Uranus opposition cycle - the Mid-Life Crisis Challenge

"Life's a bitch and then you die" is not true. It's more like "Life's a bitch, and THEN you wake up and {hopefully} live it with honesty to yourself." Here are three articles, including one by the excellent authority on life cycles and transits, Mr. Robert Hand, on the subject of the Uranus opposite Uranus crisis that we all experience in our early 40s. *Note: due to the pattern of outer planetary orbits NOT being "perfect circles" (but rather egg-shaped), some of us will experience your Uranus opposition in our mid-40s; others will feel it later.

Life Begins at 40: Uranus opposition Uranus

Uranus opposition Uranus is the source of the old saying that life begins at 40. This transit takes place between the ages of approximately 40 to 42. And it's a doozy. 

Uranus is sometimes called the 'Awakener' and this transit does have a tendency to light a fire under a midlife person's butt. Suddenly the person feels more alive and impulsive than they have in years, and intense desires to live lead to all sorts of behavioral changes, fresh starts, sports cars (I bought one!), crises marital and otherwise, desires for meaning, startling insights, and bold new actions. It's not a coincidence that my latest copy of People Magazine has a stunning array of pictures of female celebrities aged 41--all with their first children. Talk about a major life change at age 40. 

In fact, the potential changes that can occur at this time run the gamut. John Wayne became a real star for the first time in his life after he got his lucky break during the Uranus opposition Uranus transit. He finally became popular at the age of 42--which turned his life around. For others, the trend seems to go in the opposite direction. After years of corporate success, a top executive gets fired. Or after years of corporate loyalty, a top executive burns out, climbs off the career ladder and goes home to figure out how to do something more meaningful with her life. Careers change, marriages change, domestic life changes, inner life changes, and...life begins. 

The tricky part is that although Uranus opposition Uranus can be the best news you'll ever get in your life--it often comes wrapped in packaging that doesn't look all that great. Instead of an attractive Tiffany box, Uranus opposition Uranus can come into your life disguised as an upsetting event or a series of them. If your life has suddenly started to feel turbulent in a way you don't much care for, or if you have received some rather upsetting news, you could be entering the initial stages of Uranus opposition Uranus. Bottom line with this transit: It can be the best thing that ever happened to you, but you gotta figure out how to hang on until the good stuff appears.

Uranus oppose Uranus by Robert Hand

This is one of the most important transits of your life.  Like the Saturn return that occurred when you were 29, the Uranus-Uranus opposition when you are 40-42 marks a period of major transition in your life.  This is the crisis of middle age when you have to come to terms with a number of realizations that may not at all be pleasant.  For example, even though you are not very old, you are no longer young.  Have you accomplished or begun to accomplish what you wanted when you were younger?  If you have, was it an appropriate accomplishment for you?  Are you happy with your close relationships, your marriage, and your work?

Many people encountering this transit discover that the answer to several of these questions is “no.”  If this is your situation, you may become seized with a feeling of urgency that you have only a short time to correct the problem.  Consequently, you may begin to act rather disruptively and quickly.  You may leave a marriage or an old job and take up a lifestyle quite different from your earlier one.  Your friends are likely to be rather shocked at the change.  You may spend more time with younger people, for their youth is a symbol of the opportunities you feel you have almost wasted.  This seems to be your last chance to take advantage of those opportunities.

It is also quite possible that you may make none of these drastic changes.  If you have taken advantage of opportunities right along and have not allowed your life to become prematurely old and rigid, this transit will not be so upsetting or disturbing.  You will experience the real meaning of this transit:  a climax of the direction your life has taken since childhood and a shifting of direction toward the issues you must confront in old age.

Each period of life has particular functions.  Roughly speaking, during the first half of your life, prior to the Uranus-Uranus opposition, you encounter the outer world, make an impact on it, and learn all you can about it.  During the second half of your life, you will turn your focus inward and begin to reap the consequences of what you have done and encountered in the first half.  From now on you will turn your experiences inward and recreate—make something new of—yourself.  You will deal with issues of ultimate concern:  the meaning of your life, your relationship to the universe and so forth.  This is why some people begin to get a “last chance” feeling, because the main thrust of their life is turning away from issues that they haven’t dealt with fully.

If you have been successful in your dealings with the outside world, you will continue to be, but now it will have to mean something in terms of your own life and perception.  You will not be able to life for some external purpose; the purpose must come from within.  If you don’t reorient yourself, your life will become hollow and meaningless, regardless of what you accomplish from here on.

