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Chiron on Our Aquarius Moon:
Can America Heal?
Venus and Neptune Align, Mercury Enters Aquarius
By Shelley L. Ackerman © 2010
SHELLEY ACKERMAN
Photo: Rich Press
Karmic Relief, USA
When I coined the phrase “Karmic Relief’ in the late Spring of 1990, I was in the middle of a wicked Saturn transit and within months of a nodal return. At 36 years of age and despite some shimmering highlights, my nearly 20-year singing career had stalled, I wasn’t getting much acting work, and though I didn’t fully realize it then, I was in the middle of a profound shift.
At the time, I was immersed in reading spiritual books, all kinds of them, and though the world at large had not yet caught on to the “New-Age” spiritual movement per-se, the self-help section of most book stores was exploding and change was in the air. And while I had no specific term or definition to describe my leanings and had no particular ‘affiliation’ with a philosophy or even any group, my world became more populated with individuals now referred to as ‘cultural creatives’.
At the risk of stating the obvious, ‘cultural creatives’ are empathetic, socially-conscious, left-leaning seekers who are committed to personal growth while taking emotional, psychological, and environmental responsibility for themselves. Often self-employed and entrepreneurial, they (we) tend to renounce the extreme un-regulated version of the capitalist system as we know it. We’re artistic, expressive ‘healer’ types who hold a vision for a better and fairer world in which people matter most and exploitation of the weaker among us is an anathema.
There is a huge disparity between cultural creatives (most of whom are likely Obama supporters) and the Tea-Party-ers who gathered at their very first convention this weekend. Their Patron Saint, Sarah Palin, functions as a latter-day “Evita”, who prays upon their fears and beguilingly leads them down the road to permanent disempowerment.
Glenn Beck
Sarah Palin
Both Palin and Glenn Beck (born ONE day apart in 1964 - days after the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show) turn 46 this week. Their celebrity grew in the past two years with the help of both Neptune and Chiron (and in 2009, Jupiter) on their Sun and they are marking birthdays with many other telegenic Aquarians: Tom Brokaw turned 70 on Feb 6th and Ted Koppel turns 70 on Feb 8th. Ashton Kutcher turns 32 and Chris Rock turns 45 on Feb 7th; George Stephanopoulos turns 49 on Feb 10th, and Jerry Springer turns 64 on Feb 13th.
There’s really something to the observation that Aquarius rules television. How can anyone argue with this astounding showing of Aquarians who made their mark on the small screen? The short list includes: Oprah Winfrey, Vanna White, Tom Selleck, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Reed, Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Maher, Brett Butler, Farrah Fawcett, James Spader, Rip Torn, John Belushi, and Cybill Shepherd, and these are just but a few.
Chiron
Healing the Collective-Hello Chiron!
Chiron, the centaur discovered on Nov 1, 1977, has come to symbolize the deeply wounded part of self. No one is absolved from this experience- we all have Chiron somewhere in our charts, and that placement provides the most reliable clue as to where we are hurting most.
Chiron and Neptune are now conjoined on America’s 27 degree Aquarius Moon, implying that we are in the midst of a rare sequence in which the population of the USA is poised to become deeply aware of and potentially heal a core collective wound. Chiron was a centaur, born of an illicit affair between Saturn and Phylira. Chiron was abandoned by his father and rejected at birth by his mother. Here, astrologer and president of the New York City chapter of the NCGR, Eileen McCabe writes beautifully on the myth of Chiron and of how and why ‘he’ has come to symbolize our deepest wounds and the depth of our sense of rejection.
Pierce Brosnan
In Centaur Role
So with Chiron on our Moon, top of the line Boston designer, home-stager, and astrology aficionado Amber Starzynski noted that Hollywood has come through on cue and on time: “After months of the transiting conjunction "trifecta" in Aquarius, Amber writes, “Chiron finally materializes on the silver screen in the unlikely form of Pierce Brosnan, who plays the Healing Centaur in the new fantasy film, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”. Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron ALL spring to life with lead roles in the collective consciousness!!! Perfection! (Thanks to my friend astrologer Sally Pelliccia for sending this along). For the record, Brosnan, who was born on May 16, 1953 has a very active Chiron in Capricorn which completes a cardinal grand cross of his Venus (in Aries), Uranus in Cancer, and Saturn and Neptune (in Libra).
