Tag: Saturn

Glass Chess Pieces

Old Guard, New Castle: Saturn in Aquarius

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Saturn is in his official swan song of 2020 as he prepares to exit Capricorn mid-December.  Over the past three years he has put his foot down and demanded hard work. Everyone was rewarded with changes that will endure for the next 28 years.  He was king of his castle in Capricorn by dismantling systems, government, assumptions about authority, and reframing achievements.  Think back to how your life has changed and what systems you put in place since December 2017.  Perhaps your life in the pubic eye shifted or even a career shift?  Maybe you moved or grew into new family roles?  Whatever was created will endure and Saturn will leave one last parting gift before leaving.  

Saturn’s Nature

But where is he going now?  Saturn rules both Capricorn and Aquarius so in many senses he is just leaving one castle for another.  Imagine a grand manor on the English countryside with its imposing stone walls, weighty architecture and turrets to fly his flag of authority.  That, my friends, is Capricorn and Saturn is king.  Now imagine a crystalline palace high in the sky made of nothing but windows. The views from all sides are spectacular and the rooms are filled with libraries and great rooms with large tables for in depth conversations and maps of the great beyond. This is how Saturn rules the roost of Aquarius. While he shored up the security in Capricorn, he is now going to surround himself with ideals and possibilities.  

Saturn is a dry and cold planet.  He is comfortable in settings where emotions do not plague him, but he can get either down to earth and secure resources or he can connect with others through exploration of thoughts and ideals.  You must first define the boundaries of your kingdom before you know where to expand.  This is the transition from Capricorn to Aquarius.

Revolution or Evolution?

For the next three years Saturn will take his stern logic and keen eyesight to identify potential.  He wants what is idealistically right for the whole.  He feels a certain stewardship to those he governs.  And as such he can feel alone in a crowd quite easily.  In Aquarius he enjoys exploring and letting his mind wander to come back to the group and share his ideas.  Although he gets more credit for revolution, what he’s really interested in is evolution.  There are distinct differences.  He doesn’t want to blow the whole system up he just created, but instead be open to changing fundamental beliefs of those within the system.  He’s interested in playing devils advocate from an impartial place of fair principles.  If people do not agree with the ideas, they are left out.  This can lead to a fractionated group of those who agree and those do disagree.  While Saturn in Capricorn rewards loyalty, self-reliance, and dedication; Saturn in Aquarius rewards standing up for justice, serving the underdog, and self-sacrifice for the advancement of the whole.  While in Capricorn he shored up tradition, in Aquarius he looks to adapt those traditions to the present. 

Look back to what happened in February 1991 through February 1994.  Themes of those years will come back for another overhaul.  Expect hard work and delicious earned rewards.  To help you, let me give you an idea how each sign will be asked to evolve.

Horoscopes:

Aries Rising: 

The past three years has put a spotlight in your public persona and reputation sector.  You have built a name for yourself and have increased your personal capital in your circle. For the next three years you will be asked to share that knowledge and build bridges in the larger societal context.  Now is the time to build and evolve your network and friends.  You can be more successful and level up when you are connected.  There will be challenges in loyalty and ideologies, but you will find the group where you feel integrated.

Taurus Rising: 

Since 2007 you have been earning your stripes behind the scenes.  Expanding your mind, seeking education, and finding mentors.  All of that prep work is now leading you to center stage.  Over the next few years you will be asked to take on more responsibility in a public way.  While you have cultivated your philosophies, you are now asked to live those values.  Being “out there” can feel intimidating and vulnerable.  All of that is natural.  But remember that you do have the qualifications and the preparation when you feel overwhelmed.  You are exactly where the universe wants you for leading your best life.  

Gemini Rising: 

Intense transformation has been the focus for you since 2017.  In many ways you have been more sensitive to taking on other’s piles of stress.  It’s been a process of establishing your boundaries and your values.  The past three years you have been sifting through what is your responsibility and where do others need to take ownership for their emotional baggage.  I like to call it:  “Is it my shit or is it your shit?  Cause all I know is this is shit.”  Yup, that’s where you’ve been.  Accountability is a lesson learned by both parties through one shared experience.  I’m happy to say that you have emerged from the fire and are ready to move on.  From now until 2023 you get the chance to integrate those lessons into your life philosophy.  Now is the time to dive into the larger meaning of your life, the soul connection to the universe, and share your wisdom with others.  This is a time to look to the collective and how you are learning and leading in the evolution of the whole.

Cancer Rising:

Relationship hell?  Oh yeah, you can write a book about that now.  Over the past few years you have had challenges with boundaries in your most intimate attachments.  For some walls went up and for others you wanted those relationships set in stone.  Think about how much clarity you gained about your self-worth, your boundaries, and your standards  since 2017.  Saturn has a way of making it or breaking it by the time his transit is done.  And now you are ready to move into a new phase.  Until 2023 you will be learning the lesson of accountability to yourself and to others.  For some it is about finances and what it takes to gain trust from larger institutions like banks or the government for others it is the life lessons of merging with another and the trust you need to give.  With Saturn in Aquarius you will be able to list out exactly what the tasks are in black and white to check the boxes of progress. Saturn’s job in this area is to look through the darker patterns of the psyche and discard what patterns are not working for you.  Introspection is your best tool over the next few years.

