By Amanda Painter
Are you ready to look under the hood? As in, under the hood of your relationships, under the hood of your beliefs, under the hood of some of your more self-critical thoughts and undermining emotions — perhaps even under the hood of something that has been developing in the background for months?
In this photo from July 1, Venus and Jupiter can be seen together in the evening sky, in the center of the photo; currently they are visible just before dawn. Photo by Amanda Painter.
If you’re not a mechanic, it makes sense to be intimidated by the prospect of poking around the inner workings of your car.
But here’s the thing about looking below the surface of yourself and your relationships: you don’t need any special training to know what feels good and what does not; you don’t have to go to a technical school to know what is working or not — though the questions of ‘why’ and how to ‘fix’ things might call for some research or assistance.
True, there are languages and systems of symbols and techniques that you can study (such as psychology or astrology, or particular modalities of therapy and spiritual healing) that can help you to make sense of it all and make changes. But simply knowing your own heart or mind? That understanding is open to anyone who is willing to look at it. The problem is how many people are not willing to look under the metaphorical hood of themselves.
So, then: what’s in the astrology to bring up this metaphor? Several things, actually.
First on the list is Mercury in Libra making a square to Pluto in Capricorn (exact today at 5:22 pm EDT / 21:22 UTC). On the one hand, this aspect can lead to an obsession with certain ideas, fanaticism and compulsive thinking, as well as trying to coerce others to your point of view.
On the other hand (according to astrologer Robert Hand, in fact), this is a great time to dive into studies about the hidden or covert facets of people. That includes the parts of yourself that tend to seem hidden from your understanding. What happens if you bring some directed introspection to how the structure (Capricorn) of your relationships (Libra) affects how you think (Mercury) about who you are in those relationships? Is there a change (Pluto) you’ve been edging closer to making in that realm?
And don’t let Pluto and the “C” word (change) freak you out. It just so happens that Venus in Virgo is playing footsie with Pluto in a nice, easy trine that may intensify sexual desire and emotional expression. Solo or with a partner, consider taking your look under the hood while under the sheets — or while playing in your art studio.
Next in the ‘looking under your hood’ astrology is the Sun’s ingress into Scorpio Friday at 1:47 pm EDT (17:47 UTC). As I’m sure you know, Scorpio is generally described by things we keep in the dark or behind closed doors: sex, death and money.
Secrets are stereotypically a Scorpio thing. And traditionally the weeks when the Sun is in Scorpio are a time when the veil between this world and the spirit realm is said to be thinnest. This sign also relates to intense emotional transformation, including the transmutation of toxins, occurring well below the surface of personality.
When the Sun enters Scorpio tomorrow, it makes an exact trine (aspect of harmony) to centaur planet Nessus in Pisces. One way to read this is as an opportunity to ‘stop the buck’ on any toxic emotional habits you might notice in yourself. It’s possible to be accountable to yourself for emotional tendencies you’re not proud of.
No need to get bogged down in shame or guilt; we all have shadow material here in the often-confusing spaces where sex and emotions intertwine. But if you feel the light of the Sun touching one of these spots in your awareness, see if you can come to an understanding with yourself about where it comes from and your desire not to repeat it — enlist the help of a trusted friend or therapist if needed.
Bonus astrology: Venus makes its third of this year’s conjunctions to Jupiter on Sunday (in Virgo). The overall vibe is one of optimism, good fortune, and the development of something you got going around July 1, and reassessed around Aug. 4.
Whether that something has to do with love, money, reclaiming your creative expression or your self-esteem (or all of the above), only you can say. Other astrology on Sunday says to expect the unexpected as you look under that hood — but then, doesn’t that always happen when you take your car to the mechanic? Just keep your spirit of adventure, and trust how you feel.
Great piece, Amanda. Thank you.
I second Lizzy’s note. Clear, beautifully written, with such kind/sunny voice. Thank you, Amanda. I will be mulling over your wisdom for days, picking my head up from the depths and into my “hood” as we all enter my favorite time of year — Scorpio!
m2
Yay, Scorpio season!!!
Lizzy and Mary — thank you, and you are welcome. Glad to hear you are relishing this Scorpio dive, Mary!
Yes, amazing and just what I needed to better understand all that is currently transpiring. So many silly little realizations about my own behavior, and seeing in my mind exactly what initiated each thing. In looking at, and laughing at, some of these ‘answers’ I have been reminded that this deep process can also be enjoyable, if you release the tight bind on your body that is the emotion of fear. I have felt overwhelm by the changes and shifts in my life currently, but as usual astrology adds both clarity, and more questions. Always so many questions about how it intertwines with it ringing the doorbell of my natal chart. It certainly does reiterate
I’m curious to know how the impact might change if adding a few elements in my natal chart that are being lit up in a blinking neon sign kind of way. Pluto moved in with my natal Mercury in my 6th awhile ago and refuses to move out, so I have Mercury square Mercury added in, and my 60s natal Pluto Uranus conjunction is in a dance trance with Mars, Jupiter and Venus. In fact Mars will be making out with this Pluto, while Jupiter and Venus get it on. And all is electrified by Uranus’ grooviness. All parties must end and these guys square natal Jupiter speak to the excess and bacchanalia, and hangover that is ahead. These guys are yelling across the room at Chiron on top of Chiron, Saturn right there hesitatingly joining in while at the same time pointing her finger at the two of them and shaking her head in disbelief. The threesome in Pisces is sending good sex-tile vibes to the couple in Capricorn, while the 60’s side of the festivities is trine the grumpy roommates of Pluto and Mercury in Capricorn. And my sun. But all that Pluto and Mercury show just how transformative it all will be… just wish I could break on through to the other side a little more quickly. Very restless. But big changes too, though it seems like a natural progression in some way it is still very scary, yet exciting. An explosion of emotions and feeling super Neptune foggy brained about it all most of the time.