The Uranus Opposition by Maria Shaw

People are going through their mid-life crises earlier than in past decades. This is partly due to the fact that some planets have been moving a bit faster than usual in recent years. Normally, things start to heat up around age 40-42, but recently I have seen clients as young as thirty-six start to feel the pressure of what we astrologers call the Uranus opposition. When the planet Uranus in our birth chart opposes transiting Uranus, it’s as if something “strange” begins in our lives. It's a period when people feel as if they only have one more chance to make something out of their lives. The Uranus opposition/mid-life crisis usually lasts a little over a year and in some cases up to two. But the effects can be felt even longer; sometimes for several years. It marks a period of major transition in our lives. Most of us come to terms with realizations that aren't always pleasant. It's an awkward cycle to be in because we aren't old, but we aren't getting any younger, either. People assess where they’re going and where they’ve been, and do so with an intensity like never before. Some people will feel as if they haven't lived up to their potential. Others may feel ambivalent about the future. Did they plan for old age? Will they be ready for retirement? Are they happy in their marriage? Should they get married? We all have certain goals we set in our twenties that we expect to reach by our forties. Some of them are likely to be centered around a career, a beautiful home, or a happy marriage with children. The Uranus opposition is a time in which people are forced answer their own questions of self-worth. Many will feel as if time is running out and they have one last chance to make their dreams come true. Some will question the goals they set when they were younger and either change them, furiously pursue them, or just give up! If you are one of the those folks who don't feel the usual effects of the mid-life crisis, then it is likely you've accomplished many goals you've set for yourself and at the same time fulfilled inner and spiritual needs. However, there are many other people that become overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, or an urgency need to do something NOW to make things happen. I went through my mid-life crisis last winter. My friends couldn't believe it when I told them that I felt like a total failure in my own life, especially with my career. I had gone through a period of feeling total disgust with what I perceived to be a lack of accomplishment. This period lasted from last February through June. Yet my agent and my friends couldn't believe I was feeling like this. Llewellyn has just released by first book; I was making regular appearances on national television; I was in the middle of a successful lecture tour across the country; and business was booming. Still, I felt like a complete failure. No one could tell me different. When the Uranus opposition was over, it was like a dark cloud had lifted. Luckily for me, I know astrology and could ride this cycle out. Unfortunately, many people in similar situations act without thinking. They’ll end a long-term marriage or quit a job. Many long for a much more exciting, new lifestyle. Some want to dress differently, act younger, hang out with a younger set of friends. Some will have an affair and, yes, many do buy that infamous expensive red sports car—all hoping to hang onto the symbols of youth. As I mentioned earlier, some people never make drastic changes, and many escape without feeling the negative effects of the Uranus opposition. If a person has taken advantage of opportunities and has not allowed life to become rigid, then the mid-life crisis may not be upsetting. It is possible for one to experience the true meaning of this astrological influence. The Uranus opposition can be a peak time in your life—a climax to all you have worked for. It can also indicate a major change in life direction that coincides with issues you will deal with later on. Many of you will one begin to plan for retirement, the empty nest, and so on. The spiritual lesson of the Uranus opposition is that you will come to terms with your perception of life and its true meaning. The outside world is not as important as it was in the past; accomplishments will have to mean something to you on the inside. You will no longer live for approval and applause from the outside, world but rather seek spiritual fulfillment. If you don't work toward spiritual fulfillment in the years following the mid-life crisis, life may grow empty and meaningless. But if you choose to work from your spiritual side, you will find the mid-life crisis to be a true blessing. You can find out the exact times that your mid life crisis begins, peaks, and ends in your natal chart or by contacting an astrologer. We all experience some sort of change in our lives—but what the change is is different for everyone based on his or her birth chart. While some deal with marriage issues, others may deal with career questions. Still others may face past-life issues or family situations. The Uranus opposition is a major astrological cycle in our lives. It can turn our lives upside down and inside out. But knowledge is power, and learning the when’s, where’s, and what’s of your Uranus opposition can help you be prepared to make better choices when the time comes in your life to let go of the past to make way for your future.

The Emotional Moon Qualities, Your Needs, & Your Mother

The emotional nature of the Moon's psychological effects on our personality, subconscious, and behavior is connected by the gravitational pull on our endocrine system.  Being made primarily of water, the fluids of our bodies are naturally responsive to the physiological attunements that our birth moon sign brings, as well as the 2.5-day changes that the Moon Herself undergoes each month.  

You could say that the Moon is "colorful" this way; She energizes and activates our psyche on a daily schedule as well as a lifetime pattern. 

