"This world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong." This quote from Swami Vivekananda sums up the transition to fiery Cardinal Aries. Aries stands alone. It is the first sign to emerge from the Piscean collective, full of fresh ideas. It is the resurrection of the spirit from its passage through the wintry darkness. Aries is refreshed and ready to get moving, but naïve—lacking the experience that comes from having completed the journey through the other signs. Strengthening is the result of the struggle to keep this fiery spirit burning amidst the many forces coming into play from any action taken. Libra, the sign of relationships and balance—responding to other’s actions—is in opposition to Aries. The friction from their volleying back and forth becomes the stimulus that keeps relationships growing. Confrontation and conflict cleanse their respective positions leading the way to clearer and more joyous communication. Mars, ruler of Aries, is the outgoing energy that motivates us to strive for those ideals we cherish or, on a lower level, propels our impulses for fast-track results. Venus, ruler of Libra, is a social and harmonizing influence leading us to love, appreciation, and a sense of "we," both you and me. So strength comes from the experiences of striving for fairness while reaching for the truth and the authenticity of our mission.
　
Aries, the head or starting point, begins the astrological New Year with the Vernal Equinox (see the March 2008 Astrology Report). Aries initiates the Spring quadrant, the first of four Cardinal signs, and sows the seeds for what will be our harvest.
　
From the April 2007 Astrology Report on the Cardinal points: "Aries is the initiating sign with its propelling forward motion. Here Spring begins with the fire of the Sun warming the Earth, opening the solar New Year and setting into action the Cardinal Cross. The four arms of the cross express the four directions and the four seasons. These directions form the compass points: Aries, Fire, East, Spring; followed by Cancer, Water, South, Summer; then Libra, Air, West, Fall; and Capricorn, Earth, North, Winter. Below the equator in the Southern Hemisphere the points remain the same but the seasons are reversed. In most shamanic traditions East, Fire, is the spirit or light that lifts us."

What are you firing up for the year to come? The road ahead has a few bumps, so keep your safety belt fastened. Pluto is now in Capricorn making a harsh square to this Aries starting point. Make sure there are enough resources available to accomplish your plans. Pluto stations retrograde at 1 Capricorn 09 on April 2 and remains retrograde until September 8 when it stations direct at 28 Sagittarius 30. Last Fall, on December 11, this degree was activated with a major Jupiter/Pluto conjunction. What is obsolete must go. Demand for major change is catching fire throughout the world. So once you have contemplated your options, it is time to swing into action. Work inwardly as well as outwardly and remain fresh and available for needed changes as they arise. Wake up and make your choices, for it is choose, or ride it out on life’s roulette wheel, chips on your old patterns.
　
To get a handle on this process it is always good to know where these numbers and signs are located in your personal horoscope. One degree of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) is sensitized with Saturn’s station on May 3 at 1 Virgo 41. One degree of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) is sensitized by Pluto’s station (see above). The Moon will pass over these sensitive degrees every month, while the Sun will make its yearly rounds as well as other planets.

Astrology Report March 2008
Linda Clave

The action moves forward again this March as Mercury, the Messenger, in the Fixed Air sign of Aquarius has resumed its direct motion, and Mars, the energy generator, returns to the Cardinal Water Sign of Cancer. Then spring comes as Mars-ruled Aries launches the Zodiacal New Year on March 20. This year the light of the Full Moon on March 21 will illuminate the Spring Equinox, increasing its power. The Vernal Equinox is a time of balance when the Sun moves toward the northern hemisphere and hovers over the Earth’s equator. At this time, days and nights are of equal duration. One way of seeing the balance point demonstrated is to try standing an egg upright at the time of the Equinox. With the assistance of the Earth’s magnetic force, the egg will balance on its point. This Equinox/Full Moon will highlight the two opposing signs, Aries and Libra, and emphasize the need to achieve balance in relationships. The wild card in this drama is Pluto, now in the Cardinal Earth sign of Capricorn. Pluto’s position on the world axis challenges this Spring Ingress/Full Moon, so we can expect that demands will be great. The goal is to move forward with the emerging Life Force toward change. What will actually change is yet to be determined. However, the operative word now is "change!" Check out the effect this tidal surge has on political races, as evidenced in the presidential campaigns. The first step in this process begins with the New Moon in Pisces on March 7. Here is an opportunity to clear away the old agendas to make ready for fresh input and stimulation that come with Spring. Get ready to shake, rattle and roll!

March 4. Mars moves into Cancer and opposes Pluto in Capricorn, becoming exact on March 7, the day of New Moon. This is a very dynamic play of force on the Cardinal Axis. This could bring major shakes-ups in the world, both physically and economically, affecting families and governments. Negotiators will be very busy brokering peace. Note the houses in your chart where this opposition and New Moon occur to get a personal take on the matter.

March 6. Venus and Neptune form a conjunction at 22 Aquarius. This is romantic idealism at its finest!

