Jupiter Opposite Uranus: Beginning December 19th

When the late, great David Bowie sang ch-ch-ch-changes, he may very well have been celebrating the transit of Jupiter opposite Uranus. The hallmark of this powerful transit, which begins today, is an irresistible urge to make major life changes. This transit lasts until January 22nd when Jupiter moves for a short time into Libra and then returns February 21 when Jupiter goes back into Virgo (retrograde) until March 14th when Uranus moves into Aries.

Jupiter opposite Uranus is famous for producing a driving force that feeds the desire to break free of anything that is holding us back or limiting our choices, be it an unhealthy relationship, a go-nowhere job, negative habits or a lack of education.

Change is never easy, so this transit can prove to be personally disruptive and emotionally challenging, but such is the cost of freedom—the rewards of a new life and new opportunities will easily outweigh any short-term discomfort. Make the most of the Jupiter opposite Uranus energy over the coming months by recreating your reality and expanding your horizons—embark on a project or self-development program you’ve been postponing, enroll in school, or take up yoga or meditation. Just make sure that if you do answer the Cosmic call for change, the change you make is directed toward improving your life and bringing you happiness.

We can show you how to get the most benefit from Jupiter opposite Uranus. Give us a call at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here. We’re here to help.

If there is a worthy cause you want to champion or an injustice you want corrected, now would be a good time to make your voice heard.

On December 9th, Mars moved into Aquarius, where it will remain until mid-January. Mars is a hotly enthusiastic, passionately goal-oriented planet and Aquarius is the sign renowned for social causes—which makes this an ideal transit to strive for positive change in the world, at work or in your neighbourhood.

The inclination to fight the good fight is being bolstered by the current exchange of positive energy between two benefic planets—Mercury, which is in Sagittarius, and Jupiter, which is transiting in Virgo. On top of that, Saturn (which rules Aquarius) is presently in Mars-ruled Scorpio, so its steely Saturnine determination and self-discipline are readily available to any noble battle launched while Mars is passing through Aquarius.

The only cautionary note at this juncture is to tread softly. Aquarius is an air sign, and air can easily feed the fiery temperament of Mars—their combined energy is like nitroglycerin—extremely powerful but highly volatile. So, if you do set out to make a difference or right wrongs during the next month, be careful not to make matters worse by enflaming tempers. Be calm instead of combative when dealing with others, and peaceful instead of provocative when your opinions are challenged. Remember, you don’t have to shout to make your voice heard.

To learn how you can most benefit from the transit of Mars in Aquarius, give us a call at 866-428-3799 or book a consultation by clicking here. We’re here to help.

 

Did you find this article helpful? Leave us a comment and let us know.

The holiday season may be rapidly approaching, but a particular current cosmic alignment suggests you put your party plans on hold and roll up your sleeves—there’s work to do.

On November 14th the Sun moved out of Libra and joined Saturn in the sign of Scorpio. For the next few weeks these two enemy planets—each a giant of the solar system—will grow closer to each to other, creating both conflict and opportunity.

Sun and Saturn are dynamic opposites: Sun is expansive, Saturn is restrictive. Sun likes to see us shine brightly, to fully and brilliantly express ourselves through our gifts, our unique talents and to celebrate our individual personality—in short, Sun wants us to be the life of the party. Saturn, on the other hand, does not appreciate frivolity and it is definitely not the party planet. Saturn is stern by nature and demands us to focus on serious matters at hand by being self-disciplined, structured, introspective and by diligently attending to our duties and responsibilities.

Saturn is a powerful task master and will be increasingly exerting its influence over the Sun until the two planets swing into direct conjunction on December 9th.  So, this transit definitely has the potential to knock the wind out of our sails. When the vibrancy of the extroverted Sun energy is roped in by dour Saturn we may feel isolated and alone, which could trigger a feeling of ennui or a case of the blues. The secret to making the Sun-Saturn conjunction a success is—as in most things—finding a proper balance.