Just as significantly, the Moon indicates our imprinting by our mother or our primary female caregiver. For men, this is crucial to learn: it shows how we seek a woman to share our lives and what qualities she reflects in our own life pattern. As the representation of our Inner Child's needs for security, our Moon sign shows what we seek in our lives for safety and nurturing.

Nancy Cassidy wrote about the elemental and psychological nature of the Moon in each sign; I give her the credit and thanks for the general idea.

Fire Sign Moons: Aggressive, dynamic, spontaneous; passionate

Aries moon:  "Impatient moon; Emotionally Independent"
Aries squares Cancer moon’s rulership qualities of nature & nurture; A Need to be independent - solo entity who can act alone; A "need-to-be-me" and very self-supportive;
Need for extreme lifestyle; aggressive partner;

Leo moon:  "Regal moon; Emotionally Dramatic"; (sun and moon both shine within); A need to shine and be appreciated/validated by one's Significant Other or Lover;
A need for display and presentation; Enjoyment of social events and excitement (gambling)

Sagittarius moon:  "Bachelor moon; Emotionally expansive"
(Sag challenges Cancer moon's qualities of safety and home base); A need to be free; seeks advising/teaching as means to nurture; Travel, games, and challenging activities are needed from partner.

Air sign moons: mental; social; detached from feelings/emotions

Gemini moon:  "Intellectual moon; Emotionally superficial"
Needs to communicate: writing, texting, phone calls;
Not strong for nurturing unless other factors involved; mental detachment from feelings fuels sense of distance and aloofness;
Letters, exchange of thoughts, and cards needed from partner.

Libra moon:   "Cinderella moon;  Emotionally refined"
A Need for Others:  relationships, commitments, connections;
Conflicts between Mother (moon) and Father (sun) figures;
Need for Significant Other/Life Partner/Marriage fulfillment;
art and beauty in life is needed; compromise and peace.

Aquarius moon:  "Unconventional moon; Emotionally detached"
A Need to be different and Independent in life and actions/choices; uncomfortable with Cancer moon's nurturing.
Awkward balance of home and freedom from commitment;
Deep need for space from partner; Needs distance, location, time.

Earth sign Moons: grounded awareness; determined; practical  
Taurus moon:  "Faithful moon;  Emotionally cautious"
A Need for security and stability; Total commitment from partner to support T-moon ideals. Needs tactile support from partner; acquiring luxuries or keeping land or assets.

Virgo moon:  "Analytical moon;  emotionally managed and organized"; a need to be of service to the community.

Dissects and parses emotions and feelings; Rationalizes actions and means; Needs to follow routines and schedules; keep environment in order.

Capricorn moon:  "Business moon;  emotionally reserved and calculating"; ambitious needs to prove oneself to authority;

Opposes Cancer moon's rulership:  early conditioning of “meet my expectations first” from Mother figure; Inhibited naturally by Saturn’s rulership to accept nurturing; difficulty accepting praise; Will bond for survival or practical means.

Water sign Moons: vulnerable, empathic, sensitive, emotional

Cancer-crab moon:  "Motherhood moon; emotionally protective"; receptive to other water moon signs; 

Need to nurture & comfort; intuitive and sympathetic; Maternal nature for men and women; extended to animals and groups; friendships; associations; 

Gruff nature can hide real need to show caring and vulnerability.

Scorpio moon:  "Jealous moon;  Emotionally intense";

receptive to other water moon signs; A need for secrecy; need for power and control, especially with sex and sharing self and assets; suspicious of others' intentions; Difficulty trusting a partner; needs distance and space.

Pisces moon:  "Idealistic moon;  Emotionally sensitive"; receptive to other water moon signs; A need to fantasize and
mentally escape from environment, challenges, or lifestyle;
Needs to release collection of feelings from others;
Needs to stop escaping problems in relationships.
 

Slow-and-steady, it's time for Taurus!

(Just a note:  not ALL the classic social role models ("archetypes") will fit the sign's characteristics--but these are good examples of people who outwardly express the qualities of the sign.) 

Taurus (April 20-May 21):

"I Am What I Have"

The birth sign Taurus gives emphasis to the credibility of determination, perseverance and endurance of principle. Taurean natives have a practical, down-to-earth steady way that allows them to build a stable, secure foundation from which to plan a future.

