The Flow is a weekly blog published to better understand the flow of astrological, celestial, and magickal energies for the week, and how best to use them. It is intended for those with little knowledge of astrology.
For newcomers, the idea is to consider celestial influences as part of a larger whole, or the Flow. All too often, astrologers tend to write about astrological events as if each were an isolated specimen as if pulled out of the sky and analyzed by itself – and there is no dearth of astrological sites on the net that write that way. Here, it is the movement and interactions that are important and form the basis of discussion.
If any of the material is unclear or unfamiliar to you, it is probably unfamiliar to others as well, please leave a comment and I will be glad to answer your questions.
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The Flow! is updated every Sunday.
Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.
This week’s synopsis: Survival Manual for a Brave New World
We have a lot going on astrologically this week, so hold on to your hat, britches, or whatever article of attire you use to be patient, because we’re in for a fairly tough week This edition is loaded with helpful advice, and we all may need all the help we can get. This week’s edition is the equivalent of a Survival Manual for a Brave New World.
There are three significant events this week that mark the start of a whole new chapter in our collective history. In order of importance, they are: on Monday, Neptune dips its toes in the waters of Pisces until early August; from last Friday (April 1st) to May 10th we have a super conjunction of at least five planets in fiery Aries; and on Sunday we have a fateful New Moon that also occurs in Aries.
Neptune is the largest outermost planet of our solar system. Astronomers, upset that a planet could have the same name as a cartoon character devised an entirely new category for Pluto, so technically, astronomically, Neptune is also the outermost planet period. At least for now.
Named for the Roman god of the sea, Neptune is the ninth planet from the Sun, fourth largest planet and the third largest by mass. You could almost fit 15 Earth’s into its volume, give or take a New Guinea. Appropriate for a planet symbolizing the sea, it appears a deep azure blue from the methane in its atmosphere, is surrounded by a system of faint gossamer fairy rings, and is tilted on its axis like the Earth and Mars to produce seasons. Dark cyclonic storms rage across its atmosphere, most notably in the dark spot in its southern hemisphere.
Neptune takes 164.79 years to circle the Sun, and next to Venus has the most circular orbit so it evenly spaces its time, about 13 years and 9 months, in each of the signs. By contrast Pluto, with the most elliptical orbit, spends about 11 years in Scorpio and 30 years in Taurus.
Neptune’s 13 moons are named after the Nereids and other aquatic dignitaries in keeping with its oceanic nature. Its major moon, named Triton, was discovered only 17 days after the planet, but didn’t acquire its name until the 1880’s and the name wasn’t commonly accepted until the 1930’s. It revolves around Neptune backwards across the sky indicating that it was perhaps a wandering object captured by Neptune’s gravity.
Neptune was the first planet to be discovered by deductive reasoning, by Johann Galle on September 23, 1846. Astronomers had noticed irregularities in Uranus’ orbit and based on Newton’s Laws, a French scientist, Urbain Le Verrier calculated where it should be, and within one degree of where it actually was. At the same time British astronomers were also working on its discovery, and the tale of who got the credit is filled with claims of deception based on nationalistic rivalry between France and Britain. Eventually, in 1999 correspondence was found in Chile that weakened the British claims. Cue in a refrain of La Marseillaise.
As the largest known object at the fringe of the solar system, Neptune exerts considerable influence on its outer regions and the Kuiper Belt, and might account for its long-distance dance with Pluto. A provocative story, but a story for another time.
Neptune’s Greek namesake, Poseidon, was also known as the “earth shaker.” With a history well documented in ancient Greek Linear B hieroglyphic tablets, when ticked off Neptune would strike the ground with his trusty trident and create earthquakes, tsunamis, and stormy seas. To this day Neptune is honored by sailors with an initiation whenever they first cross the equator by sea of dressing in drag. Cue in the overture to H.M.S. Pinafore.
