The winter doldrums are beginning to fade as the first signs of spring are in the air, with expectations and hopes that new answers and new visions will be forthcoming to help solve new and reoccurring situations.  As we continue to ask, seek, and search for solutions for problems that seem to have staying power with subtle annoyances making their presence felt.  The 18 Virgo 13 Full Moon on March 8^th 2012 at 1:41 am PST is whispering to us that the answer lies within ourselves.  We have handed over the handling of the financial downturn to others in high places because we thought they had the qualifications, the requirements, the knowledge, the wisdom, and the sense of duty and responsibility to guide us in the right direction from the state of affairs they have created.  Because of this action we have given up our right, our privilege and our initiative to come to our own conclusions and have accepted the responsibility of the decisions of others in the creation of our future. 

We have seen this play out in the real world around us, and the results have not been pretty or what we have hoped for.  This moon phase is signaling to us that we need to depend on our own ingenuity, intuition and insights to develop or solve our personal tribulations and to be responsible, and not to follow or be led by the conditions or the prevailing thoughts and conclusions that surround us.  Whether the moments are problems or opportunities, are we delving into and asking the right questions, in order to arrive at the right answers and solutions?  With the square to Juno and the conjunction to Pallas, the aspects are confronting us to see the truth of the issues, to face up to it and to work with our spiritual beliefs and conviction to bring our dreams and hopes into reality.  This full moon is demanding us to make and take responsibility for our lives, whether personally or as a global community, if we are to see a better tomorrow.   

“The Sabian symbol for the Moon in 19 degrees of Virgo and for the Sun in 19 degrees of Pisces is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Virgo 19  A swimming race  This is a symbol of the utter impartiality of existence in any larger dimension, and of the stimulus of direct competition whenever an individual seeks to perfect or enjoy some one of the special skills comprising his individuality.  He discovers that it is necessary to control every separate factor of his being, or else be ruled by the divergencies which make them up apart from their function within himself.  Life superficially remains in unstable balance, and survival is in the terms of that effectiveness or excellency which is best able to prove itself.  The keyword is elimination.  When positive, the degree is man’s capacity for any extreme of self-pointedness he may find valuable in a given case, and when negative, inadequate self-dramatization.

Pisces 19  A master instructing his pupil  This is a symbol of the unlimited potentiality of existence in any larger dimension, and of the demand of human intelligence for the self-refinement and self-orientation by which a greater understanding is possible.  Life entreats the individual to employ its privileges and enjoy its bounty, and gives every encouragement to that initiative of spirit by which he may be led to do so.  He finds that personality comes into its own as it is able to direct its own destiny.  The keyword is elucidation.  When positive, the degree is high executive ability through patient investigation and genuine psychological insight, and when negative, a desire to live by rule and a conceit of empty knowledge.

Implicit in this symbol is the concept of self discipline with the need to give up something in order to gain proficiency and perfection in our assets and talents we need to achieve in accomplishing our desires and dreams.  There are no winners or losers, as the competition helps each one of us to hone our skills to eliminate and to process those abilities that will work for us, and to recognize the liabilities that will hinder.  It is also telling us to take responsibility, to take control, to make the effort, and to learn to perfect the skills we need to meet the obstacles that life places in front of us.  That we can not rely on others to face the challenges, without us doing the homework too, and to understand what lies ahead.  This image subtly implies that time may be of the essence, and we need to acquire the knowledge, information and skill sooner than we thought or realize.  As we encounter life in 2012, we need to remind ourselves that this 18 Virgo 13 Full Moon is whispering to us that the answer lies within ourselves.

As the dark winter days continue to dim, making way for the first signs that spring is in the air, about a week before the vernal equinox the first Mercury Retrograde of 2012 begins on March 12^th at 6 Aries 48, which appears on the horizon until April 4^th  at 23 Pisces 52.  This retrograde is telling us to take action in place of reacting to any situation for our advantage, if we are to get through this period of time with flying colors.     A Retrograde period is when caution, carefulness and retrospection is a necessity to avoid glitches, personal misunderstanding, flawed, disrupted, and delayed communications with ourselves and others.  Although I know there will always be delays and disruptions that we can not avoid during this period, I do believe much of the frustrations and stresses we will experience is caused by our own carelessness because we are reacting to the circumstances, instead of taking a proactive approach to the situations and decisions we encounter.  For some of us, if we begin to develop our foresight and to anticipate the possibilities, we may begin to see this period as a time to appreciate with gratitude the gifts Mercury gives and blesses us with.  As the aphorism “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, the Universe exemplifies this by giving us this period of time to appreciate and to meditate on how Mercury works in our lives by either creating or destroying our desires, which depends on whether we pay attention to how we work with its energy .

