Sometimes astrology is as obvious as a pointing finger. Of course, there is a good reason that many consider pointing fingers (whether literally or metaphorically) to be impolite. It’s an aggressive act that represents a downside of the creative energy which contributes to make life possible in the first place.

Among the energies which, at their best, play what could be called a sacred role by helping to sustain and continue the cycle of life on Earth is that symbolized in by Mars.

In the words of Robert Hand, Mars “… rules the energy that an individual uses to maintain himself in the face of pressures from his environment.” In other words, with their best application, the earthly manifestations of Mars are good and healthy.

Just as with anything in astrology, however, there can also be a downside to Mars. Again referring to Robert Hand: “… if the energies of Mars are allowed to operate to excess, its effects can be quite difficult.”

That’s where you come in. You can do your part to keep us all on the upside of Mars by applying your energies to affirm life and creativity. Admittedly, it’s not easy given that there are a lot of bad examples in the world.

There are political candidates who bully reporters. Other candidates will do anything, no matter how underhanded, in order to win. Nearly everywhere you look, people (often, and unfortunately, people conferred with authority) are pointing fingers and humiliating others when they should be looking at themselves. As a matter of fact, it’s so easy to skim the news headlines and find examples of Mars operating to excess that you might be tempted towards discouragement.

You need not be discouraged. You do not have to be among the finger pointers. You can act with the divine and just energy of Mars to offset those who abuse it. You can look to excellent examples (like Eric’s lead article in the weekly edition published here yesterday) to stand up for what’s right, and keep going in spite of the bastards whose inappropriate aggression might otherwise get you down.

The written readings for all 12 signs of Vision Quest are available for instant access, and so are the audio astrology and rune readings! Order all 12 signs here, or select individual signs here.

To begin with, believe in yourself. Refuse to be humiliated when the fickle finger is pointed at you. You know you are a good person who represents the upside of humanity. Do not let anybody tell you otherwise.

Even more to the point, come to the aid of your brothers and sisters with encouragement and validation of their right to live with dignity.

In other words, Mars needs you. You can do your part to turn things around. If the astrology of the upcoming New Moon in Aquarius is any indication, the turning point is presenting itself right about now.

Without getting all technical on you, when the Sun and Moon come together at 19+ Aquarius just before 9:39 am EST (14:38:52 UTC) on Monday, they will be part of a holistic configuration emblematically pointing the way towards the redemption of Mars and the affirmation of precious life. It is for you to follow. And yes, so long as you breathe, you will have what it takes.

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How often do you feel like you have to keep a lid on things — your emotions, your sexual urges, your ambitions, your full power? Probably a lot of the time, right? After all, most social and professional situations call on us to temper our more primal sides in favor of being polite, proper, cool and in control.

Paroxysmal eruption of Mt. Etna in Sicily, on Jan. 12, 2011. I don’t know about you, but I see a reclining form whose hand is reaching down to… Photo by gnuckx/Creative Commons/Wikimedia

But what if I told you the current astrology is ripe for some of that subterranean stuff you usually hold back to come bursting forth? Would it scare you, excite you, or simply feel like a relief?

What if you were to look at such an emergence simply as yet another step in your personal evolution; just one more facet of yourself to embrace and integrate on your way to wholeness? After all, humanity has a long history of sexual desire (as well as emotions, power and evolving). None of this is new material, though it might feel new (and therefore unusual) to express it in the way the astrology is indicating — and still have it be productive, rather than destructive.

Of course, one key to working with it productively is to own it. That deep, seemingly mysterious place under the surface where your sexuality, emotions and body intersect is all yours. Trying to project it onto others won’t work; yes, they have their own lusty nexus. And you have yours.

So what’s the astrology at work here? The core aspect is a conjunction between Venus and Pluto in mid-Capricorn, exact at 8:15 pm EST Friday (1:15 UTC Saturday). (Ideal timing for most weekday nine-to-fivers, whether you’re in a relationship or solo, to devote some attention to sexual expression and exploration; try it during the day if you work at night.)

Eric Francis reminded me today of the late, great astrologer Al Morrison, saying, “One day astrologer Debbi Kempton Smith (Morrison’s student) asked him about the Venus-Pluto conjunction in his natal chart and he looked at her and said in his slow Arkansas drawl: Luuuuusst.”