Leo Rising: 

Your health and daily routine got a makeover over the past three years.  You put in the work to maximize your effectiveness at work and at home.  You had to learn you couldn’t have it all, so it was a matter of discerning what was essential.  Some made solid health goals and achieved them, others confronted the reality of growing older with more health complications.  Sometimes it felt like the hits just kept coming.  I’m happy to say you will not have to deal with this as intensely for another 28 years.  The focus will shift into the relationships of your life.  Over the next three years you have the opportunity to evaluate how you want relationships to look like in your life.  As you clarify your boundaries, you may find that what behavior from your lover was once tolerable is now impossible.  Standards get raised as you negotiate what is ideal and what is realistic.  With Aquarius you may be exploring what it means to preserve your self-identity and personal freedoms within a relationship.  Self-advocacy is a must through these next few years.

Virgo Rising: 

Having Saturn in Capricorn since 2017 has asked you to redefine what brings you joy.  You have examined every nook and cranny to decide if you really enjoy an activity or are just doing it out of duty. It has been an emergence of some of your most creative work while Saturn dallied in your 5th house of pleasure.  Of all the signs you probably handled this transit better than most signs as you find Saturns nature of hard work to be rather enjoyable.  Rest assured you did a great job.  It is important to find what gives you joy because over the next few years Saturn will be asking you to integrate that into your daily routine.  Pleasure is such an essential part of being human and often we find scheduling time for ourselves gets neglected.  From now until 2023 your charge is to find balance in your daily routines and the consequence for neglecting this can be detrimental to your health.  Establish the healthy habits of prioritizing you.

Libra Rising: 

Saturn in Capricorn toured your fourth house of home and ancestry over the past three years.  Some changed their relationships with their extended families while others changed residences altogether.  It had you examine family traditions and you got to decide thoughtfully what you wanted to continue and what you wanted to extinguish.  How you established your roots and your sanctuary were paramount themes.  For some it brought endings and others it brought new family members into your lives.  While Saturn made sure your roots were held tight, he is now ready to give you wings.  Saturn in the 5th house asks you to create.  In a fellow air sign, he is asking you to connect with others and share.  At first you may feel lost and directionless until you collaborate to mull over the possibilities.  Over the next three years it is an ideal time to give birth to a creative project that is close to your heart and brings you joy.  Expect revisions as the process evolves and remain fluid.  This could be one of the most creative and productive times of your life.  

Scorpio Rising: 

Saturn in Capricorn has been stirring the pot with issues of your neighborhood, your children’s education, and communication in general.  It’s almost like COVID happened and your world shrunk down to the smaller microcosm or something!  Literally, this is a fantastic literal translation of what could have manifested.  In this time you had to learn hard lessons about how you communicate and how you listen.  Sometimes we forget that half of getting the message across is just listening.  You worked on being understood and understanding others.  This is the very building block of relationships and some friends became as close as siblings to you.  Over the next three years Saturn is going to shift the focus into your home and family life.  It’s time to take the communication lessons your learned and put them into practice with your family. Saturn will be asking to redefine your concept of family or where you put your roots.  It is a time to redefine what “sanctuary” means to you and how to co-create it.  Although Saturn is comfortable acting alone, he is doing this in an Air sign that demands cooperation.  Find that balance of me time and social time.  Both have equal importance.  

Sagittarius Rising: 

Your finances probably have a lot more structure now than they did back in 2017.  Thanks to the task master touring your second house you were called on the carpet about what the stark reality was about your wealth.  It was a time to define boundaries and even impose hard limits on your spending.  There is a difference between being rich:  those who have expendable income; and those who are wealthy:  those who have investments.  It was also a life lesson to learn about how your self-worth doesn’t have to be tied to the number in you bank account.  For the next three years Saturn is ready to remodel your communication and commerce.  He is going to be invested in how you find the value in others and where you invest your time and energy.  How do you connect with others?  Do you listen more than you talk?  Where are you expending your energy.  Your sign has a tendency to believe yourself the more you talk and what gets neglected is the active listening.  Saturn in Aquarius will challenge you to see other’s points of view and realize that at times you can be the largest limitation in deepening relationships.  

Capricorn Rising: 

Since 2017 you have revolutionized everything from your self-image to your health, to how you want to be seen.  It has asked for no less than a complete overhaul of your mind, body, and soul.  Saturn asked you to invest in yourself.  I’ve seen individuals change their names, their genders, their occupations, and their bodies.  But they have all become a lot more confident and happy with who they are.  Once you got the basics down, it is now time to put your energy into what sustains you.  Saturn in Aquarius is moving into your second house providing a spotlight on how you nurture yourself and the funds it requires.  The way you bring in money and keep it will be examined.  It’s not about where you are, but where you want to be in Aquarius.  Find that ideal and systematically isolate what is working and what isn’t.  Saturn is here to build legacy and wants you to understand how things are interconnected.  How your present yourself is your confidence which leads to self-value and that will reflect in the money you bring in and keep.  Saturn likes accountability and self-reliance so watch as this develops in your financial health through 2023.

