SENTIENT TIMES April/May 2003

Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

April and May this year are pivotal months in the ongoing drama around war and peace, and issues of control and being controlled, individually and collectively. As Uranus glides through the first two degrees of Pisces, there are subtle but powerful indications that the forces for peace have new, creative, and spiritually-founded approaches that resonate with more and more people who are connecting and getting involved. The response will be even more massive as the electrical planet working through a water sign enlightens us in softer, finer, more compassionate ways about the immediacy of our work. If we’re open to it a flood of inspiration and spiritual joy is coming our way—otherwise we risk drowning in the ocean of escapism. The Water Planet is getting to be more so over the next 7 years with Uranus’ transit and the challenges this presents will require our brightest and most inventive solutions. The move for corporate control of the world’s water supplies can only fail as there will be massive rebellion against such utter fiendishness.

Humor emerges full force as we discover different strategies to live in the moment, stay in touch with our reality, yet enable ourselves and others to lighten up, attuning with that Great Cosmic Laugh. After all, Uranus reminds us, the light body requires just as much maintenance as the denser bodies, and we’re most out of synch with our Source when we’re too serious. Creating so much density makes it difficult for the spiritual essence to penetrate the mental, emotional and physical bodies. Swami Beyondananda’s “State of the Universe Address” reassures us: “Now this is the State of the Universe, and seen from that higher perspective, things look great! I am happy to report that the Universe continued to expand in 2002, and in fact, they actually had to let the Photon Belt out another notch. An expanding Universe means more jobs too, so we can expect a steady influx of aliens looking for work. Yep, the Universe just keeps purring in perfection, ever-changing as usual. The planets continue to harmoniously spin in their orbits, and except for the occasional case of asteroids, they just calmly go about their business.”

We have a major opportunity to forego demonizing and projecting onto others to assuage our internal discomfort with the uncertainties of life. Jupiter’s pivot to direct motion early in April gets us more in touch with our innate generosity, with the growing realization that pretty much all our concerns are the same, whether we’re espousing a war we believe to be liberating those who suffer most, or whether we see war as no solution at all. Even as the fanatics “in charge” gear up for more aggression (both eastern and western versions) divergent groups continue to connect across great oceans of differences to combine energies toward a common goal. This is the moment when we get to decide as a species whether we feel worthy of continuing our evolution on this planet or whether the “human experiment” has failed. With this in mind, it’s best if we release our attachment to this drama of control, and to the feeling we are being controlled.

Pluto’s retrograde passage helps us dive into the darkness ever deeper to examine, acknowledge and let go of this age old power struggle. What are our beliefs about reality and how responsible are we for creating it? Transformative events over the past few years are helping us tune into the real potential of each moment in our lives and to our true place in the larger scheme of things. Pluto’s message is about not placing too much importance on personal struggles without acknowledging our true Source.

Two eclipses in May resonate with the eclipses of last Novem-ber 20th and December 4th, with Transpluto, an alchemical, still hypothetical, cosmic body that visits our Solar System periodically, turning direct in Leo square the degree of the Lunar Eclipse of the 16th. Harsh reality and pure magic exist side by side, and begin to inter-penetrate. The energies of invention and resurrection push boldly to the front lines as Transpluto and Uranus face each other in opposition, intensifying the probability for extraordinary change this Spring.

New Moon on April Fool’s Day starts us off energetically with an inclination for acting on our passion, and the wide open, fearless perspective of the “Fool” archetype. Sun and Moon join at 12 degrees, 11:20 AM, forming a wide Grand Fire Trine with Pluto and stationing, extra potent, Jupiter. Mars, Aries’ ruling planet, is in down-to-earth Capricorn, a strong placement for the warrior, and intensified by his proximity to Chiron. Impulse and restlessness are tempered by a more responsible attitude, with well-considered, organized action. The warrior archetype is potentized for more practical strategies than those that lead to wasteful, tragic, wars. Chiron’s presence brings new dimensions and more respected players into the world political arena, along with traditional soldiers likely to take non-traditional positions toward military action. The struggle for more and more control over our lives continues, however, as the established “committee” continues to boldly overstep their boundaries. We must choose our actions well and not succumb to fear and doubt as Saturn and Pluto still oppose each other in a widening arc. Jupiter will move direct on the 3rd, as we refer back to what went on hold last Dec. 4th, and receive new inspiration and opportunity to go forward. Where is Jupiter pivoting in your chart now, at 8 degrees Leo? The Sabian Symbol, through Rudhyar’s interpretation, for Jupiter’s degree is: “Glass blowers shape beautiful vases with their controlled breathing.” This symbolism speaks to the spiritual dimensions of our commitment to what we create now. Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol for 12 degrees Aries reads: “A triangularly shaped flight of wild geese … (symbolizing) cosmic order, in contrast with the socio-political order within a nation which is represented by its ruler.”

