Aquarium Age, Blogs

The Aquarium Age: Dec. 11-17

By Ralfee Finn

It’s on. It’s off. It’s on. It’s off. Again. And so it goes for this week and next, as Uranus prepares to go direct on December 17…AND…Venus gets ready to go retrograde on December 21. (Yes, I left that bit out last week.) Expect the stop-and-start effect of this forward/backward planetary pattern to disrupt individual as well as collective equilibriums. And because Mars, currently in Libra, also begins its opposition to Uranus this week, anticipate that more than a few of those disruptions will be in the realm of personal relationships.

Uranus starts to “slow down” all week long in preparation for its “course correction” on December 17, and it won’t really gather much momentum until the day after Christmas. But we always experience Uranus Direct as some sort of etheric bump, if only in the escalation of nervous anxiety. And that’s the problem: The holidays tend to be rife with emotional difficulty, and Uranus, with its signature of startling plot twists, amplifies that already agitated air. But the problem with the current Uranus Direct is just the unforeseen making itself known. On December 14, Mars forms an opposition to Uranus, a tense interaction that is exact and separating on Christmas Day and lingers until January 6. Mars/Uranus contacts are infamous for their fighting spirit, and as this opposition takes hold and plays out, many of us might find ourselves embroiled in arguments we’d rather not have. Take the high road whenever possible, and over the coming weeks refuse to engage in confrontational or belligerent behavior unless it is absolutely necessary.

There is no easy way through this Martian mess. So rather than wasting your efforts looking for a quick fix or spiritual bypass, make a concerted effort to stay present in the moment, aware that we always have the power to learn and to grow. Difficult astrological interactions are opportunities for transformation, individual and/or collective. Sometimes remembering that requires extra effort; this would be one of those times.

If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that, too.

Aries March 21-April 19
Mars, your Ruling Planet, is transiting your solar house of relating for the next eight months. As Mars makes itself cozy, it’s likely to make you more than a little uncomfortable in and around your partnerships, personal as well as professional. There’s no resisting this intensive, so don’t waste your time wishing it were otherwise. Instead, be prepared to refine, and in some cases redefine, how you relate to others.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Mars is in your solar house of service until nearly the end of July 2014. Be prepared to explore where and how you stand in relation to work (as distinct from career). Also be willing to examine your attitudes about what it means to help others, as well as what it means to care for yourself. One of the facets of this journey could require you to transform selfishness into selflessness.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Mars is making an eight-month expedition through your solar house of self-expression. This long transit requires you to move into conscious creativity. Be prepared to steep yourself in whatever it is that stirs your passion, whether it is artistic endeavors or a romantic interlude. Just be aware that no matter how Mars demonstrates its presence, life is the most creative journey you will ever experience; live it fully.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Mars is stirring the bottom of your psychic pond otherwise known as your solar house of the home. As the silt rises from the bottom, you’re sure to encounter themes of safety and security, past, present, and future. You can make like a turtle and hide beneath your shell for the next eight months, or you can realize that the secret to handling this transit with skill is opening wide to the possibility of change.

Leo July 23-August 22
Mars spends the next eight months in your solar house of communication, and while you may think that means you’ll be talking to everyone about everything, Mars could make you aware of who’s actually listening. Instead of squandering its strength, allow Mars to help you to be clear and precise about who you want to communicate with, what you want to say, and mostly importantly, why.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Mars transits your solar house of value instigating an eight-month intensive on your relationship to m-o-n-e-y. Don’t get nervous; this journey is specifically aimed at gathering financial stamina and strength. It is also about accessing reservoirs of self-esteem and self-confidence. Use this phase wisely, and you’ll build a much stronger sense of your ultimate and enduring true value.

Libra September 23-October 22
Mars sets up shop in your solar house of personality, putting you on the front lines of self-assertion—you want what you want when you want it. But all great leaders know that the key to success is the ability to inspire others to be strong. With Mars in this position you could easily overwhelm those who oppose you; so rather than dominate, find a way to inspire loyalty.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Mars is in your solar house of psyche, and as this powerful planet presses down upon your subconscious and unconscious, it won’t be easy handling your interior world, especially as it stirs dreams and visions, agitates meditation, and generally disrupts mental meanderings. Avoid brooding over the disruption, and devote yourself to fixing the holes as best you can.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Mars transits your solar house of community, triggering an eight-month exploration into how you can share your gifts with the world and deepen your participation in your immediate environment. Think about what you would like to accomplish, and then aim the strength of Mars at those goals.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Mars transits your solar house of career for the next eight months and shines its light on your desire for greater recognition. It isn’t possible to shy away from this process, so rather than squelch or deny your ambitions, figure out how to channel this intensity into specific, productive and constructive projects, with the potential to yield positive results.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Mars is on a powerful, eight-month expedition in your solar house of belief systems, and as part of its journey, you are sure to find yourself questioning what’s true for you. Don’t be afraid to ask difficult questions; Mars has the strength and determination to stay on the field as long as necessary to find satisfying, authentic answers.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Mars stirs the caldron of change, as it spends the next eight months in your solar house of transformation. There’s no way to resist its might, so rather than trying to control how this process unfolds, surrender the need to secure a specific outcome. At the core, this transit is about learning humility in the face of a much larger and mysterious universe than your personal needs or wants.

This article was originally published on December 12, 2013.