Saturn Squares Neptune

2015 & 2016

As 2014 drew to a close, I glanced nervously at the 90° angle between Saturn and Neptune, a square that provokes the contradictory qualities of these two planets. I worry that I am consistently the bearer of bad news but it is the challenging planetary aspects that are developmental, that provoke progress, that make a difference, they are the ones that demand examination. And so it is that I mostly write about the tough stuff.

Any 90° angle between two planets causes friction and tension that shows up in daily life as obstacles and difficulties, not to be spitefully problematic or deliberately contrary, rather to propel us out of complacency and inertia. It stimulates action. It breaks through lethargy. It breaks down resistance. It makes things happen. It builds and shapes our world.

All through 2015 and 2016 Saturn and Neptune will move in and out of the square aspect. It is well worth scrutinising previous time periods when these two giants were 90° apart on the zodiacal belt.

·       The end of 1978 + all through 1979 & 1980

·       All through 1998 & 1999 + the beginning of 2000

By carefully examining the events that occurred during the abovementioned years in relation to the influences I shall do my best to interpret, hopefully we shall have a better feel for the themes underpinning our lives during 2015 and 2016. Remember that each month the new and full moons will trigger components of the bigger themes.

Saturn and Neptune are by nature vastly different and it is going to be difficult to manage their contradictory forces. Structures built over many years that support knowledge & personal beliefs are weakened with doubt. Truth upon which we built our lives becomes shaky. Understanding that shaped our characters becomes clouded with confusion. Trust that was built into relationships, teeters on wobbly legs. Belief in a life path or career, wavers. Uncertainty creeps into the outer edges of our spiritual beliefs (or non-beliefs), putting what we have learnt about ourselves and life on earth into question.

Saturn's job is to makes us face, with brutal honesty, that which is vulnerable – specifically the weak part of ourselves symbolised by Neptune:

·       Self-defeating behaviour

·       Sabotaging tendencies

·       Denial

·       Deception – of self & others

·       Victim / victimising behaviour

·       Addiction

·       Delusion

·       Betrayal

Neptune’s task is to dissolve that which is weak – specifically the part of ourselves symbolised by Saturn:

·       Dissolves life structures erected out of guilt, fear or obligation

·       Dissolves limitation

·       Dissolves restrictive boundaries or inappropriate ones that are no longer supportive

·       Dissolves misplaced responsibilities

·       Dissolves structures that have become too frail to hold up all we have built in our lives

·       Dissolves patterns rooted in fear

·       Dissolves undermined authority

We are forced to face what we have neglected. Neglect through avoidance or justified distractions, is neglect, whichever way we package it. Responsibilities that were adroitly side-stepped in the past, refuse to be ignored. Lies and secrets pop up and we cringe with embarrassment or turn away in shame. One reaction could be vehement denial but Saturn’s persistent push for the truth makes us squirm until we squarely face the realities before us. If we admit to mistakes or dishonest behaviour, we find inspiration to reshape the harsh reality.

This square whips up crises after crises until we see the truth. It is how we behave in the crises that reveals who we really are. When challenged, our true nature emerges and we stand naked in the truth, with integrity and honour, only of course if that is what we choose. There is always a risk of perpetuating self-deception, betrayal and denial.

With time, we become accustomed to the tricky forces of the Saturn/Neptune square and we get the hang of turning the challenges into something seriously worthwhile, because the purpose of enduring this 90° angle is to overcome undermining weakness, to build stronger and more supportive life structures and to turn dreams into reality.

Saturn restructures, strengthens and builds the parts of ourselves symbolised by Neptune:

·       Strengthens creative ability

·       Builds inspiration

·       Strengthens and makes the best use of talent

·       Builds a stronger connection with the true self

·       Makes dreams come true

·       Makes the best use of the imagination and turns fantasy into reality

Neptune inspires the parts of ourselves symbolised by Saturn and helps us to creatively make the best use of these qualities:

·       Inspires commitment

·       Inspires taking responsibility

·       Inspires the building of healthy supportive boundaries

·       Inspires the defining of goals

·       Inspires the building of supportive relationship structures

·       Inspires the building of a material security

·       Inspires career advancement

In 2006 I wrote an article on the Saturn/Neptune opposition. Research led me to discover that John Lennon, during the previous opposition in 1971, released his song ‘Imagine’. I included the lyrics in that article because it perfectly symbolised an encounter between Neptune and Saturn.

