SENTIENT TIMES June/July 2003

Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

June begins with the energy of the Gemini Solar Eclipse of May 31st. We are spinning with the amount and uses/abuses of information, and the possibility of shifting to another way of dealing with it all. Anything goes in this unsettled, shifting, and bizarre energy field. Communi-cations, education, and interaction with our immediate environment are concerns, with a challenge to be more inclusive in our thinking. There are a diversity of voices to be heard on all important issues. This will be a strong focus for the beginning of this month.

Saturn’s in the last degree of Gemini at June’s inception, completing its two and a half year cycle through the sign of communications and transportation systems and inter-disciplinary collaborations. Responsibility is one of Saturn’s most important keywords, as we look to the major sources of our information with an eye to accountability. With the end of this re-structuring of ideas and systems cycle, it’s clear that conservatism and control co-exist with a sharper awareness of the need for diversity and inclusiveness. Saturn brings on what we have ourselves put into motion, so whatever outcomes we’re experiencing now are the results of our past input or neglect thereof. On the 3rd Saturn enters Cancer, sign of home, family, caretaking, nourishment, and Sun sign for America. During this next two and a half year period this country, and our leaders, will be held accountable for their actions in the global scheme of things, as we reap karma from actions of the past. Women and their offspring are very much a focus in this period of domestic reorganization, individually and collectively. Orwellian scenarios co-exist along with increasing awareness of the Mystery and Magic of which we are made.

Jupiter opposes Neptune, exact the 2nd, blurring our good judgment with overly extravagant scenarios, massive yearnings and unfounded dreams. It’s best to hold off on really important decisions until mid-June, even with Mercury having turned direct on May 20th. We just can’t seem to do anything that’s definitive or not excessive for a while, but can certainly use this time to stretch our imaginations. Envisioning a better future is a noble cause here, especially since reality has become particularly malleable and unreliable, and creating new possibilities is healthier and more effective than pure escapism. Dive into the Great Mystery with gusto and an open heart, just don’t get lost without navigational tools.

Uranus is slowing way down to pivot to retrograde motion on June 7th, as cosmic ambassadors Neptune and Pluto already have. The emphasis here is paramount on the unique and bizarre, with creatures of all colors, stripes, and noise-making capacity running wild. A wonderful time for innovative music and art, crop circle and other mysterious forms of communication, and massive chaos that can be magical and/or scary.

Full Moon at 23 degrees Sagittarius on the 14th is joined by Pluto, with Mars sneaking up on electrical Uranus, freshly positioned in a water sign, and both highly energetic planets trining Saturn and the Sun, with more excitement as we experience shocks from outrageously independent actions and self-expression, brought more to earth by Saturn’s supportive role. We’re learning the rules and requirements of true freedom, and that it’s not just for one group of people. Over-stimulation is an obvious feature, with a need to breathe, ground and center before we go off on a wild tangent. Pluto pushes the hidden emotions, motives and outworn beliefs to the surface to be dealt with or to cause us self-inflicted torture. Sabian Symbol, according to Rudhyar, for the Moon’s degree is: “A group of immigrants as they fulfill the requirements of entrance into the new country … As we pass any threshold leading to a new realm of existence we have to meet certain requirements to new ways of life—in action, thought and feeling.” Meditation is crucial for smoothing the transition into a higher frequency and more light-infused realm of evolutionary shifts. Like exercising our muscles, we need to exercise our light bodies to receive and incorporate more cosmic energy, and this can only be done with frequent retreats from our “everyday reality.”

Jupiter has begun an auspicious trine with Pluto, meanwhile, which will perfect July 1st. This infuses from mid-June through the 1st week of July with a huge regenerative energy that boosts our optimism with unstoppable force. As more of us choose to believe in the highest possibilities for the good of all, on an ongoing basis, we will be creating a stronger probability.

Mars enters Pisces on the 16th, most significant because the planet of action will remain in the boundaryless water sign for a massive six month period rather than its usual six weeks. This greatly effects the areas of directed action, explorations, and belligerence, by the warrior’s shift into the more passive and connected female realm, becoming more of the warrior for peace and compassion. There’s a meandering path to follow to get to where we’re going in this half of 2003.

Solstice arrives the 21st as the Sun enters 00 degrees Cancer at 12:11pm PDT, a profoundly sacred moment, when it’s best for us to step out of our normal roles and merge with the Divine in one way or another. Aries Moon squares Sun-Saturn, Mars and Uranus are getting closer, and Venus-Mercury pair up in Gemini in an opposition to Pluto. Speeding up to slow down and vice versa make this interesting, with the added advantage of finding hidden treasure wherever we bother to look, especially if it’s deep within. Socializing looks happy if we’re gathering around important issues, projects, in some way taking into account the darker side of reality. Music and poetry flow freely as do compassionate acts.