Saturn forces us to take a hard and sober look at ourselves and our lives, to face up to reality and to pay attention to the Saturnine primary message: Know thyself. Saturn wants us to reexamine what is going on within us and answer some hard questions: Have we been neglecting our duties? Are there things or people in our lives and in ourselves that we have been ignoring that require our dedicated attention to improve and thrive? Answering these questions honestly could require us to take action—action that ranges from working harder at our jobs or vocations, renewing or deepening a spiritual practice, being more present in our home lives or going out of our way to dutifully care for a friend or family member in need. This means making sacrifice, which can be difficult and sometimes painful, but if we direct our Sun energy toward addressing any problems or shortcomings we discover during our self-examination, we will make huge improvements in our lives and the lives of others.

Therefore, while this can be a challenging transit, it is one that offers enormous practical, emotional and spiritual benefits. What better way to prepare for the holidays and ready ourselves for a new year?

After they fully conjunct on December 9th, the Sun will pull away from Saturn and be completely out of its sphere of influence by December 14th, when it enters Sagittarius.

Curious about the influence Saturn and Sun are exerting on your natal chart? Want to know how to derive the most benefit from the current Sun-Saturn conjunction? Give us a call at 866-428-3799 or book a consultation by clicking here. We are here to help!

 

 Did you find this article helpful? Leave us a comment and let us know.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Cosmic Event

Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane. . . it’s Supermoon!

That’s right, today’s full moon is a supermoon, a term describing a full or new moon which, due to the moon’s ovoid orbit, is much closer to Earth than usual. And while supermoons are not that uncommon—this is the second of three this year—today’s supermoon is so special astronomers have dubbed it an “extra supermoon”. This is the closest the moon has been to us since 1948, and it won’t be this close again until November 2034. In other words, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event.

It will be hard to miss this cosmic spectacle—not only is the supermoon nearly 15 percent closer to Earth as a typical moon, it will appear 30 percent brighter in the night sky. But if for some reason you do miss the moon tonight, either because you’re too busy to look up or it’s too cloudy to catch a proper glimpse, you will experience its effect all the same. No matter how far away it is, the moon exerts enormous power on our planet and our lives—and right now that power is super charged.

Moon is all about the mind; it draws us into the collective unconscious and is interwoven with our deepest feelings, it is the seat of our imagination and the source of our creativity. And because it governs our five senses, it defines the way we view ourselves and interpret the world around us. If our Luna energy is out of whack, either in our hand or in our natal chart, our perception of reality can become distorted and wreak havoc in our lives.

So it is important to remain calm, collected and focused during this extra supermoon period—the intensified lunar pull can trigger a surge in mental activity, generate unexpected or even disturbing thoughts and stir our emotions. But if we manage to keep our composure, we can channel this extra burst of Luna energy into creative projects, such as writing, painting or music. And because Luna’s feminine energy is tied to memory and is naturally nurturing and sensitive, this could prove an excellent time to engage in loving and constructive activities with family.

Astrologically, the supermoon is at 29° Aries in the Nakshatra “Krittika”, which means “the cutter”. Krittika is a fiery nakshatra ruled by the Sun and replete with Sun’s qualities of ambition, courage and the urge to tackle large-scale projects. However, as all cutting instruments can be used to create or destroy, it is important to use caution and forethought if presently undertaking a major new project. This Nakshatra also offers us an opportunity for spiritual growth—one of the symbols for Krittika is a flame, a fire in which we can burn away karma and purify our soul.

If you would like to positively channel the energy of this full extra-supermoon, or want to know how the moon is affecting your hand or chart, call us at 866-428-3799 or click here to book an appointment. We are here to help.

 

 

 

 

Channeling the Warrior Energy

Most of us have a certain person or special place we visit that inspires us to be the best version of ourselves—someone or someplace that draws out our finest qualities and allows us to shine in the brightest, most positive light possible. The same holds true for the planets—each planet has one particular zodiac sign where it functions at its very best, where all of its gifts, strengths and virtues are fully on display, fully energized and most active—where, in astrological terms, it is exalted.

The planet Mars is exalted in the sign of Capricorn—through which it will be transiting from October 30th until December 9th. This is good news, especially for those with Mars in Capricorn in their natal chart.

