Aquarium Age - Transformational Astrology

Be prepared to feel as if you are living your own personal sequel to Groundhog Day. Yes, it is Groundhog Day tomorrow, February 2, but that’s not why it feels as if we are caught in an endless cycle of repetitive issues, events, and conversations. We’re reliving the same day because we haven’t yet reached the critical mass to transform enough minds and hearts at their core. The bullies and crazies on the extreme right are empowered simply because from their point of view they have the power, but their mantras have not morphed into anything new. In my version of Groundhog Day, those hard-hearted and calloused bullies have yet to recognize the power of love. I know it’s an optimistic perspective that attributes more good in the hearts of my fellow travelers than is currently on display through their actions. But I’m willing to embrace hope and hold space for positive change because to give up hope is to reside in cynicism and I can’t live there.

Uranus squares the Sun this week, forming a fractious but freedom-loving influence that’s likely to inspire many of our fellow travelers to break free from patterns, new or old, that inhibit personal freedom—revolutionaries everywhere are activated by this influence to liberate themselves from whatever tyranny is holding them hostage. The Sun represents our essential vitality; Uranus symbolizes the need for something new and inventive. When they clash, as they do through a square, we all yearn to break free from the status quo. This square began on January 29 and is exact and separating on February 3, so if there are habits you’re longing to shift, now’s the time. You don’t have to wake up to the same day every day if you are willing to grow. This is probably why all religions claim Groundhog Day (the movie) as their own. I once saw it as the perfect Buddhist movie, but now I see it as a story about a spiritual journey where the hero grows out of his pattern of narcissistic self-interest and because he is free from the bondage of selfishness, learns to love someone other than himself.

A powerful undercurrent runs through this week and many of the weeks that lie ahead—Pluto enters Aquarius on March 23. Pluto’s entry into Aquarius signals a new phase for all of us and many of our fellow travelers could be experiencing this shift as a low level-anxiety about what the future holds. Pluto is winding down its journey through Capricorn that began in November 2008. Capricorn symbolizes institutions, including branches of government, as well as financial matters that are under the umbrella of corporations and banks. Since Pluto began its Capricorn journey, we’ve certainly seen many shifts in all of those arenas.

For the next two years, Pluto is going to retrograde back and forth from Capricorn to Aquarius; its entry into Aquarius won’t be final until November 2024, where it will stay until 2043. I won’t go into all that we can expect from Pluto’s next journey yet, but I am mentioning it now because many people are waiting for the other shoe to drop—and by that I mean they can feel something coming but aren’t sure what it is. It’s Pluto. Pluto is not as unconventional as Uranus but it is also not as regulated as Saturn. It is the most powerful planet in the astrological pantheon, and whatever it focuses on is sure to shift.

I will be writing much more about Pluto in the weeks, months, and years to come, but for now, knowing Pluto is about to make a significant move could help to ease some of the unspecified but nevertheless intense anxiety you or those you love might be feeling but can’t attribute to a specific planetary pattern. Pluto’s move into Aquarius won’t quite be a new act in Groundhog Day II, but as it leaves Capricorn, many of us will be reliving certain experiences that we thought were behind us. Be kind to yourself as those memories take on a life of their own and be kind to others—some of us are accustomed to an ongoing déjà vu and others of us are not, so the impulse to help others will be deeply appreciated by those needing help.

One last bit: As you wander through your own personal Groundhog Day, if you need help being joyous and hopeful, try watching the movie Mission: Joy—Finding Happiness in Troubled Times.

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

Aries March 21-April 19
That Uranian need to break free from whatever enslaves has a lot to do with you embracing your creativity and letting go of the need for your creative endeavors to be successful commercially. The point is to enjoy the process and let that happiness feed you—body, mind, heart, and soul.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Don’t be surprised if you feel like wearing your Superman tee all week long—have at it. All that you’ve been through and all you are continuing to manage is pretty amazing. Be careful not to get carried away by pride, but try not to let that necessary humility diminish your joy.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Examining your belief systems would be the best use of this Sun/Uranus square, especially as those beliefs relate to spiritual and psychological principles.  You don’t have to discard everything; just the notions that, while comfortable, don't actually resonate with you the way they once did.

Cancer June 22-July 22
If you choose to be an agent of change, this is a time when your influence will be at its height. Not only are you inspired by the friction between the Sun and Uranus, but that interaction moves you into action. Whether this need addresses personal or collective issues, it’s important to express your passion.

Leo July 23-August 22
The Sun/Uranus square focuses on cooperation with partners, personal or professional, and while that may challenge your need to lead and have things work out your way, working well with others will have a positive effect on all of your endeavors. Play well with others and they will play well with you.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Your devotion to helping others is challenged by the stress generated from the friction of this Sun/Uranus square. When asked to help, take a moment for yourself, breathe deeply, and collect yourself. If you feel that it would be a positive endeavor, have at it. If not, have the courage to say “no.”

Libra September 23-October 22
The Sun/Uranus square stimulates your longing for romance and even if you are in a committed relationship, you may find yourself drawn to flirt with someone other than your partner. I’m not suggesting you avoid having fun, but I am advising you to pay attention to the consequences of your actions.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
There are likely to be disagreements with partners about how to handle things at home—and even if you’re not in a relationship, these disputes could happen with friends. Do your best to listen to opposing points of view; while you don’t have to abandon your perspective, it will help you negotiate peace.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Choose your words wisely and resist the temptation to wax poetically about everything you’re thinking. If you can regulate your loquacious nature and not say more than you need to, you will have greater success in communicating all the salient points. Take your time—this is not a race or competition.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
While it would be easy to use your words as weapons, engaging in a war of words won’t help to negotiate peaceful resolutions to a number of situations you are trying to resolve. As cliché as it might feel to be kind, that would be the solution to this dilemma. Patience and compassion would also be helpful.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
We all make assumptions about each other but most of them aren’t really based in reality; they are just opinions of the moment. Be willing to challenge some of your tried-and-true assumptions about the way things ought to be and you’ll have a much easier time identifying what beliefs no longer serve.

Pisces February 19-March 20
The best remedy for the Sun/Uranus square would be refusing to brood—do not let the brain worm of anxiety chew endlessly on components of your situation. Instead, put those words aside—compartmentalize—and seek a new perspective with the power to free you from the shackles of negative experiences.