A Taurus moves slowly, but surely. Taurus rules possessions, material objectives and values, and obtaining the means and methods to establish financial and visible long-lasting tangible rewards are pursued with a directed pace. Security is the real key: Taureans want to be able to enjoy the comforts of their labors, and work is a natural outlet for the acquisition of the good things in life. They can be almost obsessive with possessions and affections, both their own and of others. A Taurus might say, "What's mine is mine, and you and yours are mine, too!"

Because the need for comfort and security of tangibles are a major part of their lives, Taureans can often be found in business endeavors where speculation of finances are concerned, but in a more practical application without risk, such as banking or real estate investment. Farming or raising produce off the land for financial speculation, such as tree farms or garden centers, livestock for food/profit, or valuable objects like antiques or gems are outlets for the Taurean nest egg. Like their sign, the bull, Taureans are known for their strength to produce hard effort over a long period of time. They can plan ahead with a vision of purpose that would tax the patience of others, but they have the ability to pace themselves and not lose track of their energies.

Taureans are ruled by Venus*, and are physically aware of the appetites of the senses. They appreciate and enjoy good food, music, art, and the sensual needs of their bodies. Taurus rules the neck and throat, and those with Taurus emphasized in their charts often have melodic or powerful speaking voices. They can also be thought of as "bullish" or "stiff-necked" in their insistence to resist change. A Taurus will make a decision after careful thought, and when they are sure of a choice, they will act, but not until they wish to put their plan into motion.

(*Antero Ali suggests moving the rulership of Taurus to the Earth.)

Values - Possessions
Stability - Groundedness
Sensuous Gratification
(Venus (Earth*)  
Feminine Principle   
Appreciation of Beauty
The Property Owner    
The Pack Rat       
The Unmoved Force    
The Craftsperson 

Sex Symbols

   
Orson Welles   
Henry VIII   
John Wayne  
Tiffany’s
Sak’s 5th Avenue
Warren Buffett  
Britney Spears
Antiques Road Show

(c) MDLOP8 2010

Resistance has its merits for Fixed Signs,..at times

The Fixed Sun Signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are remarkable for their tenacity, perseverance, determination, endurance, durability, and steadfastness for a purpose, cause, belief, value, or ideal of commitment.  It is one of their greatest strengths.  This can also be found through those who have an ascendant, Moon, or Mars in one of these signs. Their capacity to move over hurdles, obstacles, limitations, setbacks, delays, or other forms of confrontation are legendary: a proverbial bulldozer in action once the motor is engaged. On the other hand...

It is also an indication of one of the Fixed signs' remarkable frustrations: a refusal to take action; an insistence for resistance to Life Challenges and Changes (often brought on by Saturn transits) which will NOT go away and yet are avoided (or so believed).  

To that end, there is nothing gained by flat-out denial, especially when astrological counseling is provided--and then ignored because the answer was not "desired." The concept of "No" is not always what we want to hear--nor is "You have to do something about this issue in order to make progress." If it were so possible to only have the outcomes that we want without the effort to make it possible, we would not achieve much--if anything.  And astrologically, there are enough reasons to be thankful for insights that provide us the wisdom and knowledge when the sign says "push" and we insist on "pull" instead.

Venus in Taurus - Love To Love You Baby...ooooooh yeah

It’s the astrological version of the hit TV series, “Sex and the City”! Venus, the Goddess of Love and Pleasure is sending out a personal invitation as She transits through Taurus to participate in a party for the senses: all we can eat, drink, touch, taste, smell, see, and ESPECIALLY feel. During this time, we can find the value and appreciation of the exquisite, the earthiness, the indulgent. It’s almost a personal license to be hedonistic. Venus in Taurus also indicates holding on to objects and people we love because we value them. 

Venus now says there’s nothing wrong with showing a little affection—and more—to that special someone, especially if it’s in front of a roaring fireplace, on silk sheets, in a tub of soapy water, or even on a beach. Like Donna Summer sang, “Love to love you, baby…ooooooh.”

Planets - Symbols and Directors of Psychological Drive and Energy

One of the main topics in psychological astrology (and astrology in general) are the meanings of the planets.  As I've mentioned earlier, they represent actions and behavior potentials in our psyche:  they're sort of a reflection of how we act and respond, why, and the impact and influences of these actions.  Think of the planets as though you're eating something special:  what did it taste like, what did you eat, what kind of food source was it, and how do you feel about eating it?  