When I looked back at what happened in the world during the previous Saturn/Neptune squares, I discovered John Lennon was shot dead in 1980. So once again I end my article with the words of this musical master.

 IMAGINE

Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy of you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

 

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

 

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

 

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

 

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

 

JOHN LENNON

Jogging the Memory

Full Moon – 5^th January 2015 04h54 (GMT) 

Apologies for skipping the last full moon. I gave every minute of my awake time to a crazy busy season which has now slowed to a gentle pace. As we take the first few steps into 2015, in fact, a mere five days into the year, we discover a full moon standing strong in a Cardinal Grand Cross.

    Early this morning, in the first rays of sunlight, a moment with a fish eagle in the Salt River Cove inspired the writing of this blog. So I wound my way up the pass to put thought to paper on this strong and influential full moon.
    Before tackling the significance of the Grand Cross, I shall first look at the relevance of its position in the zodiacal sign of Cancer, the sign it rules with great dignity. A powerful force is felt with profound intensity, a force to build inner strength and security. This force surges through our beings, eliminating insecurity and fear and inspires determination to resourcefully solve personal problems.
    The brightly lit moon brings renewed understanding of home & family matters and with it an instinctual sense of belonging – to a place and/or to the people in our lives. Over-sensitivity and imagined fear cause anxiety and a turbulent mind. Rejection or fear of it lurks in shadowy crevices and undermines the construction of inner security. However, courage drawn from the most unlikely place, allows us to face the unbearable and admit to weakness. Then we find strength in vulnerability.
    Should things get tough, it would be wise to find a sanctuary, a place to rebuild the broken parts of our life, to restore belief after the damage caused by dysfunctional patterns. In this haven we heal the wounds caused by conflict. Then we emerge with strength and the knowledge of how to proceed, how to build, brick by brick, a more secure personal world. When ready we step not just out of the sanctuary but right out of the comfort zone and into unknown territory that holds the promise of adventure and with it huge personal growth.

The Cardinal Grand Cross / Square

Now to look at the importance of the full moon in one corner of the Grand Square, a complicated picture to be sure, one of crises that leads not to failure but to eventual success.

    This planetary configuration installs inner power and amazing strength of will to achieve something great. The achievement usually follows tremendous inner tension, the carrying of a massive burden, facing repeated mistakes and general mayhem. The best way to harness its wayward energies is to carefully find the middle of the Square – a place of calm the centre of a personal world. Instead of dashing desperately to find answers to seemingly unsolvable problems, find the quiet spot and draw the answers in. Truth will flow into the square, not necessarily a comfortable truth, even brutal at times but honest nonetheless. It is in this truth that the way out the Grand Square is found.

The Four Corners

Corner One – occupied by Uranus in Aries

An unusual opportunity to break free from dependence and pioneer a better way forward. Personal needs are asserted differently and a fresh start is made.

Corner Two – occupied by the moon in Cancer   

We build inner strength to support a new vision that better fulfils personal needs. We know with certainty where on the earth our feet walk best and discover the people to whom we belong. We build loyalty.

Corner Three – occupied by the north node of the moon in Libra

After confronting difficult issues, new grounds for relationship are established. The art of balance and healthy compromise is practiced. New connections are pursued – personal and business.

Corner Four – occupied by the Sun and Pluto in Capricorn

We re-build and we re-structure the foundations of our personal and career goals. We bring to an end the out-lived parts of our lives and we birth new ones. We construct a new way, one that has a better chance of success. We re-direct existing projects. We find a new position and construct the appropriate boundaries to protect and support that position.