March 7. The Pisces New Moon at 17 degrees 31 minutes at 2:03 PM with 7 Cancer rising over Washington, DC. Cancer is the Moon’s sign, moving in tidal fashion as Cardinal Water. Mars is currently in Cancer in the twelfth house, sitting close to the Ascendant. Mars in this sign tends to act out lunar-inspired moods in an unconscious and instinctual way. Cancer is our nation’s Sun sign and represents the family. Both nation and family are being stirred up by the Mars-Pluto opposition. Keep your eyes on the situations that arise, but first step back and use retrograde Saturn in Virgo to examine the sources of instigating the problems. Then with conscious awareness, break down the facts before reacting. Hold unto the reins of your horses and exercise control over their direction.

This is a fresh New Moon after the earlier Total Lunar Eclipse February 20. The interesting feature here is the lunation conjoins the change maker—or breaker—Uranus. Nothing will be quite the same, especially so in the tenth house or executive domain. We as a nation are reaching for different leadership. It will be interesting to find out who is selected for candidacy! Belief systems are rapidly changing here in the US, as evidenced by statistical reports that assert many people are questioning the beliefs in which they were raised and changing course as a result. Beliefs are interior in nature and have the deepest effect on our psyche. The Piscean Age is ending as we open our minds in the dawning of the Aquarian Age to a scientific understanding of what has been taken solely on faith. Modern physics is more inclusive in its abstraction of our origins and our connectedness than many mainstream faiths. In this lunation an alignment in Aquarius features the direction indicator, the North Node, plus Mercury ,Venus, Neptune, and Chiron, all within a 10-degree span of one another. Conversely, the Aquarian co-ruler, Uranus, is in Pisces conjunct the Sun, ruler of the South Node or past experiences.

Pisces, like Aquarius, has two ruling planets: the traditional ruler Jupiter, the guru or king of the gods, and the modern ruler, Neptune, god of the seas. The key to coordinating those two lies in understanding that there are upper and lower worlds, as in shamanism. The glyph for Pisces is a band of consciousness joining two moon shapes facing out in opposite directions. Each world has its domain and duties. The lower worlds keep our instincts sharp and alert. The more ethereal upper world takes us to inner dimensions and planes to illuminate our everyday middle world aspirations, spiraling us to higher, nobler and more selfless purposes. Again, coordination is necessary between the two to be in the here and now but sensitive to the world beyond. Jupiter offers us a bigger and broader experience and Neptune brings the longing to experience Life in the spiritual dimensions.

March 9. Mercury conjoins transiting Neptune. The time for mulling over ideas and projects has passed. What have you come up with? What inspires you? This is a better time to get with the flow. Political parties are at a resolution stage.

March 12. Venus enters a lovely and receptive transit through Pisces until the New Moon in Aries on April 6. Venus is said to be exalted in Pisces, for this collective sign realizes that the good of all is finally the truest blessing. Compassion and tolerance outweigh selfishness, and love is gentle and kind. Saint Francis of Assisi is a model of this love. A negative expression of this transit might be not owning your needs when they are in conflict with the demands of others.

March 14. Mercury enters Pisces until April 3. Here Mercury enters the mists and can get carried away with feelings, but there is a grounding opposition from Saturn in analytical Virgo, Mercury’s own sign.

March 16. Loving Venus at 3 Pisces comes into an opposition—a reality check—with retrograde Saturn at 3 Virgo.　Keep your records straight and dismiss unwarranted criticism."Love overcomes all things, love never fails, and perfect love casts out fear."

March 17. Mercury at 3 Pisces opposes retrograde Saturn at 3 Virgo. Think twice before signing contracts or taking on legal matters. If you can wait until Saturn turns direct May 2 at 2 degrees Virgo, this will give you time to do the research needed before committing yourself.
March 20. The Spring/Vernal Equinox arrives, followed by the Full Moon on March 21. The Fire Element opens the Earth to a new cycle of growth. Time to synchronize your plans with the flow of Life’s current. Energy for procreation and general productivity increases. However, many may find turning their energy outward challenging after a period of winter hibernation. Exercise and dietary adjustments help get us in tune with the fresh rhythms available. This has been a key yearly turning point for ancient and native cultures.

I am including this excerpt by Grandmother Judi from the 2007 Aries Report: "A native teacher of spirituality shared that the fire makes smoke, and this smoke carries our prayers to the Creator. She went on to say in her Metis tradition the medicine animal in the East is the high-flying eagle of North America, while in South America the medicine animal is the condor. These are birds that are associated with vision and illumination. Opening the door to the East in sacred fire ceremony begins the yearly journey. Certain sites in the US, such as Chaco Canyon in the West, have a cave whose entrance is illuminated only on this special morning sunrise. In the East, equinox sighting stones are used to mark the return of Spring in New Hampshire’s American Stonehenge. Other sighting places can be found in the Mound Builder’s Serpent Mound, and many other sites all over this country and the world."

Noon, March 21. There is call to ceremony at noon for 8,000 drums carrying prayers to the Creator: "The purpose is to fulfill the OTOMI PROPHECY. The Otomis are Mayan Olmec and Toltec descendants. The drums will be played so that the Creator will hear us and grant our wishes as we pray for help in the Healing Process of our Mother Earth. …People are destroying Her and our Mother Earth needs our prayers. Thank you. Ewo-wox-co-dah-wa."