Aquarius Rising: 

The past three years felt like they were a little lost.  Saturn finds his joy in the 12th house because he can do Saturn things:  reflect, isolate, gain perspective on the passing of time, learn self-reliance.  Even downtime can be useful.  You emerge with a greater sense of what grounded you and what were essentials in your life.  From now until 2023 your ruling planet is in his sign and is ready to get to work on you.  This is a time of revolution of self.  Everything from your image to your health is on the table.  Saturn in Aquarius is through as he picks and chooses the input he wants to integrate.  Look at all the possibilities and where you might want to fit into the larger whole.  Life is like an experiment and you get to evolve.  The greater you understand yourself, the greater you understand everyone.

Pisces Rising: 

While the world was feeling a bit alone this past year, you were seeing how universal that isolation was.  I love Pisces ability to reframe things and this has been your talent while Saturn toured Capricorn over the past 3 years.  You’ve found your niche of people and weeded out who wasn’t supporting your best self.  Cutting the dead social wood, so to speak.  And that took a lot of courage.  Now that you have paired down to the essentials to other like minded people, you have your team.  This is perfect timing for you to know who has your back as you retreat into the subconscious.  You will need them as a counterbalance as you begin to dream of worlds that don’t exist…yet. :). From now until 2023 you will master the quiet moments and ask, “What could be?  Why or Why Not?”  Pisces idealism blends perfectly into Saturn in Aquarius.  While others are testing the waters of evolution, you are quietly building momentum.  You will observe moments that make you feel vulnerable and moments that will empower, but you will now learn how to learn that you are safe and grounded.  Because, I’m going to tell you a secret:  come 2023 your optimism and collective vision will guide us forward as you take center stage.

Leave me a comment to let me know how Saturn in Capricorn manifested for you!

A Personal Story with Medical Astrology

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Medical astrology is a branch of the tradition which ancient physicians used routinely.  From the transits to your natal chart, physical history, and horary questions, the physicians would determine what kind of disease you had and would recommend treatments.  

Even today, medical astrologers can give you windows into the world of your body’s constitution and how it might respond to interventions.  While the interventions have changed (blood letting for example vs. antibiotics), even today you can see how the stars will play into the situation and outcome.

Houses in Medical Astrology

Key placements to look are the rising sign and its ruler’s condition, the 6th house of health, the 8th house of death, the 10th house of intervention/treatment, and the 12th house of closed spaces (think hospitals).  

Planets in Medical Astrology

Each planet rules different conditions.  If you are thinking specifically about surgery or inflammation, you look at Mars.  Problems with Venus can indicate issues with blood sugars.  Jupiter can indicate issues with excess such as obesity, liver, or cancer.  Leo or the Sun can suggest problems with the heart.  Neptune can indicate problems with the immune system, addictions, or misdiagnosis.  Uranus afflictions can show problems with sudden accidents or the nervous system.  Mercury shows up with speech issues, mental disorders or respiratory problems.  Saturn can show chronic issues or hardening diseases.  And Pluto can indicate massive infection, congenital issues, or even death.

Signs in Medical Astrology

And the signs rule different parts of the body.  For example, Libra governs your endocrine system and kidneys, while Scorpio rules your sexual health. Aries rules your head and brain.  Gemini will rule your arms, lungs, hands and nervous system. Virgo is your digestion. The feet are ruled by Pisces while the ankles are ruled by Aquarius. Taurus rules your throat. Leo rules your heart. Cancer rules your stomach and breasts. Sagittarius rules your legs and liver. This is not an exhaustive list, by any means.

My Personal Experience

My chart is no exception.

As a Capricorn rising, I am prone to issues with bones, joints, and teeth.  Capricorn risings can indicate younger people with older people problems.  Mars is in my 6th house of health in Gemini.  Knowing that Gemini is a mutable sign, this would suggest that my problems show up and then go away for awhile.  Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is in its detriment in Cancer, but is dignified by its term.  It’s not a surprise that I have had a lot of surgeries on my knees and spine.

I am going in for bi-lateral knee replacements tomorrow so my medical astrology has been at the forefront of my mind. It’s rare for a 44 year old to be getting this surgery so young, but I’ve literally exhausted all treatment options from intensive PT to various injections.  I’ve had this booked since October 2019.

It’s important that you seek experts in the field when getting information.  I am not a medical astrologer, so I booked a consult with Jane Ridder-Patrick out of the UK for more insight.  Every practitioner is different and I first learned of her when I attended the United Astrological Conference in 2018.  

I gave her a detailed medical history with all of my surgical dates and wondered if there were common threads to the interventions.  Indeed there were:  Saturn or another outer planet was usually making an aspect to my cardinal cross planets every time I had an issue.  

Tomorrow is no different.  My Saturn opposition is almost exact, Mercury will be moving into Pisces minutes before my surgery will take place opposing my Sun/Moon by sign, and the Moon moves into Capricorn simultaneously.  

It’s not ideal.  One of the first rules of surgery election dates is to not undergo an operation when the moon is VOC or in the same or opposite sign of the body part that will be cut.  This goes back to Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine.  