Fiery Mars is the planet of action; it is a rugged, fiercely independent individualist that exudes confident, self-assured energy. It embodies the passion, determination and driving force we need to get things done. At its best—as it is when exalted in Capricorn—Mars can infuse us with the strength and stamina to overcome hardship and conquer any hurdle blocking our path to success; it gives us the power, bravery and courage to take charge of our lives and stand firm when confronted by enemies or adversity. Mars is ambitious by nature and relentlessly drives us to succeed—it makes us a leader instead of a follower, pushing us to be the captain of the football team, the company CEO, the head of state and the person everyone turns to for guidance during a crisis.

Of course, Mars is most famously known as the warrior planet. When it is exalted in Capricorn, it epitomizes the bravado, courage and cunning of a military tactician—and for good reason. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which infuses it with structure, self-discipline, self-reflection, discernment and strategic, long-term planning. Even though Mars and Saturn are both malefic planets and are natural enemies, their energies, related to deep thought and emphatic action, tend to complement each other in Capricorn. The Saturnine influence on Mars in Capricorn serves to harness, coordinate and steer Mars’s intense and brash energy in a positive and creative direction, giving the red planet’s zeal, impulsive temperament and daring, pioneering spirit purpose, shape and focus.

Besides possessing the strict, practical wisdom of Saturn, its ruler, Capricorn, also represents the 10th house of the zodiac. When Mars passes through Capricorn it has the opportunity to shine in the areas of life the 10th House governs, including career, social status, dignity, public reputation, fame, leadership and worldly accomplishment.

The symbol of Capricorn is the mountain goat, which scales great heights with courage and tenacity to reach the highest peaks of success. With the dauntless energy and irrepressible willpower of Mars in Capricorn, those heights are within our reach.

To learn how you can most benefit from the transit of Mars in Capricorn, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here. We’re here to help.

Did you find this article helpful? We’d like to know—please leave a comment.

Finding Balance in An Unbalanced Alignment

If you’re feeling slightly off-kilter these days, you may be experiencing the effects of the cosmic phenomena known as Kala Sarpa Yoga.

In astrological terms, a Yoga refers to the impact a particular union or alignment of planets has on our lives. In the case of the Kala Sarpa Yoga, the seven personal planets—Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn—are bunched together on one side of the nodal axis formed by the shadow planets Rahu and Ketu. It is a very lopsided planetary configuration, like each person in a full-grown, seven-member family being crammed together on one side of a picnic table. In accordance with Vedic astrology, the impersonal planets—Uranus, Neptune and Pluto—aren’t considered in the configuration. Now these days the seven planets are temporarily located on only one side of the chart, sandwiched between Rahu in Leo and Ketu in Aquarius.

Some astrologers claim the Kala Sarpa Yoga is the unluckiest planetary configuration in astrology, but that is simply not the case. Vedic astrology teaches that we create our own luck and destiny through our thoughts and actions, and that properly using the information in our natal charts simply allows us to avoid mistakes and make the most of our talents and opportunities.

Nadia Comaneci, the famous Olympic gymnast, has all seven planets between the nodal axis of Rahu in Leo / Ketu in Aquarius.

Nadia Comaneci, the famous Olympic gymnast, has all seven planets between the nodal axis of Rahu in Leo / Ketu in Aquarius.

Having said that, it is true that Kala Sarpa can be an extremely intense period and present us with some major challenges, especially if it is present in our birth charts. However, it can also bring incredible opportunity and give us the drive to reach unimaginable success—in fact, many billionaires, famous artists, actors, writers and world leaders were born under a Kala Sarpa alignment. This includes Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela who, despite facing many hurdles and enduring great struggle, overcame their challenges to achieve greatness—and during this transit we should strive to do the same.

The difficulties associated with Kala Sarpa stem from its lopsided nature. There are twelve houses in a chart and having all of the planets on one side of the chart focuses a kind of hyper cosmic energy on those houses involved. While the intense energy radiating from these occupied houses can drive us with a powerful force of forward momentum compelling us to achieve great things, the remaining houses are sitting empty and unattended. This dichotomy can upset our equilibrium—a fixated, single-minded pursuit to accomplish great deeds can isolate us from others, leaving us feeling alone and alienated.