March 21. The Full Moon illuminates this impetus to move out into Life. Aries is a Cardinal Fire sign, fast and impetuous, passionately moving into battle as an idealist or to open new frontiers. "Give me Liberty or Give me Death," could be a cry for freedom all Fire signs share. Mars, the outer ruler, and Mercury, the inner esoteric ruler, set the pace. When the mind or consciousness can join with Mars, driving forces are in check and the way becomes clear. From the 2007 April Report: "Mars gets our energy moving and focused while Mercury brings forth inspiring new ideas from the mental plane. When integrated, they develop character with courage and integrity. Other positive traits from the fiery spirit of Aries include leadership, visionary ideas, pioneering new methods, and the willingness to stand alone and take risks.

The Full Moon occurs March 21 at 1:40 PM EST with 6 Leo rising over Washington, DC. Demand for change is clear! This Full Moon activates a Cardinal cross with the Sun in Aries at 1degree 31 minutes in the ninth house opposite the Moon in Libra in the third house while both make a harsh 90-degree square to Pluto in Capricorn near the cusp of the sixth house and again to Mars at 6 Cancer in the twelfth house. All this action is "off the angles," easing adjustments but there remains a need to stay flexible so that you can make the best use of opportunities and challenges. Saturn retrograde in the second house of finances and resources loosely opposes Mercury and Venus in Pisces in the eighth house. This is not yet the time for an economic turn-around. With Leo rising and ruling the South Node, new leadership is needed to raise public confidence and turn the Wheel of Fortune. So many long-term problems need careful timing to be resolved smoothly and fairly. Nevertheless, the public is impatient for change and soon! Measures to save homes and implement fair lending practices can’t wait.

March 27. Mercury conjoins Uranus at 19 Pisces. Free-flowing inspiration and unusual ideas make it easy to compose or write. Venus is also in Pisces adding to the creative boost.

February 2008
Linda Clave

2008 is a "one" year: by adding 2 (+0+0) plus 8, you get ten (1-0) which reduces to (1+0) the whole number one. "One" signifies the start of a new cycle, while "nine" (2+0+0+7) signifies the finish of the previous cycle which ended in December 2007. This new "one" cycle is emphasized astrologically by Jupiter’s entrance into Capricorn, followed by Pluto later in the month. So the new trends are cardinal earth. Capricorn is the most dynamic and pragmatic of signs for working out a new order. Planning is imperative, as is knowledge of planetary shifts, in designing a path to the top. When you are aware of how these shifts play out in your personal horoscope, you can take advantage of opportunities and anticipate the lessons you will meet along the way. In general, this configuration brings profound global change, at an accelerating pace, especially once Pluto settles into Capricorn. The Earth is rapidly losing its glaciers. In Greenland, for instance, the world’s largest glacier is dumping slices into the ocean as the temperature rises, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem. One result of these changes is the loss of many coldwater fish and other essential habitat-maintaining species. And sea levels will rise, altering the profile of our current topography. Areas of low elevation will be submerged. This in turn could impact world migration patterns at a level heretofore unknown. This is not science fiction, but projected science from credible sources! Cardinal signs bring change, and we must work with the positive possibilities to be part of the solution.

Review From the December 2007 Report: 　"The cardinal earth sign Capricorn will be an important shaper of events throughout this year, as Pluto moves in, retrogrades out and then returns to stay until March 23, 2023. This is a "get ready: the movers are arriving shortly!" type of experience. Capricorn is the executive manager at the top of the Cardinal Cross devising large corporate and political strategies with worldwide implications. In esoteric studies, moving through Capricorn are three powerful rays. The First Ray is of will and power, complemented by the Third Ray of active intelligence, and put into action with the Seventh Ray of ritual order and magic. This combo is dynamic! Saturn rules Capricorn on both the inner and outer levels. The Capricorn glyph of the climbing goat fits perfectly as growth is always measured by the limits we surpass and this is Saturn at work. Work, then, is a key word for the Saturnian Capricorn, as are results; Capricorns look for the bottom line. Structure is also a key word for understanding Saturn, for structure makes the formative patterning for building on any level. Capricorn is also the sign of initiations or passing tests that prove one to be fit and worthy to move ahead. On the physical level, Capricorn rules the knees, skeleton and teeth. Saturn with its rings closing in as we age portrays our life story through our patterns of experience. Fear, a tool of Saturn, drives us to work harder for success or keeps us stuck."

Each year the eclipses frame the sensitive points of the upcoming year, as their degrees are activated by passing transits. The lunar nodes determine the eclipses; they are now in North Aquarius and South Leo.

2008 Eclipses: The eclipses are Annular North Solar on Feb 7 at 17 Aquarius 44 followed by Total South Lunar February 21 at 1 Virgo 53 (this is within a degree of Saturn’s direct station May 2). Then on August 1 at 9 Leo 32 there is a Total South Solar Eclipse, followed by the Partial North Lunar on August 16 at 24 Aquarius 21.