     Obviously, everyone has his or her own preferences--but the planets don't always let us decide what we like.  I'm sure someone will say that "Saturn is like being forced to eat those nasty vegetables that {I} don't like." Or maybe Uranus is being offered something unusual and exotic--maybe from another culture.  
     Pluto, I imagine, is some sort of laxative--you change when you "digest" Pluto.  Neptune is...something that's got some mind-altering nature to it: alcohol, mescaline, or even mushrooms.  Mars...well, it's been cooked on a fire; that's for sure, and Venus?  Oh, chocolate anytime, please.  And good wine or liqueur too.  
     The moon is your comfort food:  you NEED that to feel better when you're upset.  Mercury is brain food:  you think better after you've eaten it.  
     Jupiter is just a full-blown feast of something you enjoy, and the Sun is that special meal which is your favorite. 

     So...let's meet the planets again and see what they do (when they're NOT food.)

The Sun and the Moon:  Personal Planets

Sun and Moon are primary focus: “Lights”
Look into soul of person;  see Self and Needs
Father = Sun   Mother = Moon
Sun = Conscious Self
      
      Sun shows soul lesson to learn to become

      Moon = Subconscious Self
             * Lunar types: emotionally ultra-sensitive internal self; Inner Child status

The Sun - I am Aware of Myself and My Identity    
The Soul Code: knowledge of Self
Authority figures; Father-figures  
Animus in women: male role model 

The Moon - I Feel Comfortable and Secure Expressing my Needs
Emotional - reflexive responses; safety
Subconscious social responses
Female role/Mother

Mercury, Venus, Mars:
Social Planets
Helping the Psyche Develop

Mercury - I Think about Things
Learning modalities
Communications: input and response to stimuli
Problem-solving and ability to handle mental tasks
Nervous system responses - disorders

Venus - I Experience Pleasure, Enjoyment, and Indulgence 

in relationships and Self
Social marker for love
Expressing Need to beautify; cooperation and negotiations
Balance and complementing of Other Self

Mars - Energetic Power Potential

Ignition/Activation; Aggression & Assertion
Anger Management; Sexual drive; male dynamic
Sexual partner; Fighting instincts
Adrenalin rush; Need for extreme excitement toward goal
Physical power/muscle disorders

Jupiter and Saturn:  Expansion and Contraction

Jupiter: expanding Joyously and Enthusiastically Towards Opportunities
Learning Growth & Giving Generously
Over-indulgence and wretched excess
Belief in Higher Power and Benevolence
Expression of ethics

Saturn:  Responsibilities and Life Lessons to be mastered
Sacrifice and Work; Discipline
Repeated trials and demands upon Self for improvement
Pessimism and doubt; Fear as a limiting motivator

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto:
One's Collective Social Generation

Uranus – Seeking Divine Perfection, Expressing Individuality,
Demanding Freedom, and Rebelling Against Social Trends
 
Neptune - Dissolving/Merging Into and Yearning For Completion, Union with Cosmos; Spiritual fulfillment and release
 
Pluto – Control and Expressing Power to Transform Self and Others;misuse of power, anger, and sexual issues

No, I didn't overlook our planet Earth, but it is not a primary focus.

However, it does serve a secondary role:

Earth:  A View of the psyche from "within"

An “internal” view of the birth (Sun) sign
A hidden facet of personality and identity
Opposite perspective to birth sign polarity
Resembles Jung’s Shadow Self
(Not used in charts)

(c) MDLOP8 2010

The Black Moon Lilith's Struggles for Feminine Power

My thanks to lady astrologer and psychological consultant Franie LeKlerc of Montreal, Quebec.

Lilith — The Black Moon 
This article is, of necessity, a very brief introduction to the presence of Lilith in the astrology chart. She is a complex representative of the more hidden pieces of our psyches, and certainly requires greater treatment and more detailed analysis than is contained here. 

The article below is intended only to stir an interest in Lilith's influence in astrology, and is a prelude to a book-in-progress, Lilith: The Dark Moon published in The Second Road newsletter, October 1998 by Catt Foy.

A little-known element in astrology charts, Lilith is known as the "Dark Moon" and, as such, represents our "dark" or hidden emotional selves. According to Lois Daton, author of "Lilith, The Planet of the Doodler," the physical existence of Lilith was confirmed by the United States Weather Bureau in 1879. Lilith is the name used for THREE different celestial bodies - one is located in the asteroid belt and is not our subject here, the other is an invisible body orbiting the earth approximately three times farther away than the Moon, Luna. It is this Lilith which is of interest here. The 3rd Lilith is the Dark Moon, responsible for teaching us lessons about power struggles.
 Lilith's placement in the chart is especially important to women, and represents the power of the original woman. In a man's chart, Lilith's placement will reveal the hidden power struggles or other issues he may have, resolved or unresolved, with the women in his life. Again, note this is NOT the Black Moon Lilith, but the Dark Moon. She is a separate part of the Black Moon. She deals with the Feminine Power struggles. 