Temple Grandin
And HBO is doing their part for the healing of America through a ground breaking film on autism: “Temple Grandin” based on Ms. Grandin’s autobiography, “Thinking in Pictures” debuted this weekend. Dr. Grandin’s extraordinary life in the face of autism is an inspiration and a revelation. Born on August 29, 1947 during the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Leo (interesting that her story reaches the masses with Mars now activating the planetary duo and on the Saturn/Pluto square), Grandin is a Virgo with an Aquarius Moon. She is a stunning reminder that no matter what the affliction is, everyone is reachable. Here’s the link to her website.
Last but not least, here is Dick Cavett’s spot on take on the NBC/Late Night debacle. Seeing him last week on Larry King Live made me realize how desperately I wish they’d give him the Tonight Show.
Chart: Mercury Enters Aquarius
Click for larger view
Feb 4: Moon in Libra V/C @ 4:28 am, enters Scorpio @ 11:55 am
Feb 6: Moon V/C @ 11:12 am, enters Sagittarius @ 7:03 pm;
Mercury sextile /Uranus @ 3:03 am
Jupiter sextile Pluto @ 12:41 pm
Feb 8: Moon V/C @ 11:58 pm, Venus conjunct Neptune @ 12:45 am
Feb 9: Moon in Capricorn @ 5:43 am
Feb 10: Mercury enters Aquarius @ 4:06 am
*Moon v/c = ‘void of course’, Best for spiritual not earthly pursuits
Bonus: 2010 Astro Crib Sheet
Mercury: Begins @ 18 Cap 28 Retro, ends 2010 @ 19 Sag 44
Mercury Retrogrades: Dec 26 ‘09- Jan 15 ‘10, April 17-May 11, Aug 20-Sept 12, Dec 10-30
Venus: Begins @ 8 Cap 29, ends 2010 @ 23 Scorpio 05
Venus Retrograde: Oct 8 – Nov 18
Mars: Begins @ 18 Leo 44 Retro, ends 2010 @ 17 Cap 59
Mars Retrograde: Dec 20, 2009 - March 10, 2010
Jupiter: Begins @ 26 Aquarius 28, ends 2010 @ 26 Pisces 29
(Jupiter in Aries from June 6-Sept 9)
Jupiter Retrograde: July 23-Nov 18
Saturn: Begins @ 4 Libra 31, ends 2010 @ 16 Libra 38
(Saturn in Virgo from April 7- July 21)
Saturn Retrograde: January 13- May 30)
Uranus: Begins @ 23 Pisces 06, ends 2010 @ 26 Pisces 57
(Uranus in Aries May 27- Aug 13)
Uranus Retrograde: July 5- Dec 5
Neptune: Begins @ 24 Aquar 36, ends 2010 @ 26 Aquar 44
Neptune Retrograde: May 31- Nov 7
Pluto: Begins @ 3 Cap 19, ends 2010 @ 5 Cap 19
Pluto Retrograde: April 6 – Sep 14
Eclipses: Jan 15-Solar @ 25 Cap 01, June 26-Lunar @ 4 Can 46, July 11- Solar @ 19 Can 24, Dec 21-Lunar @ 29 Gemini 21
ARIES: Admittedly, this Mars Retrograde (in effect since Dec 19) has been annoying and at times unforgiving, it would be wrong to use it as a ‘catch-all’ excuse for everything that’s gone wrong or that hasn’t worked to your satisfaction. Case in point: Aries Lady GaGa is a bigger-than-ever sell-out and Aries Robert Downey Jr. won a Golden Globe. Now, with angel on your shoulder Jupiter pleasantly aspecting powerful Pluto in your career-centric10th house, phenomenal headway can be made. Better communication with your team comes on the 10th when Mercury enters your communal 11th house.
TAURUS: Professionally speaking, there’s magic in the air. And though you can’t really see it or touch it, your alluring aura (courtesy of Venus/Neptune in your 10th house) is as real and as tangible an asset as one could ever need or want. And when Mercury enters that same career house on the 10th, your mind and mouth are encouraged to move into full-throttle mode. Let your fingers do the walking (and the typing): For the next three weeks or so, each thought and missive can be turned into revenue streams. This may sound too magical to be true but it is - trust it.