January 2: Retrograde Mars at 29 Gemini 21 opposes Pluto at 29 Sagittarius. Clear away old issues to start a fresh New Year 2008. Watch out for triggers of sudden anger. Keep your words positive. Take your foot off the accelerator and stay cool!

January 6: Venus at 8 Sagittarius squares retrograde Saturn at 8 Virgo. Choices can bring conflicts to the surface that seem difficult to move through. Take time to weigh and sort out the details.

January 7: Mercury moves into the fixed air sign Aquarius. This is a long transit for fast-moving Mercury. Mercury stations retrograde at 23 Aquarius on January 28, stations direct February 18 at 8 Aquarius, and stays in that sign until it moves into Pisces on March 14. One idea at a time needs to be integrated and worked through.

On Mercury retrograde from the February 2007 Report: "Mercury is the fastest moving of all the planets that rotate around the Sun. Mercury works as a connector and helps us to make associations in our consciousness. Many of us traverse so rapidly through our intake of information and experience that we do not really take time to reflect or digest our thoughts, feelings or life experiences. But life ceases to have meaning when we just keep moving through it in a mechanical way. That tends to dull our senses by shutting down our minds.

The slowdown that occurs during Mercury retrograde provides us with an opportunity to reflect. Our focus is drawn away from everyday activities and we are provided with an opportunity to reassess and give careful consideration to what is happening in our lives.

Mercury retrograde is not the most popular of astrological influences because it tends to interfere with business as usual. Mercury retrograde is usually not the most optimal time to start a new job or project. New projects or ventures begun under the influence of Mercury retrograde are often short-lived. It is best to continue with what you’re doing while remaining open to reassess and redefine with new awareness.

Mercury retrograde is a time of cleansing when all the dross is cleared away. It’s an ideal time to meditate, walk in nature or go off on a retreat to soothe yourself and reconnect with your deeper parts held in the subconscious. Mercury retrograde gives you the opportunity to take inventory, reassess your life and clarify your objectives."

January 8: New Moon, 6:37 AM, at 17 Capricorn 33 with 4 Capricorn rising over Washington, DC. In the first house of Self or the nation Jupiter at 4 Capricorn rises within a stellium which includes the Sun, Moon and Mercury. This brings encouragement and hope for resolving world issues. Personal work on your career will pay off, as retrograde Saturn turns direct on May 2. Work within groups takes on a positive expectation as to what can be collectively accomplished that individually would be impossible. The separating retrograde Mars opposition to Pluto is fading but will re-emerge March 7 with Mars at 1 Cancer and Pluto at 1 Capricorn. Attend to issues marked by aggression and resentment with patience. Diplomacy pays dividends.

January 12: Venus 15 Sagittarius squares Uranus 15 Pisces. This a quick transit that can bring upsets. Take a fresh look at possibilities. Don’t go off the deep end. Breaking up may not be the right solution.

January 19: Venus 24 Sagittarius opposes retrograde Mars at 24 Gemini. Fast attractions are a breeze and should not be confused with a solid connection. Keeping this in mind, you can have fun.

January 20: the Sun enters the fixed air sign of Aquarius at 11:44 PM. In 2008 Aquarius becomes a prominent sign through the North Node of the Moon and the eclipse cycle. Aquarius is a collective sign and the last of the Air Triplicity. It has two rulers— Saturn, giving structure, and break-out-of-the-box Uranus, bringing unique and inventive possibilities. Group work, which is the Aquarian way, becomes paramount as a solution to world issues.

From the February 2007 Report: "Understanding Aquarius: the Sign and the Symbol." Be careful here; although Aquarius is the "Water Bearer," it is not a water sign. It is the last of the fixed signs on the fixed cross initiated by Taurus, the bull, on through Leo, the lion, Scorpio, the scorpion, and finally Aquarius. Fixed signs are at the center where we become responsible for the results of action taken. There is great power and strength within when we become focused and centered. A glyph of two wavy lines, one on top of the other represents Aquarius, collective air. It is the summation of the three air signs; for in Aquarius universal and natural laws are the guiding principle. Here, too, are the building blocks of knowledge, the hope for universal brotherhood and freedom from ignorance. Aquarius maintains the ever-evolving plans for human evolution. Above, the higher laws of the universe vibrate; while below they vibrate to natural law. Freedom is the cry here but it requires being responsive to these laws that give the desired results. Aquarius is the place of scientific procedure with both Saturn and Uranus as co-rulers. Science and discovery first require discipline, organization and testing before taking the leap into the unknown. Our society is built on this process. Morality and conscience determine the use of these discoveries. We must choose service to humanity and the planet; or opt for darkness and destruction. The choice is ours to make as we move more and more into the age of science, the Aquarian Age."

