2016 was colored by the effects of Saturn square Neptune, an aspect that requires the dissolving of a reality that has become stuck or stagnant. A retrograde Mars exacerbated this aspect in the spring and early summer of 2016. Jupiter made it all bigger. With Jupiter trining Pluto, power in the shadows had support and were able to get a foothold into the present experience of order that we had come to take for granted.
As we found the sands shifting under our feet, there was an opportunity to find a different kind of strength within ourselves that may have been hidden from us in the past. This strength, while hard to grasp or even recognize, will be something we can rely on through future transits. November ushered in a wave of aspects that will be with us for much of 2017: Jupiter sextile Saturn (support for manifesting our life work in the world), Jupiter square Pluto (a crisis in leadership), Saturn trine Uranus (exciting changes and out-of-the-box opportunities to transform our lives), Jupiter opposite Uranus (changes that are blown out of proportion). While these aspects will likely be dominant in our experience, they all happen frequently enough to not pique my interest that much. So here is what is getting my attention for 2017. 1. End of the Kala Sarpa Yoga time. From September 4, 2016 until December 27, 2016, we were in a particularly dark time on the planet. For two weeks at a time during that time we were often experiencing a Kala Sarpa Yoga, a yoga where all of the planets are between Rahu and Ketu on one side. Rahu and Ketu are the head and tail of the Dragon. When the Dragon swallows all of the planets it is very difficult to see our way and the path can be lost. As we emerge now from the dark time, we can see our path from the wreckage. Like standing in the rubble after a tornado, priorities become clear. We know what we have to do. It's like while we were laying next the dragon not knowing what was going on (Sep - Dec 2016), the dragon regurgitated and spit up some mutant creature with little or no soul compass, which can happen when you are born during a Total Lunar Eclipse. It literally went dark in China while Donald was being born (it was night in China and the Full Moon disappeared). When the Sun conjuncts Rahu in a natal chart, political ambitions run strong, aka Bernie and Donald. Donald just ended a Rahu Dasa, which began 18 years ago. Rahu dashas bring on a desire to be part of the world. If you are born with Sun conjunct Rahu it is particularly a time of egoic pride and personal ambition. It ended a week after he was elected. Now he is in his Jupiter Dasha and for sure isn't interested in the job. Jupiter can bring in a time of expansion, entitlement and often for most of us learning, studying and wisdom. For Donald, it's all about money and some losses. Jupiter rules his 8th house of loss which may bring on some difficulties, lawsuits, deaths and attacks, but it also rules his 5th house of good stuff from past lives. With Jupiter being in his 2nd house, this is a classic signature for wealth and the Jupiter dasha will bring it on. Jupiter is somewhat of a Maraka (death) planet for Donald, but the Dasha lasts 16 years, so he may still have a good 15 years left. Not only that, but the poor guy is smack dab in the middle of his Sade Sati. This is the year that Saturn conjuncts his Moon and for anyone who has tracked this, it is one of the hardest years we have within a 29 year cycle. It often brings on loss and lessons. Since his moon is debilitated, it is particularly difficult--and the exact Saturn-Moon conjunctions are Dec 30, 2016 and then again when Saturn stations in late August (see the next section on eclipses). 2. Eclipses. We have super cool eclipses happening this year. Four of them, two in February and two in August. The August ones have my attention the most. On August 21st there is a Total Solar Eclipse whose path goes directly across the United States during the middle of the day. That means that every person in the continental U.S. will be able to experience at least the partial darkness of a Total Eclipse. Those in South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon where the path is most exact will get to experience almost total darkness. Eclipses are know for destabilizing our lives and the planet. Things get thrown up in the air and it is easy to feel like the sands beneath our feet are shifting. It is notable that the eclipse path goes over two earthquake prone areas--off the coast of Oregon and the Missouri fault line. Already, there is awakening and arising of power circumnavigating the Missouri River with the recent Standing Rock protests. I think someone or something is tuned into the eclipses coming that are particularly triggering of destabilization of Missouri. Often before a major earth event (hurricane, earthquake) there is revolt in the area. For example, there was a civil war in the Aceh region of Sumatra the year before a horrible tsunami struck. New Orleans had extraordinarily high murder rates the year before Katrina. That the protests were so well held, so peaceful and so effective (not that there isn't a lot of work still to be done), gives me great hope for a powerful, enlightening and peaceful celebration next August. However, there will be uprising and there will be earth shifts. Where and how they occur is not predetermined. The timing is likely sometime between July 20 and Sep 7, with an intensification between Aug 20 and Aug 30. In addition, this Solar Eclipse is conjunct Regulus, a powerful bright star that exemplifies leadership, power (often abuse of power) and royalty. That Uranus trines this point supports rebellion of the power. Something's comin' down. Likely a significant regime change