“The Sabian symbol for Mercury in 7 degrees of Aries and for Mercury in 24 degrees of Pisces is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Aries 7  A man successfully expressing himself in two realms at once  This is a symbol  of a creative division of labor within the self, such  as distinguishes human kind from the lower orders of life and enables any individual  to participate in the experience of many interpenetrating realms of reality.  There is capacity here for a complete control of events by shifting from one to another focus of emphasis whenever it proves convenient or expedient.  The keyword is proficiency.  When positive, the degree is unlimited versatility and a special gift for divorcing the things of issue from whatever lacks immediate pertinence, and when negative, a tendency to defeat all self-competence in an unintelligent scattering of interest.

Pisces 24  An inhabited island  this is a symbol of the self-adequacy of experience on the objective side of everyday reality, and of man’s gift for the organization of his own private world in any area of his special interest.  He is always able to function in a complete independence of the alien or the unfriendly, and to develop adequate resources for his need in what at the beginning might seem to be the most barren of situations.  He capitalizes on the potentials among which he finds himself, and nurses the least of promise to its fruits.  The keyword is cultivation.  When positive, the degree is achievement through a creative opportunism or inventiveness of exceptional order, and when negative, snobbish complacency and self-indulgence.

This symbol is so appropriate to the message of the retrograde, in that it is speaking to us to develop and to open up to our inherent ability of versatility, adaptability, and our capacity to function in more than one area of concentration and our aptitude to make decisions independently of any circumstances that present itself.  Our skill to multitask gives us a sense of confidence and freedom to make proactive choices, instead of going with the flow that passes around us.  It also speaks to us about our self confidence in our self-reliance to function independently at will at any moment and in any incident to solve or resolve any problem or condition that presents itself.  The image stresses the necessity and the importance to thoroughly being able to and willing to pay attention and to analyze the potential or the problem of our decisions and actions.  By developing this practice, it will become apart of us in time, and in time it will operate without us realizing it.  This asset, which is a gift of the Universe will come in quite handy with whatever we experience through the coming year, and will be the key to the successful completion of our hopes and wishes at this time.  During this Mercury Retrograde we have to take action in place of reaction in which it is to our advantage, in accomplishing that which we wish to accomplish.

As our sojourn through the cold winter months is taking an upward turn towards the thought that spring is near, and that new hopes and wishes are on the horizon and are about to bloom soon.  Our feelings and plans for the year are gaining a momentum all its own.  Within this sense of excitement and energy the 2 Pisces 42 New Moon at 2:35 pm PST on February 21^st 2012 makes its appearance nudging us to grasp and to comprehend our hidden beliefs, our hidden secrets and our hidden mysteries that lie dormant in our consciousness and our sub consciousness for our benefit and use, no matter how the year turns out for each of us.  WithNeptune, Mercury, Chiron and two other asteroids conjoining the Moon and Sun in Pisces, it is like the joker in a field of playing cards that may be a help or a disadvantage, but not without pain. 

As the old axiom “where there is no pain, there is no gain” will be making its presence known and felt during the coming year.  Uncovering and revealing these thoughts and moments which are hidden in the back of our memories, gives us the time and opportunity to resolve issues that may be a hindrance or a benefit for our further growth.  It is in experiencing the pain of reliving the moments we have conveniently laid aside that understanding and comprehending the circumstances, that healing comes about.  With healing comes acceptance and forgiveness and in time we will extend our gratitude for experiencing the trials and tribulations, in so doing, we begin to understand their part in our development.  This new awareness and confidence is the extra ingredient we need to help, to create and to bring into fruition our desires and hopes in the coming year.    