January 22: Full Moon at 1 Leo 54 with 25 Aquarius rising in Washington DC. Communicating Mercury conjoins spiritual and nebulous Neptune at 20 Aquarius on the hidden side of the Ascendant with the North Node at 27 Aquarius on the Ascendant and Uranus at 16 Pisces in the first house of Self or the nation. This can bring creative expression and opposing viewpoints and beliefs, heightened by Saturn at 7 Virgo retrograde sitting in the seventh house of relationships and open enemies. The Moon at 1 Leo 54 is in the sixth house opposing the Sun in the twelfth house at 1 Aquarius. Domestic issues such as job possibilities and health care are on the top of the voters’ list. Venus at 27 Sagittarius 50 is in a tight conjunction to Pluto at 29 Sagittarius 53, itself still opposing Mars retrograde (24 Gemini 32) but the aspect is separating which weakens its effect. Pressing economic and social issues are on the agenda for the nation and personally. Saturn and Jupiter are in a beneficial trine in earth signs, which helps ease disputes and brings new alliances.

January 24: Venus conjoins Pluto at 29 Sagittarius and then enters Capricorn. Wait awhile to make plans until the shift of signs gels, as Pluto will move into Capricorn as well.

January 26: At 10:44 PM Pluto moves into Capricorn with 11 Libra rising over Washington, DC. This ingress emphasizes improving relationships and balance. Pluto demands transformation and transfiguration. Pluto is Lord of Hades. Pluto rules the fixed water sign Scorpio. Pluto’s energy comes up from the bottom bringing with it the Dark Night of the Soul, feelings of being stuck and bound in the miasmas of the lower self, comprising lifetimes of experience. The Soul is the warrior taking up the battle with the Dweller on the Threshold, representing the miasmas. The battle is so intense that there can be only one victor; the Pluto experience is this battle. Once the lower self in these lower worlds is suffused with the true Soul Light, there emerges an inner unity and a triumphant resurrection from the ashes of the former self, often called, in the Western tradition, the "Phoenix Bird Rising."

The horoscope for the Pluto ingress into Capricorn has an amazing alignment in the third house of communications with Pluto at 0, Venus at 2, and Jupiter at 8 Capricorn, all trine retrograde Saturn at 7 Virgo in the eleventh house of hopes and goals as well as group affiliations. Anticipate hope and high expectations for solutions to global issues, but remember the Pluto process will be at work. Reinforcing this alignment is a stellium in Aquarius: the Sun at 5 followed by Chiron at 15, Vestal at 18, Neptune 21, Mercury at 23 and finally summing it up with the north node at 27 Aquarius 49. Wow! The Moon rules the tenth house but is quiet in the twelfth house at 20 Virgo in a separating opposition to Uranus in Pisces in the sixth house. We can feel quiet apprehension of the large changes ahead. The public will need time to respond to the effects of more and bigger globalization for better and for worse.

January 28: Mercury stations retrograde. See above reference under January 7.

January 30: Mars stations direct at 5:33 PM at 24 Gemini. What a relief! 　Next month Mars picks up speed from its station. Expect the outgoing energy associated with Mars to get us out of feeling tired, irritable and stagnant, to release us from our hibernation of sorts. You can start putting more vigor into your work and play; new inspirations emerge. Making connections will feel easier.

 

December 2007

Intensity is building! 　December sets the stage for major changes in 2008. Jupiter transitions from its home in the gaseous fire sign of Sagittarius into the Cardinal Earth sign Capricorn on December 18, after a brief transit (December 4) through the Galactic Center at 26 degrees Sagittarius. On December 9 there is a New Moon at 17 degrees Sagittarius, after which, on December 11, Jupiter catches up to Pluto at 28 degrees Sagittarius. Pluto, a slow-moving planet that advances about two degrees a year, has finally reached the last degrees of Sagittarius, the sign it has occupied since November 11, 1995. Alongside Jupiter, Pluto’s stay in Sagittarius culminates, having opened an expansive, far-reaching vision of the future. Then the two planets enter Capricorn, bringing their planning and strategies into the pragmatic realm of earth energy. Pluto enters its new phase in the Cardinal Sign of Capricorn on January 25, 2008, where it will remain through March 23, 2023. In this politically- and organizationally- savvy sign, Pluto opens a new chapter in the World Order. The eve of December 21, the Winter Solstice, heralds the Capricorn Ingress. Then the Full Moon on December 23, still bright Christmas Eve, illuminates us with the splendor of its radiance and moves us with the force of its magnetic pull. We can feel the doors open and sense the wonder of our emerging potential. What a holiday season!

December 4.　Jupiter passes through the Galactic Center. To get more info on the Galactic Center and the new planets Sedna and Eris, you can check out Philip Sedgwick’s website: www.philipsedgwick.com/GalacticCtr <http://www.philipsedgwick.com/GalacticCtr>

December 5. Lovely Venus leaves her home in Libra and transits Scorpio until New Year’s Eve. Pay attention to those deeper feelings being triggered so you are able to work them through. Don’t let your emotions hold your sensitivity captive.

December 6. Fast-moving Mercury in Sagittarius squares Saturn in Virgo. Digest what seems to be a lot to chew and keep an objective, open mind. Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) are subject to fluctuations and adjustments.