Lilith is perhaps best understood in contrast to her counterpart, the visible Moon, Luna. Luna receives her self-fulfillment and self-definition through the nurturing of others. Lilith is self-fulfilled and self-defined. Luna represents the visible emotions; Lilith is those emotions which remain hidden or secret. Lilith lives behind-the-scenes, usually undetected. She can be sneaky or deceptive, but she can also indicate our ability to be subtle, to guide and manage events and people without being intrusive. She is our ability to be private, and her placement in the chart will tell you what the native feels most secretive about.

As a Moon, Lilith is also associated with mothering, but she is the strength of a mother protecting her cubs. Luna is soft and kind and nurturing. Lilith is strong, a disciplinarian, and will kill any who threaten the well-being of her offspring. Lilith is protective and self-protective.  She protects herself from her own toxic emotions, becoming the guardian of shame, guilt, hatred, vengefulness, bitterness, envy and jealousy. 

We look for Lilith in our charts to discover which defense mechanisms we employ to hide our wounding.  She is also the femme fatale - the sexually powerful woman. She affects dreams, especially sexual ones, and is an influence in trances, hypnotism, the channeling of entities, inter-dimensional beings, and possession.

Here is a brief overview of Lilith's placement in the natal charts. As with anything in astrology, her influence must be interpreted within the context of the total chart.

Lilith in Aries is straight-forward about her sexuality and may use it to feel powerful. Applied in a negative manner, there may be temper tantrums or bratty behavior.

Lilith in Taurus may hide money or possessions, and there will be a great deal of secrecy regarding finances. This can also indicate miserliness, or a refusal to share one's resources with others.

Gemini - When Lilith hides herself among the twins, she may exhibit a chameleon-like ability to be whoever she must be at the moment, hiding her true thoughts and feelings. If used improperly, the native may be considered "two-faced" or be a vicious gossip.

Cancer - Hidden emotions may come out in ways that affect the physical health. When expressed in ways that are healthy, Lilith's influence here makes the native a powerful parent, or an activist for the protection of children. When negative, there may be chronic or psychomatic illness, or the tendency toward martyrdom.

Lilith in Leo wants to be admired, but she'll never admit it. In creative expression, she will do things her own way and never feel obliged to explain herself. Taken to extremes, she becomes the prima donna, demanding and unforgiving.

Lilith in Virgo will often make the native very secretive or repressed in their sexual expression, and there will be much attention to hygiene and health-related details. When negative, Lilith in Virgo can be very cold and aloof, or extremely critical of the habits of others.

Lilith in Libra may find herself concerned with the legalistic side of power. She is a defender of women here, supportive of laws that curtail abuse or sexual crimes. Taken to extremes, Lilith in Libra may be vindictive against those she perceives to be offenders, and in relationships may be clinging, jealous or manipulative.

Scorpio - There are some astrologers who believe that Lilith is the co-ruler of Scorpio, along with Pluto. When placed here, she is powerfully sexual, hypnotic, seductive and wise. When under a negative influence, she can become bitter, vengeful or obsessed.

Lilith in Sagittarius may hide her emotions beneath a facade of humor or a mask of kindness. She may keep her personal philosophies secret from others, keeping her own counsel. In the negative, this placement can indicate haughtiness, self-righteousness, and prejudice.

Lilith in Capricorn will hardly ever share any emotions, and these natives may seem unapproachable. Achievement and status will be the method employed to feed the hidden need for emotional contact. At its extremes, here is the anal retentive who must control everything.

Lilith in Aquarius will probably mask the hidden emotions with a series of ever-changing kaleidoscopic surface emotions, and will seem fascinating and elusive to others. The native may be chimerical, fluttering like a fairy from one situation to the next. At its worst, Lilith in Aquarius is irresponsible, remote, and refuses to listen to others.


Pisces - Lilith is already secretive, and doubly so in Pisces. This is usually the person who has emotional wounding buried so deeply that they don't even know it themselves. Lilith's placement here may instigate behaviors which even the native finds baffling, and is often associated with passive-aggressive and unconscious behavioral patterns.