“Touch not with iron that part of the body rule by the sign the moon is transiting” – Hippocrates (460 BC)

Like I said, this isn’t ideal.  But in modern medicine you also need to be practical.  I didn’t really get much say in my surgery date which is typical of medicine in the USA.  Also, with the COVID-19 influx, I am actually surprised it hasn’t been canceled yet.  However, I check in daily and they assure me it is still on. 

One of my friends is an Infectious Disease doctor who actually recommended I get this procedure done as the first wave of COVID-19 hasn’t fully hit and my husband (a palliative care doctor) will be at home on FMLA and not on service with all of the sick patients.  With my kids now out of school as well, we are essentially on quarantine which is the best thing for my recovery.  

Am I worried?  Yes.  I’d be a fool not to be regardless of where the Moon was.

Have you had any experiences with medical astrology? I’d love to know more about it in the comment section!

Medical Astrologers I trust: Jane Patrick-Ridder, J.Lee Lehman, Kira Sutherland

***Update: It has been postponed and unknown when it will be rescheduled. As a bonus, maybe I’ll get a better moon for the procedure.***

Wedding Elections 101

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You just said YES to THE question and the ring is sparkling on your hand.  But before the blush has worn off the happy couple the next question lands:  When? Before you start the constant decision making process of gowns, reception halls, guest lists, and flowers have you paused and looked up?  To the sky that is.  Welcome to Wedding Elections 101.

Picking out wedding date is like picking out the birthday for your marriage.  By taking the stars into account, you can see how your union will support desires for kids, your careers, and your individuality all at the same time.  What counts the most is when you say your vows.  Go ahead and plan your rustic autumn reception in the barn or the tropical destination celebration on the beach, but even more importantly, choose the day you will solidify your marriage.  

Why Astrology?

The sky can give an amazing viewpoint of where your struggles will be in your marriage as well as your points of ease.  It can set the stage for prosperity, happiness, and give you insights as to what areas might be sources of tension.  Also know there may not be an absolute PERFECT day, but it’s a matter of picking out what is optimal for you and working with what you have.  

What’s even better is you can do this yourself by following a few cardinal rules.  If you have the time, get a calendar and head to www.astro.com to start looking for days.  

The Basics:

Venus

This planet represents the marriage itself.  Whatever you do, make sure Venus is not in Retrograde!  This is a must.  On average, Venus retrogrades for about 6 weeks every 18 months.  When Venus is in retrograde, you are adding a level of complication you don’t have to have.  It may mean there could be additional tests to your union.  You could be setting up energy where you need to restore or rework the union in the future.  Is it completely unworkable?  No, but if you can avoid it, do.  

Take a big red pen and cross off all the days when Venus is in retrograde.  For 2020 those days are May 13 – June 25.  Venus will be direct in 2021 and 2022.

A happy Venus is your foundation.  She truly characterizes the whole marriage.  For the strongest placements, look for times when Venus is in Taurus, Pisces, and Libra.  Try to avoid Venus in Aries (more of an independent marriage or quick flight of fancy), Venus in Virgo (a bit nit-picky at times), or Venus in Scorpio (intense).  Let her shine by being supportive and loving.  

Venus in Taurus:  March 4, 2020 – March 20, 2020 

Venus in Libra:  October 27, 2020 – November 20, 2020. (However remember Mars will be in retrograde until November 14, 2020…more on this in a second).

As a bonus, to ensure kind words and supportive emotions, try to make sure Venus is in a trine, sextile, or conjunction to Mercury or the Moon.  All of these works well.

Mars

For 2020, Mars will also be in retrograde from September 9, 2020 – November 14, 2020.  If at all possible, try to avoid getting married during these dates.  Mars retrograde has a tendency to  asks us to doubt our actions.  This could be as simple as someone having cold feet or setting the stage for someone constantly questioning if marrying was the best decision.  

Saturn

Many people fear Saturn, but he’s really a help in a wedding chart.  This planet governs tradition and time endurance.  It’s wonderful to have a a Moon, Sun, Venus, or the planet that rules the chart in a sextile or trine to the planet that rules time itself.  You are just adding that foundation to the house of your marriage.  On another note, please avoid Sun square Saturn. This makes it so hard to grow together as a couple.  With this aspect, you are begging for frustration as the individuals are fighting to identify themselves in the marriage.  

Days to Avoid:  April 19, 2020 –  May 20, 2020

September 22, 2020 – October 22, 2020. 

Sun and Moon 

One of the cardinal rules of wedding date selection is to make sure the Sun and Moon are in a supportive aspect to one another.  The Sun and Moon represent you and your partner and you want to make sure that relationship is a friendly one as the years progress.  Aim for either a trine (120 degrees) or a sextile (60 degrees) between these two planets.  This will ensure you two will be sitting together sipping pina coladas on a cruise ship in retirement or rocking on the front porch watching a sunset.

Many brides envision themselves saying their vows on a beach at sunset or during a full moon.  While this sounds wonderful, the symbolism screams NO!  During full moons, the Sun and Moon are opposing one another which really sets up a dynamic of making choices me vs. you throughout the marriage. 

