By Margaret Gray MSW D. Psych. Astrology

“We are born at a given moment in a given place and, like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season in which we are born.”
C.G. Jung

The sign your Sun was in at the moment of your birth does not determine who you are. It merely offers you useful information on how to most easily access what you chose to learn in this particular incarnation, as well as the tools and resources at your disposal. It is in reconnecting with what our core journey is fundamentally about that we find true meaning and purpose in life.

Although the Sun in each sign has a set of characteristics intrinsic to its nature, we each have a wide scope of possibilities and choices as to how to express these characteristics. Understanding and integrating our Sun sign in a conscious manner is a life long process for most of us, requiring us to embark on the Hero’s Journey, thereby, heeding the call to adventure.

There are two main approaches to understanding the characteristics of the Sun as it moves through the 12 signs of the Zodiac wheel:

• as a circular developmental process from Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, representing birth and the courage to launch into the unknown, to the last sign of Pisces, representing the wisdom accumulated from the previous 11 signs.

• as a pair of signs in opposition to each other, mirroring and seeking integration and balance. This is the approach I am going to use for the purpose of this article…

The full article can be found in the Autumn 2010 issue of our print magazine, OUT NOW. Look for it in your local health stores and holistic centres, or subscribe to have it delivered direct to your doorstep every season.

Here Comes the Sun… Like the ever popular Beatles song, we associate the summer months with the Sun entering its warmest and brightest phase, reminding us of the crucial importance of this shining white star for our very existence on planet Earth. In recognition of its value and centrality in our world, major civilizations such as the Aztec and Inca revered the Sun as a supreme force and deity. Here in Ireland, the ancient burial mound at Newgrange, created to allow the winter solstice rays to shine through, is a reminder of our deep connection with the powerful regenerative light of this bright star.

Astrologically, the position of the Sun in our birth chart is of fundamental importance, describing core characteristics that can assist us in re-connecting with our authentic soul self in this lifetime.# In Medical Astrology, the Sun is associated with our vitality and heart, which in ancient times was deemed to be the seat of the soul. On a psychological level, the Sun works in tandem with its sister luminary: the Moon. By encouraging our internal progressive urge to separate and individuate, it enables growth and creative expression, counteracting the regressive pull of the Moon to remain in the comforting safe womb-like waters of the known and familiar. Archetypically, we are in the realms of Father and the Animus.#

Over the next few editions of Positive Life, I am going to explore the underlying astrological, psychological and spiritual meanings of the Sun in each sign of the zodiac, suggesting ways you might express the potential of this energy as brightly as possible in every aspect of your life. In fully expressing your individual Solar light at its highest level, you allow others to fully shine too, thereby enhancing life on this planet for all of us. It also offers you the possibility of manifesting your soul purpose and completing what you undertook to do in this lifetime.

What determines your Sun sign?

Viewed from our position on planet Earth, the zodiac signs describe the arrangement of prominent constellations of fixed stars which line the ecliptic.# As far back as Babylonian times, the patterns of the fixed stars on the 360° circle of the ecliptic were named after the shapes they appeared to make in the sky – mostly animals. Each of these shapes/signs was allocated 30°. Hence, your Sun sign is deemed to fall between 0° and 29° of a particular sign.#

Your Sun sign by Element

The first step in exploring your individual Sun sign is the macro level of the “Element” it is in. There are four elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water, and each of the 12 signs of the Zodiac belongs to one of the four with three signs in each. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are in Fire. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are in Earth. Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are in Air, and Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are in Water. The sign your Sun is in determines the element of your Sun, giving it numerous overall characteristics which are shared to some degree with the other two signs in your element.

These characteristics can be more easily understood by observing the elements in nature. When I lived in LA for a year, I remember standing on my balcony watching in mesmerized shock at the smoke from the fires that were swooping through southern California; awestruck by the heat, speed and seemingly uncontrollable unpredictability of this dramatic demonstration of excess fire. This was in stark contrast to my experience of sitting in Ireland by a warm coal fire, feeling a sense of hypnotic comfort as I watched the flames flicker happily and safely in the contained solidness of the fireplace.

Sun in Fire

If you were born with your Sun in the element of Fire (Aries, Leo or Sagittarius), your essential nature is likely to contain several of the following characteristics: courage, wilfulness, impatience, impulsivity, honesty, warmth, excitement and outspokenness.  You are also more likely to have a tendency to be adventurous, easily bored, action-oriented, direct, freedom-loving, outspoken, trusting, intuitive, enterprising, romantic and a natural leader and pioneer. The essence of Fire is to be future-oriented, and hence, Hope is a necessity. When shining at its brightest, the Sun in Fire can be inspirational, enthusiastic and immensely courageous and creative. If the Sun in Fire is not owning its own power and inner authority, it will not be able to shine fully and instead may appear to become a passive victim, seething internally in frustration and perceived impotency, like a volcano ready to erupt. The eruption, when it comes, can be explosive; demanding attention at all costs and burning all that lies in its path.

