to mend fences and explore differences without having to denigrate the opposing point of view. This extraordinary opportunity to see through the eyes of another won’t last long, so enjoy the gentle frequency of the Mars/Neptune conjunction while you can. Squabbling will only increase in intensity during the coming weeks.

The week’s external emphasis is symbolized by a concentration of planets in Aries. Currently, Venus is in Aries—it entered Aries on May 2; Jupiter just moved into Aries on May 10, the day Mercury began its second retrograde phase of the year; and on May 24, Mars enters Aries, and as it does, daily life will take on an increasingly intense martial air (hard to imagine, I know). Mars is the archetype of the warrior and because Mars rules Aries, when Mars transits its Home Sign, those warlike tendencies intensify. And because the transit of any planet through its Home Sign strengthens its essence, lots of people are sure to be stirred to action.

Mercury Retrograde continues until June 3, and as Mercury retraces its recent history, we are in a slo-mo rewind of our own. Use this time to reflect, review and reconsider recent choices. Mercury signifies all things related to communication and travel as well as commerce and negotiation, which is why Mercury Retrograde isn’t a good time to initiate new business projects. It is the perfect time to go over all the details of what is already in motion.

There is a Lunar Eclipse of the Moon in Scorpio on May 16, and as always with an eclipse, things that have been lurking in the shadows are revealed. During the eclipse, the Moon trines both Mars and Neptune, a position that amplifies the already hypersensitive sentiments of that Pisces conjunction. Because the Moon is in Scorpio, many of us could find ourselves revealing secrets or having our secrets revealed by others. For some this eclipse could be quite dramatic, but others may not even experience the slightest disturbance.

I often write that living comfortably with uncertainty is an attribute of sound mental health—never is that more true than right now, as the news of the world worsens and our collective angst turns into collective dread. But don’t let these conditions wear you down—hold onto your highest ideals and be determined to live according to those principles. Focus on what you can do to be of service and don’t rule out kindness as your greatest contribution. From what I can garner from some posts on social media, kindness has become the new black. Wear it well and apply it liberally. So many people need help right now and being kind to a fellow traveler has the power to make a difference.

Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.

Aries March 21-April 19
The Jovian expansiveness persists and while I can’t guarantee that you will be in a good mood forever, I can advise you to enjoy this moment while you can. You may be antsy for new endeavors and want to get a lot of things started, but the time to initiate the next phase will be here all too soon. Right now, try to delight in the promise of new beginnings.

Taurus April 20-May 20.
The lunar eclipse occurs in Scorpio, which means you’re likely to feel it quite keenly. Be prepared for surprising revelations about significant others, personal or professional. Avoid being reactive—handle this information with skill and you’ll emerge in a much stronger position. There’s no need to act immediately, so take your time and gather your information before you make any decisions.

Gemini May 21-June 21
You’re certain to feel the impending shift in emphasis—the Sun is moving into your Sign on May 20, and if you couple that with all the other planetary shifts, life could start to feel like your own personal new year—and as your birthday nears, it could be a fresh start. Spend a moment during this Mercury Retrograde to consider how you might change certain patterns in ways that will increase your joy.

Cancer June 22-July 22
It would be wise to replenish your reserves by making a long-term plan for self-care. You’re apt to be quite busy in the coming weeks as Jupiter and Mars transit your Solar House of career. Even if you’re retired, you could be called back to service. Use this time to get yourself into the best shape possible—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Leo July 23-August 22
The challenge is figuring out how to best handle a lot of responsibilities and the urge to just put up your feet and hit blobitude on the couch. Sounds like a no-brainer, but despite the retrograde kibosh on starting new projects, there are lots of details to prioritize and organize. Make the time now to do the detail work and you’ll be in good shape for what lies ahead.

Virgo August 23-September 22
You’re going through a lot of changes and while some of them are hard to handle, you can sense that some of them are also really important and really good for you. Take your time with this process—see what you have a charge around and don’t want to do and then realize that whatever work you are resisting is probably the most important work of all.

Libra September 23-October 22
Yes… it is, once again, all about relationships with significant others. I haven’t reminded you of this in a while, but I think it needs saying: If you can think of relationship as a verb rather than a noun—something you participate in, not something you possess—you will have a much easier time handling the flux of all your partnerships. Remember: love of every denomination is the answer.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
The eclipse occurs with the Moon in your Sign, a position that has the potential to translate into a deep hypersensitivity that could have an immediate effect on your relationships, personal and professional. Try not to be reactive and when faced with a difficult situation or challenge, take as many deep breaths as you need to collect yourself. From that centeredness, you’ll make the right choices.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
As I previously suggested, you’re on the threshold of a deeply creative phase and embracing it could be one of the best choices you can make. It might not be easy to carve out the time and space needed to devote yourself to this process, but if you do, it will turn into quite a valuable phase. You don’t have to build the Eiffel Tower; you just have to express yourself without hesitation.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
You are hunkered down at home and quite happy about it. I know it isn’t the season for down comforters and tons of blankets, but you could turn the AC on. You won’t be out of sync with the season, you’ll be giving yourself what you need—a soft, warm place to rest. This is the perfect week for that kind of self-care, so don’t delay. Let yourself be comfortable and comforted.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Allow conversation with family, friends, and coworkers to ignite your process and stimulate your curiosity. There are new worlds to explore and while some of those explorations could pose challenges to your expertise, none of those interactions is negative or pernicious. Stay open to what you might learn and you will be amazed at how much there is to learn.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Some might argue that our most important choices are made by the guiding light of our principles, but sometimes the choices aren’t that clear. This is one of those times when you have to make decisions based on what matters most to you and you’re not clear about how to judge the consequences of those decisions. Listen to your heart—it won’t lead you down the wrong path.