December 9. New Moon at 17 degrees Sagittarius 16 minutes with 23 Pisces 26 rising over Washington, DC. This ninth house lunation is at home in Sagittarius, all the more so since the ruler of Sagittarius—outgoing, expansive Jupiter—rules the ninth house as well as the Pisces Ascendant. The Ascendant gives shape and focus to the lunation. But, along with Jupiter, idealistic and dreamy Neptune—Pisces’ co-ruler—comes in to mist and dissolve form, opening the door to large transitions. Heat and intensity build with the stellium of five fire planets in Sagittarius: the Sun, Moon, and Mercury are in the ninth house, and Pluto and Jupiter are just over the cusp in the tenth house. The glyph for Sagittarius represents a centaur taking aim with his bow and arrow. Shoot for a single-pointed reality. The aim is to bring unity within a diversity of philosophical views and religions. A larger, more tolerant global view is needed, although the process can be hot and explosive! Echoing this, the Midheaven is at 26 Sagittarius 24, directing focus on the Galactic Center.

While most of the planetary energies are above the horizon this month, Mars is retrograde in Cancer in the fourth house, and Saturn is in Virgo in the sixth—both below the horizon. And, Saturn is about to station retrograde. The South Node is also in the sixth house at 0 degrees Virgo, poised to transit backwards for a year-and-a-half through Leo. These difficult planetary energies create an anchor for the fast-changing scene above the horizon. Questions of survival and the cost to the environment of reckless progress keep us on more conservative and thoughtful footing. This applies to the economy with credit crunches from the cost of development confounded by rising energy costs and a difficult housing market.

December 10. Mercury in Sagittarius squares volatile Uranus in Pisces. Plans need to be flexible in order for the right innovation to triumph. Embrace the inevitable upset as a healthy part of a long run success.

December 11. Beautiful, seductive Venus in Scorpio charms retrograde Mars in Cancer. Take advantage of this smooth trine as it operates in business and romance.

December 11. Jupiter conjoins Pluto at 28 Sagittarius. This pair is HOT, so take care not to stretch further than you can manage.
　
December 19. Jupiter enters Capricorn. Jupiter has been expansive in Sagittarius, but now the contracting influence of Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, makes jovial Jupiter more serious and conscientious. What do you have in your hand? Put your cards on the table.
　
December 20. Saturn stations retrograde at 8 Virgo 3. This is a "wait until spring" time to see what results your plans will bring. Now is a good period for doing the internal work that is part of organic growth. Plan new projects and thoroughly develop them.
　
December 21. The Winter Solstice: the Sun has reached its furthest declination south in the Tropic of Capricorn. This is also the Capricorn Ingress which describes the three-month period until next spring’s Vernal Equinox. This winter is full of events with Jupiter now in Capricorn and Pluto soon to arrive, with the complication of retrograde Mars opposing the Sun, Jupiter, Mercury and then Pluto. The presidential primaries may not be as sewn-up as the spin-doctors would have us believe!

The cardinal earth sign Capricorn will be an important shaper of events throughout this year, as Pluto moves in, retrogrades out and then returns to stay until March 23, 2023. This is a "get ready: the movers are arriving shortly!" type of experience. Capricorn is the executive manager at the top of the Cardinal Cross devising large corporate and political strategies with worldwide implications. In esoteric studies, moving through Capricorn are three powerful rays. The First Ray is of will and power, complemented by the Third Ray of active intelligence, and put into action with the Seventh Ray of ritual order and magic. This combo is dynamic! Saturn rules Capricorn on both the inner and outer levels. The Capricorn glyph of the climbing goat fits perfectly as growth is always measured by the limits we surpass and this is Saturn at work. Work, then, is a key word for the Saturnian Capricorn, as are results; Capricorns look for the bottom line. Structure is also a key word for understanding Saturn, for structure makes the formative patterning for building on any level. Capricorn is also the sign of initiations or passing tests that prove one to be fit and worthy to move ahead. On the physical level, Capricorn rules the knees, skeleton and teeth. Saturn with its rings closing in as we age portrays our life story through our patterns of experience. Fear, a tool of Saturn, drives us to work harder for success or keeps us stuck.

December 23. The Full Moon at 8:16 PM with 15 degrees Leo 19 rising over Washington, DC. This is a Full Moon to remember. Full Moon magnetism pulls at all the energies with its force, making planetary aspects to the Sun and Moon at this time especially potent. Realizations and initiations are associated with Full Moon’s powerful light. At this Full Moon, Leo rises and the Sun, ruler of Leo in the fifth house with three other planets, emphasizes creative leadership in crisis. The Sun is emphasized further as Leo rules the South Node in the seventh house of relationships. The Sun at 1 Capricorn 50 conjoins Jupiter at 1 Capricorn 12, and Mercury is at 5 Capricorn 28 while Pluto is behind the Sun at 28 Sagittarius 50—the power behind the throne. They are all opposing the Moon in its own sign Cancer and retrograde Mars at 2 Cancer 55. On the angles, Venus at 22 Scorpio in the fourth house squares Neptune at 20 Aquarius on the cusp of the seventh bringing out buried wounds and conflicts concerning love and family relationships. Dirty secrets can’t be hidden. Shortly the various presidential primaries will swing into action. We will see who emerges from theses tests of character.