Sun in Earth

If you were born with your Sun in the element of Earth (Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn), your essential nature will have different characteristics to Fire, including a natural tendency to be grounded, stable, practical, efficient, patient, humble, productive, realistic, contained, disciplined, enduring, persevering, cautious and dependable. The natural tendency of earth is to be in the concrete reality of the here and now, relying on the security of the familiar versus the anxiety of the unknown. When shining at its brightest, the Sun in Earth, with its innate knowledge of the needs and cycles of nature, ensures that we nurture and care for the human form we have incarnated in and our home here on planet earth. If the Sun in Earth is not grounded in its power, it can become rigid and inflexible, preventing and blocking rather than supporting growth in self and others.

Sun in Air

If you were born with your Sun in the element of Air (Gemini, Libra or Aquarius), your essential nature is likely to include several of the following: a rational approach to life, a strong emphasis on fairness and equality, social tolerance, experimentation, discovery and the seeking of ethics and justice. The Sun in Air thrives on communication and the exchange of ideas, attempting at all times to find and understand new systems and patterns in the universe. Like the element of Fire, Air is changeable and fast, thriving on all that is new, enjoying the potential of the future rather than the mundaneness of the present. When shining at its brightest, the Sun in Air attempts, like Prometheus, to evolve humanity beyond our basic instincts through the powerful use of our mind. If the Sun in Air is not centered, it can forget that we are made up of body and spirit as well as mind and that all three need to develop in tandem to allow for evolution to take place in a balanced manner.

Sun in Water

If you were born with your Sun in the element of Water (Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces), your essential nature is likely to contain several of the following: sensitivity, emotional courage, loyalty, caution, tenacity, empathy, fluid boundaries and emotional depths. The Sun in Water seeks connection of an emotional kind, communicating primarily on a non-verbal level. This is the deep watery realm inhabited by mermaids where the logical mind has little use. When shining at its brightest, the Sun in Water is immensely creative, imaginative and spiritual, flowing easily in a compassionate manner amidst the complex preverbal realms of our emotions. When the Sun in water disconnects from its inner power, it can swing between flooding and freezing, emotionally invading or detaching from anything and anyone near it. In an attempt to re-connect with the spirit and creativity it seeks, the Sun in Water can resort to using mere substances as an unsatisfactory substitute.

In the next edition, our Solar exploration will take us through your individual Sun Sign.

Legal Copyright of Margaret Gray April 2010 – No part of this article may be used or reproduced without my express written permission.

By Margaret Gray
Copyright 2010

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn

“A Wave in Physics = a periodic motion or disturbance consisting of a series of many oscillations that propagate through a medium or space, as in the propagation of sound or light.”
Webster’s Dictionary

2010 – The Waves are Here

We often use the word “waves” to describe movement, particularly that of sound, light, heat, emotion and water. For those of us who love the ocean, waves are an unending source of pleasure. Staring in trance-like fashion at breakers rolling in, our body resonates at a deep primal level with the motion of the water, knowing instinctively that even the calmest, gentlest wave could become a tsunami of immense life-taking force in a matter of minutes.

Similarly, we live with the daily transits/movements of the planets in the sky, aware on some level that their energies affect us individually and collectively, yet relatively undisturbed by their ebb and flow until they either impinge on our birth chart or come into contact with each other, creating powerful waves which impact the collective as a whole.

The summer of 2010 is a peak time for these compelling waves which have been building since 2008 and will continue to 2012 and beyond. The question is not how to stop the waves, or how to avoid them, paralyzed in fear of their strength, but rather how best to surf them as individuals and as a collective in a conscious, aware manner as we face major crosscurrents on our evolutionary journey towards 2012 and beyond.

In the past four editions, I have described the nature of the main planetary configurations which are active in the sky between 2008 and 2012. Now I am going to summarize the main themes of the transits in 2010 with a focus on Ireland, keeping in mind that the movements of the planets, like the ocean waves, often overlap each other, making it almost impossible to separate the effect of one from the other.