The full moon’s task in the Grand Square is to jog a memory, to remind us that a year or two back we endured the agony of loss to create a new vision, a new path and a better way to live life. Let us not forget how we struggled through months, even years of Yods and Grand Crosses to let go of people and jobs and patterns and things and how we slowly built the foundations to support a different life path.

    We are reminded of what is important, of what we have to focus on to achieve our goals. We are reminded of who we intrinsically are, which relationships are valid, the place to which we belong and which career or life path is best to follow.

With reluctant love for the Grand Cross,
Sharron.

 

An Exulted Moment in Time

Full Moon – 6^th November 2014 23h22 (GMT)

 

I was going to skip writing a blog on November’s full moon, not because it is torrid or difficult, it just had not caught my attention. Admittedly I have been busy in my gorgeous newly expanded studio making products, preparing for season and lost in story (audio books). Then last night, Raine, a friend who avidly follows my blogs and always puts the monthly influences to good use, sent a What’s App reminding me it is full moon time and as yet there is no sign of my blog. It was in no way demanding rather sent with a teasing tone but nonetheless was still a hint, which I intended to ignore.

    But then just before ensconcing myself in story and product-making for the day, I popped down to my office to tackle a bit of admin and took a peek at today’s full moon. Not minutes past before my pencil was scribbling down thoughts and so thanks to Raine, November’s full moon will be blogged.

    The moon is full in Taurus, a place on the zodiac (imaginary band around the earth) that she absolutely loves to visit, a place where her qualities are beautifully expressed, a time when the light of the sun reflects all possibility for emotional and financial security.

    This particular Taurus full moon encourages us to build further on what we had considered complete. It inspires adding further value to what was thought to be enough. All at once we see how to make profit out of very little, we see how planting a few seeds grows a whole season of food in the veggie garden. When resources seem used up, we find new ones, better ideas, and new potential.

    There will be moments of feeling out of sorts, feeling out of place in the world, yet it is from this scratchy, slightly insecure place that something meaningful can be achieved. In fact, it cannot be achieved without feeling out of place or that sense of not fitting in or belonging. Gallant ideas bring success.

    Now let’s look at the problematic side of this full moon’s influence. It is going to highlight where we are stuck, probably due to a stubborn refusal to alter a position or change a situation, probably because it reeks of fear or possibly because we are trapped in either emotional insecurity, financial insecurity or both.

    There is another element to consider, one offered by Saturn and a star called Agena. It indicates the likelihood of learning something profound and of immense value through rather painful circumstances. Why, oh why, is it pain that prompts the most powerful form learning? Perhaps it is the force of anguish that breaks down obstinacy, unsettles inflexibility and punches stubbornness on the nose. Whatever the shape of the pain, it could very well be the force needed to shift the stuckness (probably no such word but it sounds so good).

    But pain is not the only option on offer, if the will is strong enough to let go of bull-headed stubbornness or possessive clinging to an idea or situation, it is possible to simply float up onto a cloud and from this vantage point, not only is the view spectacular, but we see what is on the other side of the mountain. We see what lies beyond the barriers that have caused endless frustration. We see where to go next and how to get there. We see the way around obstacles or through a maze of complex problems.

    It is from the elevated position that we clearly see what needs to be eliminated (a habit, person or situation) because it is precisely the habit, person or situation that stands in the way of expansion and perpetuates stuckness.

Threats to Successful Growth and Profitable Gain:

·       Stubborn refusal to budge

·       Ruthless and cruel self-serving actions

·       Falling prey to unconscious patterns – victimized

·       Disempowered by old habits

·       Reckless misuse of personal influence

This full moon lights up the dark night and the way to emotional and or financial security.

With love and appreciation for the silvery light of the moon,

Sharron.  

Walking the Tight Rope

Full Moon – 8^th October 2014 10h52 (GMT)

Total Eclipse of the Moon

Ordinarily we are not able to see the earth’s shadow because there is nothing for it to be cast upon and it falls away into deep space. However, during a lunar eclipse, the moon positions itself perfectly between the earth and the sun and it is at this time (two or three times a year) that our shadow darkens the moon.

