Aquarium Age, Blogs

The Aquarium Age: March 25-31

By Ralfee Finn

This week, next week, and for quite a distance into the future, you’re likely to define success and stability by how skillfully you work your way through a multitude of shadows. Don’t misunderstand—I’m not suggesting that the future is only dark and murky. But I am going to be honest about our current situation, which is clouded by a vast number of issues that will continue to insinuate themselves into our personal lives as well as into our collective experience until we find a way to transform and resolve those concerns through consciousness and creativity.

Shadows, from a psychological point of view, particularly a Jungian perspective, are powerful dimensions of the personal and collective unconscious. Shadows are aspects of our interior world that embody negative qualities we don’t want to recognize in ourselves, qualities we project onto others and then judge harshly. For example, anger, fear, cruelty, greed, neglect, thoughtlessness, and narcissism—all are qualities we deem intolerable in others but often fail to see in ourselves. The process—and it is ongoing—of creating wholeness or mental health includes encountering our shadows and allowing that experience to foster greater awareness and authenticity.

Bringing shadows into the light is not about permission to act out those negative qualities, but rather to see them as part of what it is to be human, and then to have that awareness foster an integration process that ultimately leads to wholeness. Shadow work is probably the hardest of all psychological endeavors and it requires courage, determination, endurance, and above all, the capacity to move beyond the ego and its pattern of separation and into a more inclusive view.

From a transformational perspective, this is the current challenge as well as the challenge of the next several years. It won’t be an easy process. Even the mightiest consciousness struggles to find itself in the senseless cruelty and violence of the terrorist. And yet that is the work: to grow beyond our current view of the world into a new way of understanding our day-to-day reality, a new reality based on our interconnectedness.

Most immediately, we’re in the shadows of two eclipses—the solar eclipse of March 20 and the upcoming lunar eclipse of April 4. Solar eclipses bring to light what otherwise might not be seen in the normal illumination of the Sun. Lunar eclipses refocus personal and collective attention back onto practical concerns. Look to see what was made apparent to you over the last several weeks and also pay attention to figuring out how to get back on track with that new information.

But the current eclipse shadows defy normal interpretation because they occur within yet another much more powerful shadow, the shadow of the final Uranus/Pluto square of March 16, the seventh in a cycle that began in spring 2012. When the powers of Uranus and Pluto combine, revolution with all its upset and upheaval is undeniable. The turmoil has been startling, shocking, and traumatizing for many, because what makes this shadow extremely powerful is the degree to which violence, despair, and disregard for life have been, and continue to be, acted out upon the world stage through the devastation of human lives, the environment, and the other inhabitants of the Earth. The shadows of bigotry, sexism, religious fundamentalism, as well as the shadows of callousness and greed, are all on display every minute of every day through every media technology possible. As my 95-year old mother commented when she finished watching the news last night: How can we still be living in a world where people care so little for each other?

The good news—and there is always good news—is that we already know what we need to work on. There’s no question that we need to find positive, creative solutions to these monumental issues. While that sounds like a daunting task, it can be done, and indeed, communities everywhere, communities composed of individuals consistently working to change the world one heart, one mind, and one situation at a time are making a difference.

And perhaps that is the most powerful potential of the Uranus/Pluto shadow—the notion that the individual, symbolized by Uranus, in Aries, the Sign of individuation, can clash with the status quo, represented by Pluto, in Capricorn, the Sign of authority, and ultimately emerge victorious. But only if the individual is willing to put aside the old violent forms of revolution as a viable means of change and instead employ tools that exclude the notion of causing harm to any sentient being.

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

Aries March 21-April 19
Take a deep breath, and allow yourself to experience what it’s like to move freely in the world. And even if there are areas of life that are not unfolding as you would like them to, don’t worry. Simply focus on what is working—remember the first rule of magic: Whatever we focus our attention on becomes our reality.

Taurus April 20-May 20
While certain areas of life may not be moving as quickly as you like, that doesn’t mean you’re hopelessly mired in difficulty. Take your power back from the situation by acknowledging your part in it, and then let that personal responsibility—not blame or shame—help you find a positive solution that will shift the “stuckedness.”

Gemini May 21-June 21
It won’t be easy dealing with all the realities that need to be included, and the trick is not to slip into brooding about what you should or shouldn’t have done or said. Instead, concentrate on figuring out how to include all concerned parties in a positive process that will ultimately lead to a good solution for everyone.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Your personal shadow puts the emphasis on relationship issues, and while you may be tired of trying to handle the needs of significant others, this is not the time to pull away. Stay on the field, and be committed to doing whatever is necessary to strengthen your partnerships.

Leo July 23-August 22
The focus shifts from the philosophical to the practical, and as it does, you shift your attention to issues of ambition and accomplishment. There’s no room in the process for being shy, so don’t hesitate to put yourself and your work out into the world. Just remember to be generous to others by encouraging them to shine as well.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Yes, you’ve been taking risks, and while some of the results have been disappointing, others have been quite encouraging. The challenge is learning to trust your own rhythms and growth patterns, and identifying what works and what doesn’t. Greater self-awareness will help you create greater stability.

Libra September 23-October 22
I am as tired of writing about relationship issues as you are of reading about them, but that won’t make the shadow go away. You’re still wrestling with how to be fully engaged with a significant other without losing sight of what you need to feel safe. It’s a process, which you know, and it will continue for a little longer.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Your situation is complex: On one hand, you recognize the need to delve deeply into your internal waters to identify what needs to be worked on at a new level. On the other, you’re tired of contemplating your navel. I have no relief to offer other than advising you to trust your intuition and timing—you know what’s best for you.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You’re creativity is the key to freedom—even if you don’t think you are creative. And that’s the challenge: If you don’t already understand that life is the most creative endeavor of all and that everyday is a clean canvas, then start looking at your life that way. And if you do already understand that deep wisdom, paint something wonderful.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Getting your needs met is the challenge, but it may not be as difficult a task as you imagine it to be. First you have to identify what you want. Next, you have to be able to articulate those desires. Finally, it’s about letting go of perfection—not every detail will meet with your approval, but that may not be a good enough reason to reject what’s offered.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Yes, it has been a marathon talkfest and although you have enjoyed the interaction, you’re more than ready for a rest. Give yourself permission to be deeply internal for as long as it takes to replenish your reserves. You won’t miss out on anything and you’ll be more than ready for the next phase.

Pisces February 19-March 20
The shadow is about value, specifically how you value yourself, and although this is not a new process, you might want to consider taking a new approach. To be sure, it’s important to get your finances in order. But it is equally important to identify where you still keep yourself mired in low self-esteem and a negative self-image, so you can leave those debilitating patterns behind.

Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-212-222-3232, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2015 by Ralfee Finn

This article was originally published on March 25, 2015.