Astrologically, Neptune governs the oceanic realms of the internal spirit and indicates the pathway to the divine. It is subtle, sensitive, psychic, mystical, intuitive, and deceptive. It is also transcendent, creative, and visionary, ruling drugs and altered mental states. And it rules the kind of deductive reasoning, from the general to the specific, by which it was discovered. Similarly, it can serve as the conduit between individual experience and the collective nature of our most deeply cherished beliefs, ideals, and realms beyond our own, bringing what is otherwise beyond our comprehension into our personal awareness.
Neptune offers a way in which we can dissolve the limitations of the physical body and delve into the depths of being. Like interconnected waterways, this network of interconnected consciousness merges to form our collective reality, whether that be the society or culture in which we live, the material environment, or domains of the spirit. But wherever Neptune is found, like the water it governs, it slowly erodes and dissolves what it encounters until its essential nature is revealed.
Which may be a bit disconcerting when so many of the other planets are in dynamic, combustible, and aggressive Aries. People are just not in any mood to play nice or understand any part of the word “no.”
Furthermore, Neptune has a tendency to subvert the better qualities of the signs it inhabits, bringing to the surface urges that are otherwise repressed. With Neptune in Scorpio from 1957 to 1970 we had the drug culture, the generation gap. and “tuning in and dropping out.” When Neptune was in Sagittarius from 1970 to 1984, we had the rise of the Moral Majority, the Christian right, an energy “crisis,” and the death of the Great Society. It was in Capricorn from 1984 to 1998, signaling the corporatization of America in which “greed is good,” laws were changed to transfer wealth to the top, and the liberal reforms and idealism of FDR, JFK and LBJ were attacked if not uprooted entirely.
And now we have the subversion of democracy by corporate interests and the legal equivalency of corporations with people, science under attack, egalitarian moral relativism, and a culture immersed in social networks in which people “friend” people they will never meet.
So, what is to be expected of Neptune in Pisces?
Pisces is a water sign and has a reputation of being calm, tranquil, and peaceful. But have you ever dated a Piscean?
So much for that reputation!
Pisces is the last sign, and as a result holds many vestiges of all the other signs within it. They are like a great summation sign in the sky, which is why they can often act in contradictory ways, symbolized by the two fish headed in opposite directions. And often, much of that conflict occurs because they are giving birth to the reformation of a past or tradition that is in need of reform. Sometimes they fail, but even in failing they create the seed of the new era to come.
Also, as the last sign they govern the boundary between worlds. The very next degree after the last degree of Pisces is the first degree of the zodiac. That accounts for their spiritual connections since they embody within themselves the very essences the permeable membranes that separate one world from another.
Therefore, I expect that first and foremost, Neptune in Pisces will popularize all forms of psychic and spiritual communion. It will force us to examine what is meant by spirituality and how we pursue personal fulfillment.
It is also likely to further polarize our politics with emotional demagoguery, popular unrest, and charlatanism. Neptune in Pisces usually provides the process through which an old outworn tradition finally dies. Sometimes that death is violent and difficult, since Neptune in Pisces tends to amplify our attachment to our beliefs right or wrong, but the end result is always worth it.
During the last occurrence of Neptune in Pisces we saw both the lead up to the US Civil War and the popularity of medical quackery. It also gave birth to the spiritualist movement, hypnotism, Mesmerism and the transcendentalism movement. In the cycle before that, Newton published the Principia Mathematica, the Glorious Revolution occurred, Britain became a constitutional monarchy, and we suffered the burning times of the Salem witch trials.
Neptune will be in Pisces for now only until August 4th when it will slip back into Aquarius. It will return to Pisces on February 3, 2012 and remain there until 2015. We’ll be discussing much more about its sojourn in the sign of the fishes in the future editions of the Flow! so stay tuned for future details!
As for all those planets in Aries, we are likely to see an increase in assertiveness, aggressive behavior, disputes erupt into conflict, impatience, intolerance, and a nearly endless parade of power grabs. I would love to sit here and advise you to stay in bed, throw the covers over your head, and wait until May when the energy shifts to more temperate Taurus. But I can’t. In order to profit from the bountiful economic potential of Taurus, one must stake one’s territory and defend one’s claim under Aries.
