By Amanda Painter
If you’ve been feeling a need for some energy to shift, you’re in luck. This week sees two major planets changing signs: Jupiter left Libra and entered Scorpio on Tuesday; and on Saturday, Venus will exit Virgo and enter one of its ‘home’ signs, Libra.
View from above the Kennebec River, between Waterville and Winslow, Maine. Photo by Amanda Painter.
Jupiter spends about a year in each sign. So if you think back about 12 years, you may get a sense of how this planet’s expansiveness influenced your life.
What grew? What became so magnified that you could no longer ignore it? What benefits (even if they appeared in disguise at the time) came your way? Although the area of your life where this occurred will depend on where Scorpio falls in your natal chart, you can also get more clues by thinking thematically.
For example, astrologer Debbi Kempton-Smith begins her section on having natal Jupiter in Scorpio by writing, “You’re as horny as a three-balled tomcat — people can just tell you’re brilliant in bed.” She adds later, “You love excess in business, religion or love.” Does that ring any bells?
Astrologers Frances Sakoian and Louis S. Acker initially note that things like “joint or corporate finances, taxes, insurance, and legacies” relate to Jupiter in Scorpio. But they also mention interest in “the occult, mystical aspects of religion, in life after death, and in telepathic communication with those of the unseen realms” — as well as acquiring “secret information regarding the private affairs of others.”
Eric wrote Tuesday that, “Jupiter condenses the creative, spiritual and mystical qualities of Sagittarius and Pisces, and the nurturing qualities of Cancer, and introduces them to the sex-death-regeneration-transformation zone known as Scorpio.” You can hear more of his take on this next year of Jupiter in Scorpio on this week’s Planet Waves FM program.
In other words, you might think of Jupiter as taking the beautifying and balancing tendencies of Libra and simmering them down into a more concentrated form: one with the deeper and darker (but no less appealing) flavors of transformation. Like taking a bright, young red wine and reducing it to the kind of intensely flavored sauce that makes you groan when you taste it.
With this mid-ground shift, Venus will ingress Libra on Saturday at 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC). Libra is one of Venus’ preferred places to be, emphasizing harmony in relationships, consideration for others, a sense of justice, artistic aptitude and a refined aesthetic sense, and a need for intellectual stimulation to accompany sensuality. Yet all things have their shadow side to go with the light, and for Venus in Libra that can be a tendency to avoid discord to the point of superficially going along to get along.
Overall, however, it seems that Venus moving into Libra just after Jupiter’s moved out offers some softness to these transitions. I suspect it could provide a bit of stability and a buffer (or equipoise) for a couple of other aspects this weekend.
First up is Mercury in Libra opposite Uranus in Aries, exact on Sunday. This could show up a couple of ways: mentally scattered or intellectually charged up. You might find yourself seeking out new experiences. If breaks from your routine are stressful, see if you can shift your perspective and see some creative opportunity there — and then seek confirmation of your insights and intuition.
Bear in mind that Mercury will also be sextile the centaur planet Pholus in Sagittarius (which is also trine Uranus). The small new thing you try could have surprisingly far-reaching effects. This can be very positive; just choose your new thing (and your words) carefully.
Astrologer Robert Hand particularly notes that if you need to work during a Mercury-Uranus opposition, developing a systematic approach and then keeping to the system can minimize errors. This could be especially helpful if you’re working with others in any kind of ‘live’ or real-time situation where there’s no opportunity for behind-the-scenes course-corrections.
Venus moving into Libra could help to temper any emotional swings that might ordinarily come with the unexpected, and may also help to soften the Moon after it enters Virgo Sunday morning. (A Virgo Moon can tend toward the critical side when it’s not being channeled into specific tasks.)
And speaking of Virgo: Mars in Virgo opposes Chiron in Pisces this weekend, also exact on Sunday. Astrologer Barbara Hand Clow describes Mars opposite Chiron as the “sacred warrior” archetype.
But what does that mean? Clow mentions the idea of fighting injustice with compassion for the oppressed — a theme that would seem to complement Venus in Libra. That might feel a little lofty or removed from your everyday life, however.
