Details, Details ~ 05 March 2007

What a week or so, eh? Most aware of astrological trends can’t wait for the next couple of days to pass so Mercury can reverse tracks and go direct. This past weekend we globally shared a lunar eclipse across the Virgo/Pisces axis, which was visible on part of all seven continents. Also during the last week or so, the “foundation of it all” planet, Saturn opposed illusion-bearing, spiritually-inspiring Neptune, both squaring the “pick good things for yourself” Sedna. Kind of what it felt like, huh?

Astrologers might be quick to finger Mercury retrograde as the pocket book pick pocketing culprit for the week’s large drop on Wall Street. Partially, yes. But each time Mercury goes retrograde, the market doesn’t necessarily have computer hiccups that delay trading and contribute to the decline as was true this week. This trend had Mercury pulling the trigger, but was loaded for bear by the China stock sell off, general global nervousness and the inability to make false assumptions of trends under Saturn Neptune. It’s not always Mercury’s fault. Sometimes he’s just the messenger. Actually, most times that’s true.

Since things are as blurry as they are, I can’t recall if it was a newscaster or congressional member who blamed the stock slide on the Democrats in this country. I’m more concerned about the rumors about flawed intelligence in the United States covert fact gathering system that circulate about nuclear data regarding both Iran and North Korea. This whisper distinctly fits the Saturn-Neptune pattern. So does the “discovery” of the tomb of Jesus complete with his bones, those of his wife, Mary and son, Judah. Good thing the Discovery Channel aired the show about the find under this pattern. An interesting crisis that supports Jupiter and Pluto in Sagittarius results. If the discovery is true, does it undo any of Christianity? While some say yes; others say no. So which is it? When Einstein’s theory of relativity came about and refined the gravitational work done by Newton, did people float off into space? Only those severely afflicted by Neptune. Maybe this discovery is the missing piece that will render credibility to the stories of Jesus and his times. Then again, people end up believing in the place where they have their faith invested; clearly more the inspiration of Neptune than the reality of Saturn.

A more inspiring part of the pattern appeared with the new collection of Cassini photographs of Saturn. Neptune, the planet that rules photography, was discovered in the time frame when the discovery of photography was “officially” and formally declared. So the Neptune-Saturn opposition brings the clear representations of the planet of structure. Very cool, indeed.

Yeah, yeah, that’s all world stuff. What about little ole me, just trying to get by on a planet pummeled with distortions of reality, also a signature of the crisis between line-blurring Neptune and the desire for black and white facts Saturn? Add Sedna. Each moment represents a time of choice. Not life shattering choices necessarily, but important minor corrections to the track of life. That’s why the surfaces of airplane wings constantly shift during flight and why hands continuously move on steering wheels. It’s not always about major change; it’s about trim. Sometimes a subtle adjustment does the trick. Whoever said you shouldn’t change horses midstream evidently a.) failed to make small corrections on the path and b.) couldn’t swim. Sometimes one does make major changes, but only when the data of life supports a different conclusion than the one previously maintained.

The insightful use of Jupiter and Pluto in Sag allows one to make adjustments in belief and consciousness that support life alterations through the entire spectrum of minor to major. A few years ago I didn’t think that astrologers should offer names for minor planets. Conversations with colleague Zane Stein changed my mind. I’m glad I did. It’s not about waffling or flip-flopping as politicians accuse their opponents of doing - it’s about making an adjustment to thought, belief and life action based upon new and more accurate facts. Of course the facts of now will be shattered by future discoveries.

And then we had that dang, fragmenting lunar eclipse. Thoughts and logic steered a body one way while emotional interests pulled a different way. Conflicting? Hell, yes. So maybe if you can’t decide based upon your gut instincts maybe you need to wait for new facts to arrive. If you’re going to decide anyway, make a good conclusion. The other day I watched a replay of a comedy show done by Kathleen Madigan. She talked about her grade school science project in which she put one plant in sunlight, the other in a closet. Predictably, the plant in the closet died. When asked for her conclusion, she reported to the teacher, “Clothes kill plants.”