The worst part is that Saturn is now conjunct my south node and opposite natal Nessus. Guess I’m the one to put the damper on the festivities…? Or maybe I should read that as I am at the point of being firm about not letting the past and others negativity in, so that the new seeds can germinate. I certainly have been on the receiving end of some very slimy psychological abuse by others in my work world in the past six months, the way in which people can spew wounding words and you have no avenue for a response. Mine lately has been just to laugh while they are speaking, because all I can do is laugh at them, and I doubt they are aware that I am laughing at them and their viciousness. It’s all so ridiculous, except that so many others buy into their lies and hatefulness. Often my way of stopping the buck is to simply ignore the bully. Continue to weave my way past those who would halt me and towards though who want to love each other.
Sorry for the long post! My mind meanders and I hadn’t realized.
Wow, and I didn’t finish my first sentence. – Always so many questions about how it intertwines, with it ringing the doorbell of my natal chart. It certainly does reiterate what you have so eloquently shared with us today.
Silly me, haha, still laughing at myself…
And this helped me the most: “No need to get bogged down in shame or guilt; we all have shadow material here in the often-confusing spaces where sex and emotions intertwine. But if you feel the light of the Sun touching one of these spots in your awareness, see if you can come to an understanding with yourself about where it comes from and your desire not to repeat it …”
Thank you.
Beth — your comment was so fun to read, no worries about its length! I love how you’ve envisioned all of those planets getting their groove on with each other, complete with a little finger-wagging. Sounds like you have great images to work with. And that Saturn-SouthNode-Nessus configuration is an interesting one…definitely seems to speak of shoring up boundaries, or reining in the less-helpful patterns of being? Sounds like you have a good sense of how the energies are playing out.
Introspection, a great deal of “looking under the hood” – longtime patterns of mine, but every once in a while a little more effort is required to peel off another layer & see what lies beneath. Seems such a natural fit as we enter Scorpio season. Right now, I’m eyeing the probability that I’ve likely never been as easy or open in my partnership relationships as I’d thought I was. As of now, I’m 6+ years solo, & although I don’t expect anyone to come along & test my current learning, I’ve concluded it needs doing anyway.
Amanda, your choice of the “under the hood” metaphor – so very apt for the astrology you discussed here – had me laughing out loud. Let me explain. A few months ago, I bought a newer used car I thought would be more trouble-free, better on mileage, etc. What I’ve learned is that automakers either assume owners are idiots or they want us to be idiots because it’s profitable to them. Instead of gauges on the dashboard that tell current oil pressure, state of the electrical, coolant temperature, etc., this newer car has mysterious lighted symbols which can only be decoded by a technician – at considerable expense. I’m going to sell the darn thing.
So I’m driving my 26-yr-old truck. I can look under the hood to check things. As for the “under the hood” of my life, I’m happy to see the Sun-Nessus trine, the Venus-Jupiter conjunction, the light shed on Pluto (currently in my 7th). With Moon & venus in Scorpio in my natal chart, I like Scorpio season, except for the S.A.D. as the nights grow long.
Wonderful post today, Amanda – thank-you, & thanks also to others whose insightful comments also enrich my reflections.
“Right now, I’m eyeing the probability that I’ve likely never been as easy or open in my partnership relationships as I’d thought I was.”
Bette, I would say that all along this Mercury-in-Libra journey, especially during the retrograde and this post-retro shadow phase, I am really getting faced with how often I am passive in my relationship communication, or a little oblique or reluctant or incomplete…or a little late to pipe up. Thankfully, my partner is quite gentle and generous with his exhortations that I speak up sooner so that we can navigate the little bumps in the road sooner, easier and together (and with more fun).
I suspect that you can get some real mileage (pun intended) from your solo review in this realm. Also, there’s always close friendships and work relationships where these issues can crop up, get mirrored and hopefully learned from. Good luck!
And I don’t blame you for selling that dumbed-down newer car; sounds like the ol’ truck is much more user-friendly and happier to give up its information.
Thanks for the support & additional pointers, Amanda.
As for the vehicle issue, someone did the math around the real costs (in materials, some rare, for new technology, mining, transportation, manufacture, the fossil fuel consumption for all of that, & the plastics etc.) & determined that in fact a well-tuned relic of a vehicle is more responsible environmentally over time than any of the “smart” new ones. Here in a rural area, I need easy-to-fix wheels.
Speaking of looking under the hood and of actual mechanics:
http://petapixel.com/2015/10/22/these-portraits-of-auto-mechanics-are-a-homage-to-renaissance-paintings/
🙂
I was going to save this for a CREATE section in an upcoming Thursday issue, but it’s just too perfect not to share now, under this post.