So it is important that during this hurly-burly transit, we not become too self-absorbed and fail to tend to the needs of our unoccupied houses, neglect the pleasures and company of family and friends, or forget to work on developing our spiritual awareness. It is believed that an unseen karmic energy is unleashed during Kala Sarpa; it is up to us not to be blindly swept away by it, but to channel that energy in the most positive direction possible, a direction that will benefit both ourselves and the people in our lives. Once again, we gain the most by seeking balance in all things—by looking inward as well as outward.

As astrologer Dr. David Frawley writes: “Kala Sarpa Yoga causes significant and unexpected disruptions in the outer world and in our inner world, causing problems with communication. The Kala Sarpa Yoga reflects being caught up in karmic forces, compelling us to take a deeper view of the larger picture.”

This Kala Sarpa transit will be with us until early in the New Year, but during this time we will be given several breaks to reflect upon what we are going through. That is because it takes most of the personal planets several weeks or months to travel from one astrological sign to the next, but the Moon enters a new sign every 2 ½ days. Therefore, the Moon will move through half the chart in just two weeks and then break free of the Kala Sarpa configuration before returning to it two weeks later. This cycle will repeat itself until January 18th, 2017 when, one by one, the other planets will begin transiting away from this Yoga and the shadow of Rahu and Ketu.

These are the remaining dates of the 2016 Kala Sarpa Yoga:

  • October 25 to November 9
  • November 22 to December 6
  • December 18 to January 2, 2017
  • January 18, 2017: Mars breaks the Kala Sarpa Yoga when it enters Pisces and moves away from the nodal axis of Ketu in Aquarius / Rahu in Leo.

If you would like help making the most of this Kala Sarpa Yoga, or want to understand the role it plays in your natal chart, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here. We’re here to help.

Did you find this article helpful? We’d like to know—please leave a comment.

 

 

Venus and Saturn are the universal odd couple, like a vivacious young party girl having an impetuous fling with a sombre, elderly statesman.

In mid-October passionate Venus moved into the sign of Scorpio where it will join no-nonsense Saturn for a three-day conjunction between October 28th and 31st.

These two giants of the solar system make strange bedfellows. Venus is the dazzling planet of love, beauty, passion, desire, pleasure, compassion and general joie de vivre—its sunny, gregarious nature thrives on throwing caution to the wind to make the most of all life has to offer. Dour Saturn, on the other hand, represents responsibility, discipline, patience, endurance, practicality, internal reflection, solitude and is concerned with structure and long-term planning.

The pairing of these two planets of wildly contrasting natures can produce a powerful mixture of energy that can impact the most important relationships in our lives—so it’s best not to take this conjunction lightly.

On the upside, because Venus and Saturn are friends, they can respect, tolerate and even benefit each other’s natural attributes and inclinations. For example, Venus can soften Saturn’s more severe qualities—its intensity and rigidity, its exacting need for dutiful discipline and its obsession with self-reflection. And Saturn’s serious outlook and sense of responsibility can rein in the more extreme aspects of Venus’s nature—its frivolity, its casual approach to romance and its sometimes reckless zeal to embrace every experience life tosses its way.

Still, this tug of war between emotional exuberance and dispassionate structure can take a toll on relationships. During this conjunction we must avoid being too deeply drawn into solitary Saturnine reflection or self-imposed isolation in which we fixate on our duties and responsibilities, dwell on lingering feelings of guilt and betrayal and revive old resentments. Excessive Saturn energy can make us emotionally aloof, distancing us from our loved ones and romantic partners. While solid relationships will likely weather this conjunction unmarred, and possibly become stronger by being karmically tested, the mingling effects of Saturn and Venus could produce enough interpersonal discord to seriously damage fledgling or fragile unions.

So, during this Venus-Saturn conjunction, exercise patience with your loved ones, make an extra effort to reach out to your spouses and children, and be as loving as possible. If you are not in a romantic relationship, try not to jump into one until November 5th, when Venus is well away from Saturn’s sphere of influence.

You would like help to ensure this powerful Saturn-Venus conjunction works in your favor? Call us at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here. We are here to help.

