By Amanda Painter

How are you feeling now that we’ve exited The Eclipse Zone? Or, perhaps I should ask: how are you thinking, and what are you thinking (and communicating) about? I ask, because this morning Mercury leaves Capricorn and enters Aquarius — which means that it steps into the position the Sun just held during the lunar eclipse that began the week.

Collection of heart-shaped rocks outside the window, electronics collection inside the window; Orkney, Scotland. Photo by Amanda Painter.

Not only does this ring the bell of the eclipse degree, it also activates all the same slow-moving minor planets and points that were part of the eclipse aspect pattern (you can review them here).

Are you noticing a more intellectual angle to a subject that was speaking to you on a more emotional or unconscious level a few days ago, or which you found yourself expressing outwardly in some other way? I don’t know for sure that this is how Mercury’s activation of the eclipse territory will manifest, but it’s an idea worth playing with today.

That said, note that Mercury is moving fairly quickly right now; it’s going to breeze through the eclipse degree over the course of today. Taking notes on what enters your awareness might be useful.

We also have a few elements in the astrological landscape that appear to offer useful energy for moving forward with whatever the eclipses brought into view. For one, Mars in Aries is making a trine to Jupiter in Sagittarius (exact tomorrow).

Note that this is a harmonious aspect between planets that are in signs they rule; neither planet is ‘debilitated’ in its expression in any way. This should make the energy easier to access; it also could mean that it might be especially easy to ‘overdo’ things — particularly since both Mars and Jupiter are known for their abundantly expressive energy.

Mainly, however, as long as you’re not in a delicate situation and you’re not the type to go overboard as a matter of habit, this aspect looks really useful as far as trines go. (Squares, with their inner tension, tend to indicate significant action more often.) Mars and Jupiter working in concert suggest this is a great day for almost any activity, and offers extra energy. If you’re currently dealing with an injury, major depression or other pointedly limiting or upsetting factors, please remember that this will look and feel different compared to when you’re not — but it could still come though as a nice little ‘boost’.

What might help your growth right now? According to astrologer Robert Hand, those activities are supported by Mars-Jupiter trines, along with reasonable risks (as in, you can’t foresee the outcome, but it’s not outright dangerous) and business decisions, since you may be able to see more of the full picture. Can you do something physical today? How about something that relates to your eclipse intentions or growth objectives that you identified with the eclipses?

Chiming in on a similar vibration, Ceres enters Sagittarius tomorrow at 1:05 pm EST Friday (18:04:52 UTC). From what I’ve read, this tends to be a less emotionally nurturing natal placement for Ceres. Instead, there’s more of a tendency to nurture by sharing wisdom, adventure and knowledge, and by encouraging optimism in others. So, it sounds more like a mentoring and cheerleading Ceres — important roles, along with the other kinds of caring-for and feeding that we can offer others.

In the U.S. at least, I get the feeling that more and more people are recognizing the value of formal non-parent mentor-mentee relationships, especially for teens and young adults, and for later-life adults changing careers. I’ll be curious to see if that topic becomes more prominent this year, particularly as a ‘social cause’ or as a facet of other social issues.

Ceres in Sagittarius also appears to suggest that you yourself may feel more nurtured and fed if you have freedom to explore and adventure in the coming months. Obviously plenty of other astrology is going to affect that sensation, and you may be predisposed to feel it a lot or hardly at all. But you’ll have until mid-November of this year (when Ceres enters Capricorn) to play with the themes and test out the theory.

Finally, as we approach Sunday’s last quarter Moon — which will be the first lunar phase post-eclipse — the Aquarius Sun makes a square to the minor planet Albion (previously referred to as 1992 QB1) in Taurus. Eric has noted previously the role Albion/QB1 can have in situations where we cross a threshold from one phase of life experience to another. Could this square represent a nudge or urge to cross an inner threshold related to Monday’s Leo New Moon and total lunar eclipse?

Perhaps; whether it might feel like an eager first step into a room you’ve never entered before, or more like that moment when you turn to close a door behind you — but before you turn around to fully take in what’s there — I can’t say. If you notice a sensation like either of those, let me know. We cross thresholds in our lives all the time, but often do not recognize it when it’s happening. Sometimes we can feel it in the moment — and those moments are informative.

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves — audio now available for instant access. See more information here. If you’re looking for individual signs, order here.