“The Sabian symbol for the 3^rd degree of Pisces is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Pisces 3  A petrified forest  This is a symbol of the absolute certainty which any individual may develop in the terms of his conscious knowledge, and of the power in human character which becomes the hallmark of his intellectual orientation.  The static symbolism is a warning against any reliance on stabilities to which no immediate or personal contribution is made, and which in consequence may become obstacles to progress.  Here rather is dramatization of an eternal stoutheartedness, and of its very practical dividends in spiritual continuance.  The keyword is survival.  When positive, the degree is effective continuity and breadth of resource in human effort, and when negative, complete immobilization in superficial reality.

This symbol speaks to us about convictions, intellectual certainties, character, concepts and ideas that survive long after they have been conceived.  It is the image of endurance, but at the same time it alludes to inflexibility, stubbornness, resistance to change and the inability to adapt or improvise at any moment in time.  One begins to realize and suspect that the picture we have of our self may be a stumbling block instead of a stepping stone to accomplish our dreams.  This symbol speaks to our inner soul, by epitomizing and demanding us to search within our deepest thoughts, that the convictions we held so dearly and live by as truth for so long, still resonates and supports us in accomplishing our wishes and dreams.  If we hope to live this year as fully as possible, we need to listen and to take advantage of the energy and power of this New Moon in Pisces.  By trying to grasp and to comprehend the hidden beliefs, secrets and mysteries of our consciousness within us and to change it, if need be.  Then and then only, will we be able to transform our stumbling block into a stepping stone in which to generate and live a life joyfully and with satisfaction.

I have many fond memories of the hours I have spent in class instruction from a person who looked more like she should be teaching cooking on television, instead of astrology.  As with trying to be a good cook, one always needs to have the basic knowledge and skills of the kitchen, before venturing further if one is to be competent enough to complete a meal that one might enjoy and feel satisfied with.  One of the basics my teacher emphasized was the importance of keywords in delineating any chart.  Keywords and our ability to work and to combine them are the fundamental rudiments needed to create and weave a picture from the aspects of the planets with new and different insights.  She gave us many examples of unusual ways to tie the keywords together to give diverse view points.  As one puts into action these methods, they become so part of one’s routine, that in time one forgets when and how it all began.  As time goes by, we begin to simplify and pass over some of the important steps to hasten the process.  This definitely happen to me, as I was gently reminded about the past when I was reviewing my class notes.  I have totally forgotten about what steps I have dropped or lost through time using keywords until they were brought to my attention again.

My renewed awareness of the subject matter came to the forefront as my interest in the early astrological writers has increased.  With my concentration and curiosity becoming more intense in the method the early stargazers used in determining and delineating a chart with such precision, I began to notice how subtly the keywords were used in their delineations.  What clinched this for me is when I read an article by David Roell of Astrology Center of America, whom I deeply respect, giving credit to the keywords for his excellent interpretation of the chart of Howie Mandel.  One thing I felt my teacher did not emphasized enough was the use of the elements and the essential dignities in choosing the keywords and the importance of their level of influence in their reaction to each other.  When assigning keywords to the planets, signs, aspects and houses, the condition they are in, in respect to the whole chart needs to be considered before making any judgment.  Arrangement of the keywords in the order of their strengths is another important consideration, as this will subtly influence the delineation.  What I have noticed is that these subtle forces are like Trojan Horses which can and are the deciding force of victory or defeat.  In other words the subtle influences can make a difference between a good or better interpretation of any chart.

I have also been taught that to get a quick analysis of the person of the chart, the best way is to evaluate the Sun, the Moon and the ascendant of the chart.  The Sun giving the essence, the Moon the giver and who nourishes, the ascendant is the picture of the person the world sees.  For an example in my own chart Virgo is on the ascendant with Gemini on the midheaven, the Sun in Taurus and my Moon in Gemini.  Mercury is happy and works well with Gemini and Virgo, while the Moon is nervous and the Sun in Taurus is indifferent.  In arranging the keywords, Mercury attributed to Virgo and Gemini are first, then follows Taurus, which is the subtle key to it all.  I have never felt that Virgo represented me; as most astrologers assumed I am a Gemini and I never was too articulate about my appearance or my surroundings, and this always befuddled me, until I saw the importance of keywords.  Knowledge is important like the chart indicates, but a possession not being put to good use or appreciated is not in the nature of the bull.  This makes Taurus the Trojan horse which upsets the applecart.  The choice and the order of the keywords determines the clarity, as my own chart has definitely given me more meaning, compassion and understanding of myself.  This is the power and the gift of the keywords.

