Aquarium Age, Blogs

The Aquarium Age: Dec. 24-30

By Ralfee Finn

Trying to condense this last week of an extraordinarily difficult and disturbing year into a pithy paragraph isn’t possible—the skyscape is at odds with the seasonal landscape, and daily life reflects the tension. Currently, the planets are engaged in serious, often fractious interactions, and their intensity has the power to nullify traditional seasonal sentiments. Holding onto goodwill and glad-tidings toward all sentient beings requires a strong intention for peace coupled with an equally strong capacity to actualize a generous heart.

The sixth (and next to last) Uranus/Pluto square on December 15 pushed too many onto what was already a dangerous precipice of violence and repression. All around the world from Australia to Pakistan to New York to Berkeley to Hong Kong, the actual and virtual universes have erupted with brutality so senseless that most of us wonder if the world will ever make sense again. And these outbreaks of violence aren’t only occurring at the collective level. More and more of our fellow travelers are facing extreme conditions—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual—and it seems as if too many are trying to stay afloat in the midst of crises that never seem to end.

To only contextualize this epidemic of violence and hatred as a necessary part of a much deeper individual and collective healing process can sound like a spiritual bypass that fails to take into account the actual pain and sorrow of individual and collective suffering. And too often spirituality is used as a distancing technique because it offers a rationalization for complex forces that cannot be understood from a linear perspective. Finding a solution to the political, economic, historical, and cultural aggregation at the core of the current chaos requires the willingness to set aside existing paradigms based on prejudice, exploitation, and especially fear. We need multidimensional solutions that will unite us through our diversity rather than continue to polarize us through our differences.

Saturn, the principle of discernment, offers the possibility of finding solutions. Saturn began its transit through Sagittarius on December 23, a journey that will end on December 19, 2017. Among its many functions, Saturn symbolizes the ability to distill wisdom from experience, and even though Saturn can be a tough taskmaster—ask anyone who has been through a rough Saturn transit—it also represents the principle of growth. Saturn enables and supports precision, clarity, structure, and the ability to learn as well as to teach.

Sagittarius is the Sign through which we embrace the biggest possible perspective. Among its many meanings, Sagittarius is where we search for truth; religion, philosophy, classical traditions, and global travel and communication are all found under its wide reach. Symbolized by the Centaur, who aims its arrow at the heavens with its feet firmly planted on the ground, Sagittarius is where we attempt to reckon our place among the stars.

Of course, Saturn will expose the shadows of that Sagittarian search for truth, and over the coming months, this column will focus on those themes. But the exposure starts with the theme of existential anxiety, a shadow rooted in the complexity of figuring out how to handle many truths; Sagittarius teaches us that spiritual truth resembles the facets of a jewel that reflect and refract the light.

Unfortunately, in the face of that multidimensional perspective, two extreme positions can arise. The first: If everything is true, then nothing is really true, and therefore nothing has meaning unless I assign meaning to it. Living in a meaningless world is damaging to the soul. The second extreme position is fundamentalism, which clings to the idea that there is one truth and one truth only.

Pluto also brought these shadows to the surface when it transited Sagittarius from January 1995 through January 2008. During that time, religious fundamentalists of every denomination sought domination in ways that were often antithetical to the core of their religious traditions. We still haven’t figured out how to handle the fear that drives that violence, and because we haven’t found a solution, it has become a virus of epidemic proportions.

Yet if we are to remain hopeful that humans will eventually learn from their mistakes, then we have to view the current state of upheaval as part of a much larger process—a process that will persist until we are no longer willing to polarize with each other through religion, race, gender, age, economic status or political affiliation. It may seem like a fantasy to imagine the possibility of neutralizing polarization. But eventually and inevitably that fantasy will become reality if only because our survival as a planet depends on it. This could be one of Saturn’s lessons.

As you work your way through the last seven days of the year, make time to contemplate where you are polarized, internally or externally. Question what keeps you polarized and positioned staunchly, and then imagine what your world would look like if you found the ground of wholesome compromise. We are all dreaming this world together, and the more we dream of peace, a peace that includes all sentient beings, regardless of religion, race, gender, species, the more likely we will create peace in our individual lives, which will ultimately create peace on Earth.