somewhere on the planet. Donald's ascendant is at 29 Leo conjunct Regulus, which suggests he looks like royalty and seems like royalty. The Sun-Moon opposition conjunct the Nodes tells us who he really is--unstable, addicted to something, and ambitious. Anyway, the Eclipse lands right on his Ascendant. This is a big wake up call, if not even more. If I was him, I would stay home in August, but even there won't be safe. The Lunar Eclipse in August happens at 11:11am on the 7thon the west coast of the U.S. The 11:11 supports a break through of synchronicity. Something beyond this world intervenes. On February 26th, the Solar Eclipse joins Neptune and some bizarre twist of fate may have us feeling lost and confused. It's going to take us a bit to figure out our paths and the direction we need to go. 3. Venus retrograde. First--a little bias--a love Venus retrogrades. I love the mythic 40 day time to go into deep ritual to rewrite our love karma. It happens every other year, so what's so cool about this one? Well, first, it just happens to coincide with Lent (March 4 - APril 15--Easter is April 16). I was raised Catholic (Catholic school and all). The past ten years have led me deep into the study of history and left me astounded at the vast levels of cruelty that the Catholic Church has perpetrated on innocent people and the utter hypocrisy of most of the "great" teachers and leaders of the church. (I mean Crusades, Inquisitions, did you watch Borgia?--and then there was the Cadaver Synod, look it up to be entertained). I have a friend who I respect highly who was not raised Catholic and has found her way to an experience of Catholicism that seems to me mystical. While I entirely disapprove of the way the Catholic Church has handled their business, I have no doubt about the mystical power of the ancient rituals of the Catholic Church (which predate Jesus). Masuro Emoto basically proved transubstantiation, the ritual in the mass where prayer and intention change the nature of bread and wine. In Italy, where the art is focused heavily on pictures of Jesus, I had a downright out of the body experience looking at the severed head of Saint Catherine of Siena in the Basilica of San Dominic. So I get that there is something terribly powerful about it all. But right now (and it might not seem it), the rug is getting pulled out on any structures that involve patriarchal, hierarchical forms. The lies are getting exposed. For 1700 years, the Catholic Church has wielded tremendous power in this world. It has orchestrated the worst crimes. And it is one of the most, if not the most, misogynistic organization on the planet. This Venus retrograde may serve to support an awakening in the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations. This current pope is a little radical and his stance on refugees, the environment and corporate greed is stirring up controversy. I look forward to hearing more from him during Lent (aka Venus retrograde). Something about the importance of the roles women have played in the Catholic Church? Venus retrograde is all about going within to find our sensual, feminine power, the true purpose of renunciation and fasting. It is the time when Inanna goes into the underworld to find herself. It is the 40 days in the desert repenting. Venus retrograde time is for finding our true creative path, our passion and our sexual nature so that we can bring that nature and path into our work on this evolving planet. I love the synchronicity of Easter (Apr 16), Tax Day (Apr 17), and Venus stationing going direct (Apr 15) all happening at the same time. The parallel planes of existence reveal an underlying dynamic of a rebirth in Feminism unlike anything we have seen before. Pluto stationing at the same time (exact Apr 20), suggests a reversal in power. How many people are going to blow off paying taxes this year after our new president just gave us all permission? I predict the lowest rate of return ever. Venus just isn't interested in taxes. Astrologically, Venus stations direct mid April conjunct Chiron. In Magi astrology, Chiron is about true love. This is an awesome aspect for finding our true loves and opening to a greater love in the relationships we are already in. That Venus and Chiron are sextile Mars heats up the passion and makes it even better. In Vedic astrology, Venus is exalted in Pisces for the entire retrograde period (actually a full four months starting in February) supporting the best experience of Venus that we can have. Venus is super creative and loving in Pisces. Saraswati and Lakshmi are both happy with Venus in Pisces. Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning, Music and Creative Expression. Lakshmi is the Goddess of Abundance, Prosperity and Manifestation. They often don't sync up, but during Venus in Pisces they are both accepting of each other. 4. Times of forward movement. May, June, October and November all have a lot of harmonious and powerful aspects for accomplishment, forward movement, celebration, love and creativity. Don't let the encouragement to feel fear get to you. It can look really bad, but all of this has a purpose. There is a higher intelligence in the Universe, of that I'm sure. It is far bigger than I can imagine. And no amount of politics, earth shifts or climate change interferes with that intelligence. At the same time, get to work. Know what you are here for and get on with it. No excuses, no distractions, no reasons for delay. If you don't know, get a reading. We'll remember it together. That's what I'm here for. May the long time Sun shine upon you All love surround you And the pure light within you Guide your way on ~Kundalini yoga blessing song
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