by Margaret Gray MSW D. Psych. Astrology
“When we are awake within the dream, the ego-created earth drama comes to an end and a more benign and wondrous dream arises. This is the new earth.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
As spring arrives we naturally awaken from the hibernation of winter. Yet with Neptune moving into Pisces in February, the dream of harmony, co-operation and universal love is here to stay at least for the next 14 years and our main task is to remain awake within the dream. The greater awareness of our thoughts, motivation and choices, the easier it becomes to dance creatively with the planetary energies, as our evolutionary journey continues on our planet and beyond.
Co-creating with the main planetary energies of March 2012
With four planets, including the Sun, in the imaginative sign of Pisces this month, I am reminded of a story I heard many years ago. Two groups of people were sitting at a big table with only very long spoons to eat with. The first group starved to death as the spoons were too long to reach their own plates and mouth, and so they could not feed themselves. The second group ate heartily as they realised that although they could not reach their own bowl and feed themselves, they could easily dip their long spoon into the opposite person’s bowl and feed their neighbour. With such strong Piscean energy, it is an ideal time to notice how we can best thrive through supporting and empowering those around us, as they are in essence, of course, a part of us.
From March 12th to April 13th, Mercury is represented by Hermes, the god of communication, travel and business deals, goes retrograde for the first time this year. For many of us, this is an ideal time, in particular, to pay detailed attention to communication of all kinds, including contracts and business deals, to avoid confusion and delays. However, plans initiated prior to the retrograde may come to fruition during this time.
When Hermes appears to move backwards in the sky, focus and attention, as well as patience, are required. In joining forces with the god Uranos in the sky on the 6th, the 18th and the 23rd, Hermes can offer us new ways of thinking and communicating, which are likely to blossom in April and May of this year. May will be a good time to ground these ideas into something concrete.
With Venus and Jupiter dancing together in the sign of Taurus in the mid-part of the month, we are invited to pay attention to what is of value and meaning in our lives. The issue of how we exchange goods through currencies is a live one of course, and the potential exists to work together and support each other – rather than seeking to go our separate ways as individual nations. The possibility and advantages of a world that functions in an economically supportive, positive thinking and co-operative manner, rather than in a competitive way, is becoming more and more visible for all to see. Of course, this was the basic premise of creating the European Community with a joint currency.
On March 24th the Sun shines a bright light on the innovative energy of Uranus in Aries while squaring Pluto in Capricorn. We are all likely to feel the power of these major planetary energies encouraging us as a collective to embrace the new as we continue to release old, outdated structures. If your Sun, Moon or Ascendant are around four degrees of Aries, Libra, Virgo, Pisces, Capricorn or Cancer, you will be more likely to feel an energetic shift at this time. Walking on soil near trees can help maintain grounding amid the changes.
Moving into the energies of April 2012
As the flowers start to blossom, Mars, the warrior, finally travels direct on April 13th, having been retrograde since Feb 7th. From November 2011, when it initially moved into the sign of Virgo, it has been encouraging us individually and as a collective to take action in a detailed, practical and analytical manner. Remaining in Virgo until July 2012, Mars in this sign brings our attention to our physical needs as well as those of Earth; reminding us that we are spiritual beings in human form. As it continues to travel opposite Neptune and Chiron in Pisces, it encourages us as a collective to manifest our healing ideals in concrete form, through being of service.
On April 15th the Sun opposes Saturn, the god of time, who is still in Libra. Shining a bright light on Saturn for one day, we are reminded of the need for balance in all things – particularly in our relationships and friendships.
Mercury goes direct on April 4th. Remaining in the watery imaginative sign of Pisces, it offers us time to create our dreams through our imagination, ready to shift into action when it joins Uranus in fiery Aries on April 17th.
May 2012 and an Annular Solar Eclipse
The planetary energies will be particularly active this month. On May 16th, the warrior Mars joins forces with Pluto the transformer, which is getting ready to form an exact square with the innovator Uranus in June. These powerful planetary alignments, which have been dancing with each other for quite a while, will require innovative action on a collective level to create new institutions and structures for the betterment of humanity.
On May 20th there will be an annular solar eclipse at zero degrees of Gemini. Due to its particularly distant position from Earth at this time, the Moon will appear smaller than the Sun and hence will not obscure the Sun completely like a total solar eclipse. Instead, there will be a visible ring of light around the Sun. Solar eclipses temporarily shade out the light of consciousness enabling us to access the wisdom held deep within our soul, beyond our rational mind.
As this is an annular rather than a total eclipse, the lunar realm of our emotional, unconscious and a more in-depth self merges with our rational conscious thinking self; enabling a new third creation to emerge. This new creation will be deeply connected with the meaning of the sign of Gemini. Gemini in essence is concerned with bridging dimensions, networking, sharing ideas, travelling, bartering, trading, playing and communicating. Gemini is also the trickster – in that our mind creates our reality through stories we tell ourselves, which in turn become our ‘truth’. Represented by the twins in mythology, the sign of Gemini has two different sides that seek integration and expression like in the myth of Castor and Pollux. Due to the fact that one of them was human and one was divine, they were separated at death. Hearing their pleas to be reunited, Zeus, the King of the Gods, allowed them to alternate their time between heaven and earth. The Sabian symbol for this degree of Gemini is, ‘a glass-bottomed boat reveals undersea wonders.’ As we move further towards the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012 and the start of a new era, we are increasingly invited to embrace harmony on all levels versus duality and polarity.
The eclipse in Ireland will be from 9.56pm on Sunday May 20th to 3.49am on Monday May 21st. It won’t be visible from our island. Even though we will all resonate with the eclipse, it is more likely to feel particularly powerful from three months before to three months after this date if your Sun, Moon or Ascendant are at zero degrees of Gemini or Sagittarius.
As we continue to co-create with the planetary energies these simple words from A Course in Miracles may be helpful: “You are in the room to heal the room. You are in the space to heal the space. There is no other reason for you to be here.”
Margaret Gray offers psychological astrology consultations, seminars and workshops in Ireland, Hawaii and California.
For further information see: www.astrologypsychological.com or email margaret@astrologypsychological.com
If positive thinking and living is important to you, perhaps you’d like to connect with us on facebook and see daily inspirational quotes in your busy news feed. Or subscribe to our magazine here.
