The Stars This Week — March 28th v. 2/12

They say astrology isn’t a science.  And they’re right, of course.  Astrology doesn’t conform to the usual standards of modern science.  In that sense, it is more like economics and other "social sciences" where the intrinsic complexity of human beings precludes simple ‘if A, then B’ type statements.  As we know, astrology requires a multi-factored approach which is better suited to more probabilistic predictions.   Planets do not behave like Hume’s billiard balls but are better seen as bundles of potential energy.  When they interact during close aspects, these energy bundles are more likely to be released and manifest as different  psychological states or as significant events.  These planetary aspects do not actually cause events to occur, but are better understood as cosmic timers or giant hands of a clock that correspond to events on Earth.  I’m not sure why things might work this way, but if pressed I would say that there is a fundamental harmony in the universe where energy and matter are interconnected on many levels.  Some of these levels are currently known to science, while some have yet to be discovered. 

We are in the midst a potentially large energy release as the Jupiter-Saturn opposition continues to dominate the sky this week as the exact aspect occurs late on Monday (GMT).  Since these are slow moving planets, its effects are still likely to linger for some time after the aspect.  So that means Jupiter’s preference for giving, tolerance, and growth is still attempting to reconcile with Saturn’s inclination to conserve, limit and constrain. When this Jupiter-Saturn encounter works, it can lead to compromise and a constructive reordering of the situation that solves old problems.  When it doesn’t, beliefs become entrenched and conflict comes to the surface.  We can find ample evidence of the latter as the Middle East remains a region in turmoil as protests have spread to new countries such as Syria, while Libya seems to have entered a full blown civil war since the West has became involved. 

Even in quiet and boring Canada, we can see how this inability to compromise manifested.  Last week, the opposition defeated the Conservative government in a vote of non-confidence to force an election is slated for early May.  (Full disclosure: I am a quiet and boring Canadian)  One reason why the negative side of this Jupiter-Saturn aspect would manifest in Canada is because its national horoscope was under affliction.  The Sun (government, leaders) is under affliction by a square aspect from Saturn.  Since this aspect will only tighten in the weeks to come (Sun=16 Gemini; Tr Saturn=17 Virgo), there is good reason to expect the government to have an uphill battle at the polls.  While it’s possible the government may be faced with other difficult situations that could fulfill the potential of the Saturn-Sun aspect, the fact that an election is underway makes the present government’s hold on power more tentative.  And yet the Conservative party is so far ahead in the polls (39%-25%) over the Liberals, it will take quite an reversal of fortune to see the Liberals win.  But the astrological factors would seem to point to an increased probability of that unexpected reversal, or at least of some significant weakening of the Conservative Party’s hold on power.

In last week’s newsletter, I suggested that Japan’s nuclear crisis was likely continue into April given some key afflictions to its national horoscope, despite the apparent moderation of the crisis.   It seems that Japan has taken a step back in recent days as newly-elevated radiation levels have been reported in the plant and the nearby ocean.  The UN chief of atomic energy has said that the accident is "far from over".   Much of the potential trouble may be triggered by Mars over the next little while as it aspects unpredictable Ketu this week and then conjoins Uranus next week and then opposes Saturn on the 18th.   Since Mars is the planet of quick and intense bursts of energy, there is an increased possibility of sudden events that could force authorities to react quickly in order to secure the situation. 

The upcoming conjunction of Mars and Uranus on April 4 is definitely one to watch.  The willful energy of Mars combines with the suddenness of Uranus to create a huge potential for change in the status quo.  What makes this particular conjunction more powerful this time around is that both planets will be parallel the equator by declination.  If the horizontal measurement of planetary positions through the zodiac gets all the attention in astrology, the vertical dimension of the relative "height" of planets is also worth examining.  The last time Uranus crossed the equator was in August 1969.  At that time, Jupiter was also crossing the equator by declination, thus forming a powerful parallel combination of Jupiter and Uranus.  Jupiter represents progress and advancement, and Uranus symbolizes innovation and change, especially involving technology.  Just two weeks earlier, man landed on the Moon in an epochal triumph of human ingenuity and technological progress.  To be sure, there were other possible events at that time, but the lunar landing fits this combination very well.   Uranus only crosses the equator once every 42 years.  This time around, however, Uranus will not be accompanied by the progressive energy of Jupiter but rather the red planet Mars.  This is a more unpredictable combination and suggests situations and events involving high amounts of energy and force.  If this pairing can be channeled positively, it could correspond with a breaking down of barriers and a realization of freedom and independence.  For this reason, it can be quite a revolutionary energy as constraints are seen as increasingly intolerable under this transit.  In the physical world, this is a more dangerous combination because ‘freedom’ here can mean freedom from stasis and solidity and an increased risk of fundamental disruption as we might find in earthquakes and volcanoes.  The timing of events from this conjunction needn’t be exact, although if we do see something emerge here, it should fall fairly close to it. 

This week Mars is in the spotlight as it squares Ketu, the South Lunar Node at midweek.   Ketu likes change and reorganizing things, so the connection with Mars will likely boost the energy available for adapting to new circumstances and reshaping reality.  There may be a greater appetite for shaking things up this week, so it may be a good time to learn to go with the flow rather than be left behind.  In situations where change has occurred unexpectedly, this could lead to some discomfort and irritation.  Since Ketu is closely associated with other-worldliness and spiritual matters, this could also be a good time to apply some of that action-oriented Mars energy towards areas that fall outside of the mundane realm.  Helping out at or fixing up temples and churches come to mind as the most literal version of this energy, as does providing service in general towards those in pursuit of enlightenment. 

Have a great week,
Chris