Solar Return: our "new" birthday and Sun-oppose-Sun: the Challenge

Everyone looks forward to his or her birthday as a time of renewal, celebration, joy, and opportunity.  It is a moment when we are "reborn" on Earth.  We are also given a "new year" astrologically with a chart that is calibrated to show the events for the next 365 days:  the solar return.  When our Sun returns its position and sign at our birth date, it is called "Sun conjunct Sun."  This is one reason I strongly encourage a consultation with me on a 4x-per-year basis:  this is an excellent reason to evaluate what the "new birthday" has to offer.

The solar return actually begins to manifest six weeks prior to our actual birthday, and begins its potentials six weeks afterward.  It is like having a new talent, skill, or training program to enhance and develop as a birthday present from the Universe.  Robert Hand describes this in his excellent book Planets in Transit: 

Sun conjunct Sun

Today is your real birthday, even though it may be a day or two different from your calendar birthday.  However, this is the date when the Sun returns to the position it was in when you were born, as the Earth completes a full circuit around the ecliptic path of the Sun.

As would seem appropriate with this transit, today is a day of new beginnings.  A new year in your own personal calendar has begun, and the influences you feel today will affect the entire year to come.  This does not mean that the whole year will be disappointing if today doesn’t work out exactly as planned, but the planetary influences in effect today will have a great meaning for the year as a whole.  Many astrologers find that the chart cast for the exact minute and second that the Sun returns to its birth position (a Solar Return) provides a significant forecast for the year ahead.

The energies you feel today may not be very dynamic, but you do feel as though you ought to be the center of attention in some way.  This is a natural effect of a powerful Sun transit and is not just because this occurs on or near your birthday.  Nevertheless, despite the subtlety of the energy, this is a day when you should in fact make new beginnings.  You are receiving a new impulse from the energy center within you, as symbolized by the Sun.
 
Therefore, any new venture that you start at this time will ride the crest of this new energy and will very likely come to an acceptable conclusion.  Whatever you do or begin today will bear the stamp of your individuality more than anything else.  This is the day to assert yourself anew.  Plan to let the world know who you are, not arrogantly or smugly, but so that everyone knows you are here.  You have needs and wants like everyone else, as well as something to contribute to the world.

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However, a similar-but-different phase takes place six months after our birthday when we reach the "Sun oppose Sun" phase.  This is often a time of low energy, vitality, and experience for many people.  But it does not need to be; instead, it can be considered a chance to reconsider and restructure plans ahead for the remaining six months before the solar return comes again.  In effect, it can be a chance to retool and plan again with decisions that rebuild us.  This is another time when I strongly recommend clients to meet for another consultation:  what have they learned and what has happened with the plans they made?  What are they planning to do about it?  I consider this a chance to appear before an inner "Cosmic Council" and offer a proposal of action.  Robert Hand addresses the circumstances of the Sun-oppose-Sun this way:

Sun oppose Sun

This transit occurs six months after your birthday and signifies a time when energies in your life are reaching a culmination.  Now is the time to try to bring your affairs to a climax, but do not expect to escape opposition from other people, for others have ambitions that may be in conflict with yours.  Be particularly careful with superiors and persons in authority.  If you are not careful, you may provoke their opposition, which would be difficult to withstand.

You may find it difficult to make everything work out right, but if you have prepared properly for this time, you will succeed.  You must avoid feeling smug, arrogant, and superior.  These attitudes just might undo all the progress you have made until this time.
 
Sometimes this can be a time of failure, when you realize that certain efforts have not worked out and that you must start over.  But failures at this time should not be the occasion for feeling defeated.  Instead, you should feel that a “life experiment” has not worked out.  With the information you have gained, you can launch a whole new enterprise that will avoid the flaws of the one that failed.  Very often the failure itself has occurred several months earlier, but the truth about it has just become clear to you now, so this is the time when you are most likely to become discouraged.  This may result in a period of low energy, although sometimes the “failure” may be manifested only as a state of tension leading to failure.

Psychologically speaking, events now take place in such a way as to make your individual life stand out in relief against your surroundings and other people.  Thus the transit can serve to heighten consciousness and self-awareness.  All kinds of personal interaction are extremely important now, and you will gain nothing by withdrawing from others.  You probably won’t even be able to.

Even with those aspects of your life that have been working out well and are now reaching a climax, you are not yet past the critical point.  To achieve is one thing, but to incorporate these achievements into your life and make them part of your personal growth is something else.  You have built structures and organized your life in various ways, and now you will experience the consequences of these structures as they begin to react and influence your life.  Yet you still have the creative power to determine how your own creations will recreate you.

