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.
Offered In Service
Ironically, New Moon Mars in Scorpio is in a quincunx with the U.S. Mars at 21+ Gemini, at the same time that New Moon Venus in Capricorn is quincunx the U.S. Gemini Mars (and she’s conjunct Pluto to boot) which forms a Yod. To add to this Yod there is also transiting Jupiter at 21+ Virgo (while still conjunct the North Node who is conjunct the U.S. Neptune) in a square to the U.S. Mars. This New Moon utilizes it’s transiting Mars while also stimulating the U.S. Mars.
This could symbolize the New Hampshire voters’ moods as they choose their party’s nominee on Tuesday. It hopefully represents enthusiasm for the election process too, but, getting back to that yod between the New Moon Mars-sextile- New Moon Venus+Pluto with the U.S. Mars in Gemini at the apex.
This New Moon Mars is (along with New Moon Venus-Pluto) forcing the U.S. Mars to adjust due to the Yod effect. Meanwhile New Moon Uranus and Vesta in Aries are also at the apex point of a time lapse second Yod. The sextiling 1965-66 conjunction of Uranus-Pluto in Virgo (which was not far from where the New Moon Jupiter is) and Neptune in Scorpio at the time (where the New Moon’s Mars in Scorpio is) complete the 2nd Yod . A reminder that the New Moon’s Uranus and Vesta are in Mars’ sign of Aries. There must be some sort of adjustment on the part of New Moon Uranus+Vesta in Aries.
Then there is this as well in the New Moon’s chart; the North Node at 22+ Virgo and the South Node at 22+ Pisces, is forming a T-square to the U.S. Mars at 21+ Gemini. Holy moly this is a lot of pressure on the U.S. Mars too, and it will be expressed, I’m sure, in votes in New Hampshire, at least on the Democrat side. Hillary Clinton’s natal Moon is conjunct the New Moon’s South Node in Pisces, along with Bernie Sanders’ natal south node. The New Moon’s North Node in Virgo will conjunct the U.S. Neptune and Bernie Sander’s natal north node.
I would expect a lot of anger to be the deciding factor for many voters what with the many aspects the New Moon’s Mars makes (square the New Moon, trine Chiron, etc.). As you say Len, there are other ways to express Mars’ energy and with Mars (in the New Moon) and Mars (in the U.S. chart) both stretched to capacity, it will hopefully diffuse or dissipate the anger into different and more wholesome channels of expression. Thanks for the heads up and seeing the better side of the god Mars!
be
P.S. A 3rd yod between New Moon sextile Uranus-Vesta, both of which quincunx Jupiter might balance out all the adjusting more equally!
Barbara: Thank you. A yod is precisely what I was referring to. A boomerang yod (which looks like a peace symbol) It begins with Monday’s Aquarius New Moon precisely at the mid-point of the sextile from Venus to Chiron while ALSO opposed by the centaur 346889 Riphonos in Leo – ALL precisely to exact to the degree. One amazing aspect which I believe no other astrologer has noticed. Riphonos is the key. Because BOTH its heliocentric ascending node AND it perihelion are in Aries, the type of astrological analysis employed by the great Phil Sedgwick clearly indicates that Riphonos is best interpreted as a derivative of the planet that rules Aries – Mars. Add to that the fact that Mars itself is applying in a close square to the Aquarius luminary conjunction during Monday’s New Moon, and what you have is a finger (yod) clearly pointing to Mars as THE distinguishing planet of the astrology for the next month (or even 12 months if you place any weight at on the fact that this New Moon also initiated the Asian lunar new year of the Yang Fire Monkey). Any more Mars and we would all have testosterone poisoning (more deadly than the Zika virus). Apologies for not being that explicit in the blog, but I have agreed to underwriting guidelines which require me to make my blogs understandable and accessible to all people. Thank you also for bringing up the other yods (to the U.S. Sibly chart and other important astrology from the past) – once again fingering Mars as the energy all of us need to pich in and regulate. To paraphrase the late, great Bob Marley, the bad guys don’t take days off. Hence those of us who endeavor to be good guys must work on our birthdays and every day to keep Mars on our side. Thank you once again for being one of the best examples here on Planet Waves. i owe you a white hat.