1.    The weighing of collective structures on the Scales of Justice – revisiting 1982

February 1982 was the starting point for a planetary cycle, which at its broadest is concerned with rebalancing fairness, justice, ideals and ethics in our individual and collective lives. The planets Saturn (the god Cronos) and Pluto (the god Hades) joined forces at this time in the sign of Libra, initiating a dance that is now embarking on its final quarter in preparation for its demise and rebirth in 10 years time. Looking back to events, circumstances, relationships and choices made at the seeding time of the transit in 1982, both personally and in the collective at large, can help you become more aware of what the core issues were and continue to be throughout the lifetime of this transit. For anyone with the sun between 22 degrees and 29 degrees in Libra, Aries, Capricorn or Cancer, 1982 was a particularly important time in your life related to your identity and vocation.

Collectively, some of the main events connected with the theme of fairness, justice and ethics at the start of this transit in 1982 included:
–    The European Court of Human Rights ruled that teachers who caned, belted or hit children against the wishes of their parents were in breach of the Human Rights Convention. This brought to an end the use of corporal punishment in schools in Ireland, although it did not protect children from chastisement within the family.
–    The Falkland Invasion – Ireland declared its neutrality in the matter.
–    Women organised peace protests at Greenham Common with a lot of support from Irish women.
–    In Ireland, 20,000 people across the country marched in protest at Income Tax and PRSI changes.
–    Garret Fitzgerald announced his resignation and Charles Haughey became Taoiseach in Ireland, strengthening the power of Fianna Fail.
–    A brief but severe recession began in the US.

There were also some interesting natural occurrences:
–    Temperatures plummeted to a record low in the UK and the USA and there were heavy rains followed by mudslides and El Nino in ‘83.

The basic themes of justice and fairness are being revisited by all of us between Nov 2009 and Aug 2010, with an emphasis on the structures we have built, from our human bodily structure to our collective societal structures. In the words of Liz Greene, “These planets allow the possibility of the most profound perception of the truth of who we are.”

2.    Innovative Awakening and Action

In May 2010, the planet Uranus (the god Prometheus) moves from the sign of Pisces to Aries for the first time since 1935, connecting in the process with Saturn and Pluto. This powerful force in the heavens is further expanded by Jupiter (Zeus) in June 2010 when he moves alongside Uranus. This initial visit by Uranus in the first sign of the zodiac is likely to make a dynamic impact. One of my favourite sayings for the planet Uranus is, “Expect the unexpected!”  In Aries, the focus is on action and initiative. However, combined with the innovative Promethean energy of the mind and ideas as well as idealism, Uranus in this fire sign in aspect to Saturn and Pluto could greatly assist us to find innovative, far-reaching, ethical ways of using our minds to enhance humanity. This would seem a much better option than using the Martian energy to fight against each other in a fruitless, fearful effort to win a battle which could ultimately destroy us all.

In the chart of Ireland for 1949 (the Creation of the Republic), we have our Sun, Mars, Venus, Mercury and North node in Aries. Uranus moving into Aries could potentially re-ignite our natural skills as courageous pioneers, leaders and innovators as well as artists and writers.

3.    Understanding and Healing our Spiritual Wounds

In May 2010, Chiron, the wounded healer/centaur, will briefly dip his toes into Pisces, offering the possibility of a greater understanding of the woundedness that has arisen from our separation from source. Pisces offers the possibility of healing through the imagination, compassion and a spirituality that is all encompassing rather than divisive. Chiron then returns back to Aquarius to travel with Neptune (Dionysus), whom he has accompanied faithfully for over a year. In the Irish chart of 1949, Chiron is in Sagittarius, indicating, at a basic level, a wounding to our nation from religious/philosophical beliefs that did not feel true for us. In quoting Marian Woodman, who describes substance abuse as a “search for the spirit”, we are drawn to ask if our high rate of substance abuse in Ireland is indeed related to the loss of our connection with an authentic spiritual source.

If this is the case, the transit offers Ireland the healing potential to reconnect with our deep, spiritual, creative muse, removing forever the label of victim, together with the blame and shame that has haunted us for centuries, thus reclaiming our authentic label as healers. (Hallelujah! – Ed.)

4.    The Time is Now

The two peak times for planetary activity this year will be July 30th 2010 and August 6th 2010, when the major slower planets in the sky are joined by the smaller faster ones to form stressful configurations in the cardinal signs of Aries, Libra and Capricorn. Imagine the smaller currents in the ocean joining up with larger ones. Mercury (communication) will oppose Neptune and Chiron, offering the opportunity for greater understanding. Mars (action) will join Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron, whilst Venus (self-value and relating) joins Mars, bringing attention to our relationships. The Moon in Cancer also joins in on Aug 6th, adding an emotional dimension to already churning waters.

Conclusion

This is, in all probability, the most powerful year (planetary-wise) that most of us are likely to experience in our lifetime. The actual manifestation of these energies is not possible to determine, as the choices we each make play a large part in the outcome. The challenge is, in part, holding the conflict between our relative insignificance and our unique and individual, vital contribution as co-creators on our planet and beyond.

