It was but a short time ago when astrologers so looked forward to Mars resuming the prograde motion it maintains more than 90% of the time. It is a well-known fact in several astrological systems that when Mars and Saturn both retrograde above, momentum seems a scanty commodity.
Mars is now direct, only recently gathering anything that looks like speed and vigor, though he’s been a bright, inspiring spot of nightly observation. Saturn now stands slightly more than halfway through his current retrograde - 69 days down, 67 days to go - and while some evidence of progress may be apparent, why is it that for every step forward, others must pitch such a fit about anything resembling something different and hopefully more inspired? Didn’t we learn from the Academy Awards that bigger bucks at the box office doesn’t mean better in quality? “Sure,” declares Saturn’s hardest bottom line, “Believe what you will. Ha, ha, ha, ha! Only those things good as gold count.” I wonder if within such claims, Saturn’s spokesperson(s) realize(s) that gold comes from Pluto’s realm... and now Pluto delves into the sign Saturn rules. Hmmm.
So what can we do with the funky feeling so hard to shake off in these times? Is it the result of Chiron and Neptune virtually together all year in Aquarius? Could it be a weird collective immunity to equinoctial fever (you know, spring fever, fall frolic)? Is it the impending feeling of doom that seems warranted according to many of the easy to find online Jupiter-Uranus-Saturn-Pluto forecasts for later this year? In the short term, could it be we realize that we’re in a brief clear skies window on the heels of Mars’ turn direct and Mercury’s course soon to retrograde on April 17th (oh crap, not again!?).
The truth is we have been through intense planetary patterns before. While some contend nothing as difficult as these patterns have ever occurred, I’m not sure how true that is. Seems to me it would be subjective, depending upon value and/or weight given to planetary combinations. Regardless, extremely difficult planetary signatures have been navigated by humankind before. And regardless, it is planetarily speaking a significant time, no doubt urging each and every person to be summoned to what evidently lies slightly outside their reach.
Should we shift gears and look outside the tropical and Vedic geocentric systems into the Sun-centered heliocentric system, we find three clues for the immediate, ranging from recent past to today to short term future.
On March 16th Saturn aligned with the aphelion of Haumea. The aphelion of a planet consists of the point where that planet is most distant from the Sun in its orbit around the stellar body. Here, a planet is least subject to solar heat and radiation, which permits regrouping and a chilling out effort. As well, a planet moves most slowly when at aphelion. Now, when a planet makes contact with another planet’s aphelion, it absorbs the symbolism and metaphorical implications of the aphelion within its own dynamical effort.
Haumea is a planet, dwarf though she is. She is a Hawaiian goddess of fertility, responsible for population and with a knack for ensuring that abundant, healthy food resources exist for her creation. She issued safety warnings to sailors in the form of rainbows. Despite her personal issues, she is benefic, creative, fecund and generous in nature. As her orbital path is considered astrologically, Haumea maintains the north node in Leo and perihelion in Aries, demanding a recovery of a strong, non compromising sense of self that is inspired by creative effort and a brilliant sense of possibility.
Now Saturn with his agenda of hard work, determination and unswerving dedication to purpose comes along to take a break on the point of Haumea’s greatest respite. This seemingly suggests a breather and a review of what’s going on to ensure that continuing the present efforts remain fruitful. No point in persisting in something with that lacks purpose or that does not “grow corn.”
Okay, how? Within the past twenty-four hours Saturn moved to stand exactly between his own aphelion and perihelion. Closest to the Sun in Cancer, furthest from the Sun in Capricorn, Saturn juggles, moderates and reconciles the influences of those critical orbit positions from his early Libran location. Saturn has a few ideas as to how to mull through any mundane muddle. Obviously, these may be more palatable if considered to be suggestions instead of the letters of Saturn’s laws of progress.
Clearly examine what actions taken produced positive results. Keep doing those.
Clearly examine what actions taken produced less than desirable results. Those go in the bin, never to be considered again.
Examine how to sustain your physical well-being, including food intake, exercise and rest, all to inspire the body to function properly.
Offer solutions when in tricky wickets. Those who condemn, criticize and declare the superiority of their consciousness zap the energy systems of others.
Align with a viable, positive support group. Hang only with those of like-spirit.
Adopt a “nothing ventured, nothing gained” mantra, blended with a “ducks in a row” mindset, adding enough courage to step outside all experiences known.
If such thoughts have been churning in the last 72 hours, you’re spot on. Keep churning to create a better brand of life butter. Give yourself a few days. Though Saturn’s watching the clock with nervous eyes and heaps of exasperating sighs, the timing for new action must be ripe.
Thus Mars, our favorite real world action figure, gets to lend a hand. As the Sun sees it, Mars weeds Virgo, yielding perfectly sown, well-fertilized rows of whatever seeds have been cast. On March 30, Mars crosses his own perihelion. (Note: Should your locale be subject to weather warnings in this time window, please take them seriously) Take a break from hoeing. Mop your sweat-soaked brow. Drink some water. Admire the fine work completed and get ready to dive back into it. Should you determine that the field being cultivated cannot reap a yield, it’s time to take on fertile ventures. This is the “no point in beating a dead horse” realization check point. While adversaries contend you’ll be changing horses mid-stream, knowing when it’s time to conduct a migration to truly greener pastures is brilliant. If you’ve been keeping that day job, maybe its time to give your creative spirit a good go. If you’ve been feeding a black hole of anti-progress, fire the retro rockets working for escape velocity from subscribing to energy drains, negativity and prophecies of doom.
This is not to suggest that anyone abandon dreams. Anything but that is the agenda. However, Saturn insists upon a level of pragmatic realism to provide the legs for creative aspiration. Both can be managed and amalgamated. While pursuing inspiration, Saturn must be honored. Screenwriters certainly know this. Writing a screenplay is one of the most Saturn-rich exercises I’ve ever done. There are format rules, extending to the type of font face you can use. Timing of plot points is critical. There must be a beginning middle and end. And there must be a hero’s journey.
For many, life is like that right now. Is this a point of no return? A set back that summons the best the protagonist in your life story has to offer? Perhaps things are coming to a critical dramatic peak? Wherever you stand in the plot, Saturn and Mars now urge you to step back to the position of the narrator for just a moment, seeking objectivity and perspective. Take a break from head butting or fighting windmills to build a style (the thing that goes over a fence, keeping the black livestock you used to propitiate Saturn within Saturn’s meadow) and create an alternative form of energy, allowing the windmill fight to be abandoned. Then, victory of objective might be within sight.