Sunsets

And as for riding off into the sunset? A wedding at sunset really does indicate that it’s going to take some work to get one of you fully into the marriage.  At sunset, the Sun is merging into the horizon and moving into the 6th house of work.  One of you won’t be fully present in the marriage by either yielding all of their personality into the marriage or escaping into work.  A marriage is about two people coming together to celebrate their individuality and active choice to be in the union.  Go ahead and make the wedding celebration and reception on the beach at sunset, but get thee to a courthouse beforehand to solidify your legal vows.

Eclipses

Likewise, avoid eclipse dates.  This just sets up an intensity that you don’t need in your marriage.  Generally speaking, eclipses always symbolize endings. I would definitely pick a new moon over a full moon any day.  Ideally, you would want a moon that is building from the new moon up to the full moon (waxing).  This symbolizes the ability to grow together.

Ideal signs for the moon:  Taurus or Cancer.  The moon are in each of these signs once a month.

Mercury Retrogrades

If you can, try to avoid Mercury retrogrades.  I’ve had others get married with it in retrograde and something went wrong.  The officiant was late, the paperwork wasn’t right, travel was affected, and so forth.  With one wedding, the busses never showed up to take the guests to the church.  Imagine feeling stood up by your whole congregation!  It’s not the end of the world, but it will test your sense of humor.  

Mercury Retrograde in 2020:  February 16 – March 9

June 18 – July 12

October 13 – November 3

Venus and Mars

These two planets are the indicators for you physical intimacy.  For a spicy sex life, Venus trine or sextile Mars is a great aspect to have in a wedding chart.  But make sure these two planets are not in a square (90 degrees) or opposition (180 degrees).  You will find with difficult aspects, “Sorry, not tonight, I have a headache,” could be a common phrase.  

A word to longevity:  sparks do fade over time and that is ok.  This is why it’s important to lean into the Sun/Moon aspect.

Timing of the Day

So now that you’ve picked your date, it’s time to time the chart by the hour.  Avoid placing the Sun, Moon, or Venus in the 6th or 12th house.  An easy way to eliminate the Sun being in the 6th or 12th is to really avoid two hours right after sunrise or sunset.  There are some faith traditions that prefer weddings at sunset.  

Try to get the ruler of the Ascendant in the 7th house if possible.  

Try to get the Moon in the 7th, 10th, 4th, or 1st house.  

Word to the Wise

Wedding elections aren’t the end of the world!  What matters the most is that you found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.  Every marriage has ups and downs and wedding elections just give you an extra boost to your foundation.  My parents didn’t use astrology to get married and they’ve been together for 46 years!  You can totally see where their sticky points are in the chart, but they have made it work well.  

Also know that 2020 is a rough one to pick out optimal dates for even seasoned astrologers so don’t pull your hair out too much.  

I’m happy to help either as a second opinion or do the whole thing for you!  I offer a full service wedding astrology consultation.  For more information click here.

Pushing the Collective Forward: Saturn in Aquarius

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Are you ready for a new dawn?  It’s coming as Saturn enters Aquarius on March 30, 2020.  While in the sign of the sea-goat Saturn set the stage by having us take inventory of what is working vs. what is tradition.   But in Aquarius, he is ready to take on the status quo and redefine our boundaries.  Saturn in this sign tolerates loneliness, but fears abandonment.  He can be consumed by the idea of reform.  He likes learning the limits so that he cannot push beyond them.  

Important Dates

Saturn in Aquarius – March 21st, 2020 – July 1st, 2020 (approximately 3.75 months)

Saturn in Capricorn – July 1st – December 17, 2020 (6 months)

Saturn in Aquarius – December 17, 2020 – March 7, 2023 (2.25 YEARS)

On average, Saturn spends about 2 – 2.5 years in each sign and it takes about 28 years for him to journey through the zodiac.

As you can see this initial pass of Saturn in Aquarius is a 15 week preview.  As Saturn retrogrades for about 6 months every year, this will be fleeting and it will return to Capricorn on July 1st.  Pay attention to what themes arise as it will give us a sneak peek of what will characterize December 2020 – March 2023.

Saturn’s Nature

Aquarius is ruled by Saturn just like Capricorn,  but the planet asks very different things in each sign.  Saturn is the planet that rules boundaries and norms.  He is like father time and the task master of hard lessons.  Here he asks us to be present with the discomfort and do the work.  He gets rid of things that are no longer working for us and by the end of this transit, we will be more self-reliant.  For those with a night birth chart, this is the hardest planet in your chart.  Often Saturn transits will bring endings, but also increased self-reliance.  

Historical Perspective

The past three years have asked us to question our authority figures, our government, and the society structure that have existed.  With this we saw the Me Too movement remove men from the patriarchal stance of sexuality contingent on career advancement.  We also watched the presidency change tones dramatically with an impeachment trial.  He gets upset with entitled authority vs. leadership that is earned for its own merit.

The last time Saturn was in Aquarius was 1991 – 1993.  In 1991 Ross Perot launched his independent run for President.  His roots were in the technology industry (largely influenced by Aquarius) before politics.  Ultimately, it was a failed run, but it was largely influential.  Also during Saturn’s last tour, trade sanctions lifted between the US and China, General Noriega was finally convicted of drug charges in America, and NAFTA was signed.  By 1992, the Cold War was declared officially over.  The boundaries between Nations were renegotiated and their changes endured until recently.  It was also the height of the grunge scene where most youth cued their self-identity from not fitting in.  Ironically, it created a populist movement where being on the fringe was mainstream.  At the tail end of Saturn’s tour, “www,” was released as a source code forever changing how we referenced information and the modern internet became mainstream.