Pluto in Capricorn urges us to take responsibility for our authenticity in all that we are and do. Uranus in Aries encourages us to stretch our mind beyond what we construe as limitations. Chiron in Pisces reminds us of our connection to something greater which we can access through our imagination and spirituality. Saturn in Libra urges us to pay heed to fair ethics. This is an ideal time in Ireland to let go of our guilt, fear and rage towards ourselves and others. The changes we are encountering with the planetary movements need the steadfast tenacity, courage, entrepreneurship, leadership and creativity that have made us one of the most loved nationalities in all corners of the globe. Most of all, they require us to keep our heart and mind open as we surf the planetary waves to the best of our ability.

Due to the nature of the Transits of 2010, like many other astrologers I have set up a blog to maintain an open dialogue during the year.

For more details, visit www.astrologypsychological.com or email Margaret@astrologypsychological.com

Margaret Gray is a professional Psychological Astrologer with a consulting practice in Ireland, Hawaii and California. She teaches internationally, both independently and on behalf of the CPA worldwide. Margaret is the book reviewer for the ISAR journal and a member of the APAI, ISAR and the Ast. Ass. UK.
Whilst in Ireland, Margaret is based at Oscailt integrative Health Centre www.oscailt.com

“What we have ignored or denied inwardly will then more likely come to us as outer fate.”
Carl Jung

The transit of Pluto in Capricorn on Individuals and the Collective
One of astrology’s most helpful functions is to offer us, as individuals and as a collective, a map to assist us in understanding and working with the evolution of life. It does not determine the outcome – it merely describes the energies/patterns which the cosmos offers as an aid to our development. In understanding the current planetary energies, we become more aware of the collective and personal arenas that require our attention. As humans we are gifted with free will, enabling us at all times to make choices for our highest good or not.

In the last edition, I described how the planet Pluto affects us as individuals and as a collective as it moves through the different signs of the zodiac. In this edition, I am focusing on its current impact in the earth sign of Capricorn.

What does the sign Capricorn represent?
Capricorn, like the two other astrological earth signs, Taurus and Virgo, fundamentally represents the world of matter. As in nature, the astrological element of earth is about the material, visible, concrete plane. Capricorn in particular is about underlying structures and foundations. Physiologically, Capricorn and its planetary ruler Saturn rule the knees. The knees enable us to move forward in life. If our bones and knees lack calcium they cannot hold our body, yet if they calcify and become rigid we cannot move. Ultimately, lasting structures need the strength to endure and yet also the flexibility to sway with change. Fear, leading to stasis, is one of Capricorn’s greatest challenges, which is best surmounted through tenacity – one of its greatest strengths. Like its zodiac symbol the mountain goat, Capricorn expects to work hard, repeatedly climbing steep mountains with a load on its back in a steady unremitting manner, forgoing any short cuts. This sign enjoys recognition and status for its achievements whilst maintaining a modest unassuming demeanour.

So how does Pluto moving through this sign impact us collectively?
In travelling through this sign, Pluto shines a torch on all that is inauthentic in our collective structures and infrastructures. This includes capitalism, which is a cornerstone of western financial structures. The issue of true authority at macro and micro levels also comes under scrutiny. Other Capricornian collective areas include our sense of roots and belonging, as well as ownership of land and property. The use and misuse of our basic resources is highlighted during this transit, including metals and ores, food and water.
As a collective we are challenged with a fundamental question: have we built solid/real foundations in these areas – are they too rigid or too weak?  Do they serve their true purpose?

How can we best work with Pluto in Capricorn as individuals, particularly with current global collective changes impacting most of us in our daily lives?

·    Capricorn takes us back to basics, hence it is a good time to do an “NCT” on our physical body, remembering we are human earth-bound creatures – check out any symptoms you have avoided. Look after the basics of your physical self – sleeping, eating, resting and relaxing as well as working hard.

·    Check out what is authentic in the structures of your own life including your home – is it where you want to live? Does it need any repairs?  Who lives with you? Who lives around you?

·    Your finances – What does money mean to you?  How do you earn your living?  Is it authentic to you?  Are you taking full responsibility for your finances or have you handed financial responsibility over to someone else?

·    Where in your life are you growing and developing and where are you stagnating? Is fear holding you back in any area of your life?  Where do you need to rebuild foundations? Are you using duty or guilt to hold you back from moving forward in parts of your life?

This is an excellent time to build on your authentic sense of self, moving away from any blame, shame or guilt to real self-empowerment. This includes an awareness of the vast amount of choices available to each of us and the real strength and freedom that comes from taking full responsibility for our choices.