The lunar eclipse on the 8^th October 2014 turns our attention away from what we know about ourselves and our relationships. It turns our heads to face the earth’s shadow and in this shadow land we see repressed personal needs, repressed anger, and repressed self-assertion. Even if we’d prefer not to look at inappropriate personal behaviour born out of these repressions, unavoidable circumstances will provide the occasion wherein we review ourselves and our relationships. We see with alarming clarity where we stand within our partnerships.

The totally eclipsed moon drags the imbalances between self and others into view. In fact, imbalance in all areas of life is visible in the shadowland:

·       Between work and play

·       Within the family

·       Within love relationships

·       Within working associations

·       Within friendships

·       Between self and all others

·       Between giving and receiving

·       Within eating habits / dietary plans

·       Between busy time and quiet time

 

The influence of the lunar eclipse stirs the kind of passion and creative / sexual tension that holds relationship together. It evokes courage to speak up and ask for what we need, to boldly confront imbalances and initiate proper action, respectfully and with grace, to fulfil personal wishes and restore balance wherever it is required.

We learn afresh when to step forward and when to stand still. Correcting an imbalance within a relationship does not always require pushy demands because sometimes it is better to quietly allow the other person the chance to contribute in the way they can and not in the way we expect.

However, repressed anger could be triggered as a necessary force to break an impasse or an impossibly out-of-balance scenario.  

Alongside the eclipse is a rather gorgeous influence causing the two or three months affected by the eclipse’s influence to be awash with opportunities for huge fun, romance and also gain within business. The promotion of anything new & inventive leads us into the next stage of our future with idealism and foresight. We are to look ahead to new possibilities with courage, determination and focus, even when the adversity of the past tugs from behind and threatens to destroy the dreams of the future. It is time to dig deep and draw from the well of personal talent and to dare to pioneer ways of expressing this talent.     

Mostly the strength of the eclipse is felt in the zone of relationships and it sparks the desire for balance. We learn the art of tight-rope walking, holding the balancing pole of confronting & compromising, of giving and receiving, of demanding & responding, of accepting & rejecting, of communicating & listening as we cross the rope towards those with whom we are suspended in relationship.

With love for the dazzling and breath-taking walk across a tight-rope,

Sharron.

Stories of Stars & Life

Full Moon – 10^th August 2014 20h10 (GMT)

Vive La Difference 

Terribly late, I know, to be writing about the full moon of the 10^th August, but it has totally wrecked my peaceful morning walks in the forest, so write about it I must. Perhaps it is the force of the super moon, perhaps it is the magic of an Aquarian moon or maybe it is its potent strength to separate and split life apart that has driven me to belatedly put pen to paper.

Because this super full moon fell within the enormously favourable new moon cycle, I assumed the gorgeously positive side of its influence would skip and dance through the shadowland and we would bathe confidently in its magical light. I may have been a little over-optimistic. This full moon certainly has caused anxiety levels to spike. I shall carefully examine each layer of influence, first presenting the qualities that cause anguish and ending with its enchanting influence.

The Revolution

Depending on a personal position, the opportunity to revolutionise a stagnant part of our lives, is welcomed or resisted. There is an urgency to reform a habit, a fear or a set of circumstances that imprison us mentally, emotionally or physically. However, one response to the urgency could be outright resistance and the stubborn clinging to an old promise, a situation that symbolises security or possibly even a person. The resistance invites ruthless and radical change that is beyond personal control.

Split Asunder

Naturally, if we have made the necessary changes during the course of the last few years (under the bombardment of Yods & Grand Squares) it is easy to tweak the adjustments encouraged by the Aquarian full moon. But if we ignore the call to change and continue to reject the opportunities to break free from limiting mind-sets or to find ways to disentangle from limiting circumstances, this super moon will have a fine time breaking us apart from that which we refuse to (or perhaps simply cannot) change. Separation is painful.
    Mental, emotional and material shifts are essential.  If it the mind that refuses to change and remains stuck in fear, then it is the mind that splits apart. If it is the heart that refuses to open to love, then it is the heart that breaks. If we cannot change our dependant relationship with material possessions / finances, then we are radically separated from these things.