December 24. Keep your temper in control when challenged: the Sun exactly opposes retrograde Mars. This adds fuel to issues from the Full Moon.

December 25. A Christmas gift comes with Mercury in Capricorn trine Saturn in Virgo. Communication is satisfying, even if it is only a telephone call.
　
December 30. Venus enters Sagittarius. Hurray! Feelings lighten and optimism returns in time for the coming New Year. Make your resolutions and visualize them shot like arrows, arching toward their target.
　
December 31. Retrograde Mars is backing into Gemini. 　Time to get back in touch with those you left hanging and resolve issues as Mars and Pluto are in opposition. Start the New Year feeling clean and clear.

November 2007 Astrological Report
By Linda Clave

Scorpio themes, sex, death and regeneration, open the month of November as All Souls Day, The Mexican Day of the Dead (http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/), and the Mother Kali Puja in the Hindu tradition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali), are celebrated on November 2. This is the time when the souls of the departed are nearer to our realm, and the veils between worlds are thinner. Ancient cultures considered the annual arrival of the constellation the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, when culminating in the evening sky at midnight, to be a time of the dead.
　
The sign Scorpio has a dual motion implied in its glyph—an "M" with an arrow pointing up. Scorpio is a fixed sign with great power. The release of stored energy through the sex act or creative regeneration starts with the "M" in a downward position, rising upward to fall again and rise once more with the arrow leading upward to freedom. Thus struggle is inherent in the passage through this sign. This process is represented by the symbols of the scorpion, the eagle and the phoenix. Focus on an object of desire or an ideal can start with fanatical zeal, but true love releases the Phoenix from the ashes (the arrow pointing up).　
　
Alice Bailey has written an illuminating book on the soul through the zodiac called, "The Labours of Hercules." The mantra for the experience of the Scorpio labor is "Warrior am I and from the battle I emerge triumphant." 　In the eighth labor, Hercules must slay the nine-headed Hydra. This battle is a metaphor for the transcendent but latent spirit within humanity. First, Hercules must flush out the Hydra from its stench-drenched bog (or, uncover the hidden murk lurking in the unconscious mind). Then, nine heads must be slain while preserving the one immortal head (the energy within us that we need to connect with and sublimate in order to focus on higher aspirations and deeds). So Hercules must get down in the muck and fight the Hydra in its element. Energized by its muck, the Hydra regenerates twofold each head Hercules cuts off. Remembering the advice to defeat the Hydra by getting down on his knees to lift up the Hydra out of its mucky habitat, Hercules lifts the monster aloft. Thus do truth, light and reason release us from the clutches of our compressed psychological baggage—layers of memories compiled from the residue of lifetimes of experience. Once liberated, our energy flows once again and can be effectively directed. Hercules was left with the immortal head of Hydra that cannot die but must be restrained, so he buries it under a rock. This is another metaphor for the sublimation of gross desire in the service of the refined purposes of the Soul.
　
The nine heads are the nine tests Hercules will encounter. These are universal issues we all face in varying degrees. They begin with sex, money, comfort on the physical level followed by fear, hatred and desire for power on the emotional level, and finally pride, separation and cruelty on the spiritual level. When Hercules, who is both man and god, faces his accumulation of karma (termed the Dweller on the Threshold), the battle ensues, purifying his will. Struggling in the dark alone, he contacts the inner resources he gained in the earlier Fifth Labor. With renewed resilience, the inner warrior now emerges triumphant.
　
Continuing this theme, the Water element in Scorpio is silent, deep and still. While the surface activity appears minimal, underneath much power is being stirred. Mars and Pluto are the accepted co-rulers of Scorpio. Pluto is the God of the Underworld, and Mars is the God of War. They are able warriors possessing the strength to lead the battle to Death and Beyond. Here dynamism and focus emerge from the stirring of deep emotions. Unconscious behaviors and conflicted feelings surface. When so aroused they find passionate and very powerful expression (as seen in the artwork of Pablo Picasso’s "Guernica," or in Garcia Lorca’s "Blood Wedding"). When the outlet for creativity is blocked, addictions and other less desirable outcomes can be part of an inner struggle to gain dominance over the cesspool of guilt, shame and anger. Ultimately, surrender to the Light or Higher Power releases the suffering, taking over the work. 　
　
Hooray! November 2 Mercury stations direct at 23 Libra 23.
Now that the pendulum swings forward again, new approaches and projects can emerge. Mercury will take a few days to really move past its stationing degree, so we still need to be patient.

November 4. Set back your clock! The Sun in Scorpio makes a beneficial trine to Mars in Cancer. It is a propitious day to initiate projects or to finish what you have been promising to do.

November 6. Lovely Venus at 27 Virgo makes a harsh square aspect to Pluto in Sagittarius. 　Get the facts straight before taking on investments or legal challenges. Give romance the space to work through impasses.