I have always thought the full moon is infinitely more interesting than the new moon with its never-ending number of possibilities one can participate in, because of the dynamics of the opposition of the lights fighting for one’s attention.  It is like seeing the glass half full or half empty when one is reevaluating and rethinking about the accomplishments we have accumulated from our decisions we have made during our sojourn in this life.  It depends on the situation and the condition of how we see and interpret the circumstances, which determines how we view the contents of the glass.  This Snowy Full Moon at 18 Leo 32 at 1:56 p.m. PST on February addresses this by spotlighting the attributes of empathy versus that of sympathy.  The aspects are subtly pushing and pulling us, in their effort to convince the subconscious its need to take the lead for those who mean something to us.  The moon phase is emphasizing that during this pivotal period all our actions and reactions need to be done with feeling and being, if we are to see our wishes and dreams become reality.  It is directing us to go beyond our intellectual state of sympathy to understanding the underlying circumstances into the emotional state of empathy.

“The Sabian symbol for the Moon in 19 degrees of Leo and for the Sun in 19 degrees of Aquarius is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Leo 19  A houseboat party  this is a symbol of creative relaxation as a prelude to effective effort, and of man’s normal capacity for achievement through an everyday rehearsal of co-operative relationships with his fellows.  There is here a sealing off of some pleasant pocket of life for an intensified culture of the skills and inspiration which can implement a contribution to the world at large.  Any dull routine of existence may be exalted as a common adventure in self-expenditure.  The keyword is congeniality.  When positive, the degree is a gracious eagerness of participation in the more worthwhile or enduring aspects of human affairs, and when negative, thoughtless self-indulgence and contempt for the general welfare.

Aquarius 19  A forest fire quenched  This is a symbol of regenerative relaxation after extraordinary effort, and of man’s exceptional capacity for achievement through the whole-giving of himself in am emergency.  Here is the dynamic co-operation by which the individual gains a high peak of self-expenditure, and in the moment’s intensification rehearse potentialities he would never discover otherwise.  What can be misfortune to be suffered can as easily become a successful adventure in broad social responsibility.  The keyword is concern.  When positive, the degree is special skill in bringing personal interests to some larger point of effectiveness, and when negative, a fear of experience and a sublet delight in calamity.

The Snowy Full Moon, also known as the Hungry Full Moon was named by the native tribes’ ofNorth Americabecause they considered February, the month with the harshest weather conditions.  This helped to forewarn and remind them that this particular month’s weather conditions made hunting very difficult to provide for the sustenance and for the livelihood of the community during the bitter part of winter.  The Sabian symbols are suggesting that not only through the good, but even during the difficult and trying times to create an occasion for relaxation and creative play.  The emphasis is fellowship that becomes the means for cultivating the resources in which all accomplishments of lasting value is achieved.  In this environment one discovers personal skills and abilities previously unrecognized, and the aptitude to rise above any situation or crisis one encounters.  We need to remind ourselves that this kind of activity is nourishment for our soul and spirit in which to help us to create a shelter from our own negative thoughts and feelings when they come upon us like the falling snow.  This Leo Moon is allowing us to develop new inspirations and adventures, by spotlighting and demonstrating the results we can achieve with empathy and sympathy.

As the planet Uranus has been connected with the changes and the difficulties affecting the global consciousness at this time, a sense of awe has come over me with the realization of the incredible power the planet has within its reach.  As its energies continue to affect our consciousness with its grip upon us, and with its staying power lasting longer then we thought it would.  This caused me to review and to analyze what has transpired during the last year, and I came to the conclusion of the magnitude of destruction or creation which lies within the power of Uranus, which continues to haunt me with trepidation.  I have always felt friendly with Uranus as it conjuncts my Mercury in my natal chart, and though I have never felt antagonistic to the planet, I have not always welcomed its embrace in my life or in my actions.  I have always found Uranus erratic and unconventional in its approach and how it deals with any condition which develops.  It always needs to display an independence from the norm that stretches beyond the acceptable behavior of the day, and to find a place in the Sun, in which it can call its own.  

