There’s a lot going on in the skies this spring. In May and June we will have several major aspects, two outer planet stations within a day of each other, two more outer planets changing signs, and an eclipse. As we get into the latter part of May, much of this will be reflected on the collective level, as we deal with our political and social issues. The overall flavor of this time has a lot to do with understanding and resolving the duality of ourselves as individuals and as social beings.
We should begin by noting that Mercury is retrograde until May 11th. By now, most people know that means communication breakdowns, electrical and computer issues, and problems with paperwork of all kinds. We can’t really unplug from our wired world, but backing off as much as possible is not a bad idea. Get outside and enjoy the springtime... you may find that the current complaint that we don’t get spring anymore really should be that we don’t pay attention to spring anymore.
Early May has an active feel to it, especially after the New Moon on the 13th. Venus will be busy, squaring off against Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus on the 17th, 18th, and 19th, and then opposing Pluto on the 23rd. The overall theme of the Goddess of Love’s week of activity will be one of asserting our independence in the area of relationship. A good meditation for this time would be to consider that we need to be free and independent as individuals in order to be the best possible partners in a relationship - an apparent paradox. Following "the rules" of relationship is not likely to be a winning strategy now, although this week is just a taste of what is to come over the next few years.
On the 23rd, Jupiter opposes Saturn, marking the midpoint of a 20 year cycle which is associated with the play of progressive and conservative energies in society. The midpoint is both a time of awareness and the peak of activity. However, this period will last all the way through to next March, so we will have plenty of time to see how things are playing out.
The Full Moon falls on May 27th, illuminating Uranus’ entry into Aries. This is big doin’s in the skies, as Uranus, the planet of individuality and revolution, only changes signs about every seven years. What’s more, like Uranus, Aries is also a very individ-ualistic sign. We’ll have a lot to say about Uranus in Aries over the next few years, but one key phrase for this time is what I like to call creative selfishness.
Unlike run-of-the-mill selfishness, creative selfishness acknowledges and respects others and their wants and needs. Yet, however much we see the other person’s perspective, we also need to recognize and follow our own deepest callings. We can’t really be there for others if we aren’t first there for ourselves. It’s often a tricky balance, and we are sure to see lots of plain-old selfishness over the next seven years, but we will find that becoming more true to ourselves is the task at hand.
This emphasis on individuality and its implications for relationships will be an ongoing theme, especially as Saturn moves through Libra (the sign of partnership) over the next several years. Our concerns will not be limited to our personal relationships, however, and will find ourselves questioning whether we have given too much of ourselves to career, community, and other "outside" forces. Consider it a wake-up call for your individuality and your true self.
Just a few days after the Full Moon, on May 30th and 31st, we have a rare double station, as Saturn stops in the skies to move forward just a day before Neptune stops to turn direct. The energies of these two planets are very different, as Saturn is practical, limiting, and realistic, while Neptune is dreamy, beyond the boundaries, and fantasy-oriented. When planets station, we feel their energies more intensely for a few days, so we might really find ourselves in a swirl of confusion, as Saturn tells us to get to work while Neptune suggests we take a trip into a dream world.
On a practical level, we could feel pulled to make a decision but would be better off waiting a bit to see if our plans are realistic. Getting seduced into a too-good-to-be-true deal is very Neptunian, and you don’t want Saturn’s seriousness cementing a bad decision. Also, watch for colds and other nuisance infections to be around at this time - they are very typical of both these planets. June 4th may trigger the potential of the double station, as Mars opposes Neptune.
On June 6th, Jupiter leaves his home sign of Pisces and joins Uranus in Aries. Jupiter has really zipped through Pisces, entering the sign in January, but he will be back in September. In the mean time, he will be lending his energy to the astrological party, starting with his meet-up with Uranus on the 8th. This is the very beginning of a 14 year cycle which is usually associated with both progressive social and political movements and technological innovation.
The American revolution began at the start of one of these cycles, and although we can’t count on anything quite so dramatic, it is worth noting that 1776 also saw Pluto in Capricorn, to which he has recently returned. The moon landing in 1969 was a technological achievement associated with this cycle, and while it can be hard to find a "start date" for our cyber culture, 1997 seems a likely point.
Look to June 21st, the day that summer begins, to set the tone for the early part of the Jupiter-Uranus cycle, perhaps even more than the days around the exact aspect on the 6th. The Sun will be making a hard aspect to these planets at a crucial point in the cycle of the year, which makes it a likely trigger point.
There are more trigger points to come! On June 25th, the Sun opposes Pluto, just a day before a lunar eclipse. The eclipse takes place at 7:39, EDT, so it should be partially visible as the Moon sets in the west. On a symbolic, as opposed to visual, level, the eclipse should indeed trigger the ongoing Pluto-Uranus-Saturn-Jupiter alignment in the skies, bring to light the deep social, political, and economic transitions we are experiencing.
From the end of May through June and into summer, the skies are very active, and we are likely to experience an intensity of personal and collective change that is both rare and powerful. We need to keep in mind during this time that something new is trying to be born in our consciousness, and each of us has role to play. Our personal dramas are, in a sense, the working out of our collective issues, while the big events on the world stage set the tone for our individual experiences. Remember that the decisions we make, and the way we respond to those things we can’t control, create energies which reverberate through time, in our own lives and in our collective consciousness. So choose as wisely as possible.
Rebelliousness and a strong drive for independence are likely to be the dominant themes of this time, given the emphasis on Uranian/Plutonian and Aries energies. Ironically, we are likely to collectively focus on questions of individuality and independence. We are probably going to see a lot more of "revolutionary" movements, of both the libertarian and socialist varieties. Note how all are claiming to be about preserving individual freedoms in the face of some kind of tyranny. Over the next seven years, we will see a lot of the pirate mentality, in militias and other extremest groups. Let’s hope they stay out of power, for pirates make very intolerant leaders.
On a less political level, the message has more to do with exercising creative selfishness, and realizing that the greatest freedom and tyranny both come from within. To the extent that we cling to our assumptions about the past, we may find it very tough going, while a willingness to move into uncharted territory - guided by our highest intentions - is probably the best strategy.
Armand M. Diaz, M.A., C.A., is certified as a Consulting Astrologer by the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). He is available for private consultations, in which he creates a supportive context for self-exploration, to help clients make decisions which are in harmony with their greatest potential, offering a truly integral approach to astrology. Armand has practiced divination for more than twenty years, working with the I Ching and Tarot in addition to astrology. He has published in various astrological journals, including The Mountain Astrologer. He can be reached at 917-216-1541 or armand@integralastrology.net, or though his website at www.integralastrology.net.