Midlife Transits

Flower essences, a type of remedy for spiritual or emotional issues, are used by many astrologers.  This week’s podcast features an interview with Debbie Sellwood, author of Centaury for Virgo, Rock Rose for Pisces. Debbie is a consulting astrologer and trained flower essence practitioner whose book nicely lays out exactly which flower essences to use for your particular sun sign. She tells how to use them, how long to use them, and how to deal with issues that may go beyond ones common to your sun sign.

During the podcast, she gives each zodiac sign an example of a good flower essence to use and a good issue to focus on. She mentions a number of Bach (pronounced like ‘batch’) flower essences as well as some more recently developed. This is a great example of combining astrology with another healing discipline to add value to both.  Also read Debbie’s article for the Edward Bach website on the zodiac signs as healers and which of the original Dr. Bach flower essences goes with each sign. Read about your own zodiac sign for a good introduction as to what flower essences can do specifically for you.

Below are a number of resources related to flower essences for those who are interested in learning more.

The British Flower and Vibrational Essences Association

Vibration Magazine Blog (The Journal of Vibrational & Flower Essences)

Debbie’s article on surviving all the cardinal clashes with the help of flower essences

Donna Cunningham’s article on Uranus in Aries and flower essences

The Original Bach® Flower Remedies

Flower Essence Services

September is a much more supportive month than August was. The month starts with a couple of nice trines from Venus and Mars in your money sector to Neptune in your job sector. The optimistic interpretation of that would be a raise. Could happen!

Admittedly, there is a bit of intensity around the 21st when the sun in your sign opposes both Jupiter and Uranus on the same day. If you are sensitive to such things, you may feel some suppressed suspense around this time. That would be because Jupiter conjunct Uranus likes to spring surprises on people. If you haven’t already experienced your surprise by this time, you’ll probably feel it coming and wonder what’s going to happen. I don’t know myself what’s going to happen, but the betting money would be on something relating to a committed relationship.

The surprise would be along the lines of suddenly seeing very clearly just exactly how things are in this committed or intimate relationship.

It’s not so much about delivering good news or bad news; it’s more about suddenly understanding how you feel about the state of the relationship in question. That’s kind of cool because most of the time, for most of us, this is actually kind of hard to do. We get so used to things and caught up in the day to day trivia that we don’t quite see the big picture. Jupiter is Mr. Big Picture and Uranus is Mr. Surprise; hence, surprise at seeing the big picture. That’s one possibility at least.

Relationship changes are actually a big theme in your chart for much of the rest of the next 12 months; that is, until mid-March 2011. After that, Uranus will leave your relationship sector not to return in your lifetime unless you live to be really really old (Uranus takes 84 years to circle the zodiac). Until then, you’ll have time to examine relationships from many different perspectives and perhaps with someone new. You might even figure out how to produce the kind of relationship you really want.

After that, if you play your cards right, you’ll get to experience the excitement that Jupiter and Uranus in Aries can bring to your sex life. It’s all a natural progression.

Meanwhile, your birthday wish new moon takes place on September 8. Make a wish and enjoy.

Throughout September, energy in Virgo (via the sun and Mercury) opposes energy from Uranus in Pisces. Virgo is an anxiety sign in your work sector. Uranus is in an anxiety sector of your chart. Therefore, you need to be a bit understanding with yourself if you get the heebie-jeebies this month.

The anxiety, if you get any, comes from not knowing exactly what to do about your job situation. This year has been a bit heavy on Virgo job energy anyway, so you may be getting a bit tired of the burdens. With Saturn firmly out of Virgo now, you may feel that you’ve earned your right to move on. Perhaps you have; I’m certainly not going to argue with you.

The opposition just indicates that you have to figure out how to do that and the way is not necessarily completely clear yet. Especially around the 21st, your mind just may want to go round and round in circles. If that’s the case, try broadening your view, considering additional education or the like. Jupiter will be in your sign until the 9th, and Jupiter does love the broad view and education. Jupiter will also help you if you need to call on your warrior self during the early part of the month. At the very least, he can help you soldier on.

Your ruler Mars will be in Libra until the 14th, bringing vigor to your committed relationships. After that, he’ll be in Scorpio, where he’ll either bring equal vigor to your sex life or go into survivor mode, hunkering down while he broods and plots your next move.