It is going to be a tough slog, but is absolutely necessary. People, co-workers, even friends may try to muscle in on your turf and move your cheese. Move it? Hell, they’ll probably chomp it down with relish right in front of you. But this ain’t no picnic, this is war.
Yes, I may be painting too dire a picture, but better to be wary and on guard than tiptoe through the tulips into the jaws of a trap. Trust few and try to keep a step or two ahead of the opposition. It’s a little bit more than a month-long sprint, but when those steel jaws clamp shut, you will be no where near.
And trust me on this: the sign opposite to Aries is Libra. Saturn, Lord of Karma (our faithful trusty Karma Kop) is sitting right in the middle of Libra. As each of these planets don their marching boots and traipse through Aries, Saturn has them in his target sights and he will pick off more than a few scheming Machiavelli wannabes. Therefore, it’s recommended to be on your best behavior so that you don’t get caught in the shrapnel and become karmic kollateral.
Finally, before we get to the Daily Details, we have the New Moon in Aries on Sunday. It is in the Sabian Sign of an Indian Weaving a Blanket, indicating a fateful month ahead. Mythology is rife with allusions to weaving and fate, creation, and magick. We weave the warp and weft of our wants and needs and fashion our destiny to fulfill our desires. Weave passionately, and weave true. You don’t want to be caught wearing a threadbare fate with one more button than buttonholes.
Do you want it? Do you need it? Does it fulfill a part of your psychic gut that would otherwise cry out for sating? Then sate it. There is a reason why your soul desires it, though the reason may be opaque at the moment. The only admonition is for those who may be dancing to the tune of another, you may find yourself paying the piper with the sacrifice of your own happiness and the barrenness of denied fulfillment before long.
This is not the cheeriest of editions, but these are difficult and dangerous times, and I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you of what the planets portend.
This Sunday’s New Moon is the opening bell of this Brave New World, a world full of promise and potential for good or ill. The problem is that right now, so many planets are in Aries, and Aries is under great stress from both Saturn and Pluto in the antagonistic (to Aries) signs of Libra and Capricorn respectively. The stakes are high and it’s all about power. Will we be pawns of others’ interests or will we accept our destiny and fight back against those who wish to exploit and prey on us? The nature of this Brave New World hangs in the balance.
To the Daily Details!
Sunday, April 3rd
New Moon (Moon conjunct Sun) at 7:32am
Mars conjunct Uranus at 1:52pm
Sun opposed Saturn at 4:58pm
The Moon is in Aries, and this is apt to be a disruptive day. Take it slow, don’t rush, and you will hopefully avoid the pitfalls of this day’s energies. New Moons always put people a bit on edge as our emotional selves are transformed as the Moon hides behind the light of the Sun. In the time before each New Moon we are pensive, uncertain, and hopeful for the future. Tomorrow, as the New Moon emerges from behind the Sun and the new crescent hangs above the western sky at dusk we feel renewed, rejuvenated, and emotionally refreshed.
Mars is energy, and Uranus is unpredictable, so the combination of the two can lead to lots of unforeseen events today. Be cautious, give yourself plenty of time to get things done, and try to avoid accidents or getting caught up in any of the emotional frenzies zipping by. Expressions of anger, upsetment, or disappointment are likely to be more extreme than what the circumstances generating them might warrant. People are looking for just about any excuse to let loose, so try to be reasonable amidst any torrent of emotional fervor that comes your way, and at least you won’t make a bad situation worse.
Finally, the opposition between the Sun and Saturn is an additional reminder to watch your p’s and q’s. Inappropriate actions, unnecessary provocations, and behind the scenes scheming are all likely to be get their comeuppance sooner rather than later. Saturn is keeping a watchful eye on us today, and if he finds something out of line he’s likely to hand us a karma ticket. Don’t give him any reason to hand one to you!