Lust, huh? You might be thinking, “Isn’t that one of the Seven Deadly Sins?” It is; but remember who decided that it’s a “sin” — and why, and what certain institutions have done to millions of people in the name of “saving” them from this “sin.” True, it is not always appropriate or beneficial to act on one’s lust. But neither is it healthy to weigh it down under a mountain of guilt, shame and fear.

Our lustier urges, whether you take them literally or as metaphor, have evolutionary purposes. As Eric added in his email, “[Venus-Pluto] is about letting it out — burning through the prim propriety of Capricorn and getting to the molten goat interior of Capricorn.”

Molten goat? If that image does not work for you, try imagining a volcanic mountain range. It’s solid and strong and seemingly impermeable; but deep within is the magma that actually made the mountain. That magma is hot and looking for a way out. Will it ooze gently and carry you along as it reshapes the landscape? Or will it erupt suddenly, taking the top of the mountain with it and laying bare the power within?

Both scenarios are possible, in terms of how your emotions, your body, and your sexuality may find expression. Current astrology provides an invitation to get in touch with this layer of yourself and your feelings about it.

To the one side of Venus-Pluto is Mars (and Black Moon Lilith, a hypothetical lunar point) in Scorpio. From Scorpio to Capricorn is a sextile — a harmonious, flowing aspect that only asks for some active cooperation from you to help things along. This looks like the image of someone who’s willing to take the energy on, who perhaps is already doing their inner work with deep emotions, the shadow feminine, and their desires, and is open to doing more.

The written readings for all 12 signs of Vision Quest are available for instant access, and so are the audio astrology and rune readings! Order all 12 signs here, or select individual signs here.

Which is not to say that you’ll avoid any “eruptions” if that description fits you. Venus-Pluto in Capricorn has a potentially eruptive quality all on its own (and could signal an eruption of jealousy), even without any help. Yet it does have help.

Vesta (an asteroid) and Uranus are conjunct in Aries, making a square to Venus-Pluto. Squares are the aspect of dynamic internal tension in astrology; the sense of feeling like you must do something to relieve it. In taking action, you also integrate whatever factors seemed to have been pushing on you to choose and move.

Although the era-defining Uranus-Pluto square is no longer exact, it is still close and quite functional. The sexual and emotional energy of Venus and Pluto, which is looking for an outlet, have an evolutionary function — and embracing it could feel quite revolutionary. Especially if Uranus (in a Mars-ruled sign) pushes out of you something that you’ve been trying very hard to suppress.

Vesta adds a touch of the devotional; as in, devoting yourself to this process of self-discovery is integral to feeding your inner spark. The more self-directed you can be with it (as opposed to reactive), the better.

Finally, note that the Moon will be in mid-Capricorn as Venus-Pluto is exact, sweeping through the aspect just afterwards. As mentioned, your emotions are deeply tied to this process, and efforts to mask them behind a poker face do not look tenable in this scenario. The urge to do so is likely related to very old past conditioning from childhood. Feel free to question it; it could be fun.

This is a fascinating time of year during a vital period in human history. All over the world people of divergent perspective are paradoxically converging to observe (and even celebrate) what we have in common. Unsurprisingly, astrology has something to say about it.

In the U.S. voters on both sides of a sharply divided electorate are beginning to come together in concurrent and similar civil rituals (called either primaries or caucuses), to select their respective champions for the quadrennial presidential contest later this year.

All over the world (but especially in the U.S.), fans of two American football teams contesting for the Super Bowl Championship will soon be coming together to cheer for their favorites — either in the stadium where the game is played, or in front of countless televisions in public places or private homes.  

Also all over the world (but especially in the Far East) millions are preparing to convene with family and friends on the occasion of a new year, even if there is divergence as regards to the exact date when the Year of the Fire Monkey begins.

The Eastern Asian new year you are probably most familiar with has to do with the Moon. In the lunar new year tradition, the turnover takes place during the second New Moon following the Capricorn solstice (winter in the Northern Hemisphere, summer in the Southern Hemisphere). This year, that Aquarius New Moon will take place on Feb. 8 just before 9:39 am EST (14:38:52 UTC).