Understanding the potential impact of Pluto moving through Capricorn if your Sun, Moon or Ascendant is in Capricorn

If your Sun is in Capricorn, your sense of self, identity and vocation will go through a time of immense transformation at some point over the next 15 years.   There is huge potential for authentic self-empowerment and strengthening of your true self. Your relationship with your internalized archetype of father is also going to change during this time, freeing you up to fully connect with your own internal sense of authority.

If your Moon is in Capricorn, the transformation is in your emotional life. During this time you will discover a deeper layer of what truly nurtures you.  This is a good time to be on your own and in nature to process your feelings and your relationships. This transit is likely to help you release unresolved emotional issues to do with your childhood and your relationship with your mother archetype.

If your Ascendant is in Capricorn, your approach to life is going to undergo a major transformation, offering you the opportunity to make real choices in how you wish to go forward in life. Although your natural ability to work hard and have clear boundaries is unlikely to change, you will allow a lighter approach to life to also surface.

In the final section on the 2012 transits in the next edition of Positive Life I will summarise the overall transits leading up to 2012 with an overview of how we might work with these energies individually and as a collective.

Margaret Gray  MSW Dip. Psych. Astrology
Tel. 0858144135 (Ireland)
8087827953 (Hawaii)
Website: www.astrologypsychological.com
Margaret@astrologypsychological.com

Margaret Gray is a professional Psychological Astrologer with a consultation practice in Ireland, Hawaii and California. She teaches internationally on behalf of the CPA worldwide and independently. Margaret is also the book reviewer for the ISAR journal and a member of the APAI, ISAR and the Astrology Association.
In Ireland Margaret is based at Oscailt integrative Health Centre.

Copyright of  Margaret Gray February 2009
No part of this can be reproduced without my written permission

“What is unconscious will either be repressed or projected.”
James Hollis – The Eden Project

Last, but by no means least, in this series on the transits of 2012, is a discussion of the impact – individually and collectively – of the planet Pluto in the sign of Capricorn, where it is currently located. In this edition, I am going to look at Pluto’s characteristics as a planet and a mythological god. I will then outline the themes of Pluto in some of the preceding signs as it affects you in your natal chart. In the next edition, I will discuss the impact of Pluto in Capricorn collectively, particularly on the financial structures. I will also look at this transit in the context of the overall transits of 2010 and 2012.

Understanding Pluto – also known as Hades, the god of the underworld

Despite astronomers demoting Pluto from being a planet, it still remains one of the most powerful astrological forces in our birth chart and in the collective. Together with the other transpersonal planets, Uranus and Neptune, Pluto’s task is to assist us as humans on our evolutionary journey of transformation. Each planet has its own manner of doing so. Plutonian energy is a raw and primitive force, which cuts out all that is inauthentic or unnecessary.  In our birth chart, it can be our greatest strength if we understand and respect what it requires of us.

Mythology is a useful tool in assisting us to understand the nature of these deep archetypal forces, which we often struggle to access on a conscious level.  Hades, who rules Pluto, was the god of the underworld – that which is below visible earth or psychologically, which lies in our unconscious. It is important to keep in mind that our unconscious holds our creative energy as well as our shadow side. It is in the deepest caves that gold and diamonds are found. Hence, Pluto, in our natal chart by sign and position, describes the area of life where we need to do some digging to discover our hidden treasures, as well as our fears and complexes.

On the Islands of Hawai’i, Pluto is represented by Pele, the goddess of volcanoes. Like Hades, she symbolizes endings, transformation and regeneration. Last summer when I was back on the Big Island teaching astrology, I went to watch Kilauea as she spouted lava into the ocean and the sky. We all stood in awe, spontaneously clapping at this magnificent sight, aware that we were in the presence of a natural, primitive, unstoppable force, which was at once beautiful, yet deadly if we went too close.

As Pluto moves in the sky through the signs of the horoscope, his task is to bring to light and eliminate that which is inauthentic, outworn and outdated in each of the signs; to make room for something new and authentic to be reborn. Like a finely honed scalpel, Pluto removes that which we no longer need. Because of its elliptic orbit in the sky, Pluto remains a different length of time in each sign, initially going back and forth from the previous sign to the new one, before it settles for a lengthy period of time in its new home. I have listed below the dates when Pluto was in different signs with an outline of some of the issues that were brought to light and transformed for individuals and the collective during these times.

Collectively, for the purpose of transformation, Pluto brought the following issues to light.  If you were born during this time, your task is to explore, challenge, understand and transform the following:

Cancer

26 May 1914 – Oct 7 1937

Nov 25 1937 – Aug 3 1938

Feb 7 1939 – June 14 1939

World War 1.

The role of women, “the family” and outworn traditions.