Monday, April 4th
Neptune enters Pisces at 6:50am
The Moon enters Taurus at 4:46pm and not a moment too soon! Yesterday’s high-energy shenanigans are likely to leave us all needing a respite. Until the Moon enters Taurus we’re likely to be impatient, irritable, and anxious so try and take the day’s activities with a grain of salt. Everyone is feeling a bit chafed under their skin, and few are functioning at their best so try to be sympathetic and understanding of others foibles today. In the evening, you might want to take a long languorous bath, make yourself a fine dinner, or watch a movie – anything to help soothe the spirit and any feathers that might have gotten ruffled over the weekend.
Tuesday, April 5th
No major aspects
The earlier part of the day is likely to be more productive than the end, so if you have things to do, it’s best to front-load the day. Today our thoughts turn to more pleasurable activities like music, art, and beauty, and are one of the better days this week for working on your finances. Don’t be surprised if you run into annoying obstacles this evening or feel annoyed over nothing. Aries’ color is red, and without a whole lot of supporting aspects that’s exactly what our lunar bull is seeing. As has been the theme all week, try to keep your cool, give yourself plenty of time and space with which to do your work, and focus as much as possible on what is important and let the trivial go.
Wednesday, April 6th
Sun conjunct Jupiter at 7:40am
This morning begins a break from the combative, combustible, disruptive energies of the first part of the week with a conjunction of the Sun (our Selves) with Jupiter (opportunity, growth, and fortune) starting a trend that makes the latter half of the week an improvement over the beginning. This aspect makes us feel more hopeful, optimistic and cheerful, but the downside of it can have us feeling a bit unmotivated to take advantage of its possibilities. If you can motivate yourself this morning, you just may find an easier path to a pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.
Thursday, April 7th
No major aspects
The Moon moves into Gemini at 4:22am breaking the period of sluggishness of this latest Taurus Moon. While the morning hours may have us thinking we woke up on a different planet, or at least a different day of the week than Thursday, as the day progresses we feel far more energetic, engaged, and enthusiastic about the affairs we need to attend to. The early afternoon may see the arrival of a bit of some welcome unexpected news, especially if you’ve been good and have been taking a more active role in the pursuit of your goals. If you find yourself feeling scattered during this Gemini Moon period, the keyword is focus, focus, focus! Focus on what you feel is important and let the other stuff slide. You can pick it back up over the weekend when the Moon has more support in Cancer.
Friday, April 8th
No major aspects
The Moon is in Gemini all day, and is fairly well aspected the whole time. For a Friday, it turns out to be rather productive, as we are able to know what needs to be done and take of it with dispatch. You may also find that some of the obstacles you encountered earlier in the week begin to fade into the background if not overcome completely. Hooray for the good guys! The evening has some excellent energies for socializing, sharing time with friends and loved ones, or just taking a long walk by yourself.
Saturday, April 9th
Pluto goes Retrograde at 1:49am
Sun conjunct Mercury at 12:37pm
The Moon enters Cancer at 2:02pm and our intuition and emotional selves kick into high gear. We’re likely to be a bit more moody, sensitive and cranky than usual and apt to take it out on anyone who dares annoy us. The problem is that although the Moon, in general, is very much at home in Cancer, with all this Aries, Capricorn, and Libra energy around it feels very insecure and under the gun. The Moon in Cancer craves security, so your key to emotional harmony is to acknowledge those parts of your life that bring you comfort and security and allow yourself the benefit of the doubt in those areas that feel to be a bit more threatening. Things will improve, the struggle we are in right now will pass eventually.
Pluto is retrograde until September 16th. Until then, some of the more difficult challenges we have been facing will begin to ease. During this time we find ourselves revisiting old attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions that have long outlived their usefulness. It is generally not an advantageous time to try and assert control over situations, but to examine why they are out of control, and work on what you can do to correct the situation.
The Sun conjunct Mercury marks the height of the Mercury Retrograde period. If you feel fuzzy or confused, or if communication or computers break down, the situation should turn around in a couple of weeks when Mercury goes direct on the 23rd of April. Hang in there!
Wishing you all a wonderful week!
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