Libra Full Moon peaks at 27 degrees on the 16th at 12:36 PM, PDT, with Sun and Moon squaring Mars in a tight and tense Cardinal T-Square. Conflicts come to a head as personal agendas clash with the needs of others.Those who see themselves in authority are prone to plow right through with their intended mission, yet meet with intense resistance. Mercury, in Taurus for most of April, all of May and part of June, makes a Fixed Grand cross with Juno in Scorpio, Neptune in Aquarius, and Jupiter in Leo, generating a lot of power that needs to be focused in order not to be pulled in different directions. Mercury in Taurus for this extended period keeps our attention on environmental matters, economic concerns, and uses of resources. An especially pow-erful argument against continuing and escalating the war in Iraq will be the outrageous waste of resources going into that nonsensical action. Women take leadership in the most effective arm of the Peace Movement, as the female perspective that has been devalued, ignored, even ridiculed for so long emerges with extra-ordinary power. Sabian symbol, according to Rudhyar, for 27 degrees Libra: “An airplane sails, high in the clear sky” an image of “transcendent realization.”

Mercury turns retrograde on the 26th of April at 21 degrees, going direct on the 20th of May, at 11 degrees. Where is this area of review in your chart? The usual cautions are recommended for this period, with all contractual moves on hold, and the need for special attention to our communications, travel arrangements, and verification of important information. A slower pace is needed as Mercury’s passage helps us attune more to the Earth and her sensual pleasures.

May 1st, May Day—ancient cross-quarter day, marking half way between Equinox and Solstice—is the next New Moon, the first of two this month. Sun and Moon join at 11 degrees Taurus along with Ceres and Mercury at 19 degrees, and the Moon’s North Node at 29 degrees. News that feeds our financial insecurities and fears arises with retro Mercury and Ceres quincunx Pluto. What are we holding onto that’s weighing us down? Time to divest in order to assure more prosperity. A new wave of, or information about, Crop Circles may be capturing our attention, as well as the need to allocate more of the world’s food and health resources to children and other powerless beings. Sun, Moon, Ceres, and Mercury square Jupiter and Mars-Neptune, while opposing Juno, another Fixed Grand Cross. It’s necessary to shift our priorities, focus on the best uses of resources, paying attention to more equitable distribution. “A woman watering flowers in her garden” is Rudhyar’s Sabian image, with the keyword “cultivation.” We are what we focus on, so we must take a good look at where we expend most of our mental energy, making sure we attend to those things we most value. This new cycle calls to us to get down to earth and acknowledge our commonalities.

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio on the 16th at 25 degrees echoes and further develops the themes of last November’s eclipse at 28 degrees Taurus. The Taurus-Scorpio axis is concerned with gathering resources, solidifying our position, and sharing or distributing resources. Refer back to last Fall and your most important area of work. Sun conjuncts Ceres and the North Node, opposing Moon, South Node, indicating a karmic turning point of great impact for humankind, involving our priorities in utilizing the Earth’s abundance. Neptune stations to retrograde motion for the next few months, making its influence especially strong in this lunation. If we’re not well focused confusion will take its toll at a time when it’s important to remain clear-headed, but intuitive insights are closer to the surface, and spirituality gaining more attention. Sabian Symbol for 25 degrees Scorpio is: “An x-ray photograph,” an image where “the mind’s eye penetrates through the superficialities of existence and perceives the framework,” the essence of all forms. (Rudhyar) The Fixed Grand Cross, with Mercury opposing Juno, square Neptune-Mars and Jupiter continues at this potent moment, concentrating energy in such a way that we must radically transform our material values or suffer more devastating consequences.

The Gemini Solar Eclipse on May 30th at 10 degrees, 9:20 PM, PDT, releases a great amount of energy around communication, manipulation of information (especially by the media), and how we perceive our reality. Sun and Moon widely oppose Pluto, exposing the darker side of news reporting and the ways we often skim the surface of reality by buying into the advertising package. Best use of the energy may be to have a good laugh on ourselves, recognizing our foibles, and move on to opening our consciousness to a more authentic, profound perception of reality.

Swami Beyondananda reminds us that: “Forty years ago President John F. Kennedy promised to have a man on the Moon the end of the 1960’s. Well, we have far exceeded that. Thanks to the so-called Patriot Act, George Bush can have a man on Uranus by the end of the week!” Sabian Symbol for Moon’s degree is: “An airplane performing a nose dive,” an image evoking “no possibility of half measures … man is committed irrevocably to success or failure.” Quite an ominous concept, yet we know in our bones that this is the moment of truth. Let’s be as light as we can about it. As the good Swami says “May you wake up laughing and leave laughter in your wake.”

Salina Rain, a professional Astrologer, offers readings and consultations, with a major focus on life purpose and navigating transitions gracefully. She is also at Master level of Reiki Jin-Kei-Do, an eastern lineage of energy healing, transmitted through the ancient Tibetan Buddhist line. Salina is available for astrological consultations and Reiki Jin-Kei-Do classes, (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525-1081, or astro@salinarain.com. Visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.

SENTIENT TIMES
PO Box 1330 Ashland, OR 97520
PHONE (541) 512-1084 • FAX (541) 512-1085
dmokma@jeffnet.org