I have been taught that the planet is considered malefic and at the same time represents a higher more spiritual version of Mercury.  Where Mercury is the messenger and delivers the message as it was conveyed by the sender.  Uranus delivers the message with its own interpretation and meaning with a need to prove a point that the moment for action is imminent.  Uranus presents many sides to the situation and is willing to substantiate any claims as being the only way to correct the situation at the moment.  Uranus agitates until it gets its way, and when we finally respond, the action taken at the moment may be without any forethought of the consequences.  For this reason I have begun to suspect that Uranus is a “rebel without a cause”, which encourages us to act with a double-edged sword.  The sword representing all the reasons we need to take action as the circumstances present themselves, but without any real solution to correct and adjust the situation.  In my opinion Uranus is the impetus for change, but not the solution to solve the problem or distress at hand.  It is depended on the aspects and the helping hand from the other planets that leads us in the proper direction for the answer. 

The response and clarification of the situation can only come with the effort of all the planets working together for one purpose. This is definitely exemplified by what is happening around the globe with the outcry of rebellion in different forms, but with the same need for change.  And as it has been demonstrated, although a transformation may have taken place, unless we are clear and united in the final objective for everyone involved, it too may topple and turn into chaos until we get it right.  So what does this mean for each of us, if Uranus aspects our chart fostering a need to do things differently and to think out of the box?  How can we use the energies of this planet to bring our wishes and desires into focus?  When acting and responding to the energies of Uranus for change, that we do not take action for the sake of change, but to consider our situation with purpose and reason.  If not, we need to quickly reestablish our real objectives and begin to improvise what is needed to achieve it.  By studying our chart we can begin to understand what planets will work and help Uranus to achieve the transformation and change without losing the direction and the objective of the end result we want to be accomplished.  Then the rebel without a cause will have a cause.

With the dark cold winter nights making their impact on our lives and the financial situation which seems to continue to linger with the backdrop of the prediction of 2012 hovering, a sense of disquiet is in the atmosphere surrounding our every movement.  Within this climate the 2 Aquarius 41 New Moon on January 22^nd 2011 at 11:41 p.m. PST makes its appearance stressing that the pattern in the night sky is a template for action.  With Jupiter and Saturn squaring the New Moon, the aspects are not asking us, but pushing us into action, even if we are not mentally or emotionally ready for whatever is on the horizon.  The feeling that permeates the air is that action of any kind whether beneficial or malefic to the situation, is better then no action at all.  Jupiter trine with Pluto is indicating that any endeavor with thought behind it, is a step towards the right way, and that each step combines to make one giant step closer to our final objective with joy and satisfaction.  Each stride and activity will reenergize, revitalize, reinvent and will make the final transformation that much more adaptable to whatever we put our mind to.  Putting actions behind our thoughts and ideas and bringing them into reality is the keyword for this moon phase.

“The Sabian symbol for the 3^rd degree of Aquarius is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Aquarius 3  A deserter from the navy  This is a symbol of human independence carried to a point of extreme rebellion against things as they are, here emphasized in a disregard of all consequences for the sake of an immediate liberation of the spirit.  There is a demand for a more rewarding expression of individuality, and the reverend symbolism suggests that any late acceptance of full and personal responsibility for life is better than none at all.  Except as man creates his own allegiances, his destiny holds no depth.  The keyword is defiance.  When positive, the degree is genuine psychological courage in a repudiation of all meaningless loyalties, and when negative, complete inability to follow the rules of any game.

This symbol is reinforcing the message that something needs to be done about our state of affairs, but caution is indicated that our choice of action must be well thought out, if we wish not be in a position that creates more of a problem then it solves.  The image depicts a need to escape the circumstances by running away from it.  At the same time it shows courage to correct the mistake that was made, even it if in the long run the resolution is not helpful.  This reinforces the need to pay attention and think thoroughly through any situation, before making a decision that may impact our lives in ways we may not have the foresight to foresee.  Taking responsibility of our choices is the first step in increasing our chances that we will acquire more care and thought in any action we take on.  Remembering and using the law that “every cause has its effect” will prevent us from making hasty decisions we may later regret.  This also infers that to every ending has a new beginning and that every beginning has its ending, and with this in our subconscious our decisions will be more purpose driven.  This Aquarius New Moon is allowing us to work with the energies of the stars and planets to create the momentum for action by thoroughly thinking through the situation for our wishes and goals to be accomplished.

