Learning Astrology and Reverb

I've learned astrology from a number of amazing astrologers/teachers. I've learned it from formal classes, from drop in groups, from one on one lessons, from readings (a great way to learn because then you are exposed to the astrologer's thought process, which fascinates me), from talking with others who also love this stuff, from doing readings, and from books.

Last night I was listening to a tape of a class I was in last year and my teacher was talking about the echo effect of aspects. Reverberation. (Did I spell that right?)

That even when an aspect has passed the exact degree as well as heading out of orb, the effect may not only still be felt, but may be quite strong!

I know that was the case with transiting Mars square my natal Pluto that I wrote about before. The most intense manifestation of that difficult aspect for me was when the aspect was separating. Hmm. It's the separation that was so hard! It was fighting to hang on!

And I think it may be different for each person and each transit as well as where the person feels it, whatever the transit, whatever the house, whatever the theory.

Ultimately how transits affect you is personal to you. Yes, there are accepted meanings and plenty of books and teachers to share those, and often they do figure in. But there is always nuance because you are special....

And this is what I love about astrology: it's where knowledge and intution meet.

So in the sky is an applying Mars/Pluto opposition. If you were sitting in front of me, I would ask you where Gemini/Cancer and Sag/Capricorn are in your chart... and we'd go from there. We'd find out how this powerful aspect will feel to you...

For me, it's 10th house (Mars) and 4th House (Pluto). I don't have too many planets at low degrees (to aspect the Mars/Pluto opposition), but I do have asteroid Hera at 1 degree Taurus, my nodes in Virgo/Pisces at 3 degrees, and... Uranus at 4 degrees of Libra. Hmm...

I'll get back to you on this one... and will hope for a swift moving Mars.

back to saturn, back in charge?

Saturn is going to conjuct my Ascendent this summer.

My Iowa astrologer said, "It means you're back in charge." I like her view. But I'll definitely let you know how it goes... if I feel in charge! Or just somber, since it will go on to join my Moon...

This weekend I'm going to talk to someone about her Saturn Return. She's just about done with it. Are the challenges over? I look forward to hearing about her experience. I was unaware of this stuff when I was her age. Funny, that phrase "when I was her age." That, too, is Saturn.

They say Saturn teaches us what we need to learn.

In your life, when you feel stuck, which planet do YOU blame ;)

Does Neptune make you feel foggy and confused?
Does Pluto unearth what you'd rather leave hidden?
And Uranus? Expect the unexpected.

Jupiter is the "great benefic" and makes things big, but what if it's Jupiter (expansion) and Mars (energy/anger/sex). It depends on the situation, doesn't it? That's where timing comes in, which leads me back to Saturn.

Maybe you (whoever is reading this, astrology fan or dazed reader who walked in here by accident, or beloved friend I sent a link to) don't think about the planets at all. It's possible. But, you see, they think of you. Astrology is just one way, one really cool way, one set of symbols, archetypes, metaphors... to help you understand you better.

I usually don't feel each and every transit, especially if they are quick ones... and the outer planets take their time. It's not one thing, boom, and it's over. It's energy, cycles of energy. And change.

What did the eclipse bring you?

Yes, I realize I'm writing an Astro-Diary. A little love life, a dash of daily routine, a helping of philosophical confusion. And some pictures of the city, the city, the city.

The planets are poetic for me. The metaphors resonate with me. And the technology boggles my mind. Even Blogger. This evening I tried to add something to my template and just couldn't succeed...

So here I am in my noisy neighborhood, blogging for who reads.

Searching mind for astrological tidbit and coming up with nothing. I've worked hard today on other things.... the positions of the planets will have to catch up with me tomorrow. Perhaps this malaise is post-eclipse malaise? A weary-mind after that intense energy? Maybe. What is needed to get in touch with the self, with Spirit? Meditation, yes. Prayer, yes. A quiet room, yes.

And it snowed today. Snowed and snowed and snowed. Perhaps that was also post-eclipse response, New York City style. Just cover everything, just dampen everything, just slush it all up, just make it so mud-wonderful, puddle-luscious (apologies to e.e. cummings)...

What did the eclipse bring you?

Snow

No post today (yet)... just snow.

Love Squared

There was a moment today when I suddenly felt acutely lonely. You see, I have a special person in my life but our relationship is long distance in more ways than one: I have a Venus Saturn square. He has a Venus Saturn opposition. And that's just part of the story.

At the moment neither of us is doing our "negative" Venus (love/value) Saturn (restriction/fear) . We are being sweet and caring and attentive. I feel lucky and blessed to have him (our Jupiters are conjunct). But we also have squares. Squares and squares and squares. This makes for some tension. An up side to this is that the squares are in cardinal signs. So we can move through it.

But sometimes the astrology doesn't explain it all. There is something that happens between people that goes beyond human interpretation. Or understanding. It's mystery. (It's the High Priestess of the Tarot:)

Some connections, some spirits must meet up, God knows why.

I was on the phone this morning with a friend and she said "squares ARE a connection."

At the time I didn't reconze the depth of what she said, how true it was.

So the hard aspects can bring people together just as the softer aspects do. But will these aspects keep them together...

How I Love Thee Sun Venus

Sun Venus conjunct is my favorite "personal" aspect. What I mean is this: I drawn to folk who have this configuration in their birth charts and recently looked at the charts of two ex-boyfriends and they both had it! (Although in different signs and houses.)

Now a fellow astrologer I respect (never met him though) says he doesn't like this aspect. He also has it in his chart. He says his Sun burns up that Venus. And I'd heard something similar before.

Well, I can't and won't dispute how it feels for him.

But for me it's a magnetic attraction. I'm pulled in. That Sun Venus creates a cloud of loveliness around the person.

My meditation instructor also has this aspect in his chart, in Aries in the Eighth House. From the moment I met him, I wanted to be his friend. His manner was so warm and welcoming. And so real. And I suppose my Moon Pluto conjunction is always comfy with Eighth House people.

To be continued...

Sexy Saturn

The Ninth House bores me. I have Saturn there. Travel? I'm a Cancerian homebody. Foreign culture? Okay sure, that's fine. I have friends from around the world. Religion, God? Yeah, I'm with you there. I think about God a lot. Philosophy of life? Okay. But my Saturn is in Taurus. I get kind of fixed. Fixated. Higher education? I have my MFA. Publishing? Anyone who knows me knows I do another kind of writing and am frustrating by publishing. I feel restricted, to say the least. I did publish when I first graduated then I stopped trying for some years. Now I am trying again. It's slow going. Thanks Saturn.

Saturn is the teacher. Saturn is serious. Saturn is authority (thus, the police officer posted above).

Saturn, they say, is your work. Saturn, they say, makes you work. Some even say there will be reward for all this work. IF you work. If you learn your lesson. Saturn, dear Saturn, always has a lesson.

My astrologer in Iowa (yes, astrologers need other astrologers!) tells me that Saturn does not deny you (I can hear her voice saying this) but it does delay.

And it's a funny little karma (karma also is Saturn): this thing I long for so much, this thing I value (Venus) squares my Saturn (restriction) in the 9th house of publishing.

Saturn is not sexy. Pluto is, hell yes. Maybe even Uranus with its weird tastes and sudden excitements. Neptune while not so sexy is larger than life, supersize spirituality, illusion and delusion.

But Saturn? No. Not sexy.