Looking Forward

We can expect more growth in grassroots organizations striving for reform.  I anticipate we will see an uptick in groups dedicated to social justice and equality.  Aquarius also brings about an integration of technology.  I also hope to see advances in how we use technology in our daily work flow.  With Uranus in Taurus, this is prime time for innovations in food technology and even the way we get our groceries.  Perhaps brick and mortar grocery stores will become a dying breed.  There will be many failed experiments in this time, but there will also be successes that will endure.

Keep your eye on the December 2020 as the prize.  This initial push forward into Aquarius will feel a bit more difficult than what’s down the road.  This is because both Saturn and Mars are the malefic planets and they are moving together.  Fear and a call to action are in the mix for March.  Change can be scary.  

However, in December 2020 we have a great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.  This energy will govern almost all of 2021.  This dynamic duo gives us the inspiration and trusting our instincts to move forward and create something substantive.  It is the embodiment of Obama’s chant, “Yes We Can!”  2021 brings us the promise taking this spirit and making it reality.  This is where the hope lies.

Viva La Revolution!  What Can You Expect?

Depending on what house Aquarius occupies in your birth chart, you will feel an urge to reorganize and reform your standard operating procedure.  You may experience scarcity for part of this transit, but at the end you will experience increased self-reliance.  But at the finish line is a total empowerment of the collective.  And that, is a true goal.

Aries Rising:  Your call to action is in your friendships sector.  Examine who really has your back and is supporting your self-development vs. using your talents without anything in return.  Saturn will be sextiling your identity which will gives you self-discipline to create lasting results.  

Taurus Rising:  Work is asking you to take on new responsibilities.  It’s time to level up.  Embrace your ability to challenge the status quo.  For some of you this may mean a complete change of career.  With Uranus and your Ascendant being in a square with Saturn, you might have some sudden changes or make a split decision to leave the security for pursuit of self-worth.  

Gemini Rising:  You are getting asked to examine how you challenge the boundaries of your mind.  Are you thinking of returning to school or traveling extensively?  With your Ascendant trining Saturn, the gears are greased and ready to make your goals become reality. 

Cancer Rising:  It’s time to restructure how you pay off the debts you owe or shared finances.  It’s time to examine your long term financial planning.  Some of you will be in the market for a new advisor all together.

Leo Rising: Your romantic partnerships are renegotiating the rules and boundaries within the relationship.  Perhaps more freedom is in order or responsibilities are getting shifted.  For some of you this means a complete ending if you cannot get your needs met.  With Saturn in opposition to your Ascendant, you are definitely feeling the push of Me vs. Them.  Choices will have to be made.

Virgo Rising:  Your daily routine is getting called on the carpet.  Do you need to structure in more time for exercise and health?  What you have been doing isn’t working anymore.  Expect breakthroughs and new habits.

Libra Rising:  Your children are questioning the status quo.  Expect them to be asking for more independence.  You also may have a new creative project that will blow away your expectations. As a whole, this transit will not feel as hard for you as it will for others and will feel like a break from 2017-2020.  Enjoy the process!

Scorpio Rising:  It may be time to refinance your home, move, or renovate.  As this sign likes to explore, you may find yourself moving to a completely new city.  This decision will be one not to take lightly as it will have lasting impact.  Your Ascendant will be in a square to Saturn indicating that you are making some tough decisions about if this is better for you or others.  

Sagittarius Rising:  How are your relationships with your siblings?  Boundaries and obligations are redefined.  With your Ascendant sextiling Saturn, it is a great time to take on any intellectual discipline that needs concentration like learning a foreign language.  The rewards are there if you put in the work.

Capricorn Rising:  Your individual finances are under the microscope.  The way you earn money will experience a shift.  You may take on work or freelance.  These next few years will not be as revolutionary as 2017-2020 was for you. This is the time to consolidate.

Aquarius Rising:  You are being challenged to redefine yourself. It’s time to change how you take responsibility to rework your self-image, health, and independence.  The intrinsic evolution will almost feel like a compulsion.  These years will set the foundation.

Pisces Rising:  Are you your own self undoing?  If you are thinking of entering therapy this is a good time to do it.  These years might be a good time to prepare for how to become the best version of yourself starting 2023.  

What are you looking forward to with Saturn in Aquarius?  Let me know in the comments!

Starting 2020 Off with a Bang: Saturn Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn

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When the universe asks you to grow, you don’t decline the invitation.

As Jupiter moves across my ascendant, I have accepted several challenges. For one, I was nominated to the Steering Committee of the Association for Astrological Networking. And I also launched my YouTube channel talking about a doozy of a transit: January’s Saturn conjunct Pluto.

This transit is going to change how we restructure leadership to support our integrity. And the effects of this transit will shape the next 3 decades. In my video, I did a deep dive on how the two task master planets have aligned since 1900 and what we can expect with this evolution.

I’ll be using my YouTube channel for the deeper dives into bigger transits and forecasting. But don’t worry, I’ll still be blogging to update how astrology manifests on a daily basis and educational content of how you can apply astrology to your personal chart.

