Summer Solstice....

The Summer Solstice, on June 21st, marks the first juncture of the astrological year which began on March 21st.  The highlights of the 1st quarter of this year included an outbreak of a new flu strain that has since risen to ‘pandemic’ proportions (the likes of which we will truly not see until this September); the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to take the departing David Souter’s seat on the US Supreme Court (which of course incited the conservative right to protest on flimsy ground); Cheney kept popping up in the news attempting to vindicate his apparently illegal actions during the previous administration; North Korean little dictator, Kim Jong Il tried to flex his fading bipolar muscles with a show of “nuclear” and missile type detonations and holding a couple of western reporters hostage; President Obama gave an immensely courageous, brilliant and honest speech  at the University of Cairo that had Nobel Peace Prize written all over it; an Air France plane inexplicably went down in the Atlantic (probably from bad weather); home grown terrorists struck, killing a doctor who gave abortions, and killing a guard at the US Holocaust Museum; and finally Iran declared the other little tyrant, Ahmadinejad, the winner of a highly disputed (in the style of Bush in Florida in 2000?) “election” rife with fraud.  Quite a mouthful... but that’s Pluto entering Capricorn, whilst Saturn opposes Uranus.  

So what can we anticipate for the next quarter?  To begin with, Jupiter, Neptune and the renegade asteroid, Chiron, have been closely conjunct in the sign of Aquarius all Spring, and will continue to do so through the Summer.  I addressed this issue and its relationship to the H1N1 swine/avian flu in a previous post.  Neptune (immune system) and Chiron (the wounded healer) have a definite relationship with illness in general, and Jupiter makes things large, as in pandemic.  And as was mentioned, neither Jupiter nor Neptune respect boundaries.  As for that matter, neither does Chiron who’s orbit obliquely sweeps it across our Solar System intersecting the orbits of both Saturn and Uranus.  The only reason this virus has not had the mortal consequences initially feared, was simply because it arrived ‘out of season’.  

Saturn in hard aspect to Uranus has historically been associated with mass casualties either through war, weather, earthquakes or epidemics (including the Spanish flu of 1918).  Coincidentally, Saturn in Virgo, the sign of health and illness (and in the house of health and illness in both of the Ingress charts), will be exactly opposite Uranus on September 15th, followed by a square to Pluto (some say the ruler of viruses) in the cardinal signs implying that we will be faced with severe challenges on many levels, not only in health care.  

Speaking of health care... for most of this quarter, Saturn will bring positive growth in health care, and most importantly, in health care reform.  Saturn/Uranus is about the necessity for change and progress: being willing to let go of those programs and policies that no longer work, and may in fact be retarding our growth.  Saturn in both the health sign and house, is positively and strongly aspected in the Solstice chart ensuring that some form of health care plan will be addressed.   Unfortunately, although all the aspects are strong, disciplined, and determined in this quarter, Mars is still weak and overly conciliatory in Taurus, and dominated by Venus, the ruler of Taurus, in her own sign.  Some version of health care reform will be passed, but it will probably be only a shadow of its former self, in order to ‘appease’, and make nice, with the opposition.  

With Aries rising in both the Ingress and the Solstice charts, for the Washington, DC chart, one would expect progressive, affirmative and forthright action.  Aries is the sign of the warrior.  It is also Obama’s Progressed Ascendant sign... meaning that he has taken on this mantle of the warrior, and defender of causes for a good part of his adult life.  In the annual Ingress chart, Mars, the ruler of Aries was in Pisces in the 12th House, operating from a position of weakness, based on the transgressions of the past.  In the Solstice chart, Mars is again  weak, but this time submissive, and not wanting to rock the boat, in the sign of Taurus.  So, although there is an atmosphere of initiating change, and promoting new ideas, and new policies, the desire to be all inclusive, and to placate, both weakens, but at the same time, accomplishes more in other ways, than a more aggressive Mars would.  This is because of the exact trine to Saturn in Virgo and conjunction to Venus.  For this very reason, there is a greater chance for something to be accomplished, even if it the original concepts are watered down as a result.

Obama’s speech in Cairo was remarkable for its brilliance, sensitivity and courage.  With his natal Moon in Gemini, the President is a natural born orator.  It looks like we’ll be hearing more from him again, this quarter.  With the Solstice Moon and Mercury in  Gemini, and also conjunct the US Uranus, the ruler of communications, media, and news, in the US chart, communications are wide open.  President Obama has used the information highway with abandon, and there is no doubt that this trend will continue.  Chances are, he has another brilliant, and perhaps historical, speech up his sleeve.

With 3 powerful eclipses this Summer, we can anticipate all sorts of changes in the world.  Eclipses imply some sort of Karmic inevitability... that one order has to come to a close in order for another to begin.  These eclipses coinciding with the recurrence of the Saturn/Uranus opposition in September,  could bring a lot of turmoil, change and disruption this Summer.  While some will welcome the changes that are necessary and help to implement and further them, others will fear these changes and perceive them to be portents of the end of the world as they know it.  The truth of the matter is, in order to evolve to the next level, we have to be willing to let go.

There could be some more financial turmoil.  The eclipses fall in the financial houses of the US chart.  Saturn/Uranus aspects coincide with economic downturns, as we have been experiencing ever since these two have been in orb.  With Uranus in Pisces, and the Jupiter/Neptune conjunct in Aquarius.. there could also be a fear and backlash against what the right refers to as emerging ‘socialist’ programs... or rather, programs that are all inclusive and created for the benefit of all the people in the country.  But the fact that Uranus (humanity as a whole) is in Pisces (social democracy, recognizing that we are all in this together) and Jupiter and Neptune (socially inclusive programs) are in Aquarius (progressive), this is what all of humanity is supposed to be working on and promoting.  The time for progressive social conscience is now.

There could also be some issues with transportation here in the US, especially in  August.  Also around that time are issues with aggression overseas.   A potentially tense situation can evolve, involving someone, or some group, trying to dominate or control others in some way, resulting in anger and frustration.  If involved with compulsive or obsessive people, there could also be a potentially dangerous situation brewing.  Fanatical criminals and little tyrants may try to rear their ugly heads again.

And then again there’s the flu.  Lingering and incubating over the Summer months... viruses hate the sunlight.  Then as people wander back indoors, and spend less time outside... that’s when flu season begins to gain speed.  And that Saturn/Uranus opposition is just adding fuel to the fire.  Also, in September, Mercury will be retrograde for several weeks, going back to meet Saturn in Virgo, the sign of health and illness, just about the time of the Fall Equinox.  It would be wise for us all to take heed and precautions.. and pay attention.  Practice practical preventive measures all indicated by Virgo: wash hands frequently, take extra vitamin C, get plenty of sleep, eat whole organic foods, exercise, and avoid alcohol, stressful situations, and foods that weaken the system, such as sugars and saturated fats.  The best defense against the flu, any flu, is a strong immune system.  And we can start with that program now.