Well you devil you; you used me!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday Len. Who the hell is Riphonos?
be
Okay I found this on Rhiphonos which helps a little. . .
http://www.zanestein.com/Rhiphonos.htm
Barbara: Nothing like that. Just style guidelines. Below is the Phil Sedgwick link for 346889 Riphonos the centaur.
http://www.philipsedgwick.com/StarBlogs/Archives/2013/Rhiphonos%20~%2023%20Jul%202013.htm
Hey Len, I think your Boomerang Yod might symbolize a Mars-flavored financial brouhaha. I’ll explain after I’ve gotten some sleep but it has to do with a conjunction between transiting Ceres and Uranus in June; the same day that transiting Persephone conjuncts the U.S. Sibly Uranus. Later.
be
Okay, so here’s what I was thinking. On June 23 Uranus and Ceres (who’s daughter Persephone was stolen by Pluto) will conjunct at 23 Aries 58 and they are quincunx Mars at 23+ Scorpio retrograde, while trans Persephone (stolen) conjuncts the U.S. Sibly Uranus (unexpected) at 8+ Gemini. Trans., Uranus and Ceres (and Eris) are square the U.S. Sibly Mercury at 24+ Cancer. Mercury is the patron of trade and commerce as well as thieves.
On June 26th Uranus and Ceres are still at 24+ Aries (+ Eris at 23+ Aries) and now Mercury will be at 22+ Gemini forming a sextile with the Aries planets. Together they produce a Yod with retrograde Mars at 23+ Scorpio who is at the apex point of release. Trans. Mercury will conjunct the U.S. Sibly Mars and square the U.S. Sibly Neptune on that day.
Trans. Mars will be in the U.S. Sibly chart’s 12th house (behind the scenes). Transiting Mars will be trine transiting Chiron (25+ Pisces) and the U.S. Mercury at 24+ Cancer in the 8th house of shared resources (a bank for instance) . Trans. Uranus/Ceres/Eris in Aries will be in conflict (square) with the U.S. natal Mercury in Cancer, as well as trans. Mercury conjunct the U.S. Mars and square the U.S. Neptune.
I thought this conflict might stem from transiting Mars’ first (of 3) trines to the U.S. Mercury later this month. After Mars stations retrograde in April he will be moving backward until June 29-30 where he stations direct at 23+ Scorpio, again quincunx trans. Uranus in Aries who will as I said be square the U.S. Mercury. You said that the Mars would be the distinguished planet all month (or even 12 months). So it appears.
I thought this pattern suggestive of the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) agreement (an agreement that has many people concerned) because both the U.S. Mercury and transiting Mercury (ruler of trade, wheeling and dealing, etc.) are involved. I thought it indicated a money matter because Scorpio, the 8th house and the 2nd house of the U.S. Sibly chart are occupied in this pattern. Also Venus (conjunct Pluto) is part of the Yod-Boomerang pattern in yesterday’s New Moon.
The Virgo Full Moon on February 22nd will activate the solar eclipse last September (when Mercury was square Pluto) because the Virgo FM’s Jupiter (foreign countries) will occupy the same degree, 20+ Virgo. The FM Mars in Scorpio will quincunx Vesta (investment) at 24+ Aries who will be square the U.S. natal Mercury in Cancer. I may be cherry-picking the aspects but I’m not making them up. Will have to check further to see what Rhiphonos is up to for the foreseeable future, but it sounds like the kind of thing a centaur would bring to light.
The monster winter storm hitting the U.S. northeast states right now was named Mars.
be
thank you so much Len, for precise and brilliant way to reinforce living up to one’s potential and leading by example: reminds me of Abraham Hicks simple and solid observation:
turn your attention and energy in the direction of a solution not the exploration of a problem; the problem is a different vibrational frequency than the solution….so where do you want to come in?
Rosa: Please accept my thanks in turn for your generous words and for contributing a very pertinent (and deeply appreciated) nugget of wisdom. Pure gold. Let’s all work to keep the vibrational frequency of Mars (as it manifests on Earth) oriented toward and focused on solutions, just as the New Moon yod will be focused like a laser on the Martian derivative 346889 Riphonos.