Be sure to share what you think of my debut and feel free to share if you think it was valuable!

Midlife Transits: Saturn Opposition

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Saturn does his best work when he’s working on something long term.  At age 29 he makes his first return to his natal position where we first realize we are now real grown ups and start taking on more responsibility.  At 44, we have the mid-point of this cycle where we can evaluate how we are doing.  Welcome to the Saturn Opposition part of Midlife Crisis. 

At 28, I was the youngest department director in the pediatric hospital.  It was a dream come true.  I supervised 200 employees, an award winning program I built from scratch, and I was just beginning to date my future husband.  When he proposed at age 31, people thought I was crazy for giving up my career and moving across country.  But here I am at age 44, on the brink of my Saturn opposition looking back and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.  My career isn’t anywhere near what I thought it was going to be; its 100% better.  I even have a wonderful husband, two crazy kids, and a dog to boot.  But I had to risk it all to get everything I have. 

Saturn is our planet of hard earned rewards.  Managing Saturn takes true wisdom and it usually affects the areas of life where we are our most vulnerable.  Saturn will hold what Venus attracts.  He can also protect and put up boundaries, but be careful that those boundaries don’t isolate you.  Part of what we do in this transit is evaluate and make choices about what we are going to keep and what we are going to give up in order to pursue what we want in the long range.

For example, if we start to realize that we’ve sacrificed everything just to have a marriage, we might get rid of the marriage.  Or if we realize we’ve rejected every blind date because of exceedingly high criteria we might loosen the rigidity.  Often when we take a good hard look uncomfortable feelings come up.  I’ve had clients express fear of the future, guilt that they settled for being comfortable, inadequacy, rejection, or depression.  All of these feelings are normal.  It’s just part of us recommitting to our path and giving ourselves some grace moving forward.  When Saturn returns to its natal position at age 58, you will be glad you had a chance to check in and course-correct if needed.

Saturn oppositions require us to clarify our path and commit to our values.  It requires a choice between things.  And often it requires clarity and pairing down to what’s essential to success.

Transiting Saturn in the Houses

When Saturn is transiting your First House:  hold onto yourself, pay attention to your physical body, learn to say no to others, set goals that are focused on you.

When Saturn is transiting your Second House:  hold your money, spend less, budget.

When Saturn is transiting your Third House:  hold your tongue, you might have authority problems with siblings and close friends, learn and teach, try to commute less.

When Saturn is transiting your Fourth House:  go out less, mind your boundaries with your father by either being more open or saying no more often, you might have some problems with your home country’s politics, restructure your home or redecorate it.

When Saturn is transiting your Fifth House:  don’t gamble, restructure your love affairs, teach your child, reexamine the discipline of your children, work on your hobbies.

When Saturn is transiting your Sixth House:  keep the job you have, say no to this who serve or work for you, take care of your body, find specialists for the ailments you have.

When Saturn is transiting your Seventh House:  hold onto your identity in your partnership, this can either show that your partner is in trouble or he/she is the focus, restructure your duties and roles within the marriage.

When Saturn is transiting your Eighth House:  experience your loss/grief, restructure your resources to deal with your debt and taxes, do not take any loans, check on your partners finances, get your will and power of attorney in order.

When Saturn is transiting your Ninth House:  hold on to your guiding principles, restructure how you celebrate your faith, start therapy, journal about your dreams, begin going back to college.

When Saturn is transiting your Tenth House:  say no to fame or status, be true to your word, be mature, mind your boundaries with your mom by either being more open or say no more often with her, be mindful if promotions are just an elevation in title only.

When Saturn is transiting your Eleventh House:  pair down your friends or community involvement, say no and have less responsibility within organizations.

When Saturn is transiting your Twelfth House:  Saturn is in his Joy here, hold on to what makes you happy, take time for yourself, practice self-care.

Additional Resources:

Ilhan, Baris (2018) “ Saturn and Its Cohesive Powers.”  Lecture, UAC.  Chicago, Illinois.

Bell, Virginia (2017). “Midlife is not a crisis.” Weiser Books. Newburyport, MA.

Ruperti, Alexander (2005). Earthwalk Astrology Publishing.  Santa Monica, CA.

Solar Eclipse in Capricorn

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Astrologically, eclipses are sensitive points of change to the collective.  They point to starts and stops in cycles and we can tell what the themes will be as a collective based upon what axis they fall upon in which sector of the sky.  New moons, as always, are points of new beginnings and places to plant seeds for intentions to manifest.  In general new moons are personal; eclipses are more societal. 

Eclipses occur when the Earth and Moon are aligned with the Sun and the shadowy body cast by the Sun falls on the other.  A Solar eclipse is when the Sun is blocked out by the Moon.  A Lunar eclipse is when the moon is blocked out by the full moon and it occurs close to the moon’s nodes

At a new moon, like today, the moon passes in front of the sun and you can see it as a solar eclipse at a narrow path along the earth.  It all depends upon the orbits lining up with the ecliptics.  Eclipses only happen when a new or a full moon occur near the moon’s nodes.  Typically this only happens 2-3 times a year, but in 2019 we have 5 eclipses!!! But more on that in future posts.   