There is, however, a divergent tradition in East Asian culture that marks the new year by the position of the Sun. In his book The 12 Chinese Animals, Chinese astrology master Zhongxian Wu asserts that the new year “refers to the moment when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 315 degrees. It usually occurs on February 4 or 5 each year in the Gregorian (western civil) calendar.”

Interestingly, 315 degrees of celestial longitude corresponds to the precise middle degree of Aquarius in western astrology. It is one of the four ‘cross quarter’ days marking the midpoint of a season. In this particular case, it is halfway between the Capricorn solstice and the Aries equinox (spring in the Northern Hemisphere, autumn in the Southern Hemisphere). This year, the Sun will reach that point at the stroke of 4:46 am EST (09:46:00 UTC) on Feb. 4. 

Just as in the Far East, there is divergence in the western world regarding when to celebrate the cross-quarter and what it means. For those inclined to participate in secular pop culture, there is Groundhog Day (today), when a fuzzy beast and people in funny clothing converge to augur how the current season will play out — based on whether or not the Sun is casting a shadow.

For those of a Christian persuasion, there is Candlemas (also today), which, in another example of divergence, variously commemorates a rite of passage for Jesus, or for his mother, or the conclusion of Epiphany. For many, the end of Epiphany season also represents the beginning of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) or Carnival, allowing Christians a chance to get their freak on before getting serious again on Ash Wednesday.

For those who prefer to observe the Earth-oriented traditions that Christianity conveniently co-opted, this particular cross quarter point is called Imbloc (or Brigid’s Day).

Imbolc roughly translates to “in the belly” (thought to refer to the concurrent pregnancy of ewes), containing etymological references to milk and cleansing as well. You also might also think of yourself as in the belly of what is often experienced as a long and trying season.     

Regardless of how you choose to observe either the Sun at the mid-point of Aquarius on Thursday or the Aquarius New Moon on Monday, the astrology of those occasions indicates that your individual choice is more likely to bring you together with others, in spite of any differences you have with them. That’s because of where the original ruling planet of Aquarius (Saturn — the arbiter of form, shape and structure) is now placed.

Saturn is currently moving very slowly as it approaches its retrograde station next month. As a result, where Saturn was yesterday is where it is today, and where it will be on Thursday — and even Monday: at 14+ Sagittarius, conjoined with the Great Attractor to the degree.

The Great Attractor is an intense gravitational source in deep space, far away from our galaxy. We don’t know what it is, but we know what it does. It is a polarizing object. Even as it is pulling uncounted galaxies (including ours), it’s also retreating in the opposite direction at apparently the same pace. Think of a celebrity (like the late Greta Garbo) who makes a living as a public figure, yet paradoxically wants to be left alone, and you get the idea.

The written readings for all 12 signs of Vision Quest are available for instant access, and so are the audio astrology and rune readings! Order all 12 signs here, or select individual signs here.

Thus, having the traditional ruler of Aquarius (the sign of groups, particularly groups of choice) not only conjoined, but hanging out at what may be the singly most polarized point on the zodiac indicates not only a convergence, and not just a divergence, but somehow both at the same time. As a bonus, the next week or so implicitly provides you with a special opportunity to shape your life and the lives of countless others by the choices you make during this season of February festivities.

If it appears as though it’s going to play out that way for you, it would be in your best interest if you remember to play nice. For if there is one thing that all the holidays and events going on over the next week or so have in common, it’s that they all represent an initiation or threshold that will long resonate, based on how those participating contribute to the quality of the time.

The Super Bowl winners will long be remembered, and the losers quickly forgotten. The winners of the early primaries and caucuses in the U.S. will be more likely to attract both political contributions and undecided voters than those who finish behind.

And as any Chinese astrologer will tell you, the new year is an auspicious time only if you make good decisions and endeavor to do the right thing by others. By the same token, every version of how the western cultural tradition observes this time of year (as symbolized by the motion picture Groundhog Day) emphasizes how your choices shape your character, and your character (not astrology) in turn shapes your destiny.

So cross this threshold mindfully. Don’t let paradox confuse you. Rather, do your best; and (most of all) do the right thing and honor the cause of love no matter who you find yourself thrown together with.

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