Issues concerning “family” and nurturing.

Leo

Oct 7 1937 – Nov 25 1937

Aug 3 1938 – Feb 7 1939

June 14 1939 – Oct 20 1956

Jan 15 1957 – Aug 19 1957

April 11 1958 – June 10 1958

Public knowledge of the Holocaust and other deeds perpetrated by dictators and the wider collective during and post World War 2.

The use and misuse of individual power.

The use of individual power for yourself and the collective around you.

Virgo

Oct 20 1956 – Jan 15 1957

Aug 19 1957 – April 11 1958

June 10 1958 – Oct 5 1971

April 17 1972 – July 30 1972

Information about the destruction of the ozone layer first came to public attention, as well as a disillusion with medical science and a growth in “holistic therapies”.

The issue of our destructive impact on the planet due to a disconnection between mind/body/heart/soul.

How all the parts are interconnected and how to work towards using resources efficiently to heal rather than destroy.

Libra

Oct 5 1971 – April 17 1972

July 30 1972 – Nov 5 1983

May 18 1984 – Aug 28 1984

Increased awareness of marital breakdowns. HIV and AIDS came to light and was used initially as a Homophobic tool.

Relationships, fairness, equality and inequality, justice and prejudice.

Finding balance within and outside of self. Real justice based on fairness and equality. Relationships based on equality.

Scorpio

Nov 5 1983 – May 18 1984

Aug 28 1984 – Jan 17 1995

April 21 1995 – Nov 10 1995

The extent of sexual abuse of children, by family members in particular, became public knowledge.

The use and abuse of power and the betrayal of trust. The misuse of sexual behaviour.

The creative and constructive use of your primal survival instincts.

Sagittarius

Jan 17 1995 – April 21 1995

Nov 10 1995 – Jan 26 2008

June 14 2008 – Nov 27 2008

Collective financial expansion involving technological advances and cheap travel. Polarisation in the name of religion and philosophy.

The authenticity of religious beliefs and institutions, which we created as a collective. The purpose and consequences of technological advances.

Your beliefs and philosophy as well as your personal freedom.

On an individual level, the sign Pluto was in when you were born, describes issues which feel of the utmost importance to your survival and which you can potentially use to create transformation in the world. They are also issues which are likely to involve power struggles. Like Persephone, you may feel pulled into the underworld through these themes, particularly during your Pluto square Pluto transit at Mid-life (I will write about midlife transits in more detail in a later issue).

Join me in the next edition of Positive Life for a description of the effects of Pluto in Capricorn on the collective and on you as an individual.  For more info on me and Astrology, visit www.astrologypsychological.com

You may have noticed over the past few months a larger number of films about planet earth facing the brink of destruction. They aptly reflect the ability of writers, producers and directors to tap into potential choices facing us as a collective as we approach 2012.

In the last edition I described the clearing and healing that could take place with the transits of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter in Aquarius, as we gain insight and compassion at our shared humanity. You can view the complete article on the Positive Life website www.positivelife.ie

In this edition I am focusing on the planets Saturn and Uranus as they oppose each other in the sky in the signs of Virgo and Pisces between September 12, 2008 and May 27, 2010. This transit will feel particularly powerful on a personal level if your natal Sun, Moon or Ascendant are in the middle degrees of the signs of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius as the transit will affect your vocation, emotions, relationships, as well as your overall approach to life.

So who are these planets or gods?

Saturn, also known in classical mythology as the god Cronos, was an earthy deity who ruled the ”golden age” when all was in tune with the cycles of nature. His purpose is to assist us to manifest ideas and thoughts into concrete matter. Without the solid energy of Saturn this magazine would not be produced. However, Saturn’s energy can feel somewhat tiring as the part of our life he is visiting by transit, feels strewn with obstacles that only hard labour will overcome. For example, if Saturn lands on Mercury in our natal chart, we are asked to work at and incarnate something concrete to do with our communication/learning skills. This would be an excellent time to put effort into writing a book or embarking on a new course of study.

Uranus, (Prometheus in classical mythology), brought fire to humans, despite incurring the wrath of Zeus, in an effort to raise us beyond our instinctual realms. Unlike Saturn, Uranus belongs to the mental realms of Air, or the “Thinking function” as described by Carl Jung. Uranian energy is fast, erratic and jagged, somewhat like being plugged into an electric socket. For example, if transiting Uranus lands on Mercury in your birth chart, you are likely to feel that your mind is being awakened by new inspiring ideas and thought forms. This can feel very exciting but can also be disruptive to sleep and relaxation.

What is the potential impact of these two planets opposing each other?