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I have also noted something about the Sun-oppose-Sun time in my life:  I am drawn to people whose birthdays are exactly opposite mine.  It is like meeting a bookend-half; a mirror image of myself.  Similarly, because astrology deals with the repeating cycles of life, death, and rebirth through reincarnation in order to learn lessons (also seen with the North and South Nodes), I have found something extraordinary about the date of my Sun-oppose-Sun because I am aware of two recent past lives that I experienced.  In both circumstances, a birth and death took place within 24 hours of this date for those lifetimes.

"The Chase is On for New Love" with Venus in Aries

With Venus in Aries, "the thrill of romantic pursuit" is the name of the game--and the more players who can be caught, the better! Venus's passion and energy is truly "fired up" in Aries, but here, in the sign of aggressiveness, action, and full level adrenalin rushes, the planet of Love is in her detriment. It's more about "who's next?"

Venus in Aries also brings out combative tendencies in relationships: the need to have a good strong healthy fight to clear things or prove potency, both in men and women--and have some robust and tenaciously delicious sex afterward.

If Julius Caesar said, "I came, I saw, I conquered," then 'Julius Sees Her' (also known as Venus in Aries) says, "I Saw, I Conquered, I came!"

Mars retrograde: "Get it Done!"

“Get to work and finish up!” says Mars retrograde. Mars, the planet of Action, Assertion, Drive, and Physical Energy, goes “retro” (in a temporary delay).  In this time frame, we are given a chance build up our bodies, apply ourselves to jobs and projects left uncompleted, and “get it done” at last. As noted before, a retrograde is when the Earth overtakes another planet in the orbital race around the Sun; we see this effect when we drive or travel and overtake another vehicle (or stationary object): it appears to go “backwards.” 

Mars retrograde will inspire us to take up activity in areas (the house placement in your chart) where something has been left behind: unfinished projects, assignments that need resolution, overhauling, and general “apply yourself here” momentum.   As with any planet going retrograde, Mars will "rebound" and leave its "holding pattern" phase from our viewpoint on Earth, and will actually return to its "starting point" position. Therefore, don't be surprised if anything that you've finished during this retro time may come up for a final closure-and-done review!     

Remember: a Mars retrograde says
"Just DO it and stop procrastinating!"

Investment Banker: I do discuss and use astrology

Just a point of reference: when I say in the site header that astrological principles and concepts are being used in the business markets and elsewhere,  just ask an investment banker like 

Dick Jenrette--a fellow Aries.

Void-of-course Moon & timing phases

(This article was modified from its original source, the Mountain Astrologer Oct.-Nov. 2003 issue. Credits and copyright to its author, Jenni Stone. This is also provided for those who seek financial astrological advice, c/o the page featured at the top of this site.)

Understanding the Void-of-Course Moon 

The Moon makes a complete circle through the twelve signs every 28.5 days and spends approximately 2.5 days in each sign. There is a time, however, when this connection is interrupted and we "float" between signs. This is the time we call the “void-of-course Moon”: until it enters the next sign.

The Moon goes void of course every two days or so, and this can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Sometimes, the Moon is void of course for two consecutive days.

There is a distinctive quality to the energy during a void-of-course Moon:  judgment is impaired, and many people have a hard time making decisions. Business meetings can go astray, and people find it difficult to work together as a group.

Here are some suggested ways to plan ahead and use the void-of-course Moon in positive ways.

1. Double-check info and facts when starting new projects.

2. Reorganize, clean out, get rid of, and eliminate excess and imbalances in your environment or work place.  When the Moon enters into the next sign, there is a noticeable improvement.

3. Spiritual pursuits are heightened because there is no demand to act on distracting priorities.

4. Rewrite, edit, and correct: new ways of expressing ideas can be found during this time.

5. Take inventory of your surroundings: lost items can be found that were overlooked.

6. Rest. The moon’s energies will allow for a “time off” phase to your body and mind.

7. Plan ahead:  make “to do” lists and consider alternative choices.

9. Unscheduled social events can be fun because there is no specific energy that would impact them.

10. Travel may be less stressful. 

 What Not to Do during This Time

1. Do not start important or life-changing projects during the void-of-course Moon: The outcome will not be what you want or expect.

2. Try to avoid meeting new people: A first date or job interview should not be scheduled during the void. Try and not start a new job when the Moon is void of course, or ask for an alternative date. 
Plans made during the void-of-course Moon do not turn out as expected: This can be used in a constructive way. By making plans during a void-of-course Moon, it is sometimes possible to steer clear of these events.

3. Avoid major purchases.