One of the reasons I enjoy the study of astrology is the amazement I have when I have discovered and uncovered a new secret about myself that the chart reveals.  One may argue that because I may be looking for it, that I made the aspects work for me, to give me the response I was looking for.  This may be true for some things, but I disagree on the truths I least expected to find and discovered about myself.  Or the wow moments a person one just met experiences when delineating their chart.  One may cherish the thought that in delineating a chart one has a fifty to fifty chance to get it right or wrong, and this statement would only be true if we as astrologers, don’t make every effort and use every tool at our fingertips to be as accurate as possible.  This is the one reason Morin feels that in predicting important influences in a coming year, one needs at least three aspects confirming the situation in question, as a necessity to validate one’s validity.  My favorite method in determining the influences for the coming year is with the Solar Return chart, but there are times, even when one is sure what the influences are, one wishes there was another method that would confirm and backup one’s conclusions. 

The reason I am convinced it is a good idea to have a general consensus of what is in our future, is that I whole heartedly believe in the aphorism that being “forewarned is forearmed”.  I have experienced more openness and flexibility when I am prepared for whatever might happen.  In this way I was able to take advantage and to use the situation to my benefit.  Had it come upon me as a surprise, my reactions and decisions may have been determined by the moment and the situation, and not by my higher intuition, thought or my emotions.  I have tried other methods such as transits, progressions, et cetera, but was not comfortable with any one of them.  It so happens that an astrologer in one of my traditional astrological egroups who I totally respect, gave a short summation of why she was so enamored with the use of profection in connection with a solar return chart and how it would improve one’s accuracy in the delineation of any chart.  This is a very old and traditional method of the progression of the house through the ascendant each year. 

The meaning is taken from Astrology.com. 

Profection is a time lord system, based on a progression in the order of the signs from a given point.  There are annual, monthly, and daily profections for each planet or lot (Arabic part).  A profection is simply a jump from one sign to the next.  For instance, an annual profection jumps from one sign to the next on your birthdate every year.  If Fortuna was in Gemini when you were born, then the annual profection for Fortuna on your next birthday would be Cancer. 

At first glance, I quickly dismissed it, because I could not make any sense or imagine that every single soul going through their second birthday would experience the second house in the same way.  This was the reasoning in which I misjudged the system.  It took a couple of years on the back burner, while I was studying Morin that I realized that we would experience each house according to the ruler of the sign and not just the house itself.   By utilizing the essential dignities a more colorful and precise picture came into view.  Suddenly I saw each individual experiencing their year differently and applying the transits gave a different perspective.  By looking at my own solar return chart for the present and having it confirmed with the profection chart was an exciting moment for me.  Another one followed another as I applied this method to the charts of my friends.  There is still a lot for me to learn with this method even though I consider myself a professional, as the source material on this subject matter is few and far between.  I am sure there are more trials and errors in front of me on this subject matter, but what this has taught me is to be more open and less judgmental on systems developed and used by our fore runners.  Maybe some areas of astrology are obsolete in this modern age, but before I throw out the bathwater, I better make sure the baby is not in with it.

About a week after the resolutions and the parties to help bring into focus another year, the 18 Cancer 25 Full Moon at 11:30 pm PST on January 8^th 2012 begins to subtlety emphasize the fact, that we are all connected and are not alone on our journey in this life.  With the moon near the end of the second decan of Cancer (ten degree increment dividing the 360 degree zodiac), and practicing the method of Lilly and Morin in using the essential dignities and fixed stars in delineating any chart.  The message in the cold dark night sky is directing us to aim and think differently then what we have been doing, and to restructure our concepts of our place in this world, both physically and spiritually.  Whether we believe in a higher being or not, our instinctive need to be a safe keeper and guardian of the life, and the world we live in, is becoming fundamental.  The signs are everywhere, with the weather patterns going berserk and the major earthquakes happening more frequently globally.  As the ancients considered the earth, our earthly mother, so too our world needs to return to the consciousness that life is interconnected and that we need to think and work as one, to see a better tomorrow.     

“The Sabian symbol for the Moon in 19 degrees of Cancer and for the Sun in 19 degrees of Capricorn is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Cancer 19  A priest performing a marriage ceremony  This is a symbol of the spiritual stewardship of man as expressed in his conscious concern for the integrity of human society and for the everyday institutions through which all racial ideals must have their continued embodiment.  There are very full rewards awaiting the individual who is willing to live the life of his fellows through his consistent shaping of his own acts and opinions to dramatize the current aspirations of his kind.  His service to the established rituals becomes a special self-fulfillment.  The keyword is conformity.  When positive, the degree is a genius for bringing various facets life into organic unity, and when negative, bondage to outer forms.