A planetary opposition in the sky is like two gods sitting on opposite ends of a children’s seesaw. If they get on with each other by nature, they can both work together to find a balance point in the middle. However, if they don’t get on, one side will try to dominate the other. In mythology Saturn was the son of Uranus, who rejected all his children at birth as he felt they were not perfect enough. Saturn in turn killed his father. Energetically these two planets are very different. Whilst Uranus awakens us to the limitless possibilities of our mental faculties, Saturn reminds us of the limitations of our body, including our mortality. Hence as they travel through Virgo and the opposite sign of Pisces, we are experiencing as a collective on the one hand, a pull towards radical change and innovations in the arena of spirituality, the imagination and compassion and on the other hand, a pull towards creating something concrete at a steady solid pace in the arena of health, healing and education. When working in tandem Saturnian realism can ground Uranian idealism into something concrete and useful and Uranian innovative thinking can prevent Saturnian calcification. Hence, they can assist us in bringing about real changes individually and collectively in the arena of health and healing through our hearts and imagination as well as our minds.

How can we each work with these energies in a life-enhancing manner?

Saturn in Virgo requires hard work and self-honesty (without judgement). He reminds us to keep grounded and healthy in our bodies, avoid excesses, which throw us out of balance and remember that fun and humour are vital healing tools. Uranus in Pisces asks us to be innovative and make space for change and a further opening of our heart through using our mind in a new way.

Coming in the Next Edition:
Understanding Pluto in Capricorn and the current upheaval in world financial structures as well as dates for the major planetary configurations of 2010, which set the scene for 2012.

Copyright of Margaret Gray May 2009
No part of this may be reproduced without my written permission

Whilst in Ireland Margaret is based at Oscailt integrative Health Centre www.oscailt.com

There is a lot of interest at the moment in the astrological transits of 2012, particularly as they coincide with the ending of the Mayan calendar. As a Psychological Astrologer, one of my roles is to enable individuals to understand the planetary energies that are coming together in the sky over the next four years so that we can work with them in a creative and constructive manner. The manifestations of actual events will be dependant on the choices and decisions of each and every one of us as we are all deeply interconnected yet fundamentally individual.

Our birth chart is a snapshot of the arrangement of planets in the sky at the moment of our birth. Hence they are individual to everyone and everything born at that same moment in time. As the planets continue on their journey around the Sun, they form different configurations in the sky affecting all of us on a collective and individual level. The transpersonal planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which are further away from Earth, move very slowly around the sun. Hence, when they link up with each other in the sky they stay in those positions for a several years, affecting all of us during that period of time. The personal planets such as Mercury, Venus and Mars are closer to earth and visible to the naked eye. They move quite fast and their energies impinge on us for a shorter period of time.

The transits affect all of us on two levels:

On a collective level, as the energies come together in a variety of aspects/relationships, blending or challenging each other depending on the nature of the planet or god as well as the signs the planets are in. The sign the planet is in describes the manner in which the energy is expressed. For example: the planet Pluto, which is about transformation and regeneration has recently moved into the sign of Capricorn. As a collective we are experiencing fundamental upheaval and transformation (Pluto) in the structures (Capricorn) of our society.

On a personal level, the energies of the transit impinge directly on us when the planets land on sensitive points in our birth chart such as our Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter or Saturn, or the angles of our birth chart. In doing so they awaken that particular area of our life and we are invited to cross the threshold door into discovering more about our true nature. For example: for anyone with Venus in the early degrees of the sign of Capricorn, the planet Pluto will be sitting on your Venus right now. Hence the collective experience of transformation and regeneration will impinge on you in a personal way in the area of what you value and find beautiful, as well as how you relate.

So how can we work constructively with the transits?

Firstly, it is helpful to understand the nature of the planetary energies and what they require of us as they impact our birth chart and as they transit/travel in the sky. Planets, like the gods, ask us to work with them in the manner of their energy. In using the example above of the planet Pluto on your Venus, it is helpful to have an understanding of what Venus means to you in your chart. For example, is it in aspect (relationship) to other planets in your chart – maybe it is sitting next to Mars or Mercury? If so, what you value includes action (Mars) or communication (Mercury).

Secondly we need to be open to change, remembering that the purpose of the transits is to assist us with our evolution.

Over the next few editions of the magazine I am going to describe some of the planetary energies which will be transiting (travelling) in the sky over the next four years and how you might work with them overall and particularly if they wake up sensitive points in your natal chart. Like actors on a stage, these planets/gods will come on and off the stage to a greater or lesser degree leading up to 2012.

Introducing the planets Neptune , Chiron and Jupiter as they join forces in Aquarius

The first planets (gods) I am going to introduce are Neptune (Dionysus) and the centaur Chiron, as they have been travelling close together in the sign of Aquarius since 2008, leading up to an exact conjunction in Feb 2010. The planet Jupiter (Zeus) is also going to join them from May to August 2009 when they are almost conjunct (next to each other).

