Celestial Notebook Overview February 2009

‘A man must consider what rich realm he abdicates when he becomes a conformist.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson

For the first three weeks of February the Sun (), representing both our ego and our divine essence, is in the sign of Aquarius (). The days are getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere and Aquarius represents the promise and potency of increasing light, hope and vision.

As the eleventh sign in an archetypal cycle of twelve, Aquarius represents the threshold of individuation where we act on our own internalised sense of authority. Trust your intuition, know that there is a Greater Intelligence underwriting life and allow your self to surrender to the Divine, and you will effortlessly exercise you inner authority.

Once you are able to surrender yourself in hope and trust to a higher Source of wisdom, you open a passageway for a deeper process of empowerment.

The mythological figure that best explains Aquarius is Prometheus who, out of love and compassion for the human race, defied the gods and stole their fire (the ability to create) to give to humankind. His subsequent punishment for his selfless act symbolises that nonconformity and seeking to improve the human condition often exact a price. (Zeus punished him for his crime by having him bound to a rock while an eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back and eaten again the next day.)

By 14 February there are no less than seven celestial bodies as well as the North Node of the Moon lined up in Aquarius (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Juno, Chiron, Neptune and the Sun). This is the biggest line-up of planets in Aquarius since the early 1960’s and wherever Aquarius is located in your chart is where you will be taking radical responsibility for your life. It is time to align yourself with your most deeply felt aspirations and intentions. No holds barred - consider radical ideas, alternative models and expanded coalitions.

This is not the time to be invisible, it is a time to stand firm when your freedom is challenged. Go beyond your social and cultural conditioning; ask yourself with merciless honesty, ‘what is true for me?’ As you get in touch with your inner truth you may feel like an exile as your friendships, your relationships, your very hopes and goals come under scrutiny.

The secret is to understand the true meaning of interdependence: to live your own life, to give and receive from your centre. It is time to take a good look at where you are not receiving; this is where you are not giving of yourself as you may be living someone else’s life.

On 26 January there was a solar eclipse at 6° 30’ Aquarius (see the Overview for January for more detail). The accompanying lunar eclipse occurs on 9 February at 20° 59’ Leo. Full Moons are energising enough, eclipses bring even greater intensity: during a lunar eclipse, the Full Moon slowly dims as it moves through the earth’s shadow. This temporary blockage of light arouses what has been in the dark. What are we afraid of? What do we truly want – for ourselves and for our world? On 9 February 1990 there was a lunar eclipse at the same degree. What was important in your life back then? What is calling you now?

Saturn (), The Preserver, opposes Uranus (), The Awakener, and the ruler of Aquarius; their energies are naturally at odds and now they are in opposition too (20° Virgo-Pisces -). This happens every 40 years.

The first time these planets were in exact opposition was on 4 November 2008 – the day of the presidential election in USA – and McCain and Obama are textbook examples of Saturn and Uranus – the old and the new. The opposition again becomes exact on 5 February.

Saturn is the last of the visible planets and the Saturn part of you is the one that recognizes her/his ability to create form and structure, to organize, to be disciplined and orderly. Time is an inherent part of our physical reality and as the Lord of Time, Saturn reminds us that life is fleeting and that we need to get on with fulfilling our purpose.

Uranus was only discovered in 1781 and is associated with experiences that urge us to be free from the shackles of the moral responsibility that Saturn enforces - to find our own personal and individual liberty in pursuit of an ideal life.

To integrate the energies of these two old enemies means that you need to take time out to examine your entire existence and to decide where your structure (Saturn) does not allow you to be true to your self (Uranus). Where you need to make changes to the inner and outer structure of your life?

This is the perfect time to see where the outworn roles you play are exhausting you without bringing you any reward emotionally, physically and spiritually. You may be overwhelmed by the credit crunch, the recession and global warming, which makes it an excellent time to cultivate faith in the natural flow of life. To achieve inner peace and joy is more important - or at least as important - as having an outstanding career, oodles of money or whatever you viewed as the ultimate outer achievement.

Chiron and Neptune will conjunct at 26° 13’ Aquarius in February 2010. During 2009, Jupiter, The God of Expansion, which moves faster than either of them, will shuttle back and forth between them no less than six times connecting with both of them, linking their energy. This is a very rare triple conjunction and the best way to read this cosmic message is to see where these three planets are in your chart, which houses they rule and how you can utilise their influence best.

Chiron () is a dwarf planet associated with healing and insight; its process supports us in times of transition enabling us to integrate change.

Neptune () depicts a subtle, often confusing, inner unfolding which facilitates the opening of the heart of compassion.

Jupiter () is the bestower of blessings and his expansive nature accepts that he is part of a greater whole. Jupiter in Aquarius is an independent servant and transformer of humanity as he knows that nobody is free until all are free.

The Sabian symbol for the degree where these three planets conjunct or station is: An ancient pottery bowl filled with fresh violets, indicating that we are being urged to once again value simplicity, humility and delicacy of feeling.

Above all we are being reminded that everything in the world of form has a beginning, a middle and end, flowering and fading like the violets.......