The 24th, another incredibly intense, active day, brings the perfection of multiple aspects. Sun joins Saturn, both trine Uranus, Venus opposes Pluto, Sun trines Mars. Courage and commitment, unwavering honesty in love, and opening up to radical changes in society, are all converging in one, out-of-sight, earth-shaking day.

New Moon comes in on the 29th at 8 degrees Cancer, 11:39am PDT, with Mercury just having entered the cardinal water sign to form a 4 planet line-up: Sun, Moon, Saturn, Mercury, all trine Mars-Uranus in Pisces. This lunation brings a tidal wave of focus and potential into the emotional realms of home, family, roots, food and sense of security. What a magnificent shift from so much masculine energy to so much feminine, from which we’ve been all but starved! Of course we need the balance, and we have that opportunity now to sink back into the sea of existence, creating more nurturing environments and relationships. Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol for the degree of Sun and Moon: “A group of rabbits dressed in human clothes walk as if on parade; the tendency in all forms of life to imitate higher forms as a stimulus to growth.” This symbol speaks of the extremely important learning process we’re in as we make a shift in our collective experience of being human. We’re likely to be reaping the rewards or consequences of past choices, especially in our familial connections, both personal and national, our domestic situations and farming practices. Learning from our mistakes is implied and of utmost significance. Ancestors are particularly highlighted, as is the need to bypass sentimentality and insular clan affiliations for a more inclusive experience of community.

Jupiter’s trine with Pluto becomes exact as July begins, along with Mercury trine Mars, a highly energetic start. Inspiration, creativity, the courage to act according to our most cherished beliefs, and a renewed clarity characterize early July. The national psyche is under the microscope, exposed in all its glory, idiosyncrasies and ego/ethno-centrism. We can be lovable and generous, arrogant and aggressively selfish as a national entity. And as we approach both the nation’s Birthday and that of the current president, we experience the full thrust of the rest of the world’s love/hate relationship with us. G.W. will have a particularly challenging year ahead, with tremendous opposition, part of his own karmic consequences.

Full Moon at 21 degrees Capricorn at 12:21pm PDT on the 13th is joined by maverick Chiron, opposing Sun and Venus, with Pluto quincunx the Sun, Jupiter quincunx the Moon. Two more tension-producing quincunxes are formed between Neptune and Venus and Uranus and Mercury. Major and multiple adjustments are in the works here, with the tensions reaching unbearable proportions if we’re not doing our work of re-alignments. On our agenda will be clearing away old ego attachments, including beliefs that perpetuate the old paradigm of one group being superior to another; more conservative, responsible uses of limited resources; re-thinking our social policies with attention to care of the most vulnerable among us; cultivating the intuitive, right brain functions to bring more balance into our problem-solving processes, along with listening to the needs of all involved. Chiron’s presence adds richer dimensions of possibilities for healing our gaping wounds, as it emphasizes the painful splits we’ve created in ourselves and in our world. This healer/teacher supports focus and commitment in the areas of greatest need, and will guide us unerringly if we pay attention and persist. Sabian Symbol for Moon’s degree is: “A relay race … group performance stressed with dynamic interchange.” There is so much going on here we can only take care of what needs our attention in the moment. Questions arise here about the wisdom of Western emphasis on individual achievement and idolizing one person over others.

July 22nd Sun enters Leo, its own sign, for a glorious month of creative, playful, heart-centered solar energy field. The 28th marks the Leo New Moon at 11:53pm PDT, with Mercury and Venus joining the lionine line-up, along with Jupiter. That’s a ton of self-indulgent, out-for-fun, ego-tripping energy with the possibility of keeping it all to ourselves, or sharing the bounty generously and with an open heart. This New Moon presents a new cycle, one that requires us to move to a higher octave of expression in order to surpass the old habits. Obsession with icons, celebrities, money and material success must give way to a more authentically heart-centered approach both individually and culturally. Mars has slowed way down as it gets ready to pivot retrograde right after the New Moon, intensifying the warrior’s influence and awakening us more to the necessity for the “spiritual warrior” archetype. Add to this a conjunction with Uranus, both in quincunx aspect to the Sun and Moon, and we have a dynamic situation ripe with possibilities for spiritual revolution in early stages of unfolding. Neptune’s opposition to the lunation assures an inclusive perspective, one that embraces all forms of life unconditionally. Mars’ retro motion until September 27th cautions us to take a break with projects, adopting a more fluid, comfortable with uncertainty, attitude. If we push for results we’ll be disappointed, if we go with the flow we’ll ultimately be relaxed and on target. Meanwhile shift gears, explore the realm of water whether floating in the river, surfing the ocean, walking the beach, or diving into the uncharted waters of the deep psyche, meditating on the mysteries of existence.

Salina Rain is a professional Astrologer 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 readings and 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
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