There’s big action along the 5th house/11th house axis of your chart in September. The fifth house, where the sun and Mercury in Virgo are hanging out, has to do with fun, love, kids, play, etc. The 11th house, where Jupiter and Uranus are electrifying things, has more to do with goals and strategies for achieving them. Having fun is important in the short term, but connecting with others to move your goals forward is more important in the long term.

Jupiter is actually in Aries until the 9th, and this position in your chart symbolizes spiritual courage. So the progression goes from bulking up your spiritual courage to taking that courage and applying it to your goals.

Mars also changes signs this month. He spends the first half of the month in Libra in your job sector. Mars in Libra in your solar chart encourages aggressive action on the job, which is part of a longer, ongoing obsession that your chart has with your work in general (thanks mostly to Saturn).

On the 14th, Mars moves into Scorpio and your 7th house. The 7th house pertains to things like committed relationships, but it also represents things like legal proceedings and disputes. Scorpio as a sign relates to joint finances and anything that has to do with 2 or more people with a joint interest in a contractual matter. If any of those circumstances apply to you, prepare for action on those fronts. Mars is a bit of a daredevil, so watch out for recklessness, either on your part or a partner’s.

On the 9th of September, Jupiter moves from Aries back into Pisces. In this shift, he moves from the area of your chart related to politics and society into the part of your chart concerned with your personal reputation, profession, and career. This, I suppose, is great news if you’re sick of contemporary politics. Jupiter and Uranus will team up to try to make your own career more interesting than anything going on in the  rest of the world. Could be fun.

Mars also switches signs this month, moving from Libra into Scorpio on the 14th. Mars in Libra encourages competitive play, games, and tests of skill, strategy, and endurance. It also favors witty conversation and socializing. Not too bad.

Mars in Scorpio is typically not as fun. It’s more about surviving on the job. In late October, Mars in your job sector will team up with Jupiter and Uranus in your career sector to try and make a bold move in your professional life. For the moment, however, it’s more about hanging in there and seeing what happens, especially around the 16th or so through the 23rd or thereabouts.

In astrology, the job sector is also the health sector, so if you don’t have much going on at work, Mars could take an interest in your health. The thing about Mars is that he is a bit reckless and not too careful. If you get all sporty in the first half of the month, you could pay for it in the 2nd half. A wee bit of caution with your body is advised.

Jupiter starts the month in your 10th house of career and profession. Jupiter is the law and learning planet, so you may find yourself either dealing with legal matters or learning in relation to your career. On the 9th, he moves back into Pisces and your solar 9th house, where he feels happy and at home. More learning, perhaps less law. He’ll be partnering with Uranus in your 9th house, so you could get a lightbulb moment this month.

Meanwhile, Mars moves out of your solar 4th house of family and home on the 14th. Mars in the 4th house is traditionally not considered a super-happy spot because Mars’s emphasis on recklessness and daring seemingly doesn’t mix with the 4th house emphasis on the home as a sanctuary. It’s not fatal by any means, but it’s the sort of time when Mars could suddenly decide you need to replace your traditional & comfy living room sofa with one that’s not only too expensive but swathed in a bold animal print that doesn’t wear well over time. Perhaps you could make Mars happy by doing a bit of reckless redecorating or the like on a smaller scale.

Mars in Scorpio from the 14th on is a bit more exciting. Bold creative ventures, bold moves in your love life, recreational daredeviltry (skydiving anyone?), all of these could work out well. Try to use the energy for a bit of fun. Otherwise, if you have kids, it could simply expend itself in having you schlep your darling ones to all their sports events.

Jupiter starts the month in Aries, in your solar house of travel and adventure. Jupiter in Aries is not afraid of anything, and he would probably greatly enjoy a daring vacation. You probably would too; it could be a refreshing treat for your Leo soul. Jupiter is only in Aries until the 9th though, so book your getaway quickly. After the 9th, Jupiter joins Uranus in Pisces, where they are both a bit more on the wet blanket side.

If you can’t get away by the 9th, you do have Mars in Libra until the 14th. Mars here is in your other travel, the sector of shorter trips. The same basic energy still holds, though.  Mars would enjoy a trip to some place you’ve never been before. A weekend getaway to some rough terrain, a bit of backcountry, or anything new and exciting. Just visiting a museum you’ve never been to could do the trick. Your chart just needs a bit of new input to keep it humming along and keep it from getting into a rut.