So, what if you think of Mars-Chiron this way: Can you express your desire or anger specifically and constructively enough that it serves to raise the game of those around you? And can you do it in a way that indicates not only that you’re all on the same team, but that you care enough about yourself and those around you to choose to do no harm in the process? Compassion can come in many forms; when you can extend it to others for the ways in which they might not be ‘measuring up’, it’s that much easier for them to offer it to you for your imperfections, too.
We’ll be increasing the price again very soon, so don’t hesitate to order your copy here. You can also now choose your individual signs here.
It is now perhaps to obvious to say, that this astrology is wreaking havoc on Harvey Weinstein; thus making Venus ingress of Libra like a siren call for justice. The Sun (in the via combusta degrees of Libra), is now ruled by Venus in Libra, and Jupiter (also in the via combusta degrees), in Scorpio mitigating any equipoise or buffer to stand up and be heard. Mars- Chiron / the sacred warrior archetype, describe the women of Hollywood beginning a necessary healing process, and what was once a lofty idea for justice, removed from everyday life is now closer to a reality (?). As others (Evan Rachel Wood) are still suffering from this cultural psychology; choosing to express their anger to raise the consciousness of others. Being that the creative process is so much a part of our sexuality, the root cause of it. perhaps any compassion for Weinstein can begin there.
Glen Young — thank you so much for tying this astrology to the cultural awareness of Weinstein’s decades of abuses of young actresses, to their speaking up, and to where this may develop from here. I’ll admit: I’m not quite at the point of feeling compassion for Weinstein. As an actress who has never sought “the big time” but nonetheless can see how imbalanced power is and can become in this industry, I’m definitely still in the “outrage” phase. Step by step, we all (hopefully) move forward…
I can’t help but feel that Harvey Weinstein is simply the top gorilla in the treetops of the American cinematographiculture. He’s the main man who decides which females are the most desirable and, therefore, the order in which they should be fucked, and starrified, in order to ensure the continuation of the cinematic culture. After all, if a girl don’t fuck good, she ain’t gonna be much use in the continuation of the species (i.e. getting paying patrons through the cinema box office).
Now, don’t get me wrong. As a gay male who once hoped to be the British James Dean, I, too, refused to sleep with all the botherers on the road to my success. I kid you not, kids. Without paying the sexual price, you weren’t going anywhere. No doubt, it’s still the same. I’m sure all female would-be film stars know this. It’s common knowledge, isn’t it?
Weinstein’s sexual decisions determined who the females would be who most enticed the paying male libido in Row F. As a businessman, he was successful because he was right most of the time.
We’re still gorillas in the trees. Hollywood is a jungle. Please don’t be surprised or upset by these revelations. They are natural. They commercialise our basic instincts. And in a capitalist society, that must be a profitable thing, surely?
Hollywood movies are pictures from within a brothel. If you don’t like that, what are you doing there in the first place?
Thank You, Glen, Amanda and Geoff for your insights of depth and pondering.
“Compassion for Harvey Weinstein”. It goes along with Compassion for Stephen Paddock and Donald Trump.
It kind of reminds me of when a boil comes to a head. I’ve never had them but my loved ones have. Boils are very painful. When they come to the surface (to the light) to expel and drain the poison, (that has been hidden in the darkness beneath the skin, ) it smells unpleasant and looks worse.
It was Compassion that inspired and motivated my actions to soothe and comfort someone going through this experience. The one thing I didn’t do, was make an issue of how awful what drained out of the boil looked and smelled. Saying something like that would have just made the person already in pain feel worse. I didn’t judge what came out of them. I was grateful it came out so it could be dealt with and the skin healed.
Maybe that’s the kind of perspective needed in order to embrace individuals like Harvey and Stephen and Donald? In how many ways can we express our wounded egos?
Before we take a look at the underlying issues creating those wounds? Maybe it is the nature of our Desires that is resulting in the wounding? The desires of a wounded ego being much different than those of a healthy and whole one.
