Uranus now retrogrades, heading back to one of those highly noted Saturn-Uranus oppositions that comes your way on the 26th of July. This aspect falls one day after Jupiter and Pluto square, which is two days after Jupiter retrogrades. Each and every one of these patterns figures in with the Super-Galactic Center and anomalistic pulsars (recently detailed in several Galactic Times and available on my website’s GT Archives). Whew! Yet another mouthful of transits! It seems the planets and patterns with galactic effects and their occurrence drives on faster than the yellow shirt biker in the Tour de France on a downhill run with a tail wind.
Before this next series of patterns comes into play, we have preparatory homework piled on by everyone’s favorite teacher, Saturn. Saturn by the way, loves those who do extra credit work. Anyway, Saturn’s present assignment of mandatory homework is established and highlighted by the fact that within hours Saturn enters the 29th degree of Virgo. The 29th degree of any sign typically receives underlining, bold fonting, italicizing and kerning such that it never becomes hyphenated. Classically, traditionally and historically (all Saturn words) the 29th degree of any sign stands out as a critical degree. Why critical? While passing through a sign’s 29th degree, a planet works through the final stretch of a sign, implying successful integration of the emotional theme of the sign, impeccable completion of the sign’s mundane agenda and thorough resolution and cloture on all the sign’s spiritual priorities. The last degree energy promotes the doctrines of “get it right” and “get it done” before moving forward. Leave no issue unresolved. Make sure no detail is unchecked. Finish all tasks on time with fastidious accuracy. Assimilate all awareness of the last degree passage, melding it into consciousness and you’re good to go into the next sign.
With the hugely significant influence of Saturn upon the mundane realm and the organizational substrate created by Virgo, this last degree transit tops the list of critical critical degree transits. When Saturn transits come through the rows of the perfectly cultivated fields of Virgo, to ensure the optimal harvest, check lists must be checked. This emphasis bears no intent to promote any overly worrisome checking of details. You know the kind: Back in the olden days when people set alarm clocks to awaken in plenty of time to get to the airport for a flight, they might repeatedly check the clock throughout the night to verify it was properly set. On the other side of the coin, when a couple drives off for holiday and one asks the other, “Did you unplug the toaster?” When the other answers, “I’m pretty sure I did,” lacks a satisfactory quality of response.
While many astrological blogs and forecasts tout the devastating surprises dotting the horizon of the next several months, there is another focus one can apply instead of dwelling upon doom. Mind you, turbulent situations may present themselves... as if they haven’t already. The economy, the wound to the global environment spreading wildly, political shenanigans, cultural and theological conflicts and the favorite teams failing to win the World Cup present challenges for us all to endure and hopefully find ways to resolve. But what about the “all bets are off,” “anything can happen,” “if there was ever a time for mastering difficulties and evolving, this is it” states of consciousness? Ahead the planets promise a potential for shifting gears, gaining traction on difficult pathways, gathering new insights and shifting personal consciousness. Further, they strive to establish a solid cornerstone in the awareness of global consciousness that later enables grasping the inkling of universal consciousness... or at least consciousness befitting an entire solar system.
The astronomical community comes to mind here, especially with Uranus and Jupiter soon returning to the 29th degree of Pisces. Few astronomers give two hoots about new planets in our solar system; sadly many astrologers feel no inclination to address them either. However, the astronomers are onto the next thing... extrasolar planets. These are the objects that orbit stars other than our own. The hope harbored by astronomers is that they shall gain immortality as the first who discovered a habitable planet traveling about a distant star. So far most extrasolar planets found are of the huge gaseous category and not hospitable to human-like life. Of the 464 such planets catalogued, not one can be declared as absolutely capable of supporting life as we know it. The next astronomical Holy Grail remains unattainable... for now. Every morning as part of my “get into the day” drill, I check the current postings of the Minor Planet Center for Trans-Neptunian Objects, Scattered Disk Objects and Centaurs. For a very long time now, nothing new has been added. One of these days, I suspect an avalanche of recently confirmed objects shall post. A southern hemisphere Kuiper Belt sky search, which would allow access to potential relatively long period solar system bodies in parts of the celestial canopy never before searched with current technologies, only recently commenced. Previously unknown bodies may be discovered. Recalling Mike Brown’s November 2008 lecture comment that there’s a one in 60 probability of an object as large as Mars orbiting in the range that Sedna travels, I hopefully wait.
Now the labored point of referring to astronomers as an example (no, I’m not paid by the word) is: Imagine the clamoring to return to the study of objects in our solar system should a large Kuiper Belt Object be announced. This would be akin to Jupiter and Uranus returning to a 29th degree. “Um, we’re going back to look in places we didn’t think would be important before. Look! There’s a new red-faced planet!” Whereas before Saturn migrates out of the 29th degree, he would declare that using today’s technology, the entire available sky to view has been searched and until the next technological breakthrough, we have seen what we can see. Saturn would not dare declare all notable objects in the solar system had been found with a significant area of the celestial canopy uncataloged.
Noting the “with today’s technology” aspect of the sentence above, one can prevent Uranian complications later. Traditionally we expect Uranus to bring in the new that allegedly upsets the tried and true. Realizing that more information and insight likely comes down the pike later, one reserves the right for things known to evolve. If a politician gains access to new information and changes a position, s/he is a flip-flopping, no good waffler on every promise made kind of person. Yet in our own lives, evolving and improving are the evolutionary goals.
Back at the ranch, Saturn impatiently drums his fingers on the top rung of the fence around the corral, waiting for all the Jupiter-Uranus inspiration to dangle a carrot in front of present day consciousness. Then, he’ll remind those gathering around the campfire at night for story time, that jobs in progress would do well to get completed before taking off on a new journey. Alternatively, he re-enforces the importance of planning, setting solid strategies, and getting ducks in a row. No check point can be waived, crossed off without completion or ignored. And with a wink at Jupiter, he observes that creating a purpose/mission statement/dharmic direction to underscore a goal trumps other check points on any check point list.
Between now and the 21st - but a fractional fortnight slice of time in the face of a year - anticipate the harvest of the last two years plus of created personal infrastructure and spiritual stricture. It is not yet time to put your hoe down and head to a hoe down celebration. Review, refine, cultivate and reset plans. Check every checklist and pull all those annoying post it tabs off your computer. Stand back and review the sequence of your story development index cards on the far wall and look for smoother transitions and a stronger flow to the story. Complete the nagging nuisance tasks. Clear the decks of tripping hazards to prevent overboard behavior. Get your promises fulfilled. Wash the carrots you intend to dangle in front of new aspirations. Blend linear logic with abstract logic (to satisfy the upcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition), untangling any mental kink.
With a check of the checklist complete, taxi onto the main runway, apply balanced thrust and take on the wild blue yonder of the Jupiter-Uranus ATC clearance... that’s “astrological transits checked” for us folks.