Aquarium Age - Transformational Astrology

It’s a mysterious week—and I’m not just sayin’ that to avoid deciphering its sky scripts. It’s mysterious because there’s a lot going on beneath the surface of daily life and trying to identify those astral undercurrents feels a little like a magical mystery tour.  

Let’s start with Saturn: Saturn, the planet that keeps things real, goes retrograde in Pisces on Saturday, June 17, and stays retrograde until November 4. This is a normal retrograde phase for Saturn and while it reviews its first months in Pisces, we review ours. Saturn entered Pisces on March 7, 2023, so be prepared to revisit and review decisions, patterns, disappointments, and hopes that may have occurred over the last three months.

Saturn can be a tough and sometimes prickly taskmaster because it is the voice of reality, often reminding us what is or isn’t possible. It is all about structure and order. Pisces, on the other hand, is an opposite force—it's the vastness of psyche and the majesty of the seas. When its boundarylessness is challenged by Saturn’s bone-forming presence, we experience the need for clearly delineated territory, personal and collective, political and financial, and in all other areas of life in need of clearly marked territories and limits. Try to find the time to reflect on how the last three months of Saturn’s journey through Pisces have affected your ability to set boundaries and stick to them.

Many of us are familiar with that astrological rite of passage, the Saturn Return. It happens every twenty-nine years, when Saturn, in its orbit around the Sun, returns to the position it occupied when you were born. The first Saturn Return is an initiation into adulthood, when we realize we are no longer teenagers and that we need to make some serious decisions (if we haven’t already) about what we want to do with our lives. Those readers born between May 1993 and April 1996 are currently in the midst of their first Saturn Return.

Those born from March 1964 to March 1967 are in the midst of their second Saturn Return. I like to call this the threshold of the wisdom years, when we take stock of how we’ve spent the currency of purpose for the last thirty years. It is a serious time, but it can also be quite satisfying, especially if you allow Saturn to help you recognize what you’ve learned and created, and what still might be in need of transformation.

But you don’t need to be in the midst of a Saturn Return to feel Saturn’s presence. Ultimately Saturn is the principle that allows us to distill wisdom from experience—and that can happen at any age. So during Saturn’s retrospective for the next several months, reflect on what you are learning; pay close attention to what still needs to be learned—there’s always room for more growth. All week long, as Saturn prepares for its “turn around,” we are likely to experience a time warp, so anticipate that certain areas of life will move like molasses and others will continue to move at the speed of light.

Pluto moves back into Capricorn on June 11, and as Pluto retraces its final days in Capricorn, so do we. Try to keep in mind that Pluto’s retrograde motion before it moves into Aquarius can be seen as a review of the entire cycle—fifteen years—not just the last several months. Don’t be surprised if old friends show up for another glance or old projects resurrect themselves and you find yourself paying attention to things you thought were behind you.

The week will be a bit of a slog with Saturn preparing for its retrograde in ten days and Pluto dredging up the unfinished business of the last fifteen years. If you don’t have to hurry to get things done, try to take your time during this process and leave plenty of time to reflect on your situation—has it changed and if so, how?

Backtracking for a moment: Venus entered Leo on June 5, so don’t be surprised if you feel like going on a shopping/beauty spree. Venus loves the lush when it is in Leo, but try not to spend more than you have. The goddess of love and beauty is going to be in Leo for quite some time. She goes retrograde in Leo from July 22 through September 3 and won’t enter Virgo until October 8—there’s plenty of time to shop, so try not to spend everything at the beginning of this phase.

I’ve written several times about young people being the generation of hope even as they despair over the state of the planet they are inheriting. I don’t think that most of them will accept the bigotry, hatred, and violence that has insinuated itself into our daily lives. I have faith that just as the Parkland students did and continue to do, many survivors of the mass shootings at schools will become activists—they won’t settle for a numb acceptance of our shattered world and having experienced the ravages of gun violence, will do all that they can to change the gun disposition of our country.

In keeping with that notion, I read an article about a group of students in Indiana who rebelled and protested the bigotry of their school against the LGBTQ community. It’s a great story and a hopeful one; it reaffirmed my confidence in a generation that has had to endure one trauma after another at an unrelenting pace that’s hard for adults to process, let alone kids. It’s a good, uplifting read about their courage to move forward and their ultimate success. They are brave and rebellious as young people should be and their determination will set a different standard. I admire their strength and confidence.

www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/05/31/marian-school-theater-lgbtq-indiana/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3a2a3f6%2F6477710249fef741

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

Aries March 21-April 19
There’s no need to push the river—and since you can’t (no one can, really), it wouldn’t be wise to spend your energy trying to do the impossible. Make peace with what you can do and try to release the rest. I’m not suggesting you become a slacker; I’m simply reminding you that everyone has limits, even you.

Taurus April 20-May 20
You’re right—it is all a bit overwhelming and figuring out how to handle your full plate without losing track of what’s important is going to take time. It really is a matter of taking each day as it unfolds. Work concerns and family issues dominate an expansive outlook, but each of those areas needs attention—and lots of it.

Gemini May 21-June 21
You’re headed into a couple of weeks of changes and you’re going to need someone to talk to about all you’re feeling as well as how to handle certain delicate subjects with significant others. Find a counselor or therapist you like and trust to give you grounded, practical advice, then do your best to integrate that wisdom.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Your finances need attention—I’m not saying you’re in trouble (although you might be); I am bringing the subject up because the planets are pointing it out. Take the time to assess your money matters even if it’s uncomfortable—you can’t fix what you’re unaware of, and a real assessment will help you find a remedy.

Leo July 23-August 22
You can let the situation become a tense standoff or you can diffuse the tension by finding the solid ground of compromise and face the difficulty directly, but with a flexible attitude that will help you discover the best possible solution. Sounds like a no-brainer, but letting go of your position gracefully will take effort and skill.

Virgo August 23-September 22
The solution you’re hoping for is not external, so it might be wise to put aside your fantasy about the calvary coming to save you. Instead, focus on a more thorough inner exploration about what could be causing your discomfort. What you’re looking for is not out of this world; it’s right here in the 3D, but you have to recognize it.

Libra September 23-October 22
There is so much going on and you’re going to need all your vitality to handle it well. Make sure you make self-care a priority—sleep enough, eat the right foods, exercise when you can, and if you don’t feel well, do something about it. This isn’t a frivolous endeavor—health is a necessary ingredient to living the best life possible.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Jupiter continues to hold the focus on relationship issues, but this is not just about romantic interactions—Jupiter is looking at all types of partnerships, including your relationship with yourself. Take an honest, personal inventory about which relationships have meaning for you and why, then be willing let go of what doesn't really work.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You can frame the situation as a pervasive existential crisis or you can concentrate on listening closely to those around you—they all need to express their feelings and they need to be heard. Take a deep breath and learn to listen at a new level. This isn’t about fixing anything; it’s about being there and bearing witness.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Your creative process continues and that’s a good thing because you might get a little cranky if you have to constantly intervene and remind those you care about that life isn’t only about wishing it was other than it is. Creativity is essentially transformational, so harness your attitude towards growth and you’ll steer clear of stagnation.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Make peace or make love but don’t engage in war—you will only make matters worse if you decide to take a rigid stand that excludes the needs of others. It may not be easy holding on to joy, but it will definitely be worth the effort. I’m not going all ’60s on you; I’m simply stating the facts. You’ll be happier if you avoid conflict.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Yes, there are difficult conversations to be had, but dealing with thorny topics doesn’t necessarily mean those conversations will be miserable. Scary at first, perhaps, but if you commit to your truth without diminishing or criticizing others, you could emerge from this process with exactly what you need.