We appreciate your feedback, please comment on this blog.

Full Steam Ahead!  If you’ve felt an urge to let off a little steam in recent days, you could be moonstruck.

This month’s full Moon is in the fiery sign of Aries, which is ruled by the warrior planet, Mars. Mars epitomizes masculine-yang energy—a hot and aggressive force of nature. The Moon, however, is a watery, feminine planet representing all that yin energy embraces—a nurturing spirit, sensitivity and acute perception. But don’t be fooled by Moon’s softness—it has the power to shift oceans and rule the tides of emotion within each and every living being.

While Moon and Mars are both very powerful in strength, they are completely contrasting forms of energy. When those energies interact, as they are doing around the October 16th full Moon, emotions can boil over—when water is subjected to intense heat, it produces steam.

Adding some ultra-combustible fuel to this celestial cauldron is the fact that Mars is currently conjunct with Pluto, the higher octave of Mars that is related to Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and transformation. When properly channeled, this cosmic intensity can drive our ambition with the force of a steam engine, but when undirected it can scald us and leave permanent scars.

So in days leading up to and immediately following this full Moon, we must use our energy wisely by remaining calm, caring and focused. This will enable us to harness and utilize the many positive aspects of Mars: intensity of purpose, initiative, passion, determination, resourcefulness and quick thinking. This can make us extremely ambitious, but we must not allow the desire to get things done quickly, or do things our way or no way, prevent us from harmoniously and successfully achieving our immediate and long-term goals. Likewise, we should strive to keep our Moon-energy in check; avoid being swept away by emotion or becoming overly sensitive if things don’t go exactly as planned.

In short, don’t get all steamed up at work or with friends and family. During this full Moon you will reap more personal rewards and get more accomplished by slowing down, being forward thinking, remaining cool-headed, playing well with others, and not jumping to conclusions.

If you would like help making the most of the full Moon energy, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We are here to help.

We’d love your input on this article, please feel free to leave us your comments.

* : To all our Vedic astrology readers, our transits are based on the ayanamsha of Sri Yukteswar

Call it the cosmic boomerang effect. At the end of June the planet Uranus left the sign of Pisces and entered Aries, but this past Saturday (October 8th) Uranus left Aries and returned directly to Pisces. What’s up with that, you ask? If Uranus orbits the sun, shouldn’t it visit the other 11 signs of the Zodiac before returning to Pisces? Have the laws of physics suddenly been suspended?

The short answer is no—the laws of physics remain intact, but Uranus has gone into retrograde. Astrologically speaking, that means Uranus has stopped in its tracks, shifted its gears from forward to reverse, and started backing up.

Impossible, you say! Well, it is and it isn’t. Of course planets don’t actually stop on a dime and change direction. But due to an optical illusion caused by the position of the Earth in relation to

Uranus, this appears to be the case. In fact, with the exception of the Sun and Moon, all planets go in to retrograde (some more often than others) from time to time, and from our vantage point on Earth they seem to move backwards.

Uranus retrograde can be earthshakingly powerful and impact not only the course of our lives, but also the course of history. Uranus is the planet of rebellion, invention and technological discoveries that brew slowly but arrive at lightening speed and with a colossal bang, often ushering in irreversible change. The kind of change that follows realizations as momentous as the world is round and not flat, that the Earth revolves around the Sun, that the atom can be split, that we can walk on the moon, defeat apartheid, eliminate small pox, cure polio or talk to anyone, at any time, anywhere on the planet using a tiny portable phone with a cheap long-distance plan. It is for this reason that Uranus is referred to as “The Great Awakener”—it is renowned for overturning the status quo and sweeping away anything that has outlived its usefulness.

When Uranus is direct—moving in the normal, forward direction—anything and everything is possible. When it is in retrograde, well, everything and anything is possible—only more so. Governments could rise or just as easily fall, wars could break out or peace could descend on the Middle East. The only thing that is certain is whatever change does occur will likely be as dramatic as it is unexpected.