November 7. The Sun at 15 Scorpio makes a trine aspect to Uranus at 15 Pisces. 　This a great day to break out your new look or product, try out new methods, be inspired, do the unexpected.

November 8. Venus enters her home in Libra. Social activities and events get rolling. Plan your affairs and send out invitations. Harmony and diplomacy can do wonders while Venus is in Libra.

New Moon November 9 at 17 Scorpio 10 with Gemini 07 rising over Washington, DC. 　This lunation finds the Sun and Moon in the Sixth House along with Mercury, ruler of the Ascendant, at 28 Libra. Health, work and fair work practices are the concerns as well as the media coverage of such events as the false news report by FEMA. Saturn and the South Node of the Moon are angular in Virgo, in the Fourth House of home or housing. Expect more fall-out in the housing market, mortgages and interest rates. Jupiter and Pluto, co-rulers of the lunation, are in the Seventh House in late Sagittarius. Our legal battles and adversaries demand careful understanding and attention. Nebulous Neptune is on the Midheaven at 19 Aquarius squaring the lunation in Scorpio. Chiron is at 10 Aquarius 43 on the hidden side of the Ninth House. Special interests and globalization issues are clouding our perception of the place we have among the world community. Where can we get leadership that is on target and truthful? Are we ready to take a clear look at what the environment is telling us in places like California? Mars, ruler of the lunation, is about to turn retrograde in the Second House in Cancer. This can be a difficult time with fuel costs for home heating on the rise. Conservation of energy is a necessity!

From the July report: Cancer is a key sign this year. When more than one planet stations and turns retrograde in a particular sign, that year the activity of those planets in those signs demand our focused attention.

So Mars turns retrograde November 15th, while we are in Scorpio, a sign co-ruled by Mars. Retrograde Mars stations at 12 Cancer close to the degree, 11 Cancer, where Mercury went retrograde. Mars passes back into late Gemini in January 2008 and turns direct January 30 at 24 Gemini.

From March 4 until May 10 Mars will pass through Cancer again.

We can expect much emotional processing! This is especially true for those of us with a Sun, Moon, Mars, and lunar nodes, Ascendant or Cancer on an angular house cusp. Cancer and the Moon rule our habitual patterns at the cellular level and primal instinctual reactions coming from our family histories and roots. Mars is our outgoing energy and our survival drive. We need the strength and courage Mars gives us to motivate, initiate and defend ourselves.

Mars in Cancer retrograde will demand much reflection to become conscious of our less successful behaviors motivated by memories triggering our outgrown defenses.

November 19. Venus in Libra at 12 degrees makes a harsh square to retrograde Mars at 12 degrees Cancer. Let go of the hurt feelings, disappointments and accusations. Find forgiveness for yourself and others.

November 22. Thanksgiving Day with the Sun entering Sagittarius, the third of the fire triplicity. Sagittarius is mutable fire or the fire of transmutation. The glyph is the centaur, a horse on the bottom with a man on top who is aiming his bow upward into the heavens. Aiming high, fuelled by aspiration, this Jupiter-ruled sign is always raising and stretching the bar in all directions. The mantra for the Sagittarian experience is, "I see the goal. 　I reach the goal and see another." Philosophy, religion, higher education and world travel are featured in this sign. This is a special year for Sagittarius with its ruler, Jupiter, in its own sign. Jupiter will transition into Capricorn on December 18 after moving into conjunction with Pluto. Pluto is also about to enter Capricorn in January 2008. A whole new dawn arises within the next few months.

Full Moon November 24 at 1 Gemini 55 with 3 degrees Capricorn rising over Washington, DC. Gemini rules the arms, hands, lungs and nervous system. The Moon in this sign is talkative and restless and highly responsive. The Fifth House placement of the Moon is an environment that adds creativity and color. All manner of speech and creative projects are easily taken up, but is there really enough time for so many endeavors? The stretch between the Moon in Gemini and the Sun in Sagittarius can bring classic over-extension. However, with Capricorn rising and Saturn in the Eighth House at 8 Virgo about to station near the South Node, factors of finance will set limits on over-expansion. Economic caution is in order. Reinforcing this need for caution is Neptune at 19 Aquarius in the Second House of personal finances squaring Mercury in the Eleventh House at 19 Scorpio. So, if you are dreaming of what can be done, dream on! But to make it come true will require the right timing and taking the time to do the necessary work. Capricorn rising also portends that political action will take the front seat as opposing candidates start to pick apart their opposition.

Another key factor in this lunation is the Jupiter effect. Religion is Jupiter’s realm. It can be dogmatic when practiced by a narrow sectarian group who have no tolerance for outsiders, or, in contrast, it can be broad in scope, full of the love that embraces all. A quote from Swami Vivekananda says it well:

"The really spiritual people are broad everywhere. Their love forces them to be so. Those to whom religion is a trade are forced to become narrow and mischievous by their introduction into religion of the competitive, fighting, and selfish methods of the world.