Neptune (Dionysus), as a planet, operates by dissolving that which it comes into contact with which is no longer needed. He belongs to the emotional watery realms of feelings, hopes and dreams, the world of the imagination and spirit. Neptune’s energy is pervasive and yet invisible – somewhat like dissolving a sugar cube in water – there and yet not there. Liz Greene describes Dionysus as spanning “the spiritually sublime world — as well as the mad ecstatic depths.”

In mythology, Chiron was the wounded healer whose father was Saturn, although he was fostered by the Sun god Apollo, who taught him the healing arts. Chiron was also the teacher of the children of the gods. Chiron’s work, as he travels around the sky and touches our individual charts, is to bring to the surface that which is wounded and imperfect, enabling us to find healing through understanding and compassion for others and ourselves.

Jupiter (Zeus) was Neptune’s father in mythology and he will be aligning himself closely to  Neptune and Chiron in the sky in 2009.  Zeus was the king of the gods and resided in the heavens. By transit he expands and inspires that which he comes into contact with.

So what is the impact of these three planets coming so close together over the next year? (All three will be in close proximity of each other from May – August 2009)

Together, Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter form a powerful combination, bringing changes to us as a collective in the areas of life which are connected with the sign of Aquarius. As they meet in this sign the changes we are all facing as a society are in the realms of ideals, ideologies and groups. Whatever is unfair and wounded in our collective is likely to surface. Neptune initially brings a mist of illusion, delusion and confusion. Hence, we may not be clear until the end of this transit where our real wounding lies as a collective. As a society, we are likely to experience a sense of longing for something that feels missing, a yearning for something beyond us, which we can most access through our imagination and our spirituality. The wounding brought about by substance abuse and spiritual practices which are not ethically grounded, are also likely to surface during this time.

As the planet Jupiter joins Neptune and Chiron in the sky, it will expand and enlarge the issues mentioned above. Jupiter also brings the gift of insight, if we listen. Hence, we will be offered the opportunity to gain insights individually and collectively as to what our society needs to help heal our wounds.

Will we all feel these energies in the same way?

The above description is the overall energetic feel for all of us as the planets come together. However, if they land on sensitive points in your birth chart, then these energies will feel more personal to you. For example: if your Sun sign is between 21’ – 29’ Aquarius, you are likely to feel that your sense of identity and vocation is somewhat confused during this time and that your ideals are changing. Similarly, if you have other planets in Aquarius or in the signs of Leo, Taurus or Scorpio.

How can we each work with these energies in a helpful way?

Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter respond well to paying attention to our dreams, making space for creative imaginative activities such as music, painting, writing, daydreaming, etc., engaging with our inner spirituality whatever that may be, staying grounded through connecting with nature, and mostly, having compassion for others and ourselves. Chiron asks us to accept our humanity and teach that which we have learnt along the way.  Neptune invites us into the imaginal and spiritual realms – not as a way to lose ourselves, but as a means to access our unconscious both individually and collectively. In unlocking those energies within us that are tied up to old patterns and complexes, we are freeing ourselves up to continue on our own evolutionary journey.

Our journey will continue in the next edition, as I discuss more of the transits leading up to the 2012 grand cross.

Margaret Gray  MSW Dip. Psych. Astrology
Tel. 085 8144135 (Ireland)
808 782 7953 (Hawaii)
Website: www.astrologypsychological.com
Margaret@astrologypsychological.com

Margaret Gray is a professional Psychological Astrologer with a consultation practice in Ireland, Hawaii and California. She teaches internationally on behalf of the CPA worldwide and independently. Margaret is also the book reviewer for the ISAR journal and a member of the APAI, ISAR and the Astrology Association.
In Ireland Margaret is based at Oscailt integrative Health Centre.

Workshops/talks and seminars

Los Angeles: March 1st 2009 – Discussion day on Pluto in Capricorn with Dr. Doug Davies in Beverly Hills

Dublin:  March  28th and 29th 2009– The ABC to Understanding the Basics of your Natal Chart at Oscailt

Dublin: April 2009 – 2 day experiential workshop: Reconnecting with your Vocation

Dublin: May 2009 –  Evening talk on “Understanding Creativity and Talent  in your birth Chart”

Chicago: Aug 2009 – ISAR conference: Lecture on Finding your Vocation during times of Redundancy and Job loss and changes

Hawaii: retreats and courses in Hawaii to be announced later in the year

Copyright of  Margaret Gray February 2009
No part of this can be reproduced without my written permission