Excellent stuff, dearheart — and timely. Seems to me that anger (fear) is the natural response to feeling as though one is being taken advantage of … and who doesn’t feel that, these days? Neutralizing the overwhelming emotions we hug close when we think we’re being victimized assists us to use Mars (and anger) as a motivator. In a period of crisis, stress and adrenal overload, making friends with Mars is a primary objective!
Someone asked me the other day why the Pubs were so angry. I pointed them to an article by Fareed Zakaria (brilliant mind, by the way, noon central on CNN, Sundays) tagging FOX News for feeding them on poison and pipe dreams for over a decade, leading to the rise of Trump and Cruz as radical candidates. This was typified by a Trump supporter last Tuesday, hearing the news that he’d lost first place, sobbing “But he promised!”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-the-gops-dishonesty-led-to-the-rise-of-donald-trump-and-ted-cruz/2016/01/28/d0bfdf8c-c5fb-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html
On the flip side, when Bernie was asked why Dems were angry, he said Banksters decimated the economy and ruined the lives of millions, never facing a penalty except in dollar signs, while a kid arrested with weed would pay a lifelong price. When I hear pundits say that Bernie is so angry, I’m mystified. If you aren’t angry on some level these days, I think you just aren’t paying attention. And the only way to deal with it, as suggested, is to channel it into positive change.
(And me too on the Happy Solar Return, kiddo — we’re so glad you’re here!)
Many happy returns, Len.
All best wishes.
Geoff
Len,
That was eloquent.. like poetry. And it clued me in as to why I feel such a knot in my stomach whenever I see someone point a finger at me! It also reminds me that I can have an enormous amount of influence in a gentle way.
Hope you had a happy birthday.
Deb
Jude, Geoff, and DebsK: Thank you all co very much for your kind words and wishes!
With all my focus this week on Venus-Pluto in my 7th house, I failed to notice Mars stealthily (Scorpio theme — figures!) opposing my Sun and exacerbating a really unfortunate interpersonal situation I mentioned under my own blog post. I think we’ve finally reached some understanding and clear, calm waters, but I spent much of yesterday quite upset and fearing I had unwittingly undermined completely a group creative effort in which I am deeply invested. Reading Rob Hand’s description of Mars opposite the Sun held up a painful mirror, regarding how giving in to conflict at this time could undermine what should otherwise be a crowning creative achievement that began in earnest around the time Mars conjoined my Sun back in April.
Like I said, I think we’ve moved past it. Lord knows I have released a lot of emotion around it; definitely needed that cry on a shoulder I experienced last night. Really, I just want to make some good art, and have fun doing it. But along the way, I’ve gotten a vivid reminder of how ill-timed emotional reactivity (and being too energetically drained to regulate it) can have repercussions that ripple out. And ego and defensiveness born of shame do not help matters. That shit takes time to sort through and neutralize to be able to move forward.
Onwards and upwards!
Thank you Len and Rosa H. for reminding all of us to take the high road of Mars. To practice peaceful living and not get caught up in other people’s negative Mars energy is a life time of practice but we have examples to emulate: Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and any stranger that we observe lend an act of kindness, we only need look for it. And that’s really what its about, seeking the best in others and ourselves and then walking the better option, practicing a higher life, raising the earth’s vibration and being mindful and full of love. We have that opportunity each time we are faced with a choice. The good thing is that we have an internal mechanism that tells us we are on the right path, we feel it, we know it, especially when we choose appropriately. We feel good all over.
We need the energy of Mars to keep us motivated, to hike the mountain, to clear the snow, to clean our house, to tackle a project at work, to muster up the energy in the middle of the night to tend to a sick loved one. That’s how we channel the energy of Mars, we just need to be mindful of that.
Happy solar return Len!
Judith thanks for posting the WP editorial. Another great book on this topic is called “The Republican Noise Machine.” Its a bit old but chronicles how the media was used (hijacked?) as a bully-pulpit to “channel” the “mars energy” the thrust the pubs agenda on the American (and world) population.
Belated birthday greetings Len!
Thank you for this and all the extras on Rhiponos