Freedom
One could look at this full moon as the promoter of freedom, a chance to be free of something from the past - a pattern, a family drama, trauma or the inability to be the king or queen of our personal worlds. It is a chance to be free of whatever prevents us from being uniquely us. We break out of blindness, the failure to recognise special qualities, the kind of stuff that makes different and unique.

Vive la Difference

A cycle that encourages the pricelessness of differentness (if there is such a word), one that highlights the differences between cultures, countries, families and friends. It is said that diversity in nature is essential for the animal and plant kingdoms to thrive. The full moon lights up the crevices of our memories to remind us to value the similarities, the heart-warming points of connection and to respect the differences within our relationships and communities, so that we, the human race can thrive.

Magic

I do so love the notion that magic is alive and well in life. Imagine a world without fairies, Father Christmas and mythical creatures of the imagination. Seriously though, the light of the full moon illuminates the potential of the future. It encourages us to believe in magic and the concept that anything is possible.

How we navigate the territory of this cycle is a matter of choice. We can either resist reform with all our might (and remain stuck in nasty judgements, finger-pointing and tiresome blaming) or we can ride the natural evolutionary thrust of this powerful full moon.

With love for the excitement of change,

Sharron.

Jupiter and the Sun Hold Hands

An Inspired Union

To listen to the blog click on the orange play button below
or
read the blog beneath the sound file
 

 

 

Back in December 2013, I specifically chose the new moon of the 26^th / 27^th July 2014 to re-launch the Candylwood Online Book & Chocolate shop. I picked this auspicious day because of the powerful creative force surging through a plethora of favourable planetary influences. The date of this gorgeous New Moon - 26th July, 2014 at 22h43 (GMT).

     A few days before the New Moon, and just moments before the Sun entered its very own kingdom of Leo, it held hands with the planet of abundance, growth, expansion, understanding, truth, generosity of spirit and beneficial gain – the magnificent Jupiter. Together they crossed the threshold of Leo to join the Moon in her moment of newness. A pretty picture indeed, one that marks a cycle of experiences in which we discover the following qualities:

 

·       The bringer of warmth and love to relationships, families, personal & work situations.

·       Ability to step beyond all that is known and comfortable into unfamiliar terrain with trust and the thrill of adventure.

·       Bursting with the chance to stretch into a bigger version of ourselves.

·       Discover how to express love in ways not voiced before and move relationships onto an entirely new level.  

·       A positive, inspired force of life and the ability to express this force in an expansive way in matters of personal importance.

·       This cycle is great for choosing a specific task / dream / project – focus on it, dream about it, love it, visualise its possibilities and then become totally immersed in it, take action and drive it into life. Think it, feel it, and do it as much as possible during the next year.

·       Use fire, the element of passion and love to creatively resolve problems, cleanse the unsavoury and sort out ongoing malevolent issues. Then soar to new heights.

·       Learn a little more about ourselves, but not in a back-breaking kind of way, rather with a sense of humour and fond teasing of our ‘not so fabulous’ behaviour.

·       Ability to tolerate the irritating behaviour of another or an impossibly difficult set of circumstances.

·       Protect what must be preserved and change what is no longer valid.

·       Ability to survive an emotional trauma, pick ourselves up and start again.

·       Abundance – of life, love, understanding and wealth.

·       Courage to stop following the path of others, pick up the reins and lead the way forward with belief and trust.

·       Enjoy this thrust of vitality and personal authority with greater self-confidence.

·       Use of the personal will to push through resistance.

·       Tap into life’s gift of genius and use it in a way that is personally relevant.

·       Spend time on something that is close to the heart, something we absolutely love.

·       Expand our thinking beyond petty judgements & blame and explore more expansive options.

·       Understanding trumps cantankerous impatience and ego-driven selfishness.

·       Wise guidance is issued in the nick of time before taking rash, hasty action – the kind driven by anger.