In the second half of the month, Mars burrows into your home sector. Mars, energetic planet that he is, would probably love a brisk round of decluttering. Mars is also up for other work that might need to be done in your house. If you own rental units, this is a good time to get work done on those too. Since Venus will also be in Scorpio during this time, one nice idea might be to get your home all spruced up and invite some people over. Venus does like to be the gracious hostess, and your sun sign energy is not opposed to that either.

Jupiter and Uranus fuse in your money house this September. It’s tough to say whether they will want to lure money to you or spend it on neat stuff. Pisces is a spiritual sign, and Jupiter loves animals. When the two energies get together, they may like to purchase something like an animal totem or some sort of lucky talisman for you. If you do feel the urge to buy stuff, try to keep it within bounds. Jupiter has a tendency to feel that if one of something is good, then two would be even better! Not always the case.

On the other hand, Jupiter and Uranus may just want to tell you that your best resource lies in your ability to escape and enjoy yourself for awhile. Pisces is also a nature-loving sign, so a retreat into nature might refresh and restore you. If you can’t get away, another possibility is that your spiritual clan will help bring money to you.

Venus and Mars switch from Libra to Scorpio this month. Venus leaves Libra on the 8th, Mars on the 14th. Libra is your travel sign and you have Saturn in residence there for quite a while to come. Saturn rules mountains, so if you do manage to swing an escape from your abode into a natural environment, a trip to the mountains could really clear your head.

Scorpio, the sign of power, is also your career sign. Therefore, from the 8th on, you have more magical powers in your profession than usual. Use them for good.

Jupiter remains in Aries until the 9th of September. Jupiter is part of a broader trend in your chart that will pick up next year, in which the universe is questioning your committed relationships. Jupiter in the 7th house often bats around the idea of increased freedom. Not in a bad way, just sort of hinting around, putting out feelers, asking what the other party might be into to improve the relationship. If you are not in a committed relationship, Jupiter often urges you to make the first move, ask someone out or at least reach out and get to know some people.

After the 9th, Jupiter will join Uranus in Pisces, where the two will cook up some unpredictable hi-jinks in your job and health sector. You’ve dealt with this energy before, so unpredictability on the job may be ho-hum to you by now.

Mars, Venus, Saturn, and the sun will all be in your sign this month. Venus and Mars start the month in your sign, Saturn’s there all month, and the sun enters on the 22nd. Venus leaves on the 8th, Mars on the 14th.

Mars will want to start quarrels, while Venus will want to patch them up. Mars won’t care about the consequences of your actions, while Saturn will care too much. Saturn will probably emerge as the planetary leader of the gang in your sign, and caution will probably prevail. But one result of all this energy may be a need to talk about yourself and your opinions more than normal, once the sun enters your sign. You may need a bit of out loud processing time, as you contemplate the risks not taken and the options not explored. That’s okay; it’s all a learning process.

If you need a job, go for it before the 9th, which is when Jupiter leaves Aries. Crush the competition if you must. You’re the best; make sure everyone knows it. Aries does not reward timidity in pursuing a goal, so don’t hold back. You can worry about how you’re actually going to do the job once you get it. If you don’t get the job right away, keep up hope, for Jupiter will return to your job sector in February. Once Jupiter does retrograde back into Pisces on the 9th, he won’t be much practical help to you. He’ll be hanging out with Uranus, perhaps cooking up some fun or romance for you, but he won’t be focusing on bread and butter issues.

This month, you also have 2 planets enter your sign for the first time all year. The first to enter will be Venus on the 8th. Mars will enter on the 14th. Venus is a bit of a careless planet, and Mars loves danger. This is great if you love danger, too. You can present yourself in a charismatic way with these 2 planets in your sign and attract all sorts of opportunities to flirt with crossing the line. If you don’t love danger, just be aware that you’re more magnetic than usual and steer clear of folks that seem dicey to you.

Before the 14th, Mars will be in Libra advocating for the spiritual approach. Faith and perspective are the watchwords.

Jupiter is in the sector of your chart that relates to play and playfulness until the 9th. Jupiter’s idea of play is to expand your boundaries and take you on an adventure beyond what you would normally do. It could be happy with anything from rockclimbing to hot air ballooning to taking a stab at surfing to a more intellectual adventure. But it would like something that gets your adrenaline going. If you have any time to schedule in a day of excitement, it would do you good. After the 9th, Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces will team up to clear up any old business in the part of your chart that relates to home, family, roots, etc.