But the impact of Uranus retrograde is not weighed solely on a global scale—it can be, and often is, experienced at a profoundly individual level, knocking us out of our comfort zones and prompting life-altering change. We may wake up one morning with the sudden awareness that we are working in the wrong profession, married to the wrong person, remained silent when we should have spoken out, or played it safe and settled for second best rather than taking the road less traveled. While this can be extremely unsettling, it presents a golden opportunity for us to make course corrections to our chosen path. Uranus retrograde is an ideal time to make a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves, to re-evaluate our values, priorities, decisions and lifestyles, and to shed any negativity that is holding us back, causing us pain or blocking us from attaining lasting happiness.

The fact that Uranus is retrograding in Pisces also affords us the opportunity to widen our hearts and deepen the spiritual and humanitarian aspects of our nature. Pisces, a water sign charged with nurturing yin energy, is ruled by benevolent and expansive Jupiter, which symbolizes and encourages justice, fair play, optimism, magnanimity, devotion and an expansive world view.

Uranus will continue to retrograde in Pisces until the very end of the year—plenty of time for us to reflect upon where we want to be in life, and to ensure that whatever changes “The Great Awakener” may bring will be changes we are prepared for, changes we can use to shape a better future and a better world.

You would like help to ensure this powerful Uranus retrograde works in your favor? Call us at 866-428-3799, or book a consultation by clicking here. We are here to help.

We appreciate your feedback, please comment on this blog.

 

 

 

 

 

Mars is free at last. After eight intense months—much of which was spent in a heated battle with restrictive Saturn—Mars orbited out of Scorpio in mid-September toward a new-found freedom in the less turbulent cosmic atmosphere of Sagittarius.

Mars normally does very well in its home sign of Scorpio. But during most of the year it was forced to share Scorpio with Saturn—which, like Mars, is a malefic planet. By nature, Mars and Saturn are polar opposites. Mars, the warrior, is combative and driven by dynamic action and unfettered forward movement; Saturn insists on reasoned reflection, introspection and plodding discipline. When two malefic planets of such opposite natures come together the resulting tension, friction and explosive display of fireworks can disrupt our lives and our world. This was certainly evident in the social turmoil we witnessed—terrorist attacks, mass murders and political mudslinging—in the months leading up to and following the August 24th Mars-Saturn conjunction in Scorpio.

Now that Mars is in Sagittarius with Saturn slowly disappearing in its rearview mirror, we can all breathe a little a bit easier—things are likely to be more peaceful on that front, allowing many areas of our lives to open up again.

Sagittarius is ruled by the expansive, beneficent planet Jupiter, and Mars is good friends with Jupiter. That friendship allows Mars to adopt, defend and assert many of Jupiter’s virtues—tolerance, noble ambition, positive thinking, personal dignity, spiritual development and the promotion of constructive humanitarian pursuits. No longer preoccupied with battling Saturn’s controlling and limiting influence, Mars can now take a wider world view and champion righteous causes . . . it can become the noble, protective warrior instead of the bloody and ferocious combat-ready soldier.

Mars’ fiery temperament also resonates perfectly with Sagittarius, which is a fire sign. The heat created by this combination will ignite within us a renewed passion and optimism for life, as well as an enthusiasm to move forward in our personal endeavors while helping others to do the same.

In fact, we may become so enthusiastic about performing good deeds and supporting causes during Mars’ sojourn in Sagittarius that we must be cautious not to become impatient, self-righteous, or lose our tempers if others fail to share our eagerness, gusto or ideals. We must also be careful to maintain our equilibrium and not get carried away while pursuing our goals. Sagittarius can instill in us so much fervor that we can easily overestimate our own strength and end up overexerting ourselves, exhausting our energies and becoming discouraged when we are unable to accomplish as much as we would have liked.

So, as long as we don’t bite off more than we can chew and conduct ourselves with discernment, the next weeks promise to be a positive and productive period—and a welcome change from the stressful and difficult months we’ve endured since Mars began its prolonged encounter with Saturn in Scorpio this past February.

If you would like help benefiting from the energy of Mars in Sagittarius, give us a call at 866-428-3799, or click here to book a consultation. We are here to help.

We’d love your input on this story, please feel free to leave us your comments.