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

Aries March 21-April 19
Saturn moves into your Solar House of belief systems, and as it does, you’re making a poignant exploration into what you believe to be true. Be willing to release systems that keep you mired in outgrown behavior and habits that simply don’t fit. And while it may be hard to assemble new patterns, you may be surprised at how liberating it is to just give it a try.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Saturn is transiting your Solar House of transformation, which means you’re going to be singing endless choruses of “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.” Some of these shifts could be financial, so be precise about money matters, especially as they relate to partners. But also be aware, this journey is ultimately about values, specifically how to hold onto yours even when others disagree.

Gemini May 21-June 21
As Saturn transits your Solar House of relationship, you’re certain to embark on a sentimental journey that includes examining the structures of all your partnerships—family and friends, including significant others, as well as professional alliances. Just be aware, this excursion also involves looking at your relationship with yourself: How do you treat yourself? And why are those habits in place?

Cancer June 22-July 22
Saturn’s transit through your Solar House of service is certain to focus on work-related issues, particularly any structures keeping you attached to sacrifice—too-long hours and not enough pay, too much volunteering for tasks no one else will perform, and so forth. This phase is best used to examine how you can better balance your ability to help others without harming yourself.

Leo July 23-August 22
Saturn enters your Solar House of creativity—your birth place in the natural zodiac—and invites you to take a close and discerning look at how you structure your creative efforts. Spend more than a moment contemplating what you want to express and how you want to express it. And also remember that creativity is more than an art or a craft—it’s a way of life.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Saturn moves into your Solar House of the home, examining the foundation of your structures for safety and security, both internal and external. Some portion of this phase is sure to be uncomfortable, if only because you’ll be exploring old survival mechanisms that no longer serve. But on the other hand, you may be surprised by the realization of your strength.

Libra September 23-October 22
Saturn focuses its discerning eye on communication, specifically how you communicate your needs to others. As part of this process, the structures of our day-to-day life are likely to wobble just a bit, particularly if one of the ways you handle intimacy is to withdraw. Use Saturn to deconstruct dysfunctional patterns as well as build healthy boundaries that include others.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
I heard that deep breath, Scorpio, and yes, you are off the Saturn hook—but Saturn isn’t gone from you chart! Saturn enters your Solar House of true value, the sector that holds personal resources of every type, with the exclusion of real estate. (Go figure!) This is also the house of non-monetary resources, such as self-esteem, self-confidence, and other qualities that can’t be measured by material standards.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Saturn is in your Sign and for the next several years you’re under its discerning gaze. Part of this cycle spotlights structures of your personality in need of renovation. Another part of this cycle consists of a deepening inquiry into the structures of your personality that you want to strengthen. A willingness to grow is the only quality necessary to navigate this process successfully.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Saturn enters your Solar House of the unconscious—or what I like to call the 90% of the brain we are not consciously using—and shakes the structures of your dreams, visions, and need for solitude. The negative side of this transit is the tendency to brood. So be proactive and use this phase to explore the underpinnings of your psyche—go into therapy, take a psychology class, or join a group studying dreams.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Saturn enters your Solar House of community and asks you to examine the structures you’ve created for sharing your gifts with the world. This is fundamentally a process of personal growth that will help you to assess the value of making a contribution. Should you decide that there is sufficient value, Saturn will help create the necessary structures to facilitate your successful participation.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Saturn moves into your Solar House of career, or what is sometimes known as the Solar House of recognition (or what I like to call the house of the soul’s desire). Whatever you choose to call it, this is the sector of the chart where it is possible to distill what it is we are called to do. Spend some time contemplating what would bring you the greatest joy and how that happiness might satisfy your soul.

A correction: It is the axial tilt of the Earth that creates the longest and shortest days of the year. The solstice is not related to the Earth’s distance from the Sun.

Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-888-937-9264, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2014 by Ralfee Finn

This article was originally published on December 24, 2014.