·       Express truth.

·       Express appreciation.

·       If adequate care is taken and a path of less foolishness followed, this influence of fortunately timed-action results in the furthering of a personal position or a project in the most beneficial of ways.

 

Of course this cycle has a shadow, a dark side that has to be addressed, but I am not in the mood to dwell on it. I simply do not want to dilute this creative force of life, this happy feeling, this surge of love and warmth that penetrates our consciousness. Naturally the sabotaging shadow is there and is valid but it just does not get any attention or focus in this blog.

One thing is for certain, this is a time to feel good – about ourselves, our relationships and the world in which we live.

With love for the creative force of life,

Sharron.

Two Solar Storms and a Full Moon

To listen to the audio version of the blog, click on the orange play button on the image below.

 

For those who are superstitious about Friday 13^th, there could be a fair amount of trembling knees, because on this infamous day, not only is the moon full, the earth is bombarded with plasma from the sun. Powerful solar storms erupted from the sun on the 10^th and 11^th June 2014 causing a brief radio blackout on earth but the real +force of the storms is expected to hit the earth on Friday 13^th June. The moon is full at 04h13 (GMT).

     Satellites, communication systems and the earth’s electromagnetic field are often affected when the sun shoots off solar flares. Each cell in our body has an electromagnetic field, so one wonders about the affect of these solar storms on our physical bodies.

     Astrology is a study of the symbolic movements of the planets and stars. The sun symbolises the essence, awareness and consciousness of an individual. I can’t help but think that these storms symbolise a burst of new awareness. Perhaps the shift in the electromagnetic field clears space for the pouring in of new consciousness and because of the position of the moon, possibly more knowledge. These are merely my musings and interpretation of a solar flare hitting the earth at the time of a full moon in the zodiacal sign of Sagittarius, and most certainly not scientific fact.  

    A strong theme of this moon cycle is to free the mind from insecurities of the past. Mercury is retrograde from the 7^th June until the 1^st July, taking us back to insecurities linked with trust, commitment, and responsibility problems, made painfully visible in the light of the full moon.

    In the way true to human beings we can expect a reaction of denial when exposed to some of these insecurities. It could be a predicament involving commitment or lack thereof, or a fear that causes trust to be broken, or possibly an avoidance of responsibility. Usually the insecurity, the fear or the action are beautifully justified by the crafty mind. Running away from the situation is then twisted into acceptable behaviour.

   The light of the full moon exposes a time in the past when generosity was taken for granted or even exploited. Rarely is such an action acknowledged or even thought of as a travesty because again it is the shrewd mind that blurs the picture and shields us from the truth. The only way, in my view, to restore a balanced flow of ‘give and take’ is firstly to admit the exploitation, take responsibility and extend a gesture of kindness.

    It is likely that the above-mentioned insecurities will erupt in emotional drama. However, the image of solar storms stirring up the electromagnetic field and the chance to break free from the cunning mind is heartening. The mere idea of gaining better understanding, learning and knowing more, is thrilling. The concept of expanding beyond stale beliefs is most welcome.

    The influence of the full moon does not only harass past insecurities, it brings a thrust of determination and optimism and inspired sell-confidence. There is a surge of enthusiasm. It is a phase in which to expand our personal worlds so as to experience more of life. We need something new to strive for, something exciting, stimulating, something that adds a tone of warmth to our lives. And what’s more this influence brings focus and the staying power to overcome commitment phobias and trust issues. We drive our lives forward with the kind of self-assurance that leads to successful outcomes. Naturally one must keep one’s eye on self-righteous attitudes that lead to arrogance.

    We ought to cast aside concerns about how others see us. It is important to shift the focus from a personal, self-involved, egotistical perspective to the grander vision. I acknowledge this cycle is disruptive, what with a full moon and solar storms on the same day but storms can be exciting, cleansing, refreshing and this moon cycle carries a positive force, it inspires growth, it encourages us to rise up on the wings of the eagle so that we can see what is possible. 

For love of the fight of an eagle,

Sharron.