Mars also changes signs this month. He starts the month in Libra, the area of your chart that deals with your long-term desires, your wants, wishes, hopes, and aspirations. Typically, with Mars in this sector, you will want what you want more intensely than normal. That’s good, because you’re going to have energy in this sector for a long time due to Saturn in Libra. So it’s good to know exactly what desires Saturn is building the foundation to pursue.

Mars moves into Scorpio on the 14th. This is the prototypical spiritual warrior position. You’ll need to decide for yourself what that means to you.

Just a reminder: Pluto is still in your 2nd house of money. Pluto’s not saying much this month, except around the 25th, when he talks to the sun in Libra. He’s got the same old message. If you want to pursue your desires, you’ve got to figure out how to get the resources to do it.

Jupiter starts the month in Aries, in the sector of your chart that deals with your deep self. It’s been calling to your inner warrior, a part of yourself you’ll need to get accustomed to and hopefully comfortable with. That’s because Uranus will re-enter Aries next year and stay there for about 7 years. Jupiter’s a mild warrior compared to Uranus in Aries. The root theme is ‘defense of the home’ so see if you can think about how to use that energy wisely.

Jupiter will retreat into Pisces and your communication sector on the 9th, where he is not nearly so concerned with warmongering as he is with spirituality and such. He’ll rejoin Uranus there, and the two of them will help you get stuff off your chest if you need to.

Otherwise, the month is much more quiet than August was. You still have a lot of career energy, and Mars and Venus will make nice angles to Neptune in your money house before the 9th.  For best financial results, just let things unfold without interference.

Once Venus moves into Scorpio on the 8th, your best financial strategy involves aligning yourself with others. Keep your own counsel, of course, but try to see the needs of the whole as well. And stick to your budget, taking care not to overindulge on expensive items or outings.

As a side note, Neptune will be moving out of your money house for the first time in a way long time next year, in April. Neptune may have expanded your self-confidence, but he’s also prone to imagining that you have resources that you don’t really have. Soon, you will not have that complication to deal with anymore.

Capricious Jupiter remains in your second house of finances until the 9th. Jupiter’s idea of a good time is to pretend that you don’t have the resources or cash you need for something important to you, and then to swoop in and stage a magical intervention at the last moment so he can bestow some sort of blessing on you. So try to roll with any financial ups and downs during the first third of the month.

After the 9th, Jupiter joins Uranus in your sign, where he’ll be even more capricious. Do not expect things to go as planned or to have complete control of your life for the moment. However, these two are usually not harmful and can even be good when teamed up on your behalf.

Both Venus and Mars switch from Libra to Scorpio this month. Libra is the sign of your past, including your past history with your family. There’s going to be a continuing emphasis on this area of your life for awhile, as Saturn has settled in a for a couple of years. The early part of the month might be a nice time to reach out to your grandparents, and maybe even suggest an oral history project. A trip to explore your past could be a nice idea too.

Also in September, Pluto in your solar sector of groups has mostly stopped picking fights with the other planets. He does get irritated with the sun around the 25th, but mostly he can go back to his long-term task of transforming your sense of belonging. He’s interested in your past too, by the way, so there’s a bit of a theme in the air.

People often ask me about relocating. Changing location is a big deal (ask anyone who’s moved), and for this week’s podcast I talked to an expert in the astrology around relocating. I wanted someone who didn’t just use Astro*Carto*Graphy® as I’ve had a number of clients who’ve complained about the results they’ve gotten using just that one system alone. Scott Wolfram of travelerswell.com uses not only Astro*Carto*Graphy but a combination of methods including Geodetic maps and Local Space maps.

He explains how he weaves all 3 techniques together and why the results you get from ACG alone may not work for you when other factors are taken into account. He recounts the story of his own relocation and the beneficial effects it had on not only his well-being but his wife’s. He also addresses cultural factors and the timing of moving. He talks about why we might be attracted to places that are bad for us and what to expect when we encounter a place with strong energy for us. He’s mindful of the complications and process that go into moving, as he’s done it himself. He also talks about temporary and short-term moves and why they might be beneficial for specific purposes or for a short period of time.

His approach is both comprehensive and clear. I think you’ll like hearing him.

Perhaps coincidentally, Donna Cunningham of Skywriter has a couple of posts on relocation and astrology on her Skywriter blog. She talks about relocation in terms of the natal chart and transits. A whole series of articles on locational astrology in various forms can also be found here.

It’s an interesting subject to ponder and research, since almost all of us have moved at one time or another.