Capricorn 19  A child of about five with a huge shopping bag  This is a symbol of the spiritual stewardship of man as expressed in his inherent sense of responsibility for the welfare of others, and in his desire to serve his community to the extreme of his particular range of skills.  There is wonderful recompense for the individual willing to share the total of his potentialities, and to enjoy those of his fellows to the limit of his understanding.  His quickening to every opportunity of common function becomes a special self-fulfillment.  The keyword is expectation.  When positive, the degree is an effective breadth of participation in everyday living, and when negative, indiscriminate conformity to every passing fad.

The symbol speaks to our spiritual need to committing and upholding community standards and values in order to function as a whole in a manner of harmonious cooperation in living with one another.  Here the word conformity is not to mold one into being like everyone else, but the accent is on unification, integrity, with loyalty and commitment to common thoughts in which to help us solve our differences and to work towards a better world together.  Our greatest advantage is finding our commonality, and not our differences to achieve a general objective.  To go beyond what we have experienced before and to take responsibility, opportunities, joy and satisfaction in being a help to others in working towards a universal goal that will benefit all.  Like a child who is innocent and sees the world as new and wonderful, we need to develop the courage of a little child, which has the faith that all will go well.  Before jumping into anything at this time, the aspects of Mercury conjunct Pluto and the Sun is telling us to ask the right questions before making any decisions.  Let the energy of this moon phase enter into our consciousness that we are all connected and are not alone.   

What is a Saturn Return?  This is when the transiting planet returns to the position it was in, in the natal chart approximately about every twenty nine and a half years.  In a life time an individual usually experiences at least two, if not three.  It represents a time of completing one major period and a need and desire to enter into a new phase and purpose for our continued growth.  It is considered usually a difficult time with a lot of stress and pressure, but it is also a time of many opportunities with important choices and decisions for new expressions of one’s being.  The Saturn Return has the reputation of being rough and unforgiving, and is one of the reasons one is instilled with caution and fear, when one reads on this subject matter, or needs to get through it. 

The opposition happens around about puberty as well as the teen years when the need to establish one’s identity becomes a major issue.  Around about twenty nine, and just before entering a new stage in our life, our main purpose and direction becomes the topic we can no longer avoid, if no decision has been made so far.  By the mid forties, Saturn again opposes its natal position, and our mid life crisis begins to creep in, making us wonder if life is passing us by?  By Saturn’s second return, our passed actions and results comes into view to determine our next course of action in making the time we have left, to live life to the fullest.  Seeing the return with this approach I began to speculate if the anxiety that is instilled in one, by the astrological community on one’s Saturn return is really necessary or even productive.

I have been studying astrology a few years before my first return hit me.  I must admit the trepidation I had was more of an exaggeration and unnecessary as I look back on the incidences that occurred at that time.  I can’t actually say they were not full of trials and errors, but considering the results and the outcomes, not as bad as they appear to be on the surface.  The one thing I have learnt in my lifetime is that when facing anything new and unfamiliar, one tends to open the floodgates of apprehension and fretfulness.  In my own life I have seen that, anticipating with fear and doubt was more of a handicap in overcoming the situation, then the situation itself.  Anytime one finds oneself in circumstances where change is needed, one will find that the best thing to do is follow the flow and work with it.

To what degree of difficulty each individual experiences the Saturn return will depend on the condition and situation the planet finds itself in, in the natal chart.  One also needs to be aware of the condition of the return planet in aspects to the other planets in the night sky.  This is where the old technique of the essential dignities will come in handy and is very critical in the understanding of what is needed to have successful results and outcomes.  If one can replace the apprehension and misguided thoughts with the notion that this is a challenge to overcome, then the difficulties one will encounter will be minimal.  If we allow Saturn to show us the way, we will learn that we need not fear him, but allow him to work with and through us to achieve the change needed.  To achieve anything one always needs to go into action and work at it.  Our first deed and key in a Saturn return, is to allow the planet with a positive attitude to unleash its wisdom and experiences upon us.