Seems to me Compassion is about recognizing about everyone is seeking for our wounded egos to be fed, rather than seeking the causes of the wounds and wounding. I would cite the Values of our Society as the cause and our current experience of polarity a result of those Values shifting to something deeper in meaning and more aligned with the Values and perspective of our cosmic core. The materialistic Values of our societies are not in Harmony our Core.
I have no experience with acting or have had the privilege of meeting any actresses or actors. The question I ask is about the nature of the desire fueling the activities. Is it aspiration, a genuine love for expressing the creativity of the craft or ambition, which is a love to feed our ego? Much the same as asking if a Doctor became a doctor because of their love and caring for people or because of the lure of money?
I’m seeing reflections of our collective darkness, the level of behavior we will choose in order to feed our egos. At some time, in some place all of us have done something that was an act of self denial, something lacking in love for self, something lacking in honor for self, something lacking in respect for self, something we’re not proud of, something ugly. And maybe it’s on that deeper level we can find it within us to Compassionate?
A Course in Miracles teaches that Justice is Just and there can be no Justness without Love. (Venus in Libra.) Maybe ask what is the nature of our desire for Justice? Is it Loving or fueled by hurt and pain into seeking punishment and vengeance?
Hollywood movies are most profitable when they echo the predilections of society’s mores. Politically, recently, we have been offered films representing and supporting the black experience: Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” was a successful and major contributor to this genera, “Moonlight” was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture this year, and “Get Out” is a crisp translation of the horror-movie genre with a black man as the innocent victim in peril, a film paid for in part by the state of Alabama.
As a result of the Weinstein affair, may it be presumed that we will soon be offered a spate of movies reflecting the women who fought against the entrenched male dominance of society and the film-making industry in particular? It’s 100 years since women’s suffrage, after all.
Such mental adjustments are slow, and appeal, perhaps, only to those of liberal conscience. It is to be hoped, though, that this information is adopted by the young, so that their convictions become the new standards in society’s norms. Progress in small steps may be the best way to proceed.
Very Wise words Geoff. When it comes to shifting consciousness, small steps provide the most stability for preparing for future growth and expansions. Like learning how to walk as a toddler. Two steps forward, one step back then fall down. What would have taken 3-4 generations, thanks to Trump it’s been accelerated and now has the potential of taking only 1-2.
Plus, there’s the resonance of all souls coming in through physical birth, which are already tuned to the newer or higher frequencies. The 1st of these generations born, with predominantly a different energetic pattern, are now reaching adulthood and there is much promise within them. This is not to encourage a dependence upon them but to motivate action on their behalf. They’re going to need help.
I’ve seen the shifting of awareness in Hollywood, too. Movies involving different realities and different dimensions have been slowly making their way into the markets. Today’s sci-fi, tomorrow’s facts. I don’t really understand the current fascination with zombies, though. I would appreciate being enlightened.
Sue, have you ever seen the comic-“horror” movie “Shaun of the Dead”? It’s kind of a spoof on “Dawn of the Dead,” and I suspect even just watching the opening sequence — before the actual zombies start appearing — could offer some clues. It would seem that at least some people are aware of what zombies most of us (at least, in Western culture) are already. 😉
Not sure that explains all of it, of course. Seems perhaps something about the “undead” coming after the living gets more and more persistent along with the fascination with post-apocalyptic imaginings. Is it nihilism? Or something to do with a need for stories about people fighting impossible odds and surviving? Or some bizarre marriage of the two? In any case, I am quite sure there are people who have written about and studied all of it in popular culture.
Thank You Amanda! I will watch the movie; I’ve seen the title.
Your comment about our western culture brought a smile to my face. I found it wonderfully apt.
And cause to feel Hope in recognition that awareness is seeping in through our subconscious and creative imaginations. Living/zombie, aware/unaware, there is a sense of “something being expressed.
Thank you for the compliment, Sue. Any wisdom which I may have concerning these matters mostly came from those contributing to this website, so my thanks to all.