GEMINI: This week there will be some tangible evidence that will encourage you to keep on keeping on. We all need to catch a break every now and then so that we can remember what it’s like to not struggle so much to get our needs met. But struggling usually comes from resisting the universe. Your ruler, Mercury, enters Aquarius (also an Air sign) and your philosophical 9th house on Feb 10. By opening to a broader perspective, you will also open to receiving the goodness that the forces have been trying to send your way.
CANCER: A spouse, partner, or adversary has the upper hand, but this is not necessarily a problem. Sometimes we learn the most valuable lessons and gather the most useful information from those that seek to thwart or oppose us. So rather than get all pouty about something you can’t control, resist not and see the blessing in your present circumstances. Another way to look at it: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Do hold firm on an issue you truly believe in- but don’t expect a win right now.
LEO: A co-worker or health care provider assistance with an insurance or banking issue and provides just the right input that could enable you to turn a corner. With the merging of Venus and Neptune in your 7th house, a partner or business associate’s plans may be nothing more than a grandiose pipe dream, but must you be the one to burst their bubble? Mercury enters that same 7th house (partnership0 and communication expands and may actually improve exponentially
VIRGO: There’s positive alchemy between your creative/romantic 5th house and your commitment-centric 7th house, meaning that with the proper intention and preparation you can get projects moving and bank on the support you need to sustain them. Stop complaining and seize this rare golden moment. Work is a dream for a couple of days and a female co-worker helps make it so. Your ruler, Mercury, enters your 6th house of day to day operations and lends clarity, efficiency, and ease to the proceedings. Hallelujah!
LIBRA: It’s time to stop trying to do everything by yourself, it’s just not possible any longer. Capable hands are available to assist you in your home (and home office) and postponing the inevitable is just the wrong move. Arrange it so you can benefit from the good aspects this week and get some of that work out of the way. Mercury enters your creative 5th house on the 10th, and you’ll need the decks cleared to produce.
SCORPIO: The alliance between your communicative third house and your creative and speculative 5th house provides a rare window for you to reach someone (or several someones) that have alluded you and to turn the tide very much in your favor. You’ve been effective at turning lemons into lemonade before and you can and will do it again. You may need to take a day off and focus on a home or family matter. That shouldn’t be an issue as long as you’re set up to be as responsive as you need to be to those depending on you.
SAGITTARIUS: A spouse, partner (business and/or romantic) or best friend is in rare in sync with your financial needs and knows what to say and do to help. Try not to be dismissive. This moment may make all the difference in the world with merging practical concerns with ephemeral insight and input and may enable you to come up with a very creative solution to a pressing dilemma. On and after February 10th, your mind clears and the words flow better than they have in months. Start writing and pick up the phone when the impulse strikes, the person on the other end will be glad to hear from you.
CAPRICORN: When carried to an extreme, self-reliance can be isolating, limiting, and ultimately self-destructive. So if and when a neighbor, sibling, or local character, (one who you take for granted or is easily overlooked) steps up to the plate and sings your praises or offers their help, don’t block it. This seemingly innocent ‘boost’ may make all the difference in the world. An altruistic urge to donate funds is admirable, but do your research and make sure that the channels and people involved who do the ‘handling’ are legit.
AQUARIUS: A sweet and alluring glow emanating from you magnetizes the world to your doorstep as Venus and Neptune merge in your sign on the 8th, and while it’s great to be popular, you must guard against the impulse to take on more of the world’s woes than you can handle. However, if you’re on good terms with and listening to your ‘inner judge’ you will effectively discern who and what is worthy of your beneficence and can take it from there. Your intuition is heightened this week: Ideas, messages, and words flow from deep within your being. Use them as a prize-winning chef would use ingredients in his/her kitchen.
PISCES: You’re uniquely positioned to make a huge difference in the lives of many of your friends and cohorts. And what’s most interesting and amazing about this, is that it’ll require little to no effort on your part. All that’s needed is the will to be of service (you always have that) and deft attention to the specifics of the moment. Stay present. This magical phase (which is precise on February 6) is rarer than a blue moon, and when acted upon, could help erase a boatload of bad karma once and for all. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?