Today’s eclipse is in Capricorn.  Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, is all about breaking down structures in society and tradition.  This makes sense as we’ve watch the government shut down, errr, I mean “strike”, an unprecedented number of women get sworn into Congress yesterday, and the worst year end close to the stock market since the Great Depression.  I’d say that the foundation is definitely getting a bit shaken up.  

As for what you can do on a personal level, start thinking about internal changes you want to make.  Maybe start laying the mental structure for how you want to harness the Mars in Aries energy for those New Year’s resolutions.  With 5 planets loaded up in Capricorn, solid earth energy, one may have a hard time to harness the fire, but it’s a good time to stoke the coal.

Saturn in Capricorn

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Saturn does not play.  It is separating in nature and cold.  It is inflexible and dry.  It is the embodiment of Scrooge.  It Is stern.  It teaches boundaries and discipline.  It is rigid, like the bones it governs in medical astrology.  It is the planet of hard work.  But for me, as a Capricorn rising, Saturn has always been a big planet for me to draw into my personal lens.

With Saturn whatever work given, the rewards will be earned.   It may take awhile though.  There are no short cuts but there will also be  second guessing once you hit the mark.   As a result, I tend to embrace this planet.  No use in swimming upstream when the current is pushing you forward.  You’ve got to work with what you have.  So I nestle right in with this ringed giant and see where it will take me.

Saturn is a slow ringed giant. It is the last planet we can see with the naked eye in the night sky.  For the longest time, it defined our outer limit of our solar system. It was known in prehistoric times but the rings were not seen until Gallieo in 1610.  The other outer planets weren’t discovered for an other 171 years until Uranus was noticed.  Its not a stretch to see why Saturn governs the idea of boundaries in general.  It takes 28.5 years to make one trip around the zodiac.  If the average person lives 90 years that individual will have 2-3 times to see the patterns it presents during a lifetime.  Any time Saturn is at its halfway mark and again when it returns to its natal station in a birth chart can mark big points of demarkation for the lessons its presenting.

I know Saturn.  It has been a BIG hitter for me my whole life.  My first Saturn opposition in 1991  manifested in my first knee surgery.  It ended up as a massive realignment knee surgery that ended my swimming career.  I got married the month of my first Saturn return in 2006 (and it conjoined the astroid Juno, symbolizing the wife).  My son was born the day Saturn crossed over my 10th house which led me to the decision of quitting my full time professional career which included two masters degrees and several administrative positions in large medical patriarchal institutions.  Saturn literally stepped in an restricted my projected career growth.  I became a full time stay at home mom.  Board room to board books, is what I called that step.  Saturns transits literally restructure my life.

As Saturn entered Capricorn in mid-December 2017, I figured I’d get to see this planet in action.  Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, so it is relatively happy there.  As the rest of the astrological community let out a collective groan anticipating the next 7 year chapter, I thought of all of the blessings that might happen.  Its in my first house of physical self, image, and body.   Bring on the restricted healthy diet and hard exercise!  I figured I would be in the best shape of my life by the end of this run.  That was the intention I set.  Let’s transform my physical self. I was ready.

I laid the ground work for this manifestation.  I went to gyms to interview them about their philosophy.   I booked a medical astrology consultation with Kira Sutherland.  I went back to my sports med doctors to get an all clear.  I got assigned to physical therapy for some rehab work, but hey, it was still early in the Saturn/Capricorn chapter, so some remediation is to be expected.

The first pass of Saturn over my Ascendant in February 2018 wasn’t eventful.  I waited to see what would happen with the retrograde motion after it stationed in April.Reality hit, and it hit hard.

In late June 2018, Saturn made an exact conjunction with my ascendant in early Capricorn.  I honestly didn’t expect things to be so bad.  The night before it went exact, I *decided* to do my own stunt work.  It was a perfect example of how not to do physical comedy.  I took a spill down the stairs while carrying two glass lanterns and heard loud crunching and popping from my ankles.  (But hey!  I saved the glass lanterns!!) The last thing you want to hear from your doctor is, “Oh my God, you are a Board question!”  That, in layman’s terms, means that my injuries were so bad and so complex that they use it as the more obscure question when they test doctors for certification.  I had torn 3 ligaments perfectly away from the bones.  Hello, Saturn.  A break would have been an easy fix:  6 weeks, maybe surgery, and you are on your way.  Ligaments?  They don’t grow back.  Once they are gone, the only thing you can do is cozy up with physical therapy and build the strength to support the structures that were once there.

It is now October and I am still in the boot.  To make matters a bit more complex I went back in for a knee injection last week.  The next day the moon went into Gemini in my 6th house and my knee blew up like a balloon.  It is the size of a cantaloupe.  I cannot bend it past 80 degrees.  I cannot walk on it.  When a joint swells, your body’s first reaction is to cut off the supporting muscles strength.  So my quad is useless.  It is its wise way of saying, “Stop.  You cannot use me.   You must rest.”

Sometimes the lesson of Saturn is to rest and allow others to help.  That, in itself, is the hard work.

We will see what November 9, 2018 brings when Saturn once again grinds across my ascendant degree in early Capricorn.  And again, when it makes its second opposition in 2022-2023.