Erotic dance by Asta Nielsen in Afgrunden (1910)

Uranus in Aries: Promote Your Uniqueness

Uranus is the planet of rebellion. It brings with it a new way of looking at things and its approach is best met with an expanded consciousness. Originality, inventions, computers, cutting-edge technologies and future events are all ruled by this planet. Uranus sees no need for the status quo, preferring instead to break with tradition and create a new mold. It takes Uranus 84 years to complete its trip around the zodiac and it changes signs every seven years or so.

On May 26-27, Uranus will dip its first toe-in-the-water into Aries, a planet it has not been in for 84 years. However, this is for a brief sojourn, since it will retrograde back into Pisces on August 14, and will get into proper forward gear in Aries only in March 2011.

Uranus wakes things up and rattles the bars of the cage you’ve constructed around one area of your life. You’ll suddenly find out where you’ve been compromising too much, trying to fit yourself into a square hole to suit others when really you’re a round peg. Uranus wants you to exert your independence and promote your uniqueness. Be yourself no matter who you startle or shock. Admittedly it isn’t always co-operative and can be downright rebellious but it will trail blaze you into the future. Uranus is the torchbearer who leads the way into the unknown or into what you haven’t previously experienced. It may feel initially unsettling but the end result will be to liberate you if you accept the challenge.

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, fiery, full of initiative and energy. The combination of Uranus and Aries will be revitalizing, a kick start to get you moving faster. It’ll clear your head of cobwebs and odd delusions which have been fostered by Uranus in Pisces. You’ll be moving straight ahead without a moment to waste.

Just three hours before Uranus shifts sign there is a Full Moon in Sagittarius. Cancer and the other two Water signs, Scorpio and Pisces may be hyper-sensitive since they tend to react to the mood swings of the Moon on the opposite side of the zodiac from the Sun. But, this is one of the less emotional Full Moons of the year so they won’t be edgy for long.

Jupiter Opposite Saturn: Expect Extremes

On May 23, Jupiter in Pisces will be exactly opposite Saturn in Virgo at 180 degrees to one another. This is called an opposition in astrology and means they are quite literally pulling against each other, wanting to go in quite contradictory directions. Jupiter and Saturn are polar opposites of each other and when they oppose each other, they test the balance between our desire to grow and expand, while at the same time they expose the limitations of what we can do.

Jupiter is the planet of possibilities – happy, optimistic, enthusiastic, confident, though not always realistic, whereas Saturn is cautious to the point of pessimism, grounded, practical and dismissive of Jupiter’s grandiose ideas. Yet, both need each other.

Dreams and visions inspired by Jupiter sometimes turn into disappointments when they are not anchored and Saturn helps us deal with these. On the other hand, Saturn’s discipline and hard task-master ways need some of Jupiter’s joy and expansiveness to make them palatable. You can almost say that Saturn may be the dough for good bread and Jupiter is the yeast that makes the bread rise. You cannot have one without the other.

What a Jupiter - Saturn opposition demands is the capacity to see that our hopes can be carried forward if we are willing to accept a few compromises and imperfections. Life is never perfect – there is always the shadow between our ideas and how they pan out – and it is our ability to deal with troubles that shapes us. A Jupiter – Saturn opposition can make us swing between extremes – from high to low, complete confidence to utter despondency in a short time. If we want to use the positive energy of this opposition for real achievements, we will need perseverance, a strong sense of purpose, unflinching focus, concentration, and determination and tenacity to work on our own to further our real interests. We need to take steps to grow, but be careful about overextending ourselves since we are bound to face limitations.

Birthday Love for Brian Eno

A very happy birthday to Mister Brian Eno.

New Moon in Taurus: Lay Out Your Plans

On May 14, the tactile, indulgent Taurus Moon aligns with the placid, earthy Taurus Sun giving us a New Moon for the month.

In astrology, the Moon plays as important a part as the Sun. It is the Earth’s companion satellite and it is large enough to be responsible for stabilizing the Earth’s orbit and producing the regular ebb and flow of the tides. The Moon changes zodiac signs approximately every two and a half days, and completes its orbit around the Earth approximately 29 days – from new Moon to new Moon – the beginning of the Lunar month.

Each phase of the Moon is associated with a particular power or purpose. The New Moon is a time to begin new things, to be spontaneous and to sow the seeds of whatever you want to bear fruit in the weeks and months to come. Although there is nothing spectacular about the New Moon, it is just a faint sliver of light in the night sky, the crescent moon phase is an information-gathering phase, and a time to implement initial plans. It is vital that we put our hearts and minds behind this idea, so all our energy is pulling in the same positive direction for the new idea to really start taking root. You can plan for an emotional new beginning during a new Moon or target this time as the time to start a new project. Although there is a New Moon every twenty eight days, each new Moon has a different energy and its own promise for the year ahead.

A New Moon in Taurus calls for tangible results for our hopes and dreams, so take your time planning your actions. The best activities for a Taurus New Moon could be financial activities, applying for a loan, starting a long-term relationship, planning a home decoration project. Make sure your resolution gives you enough time to pamper yourself and spending time with loved ones.

Mercury FINALLY Turns Direct Again

Mercury, the planet of communications, goes direct in Taurus on May 11 after being retrograde for three weeks, and our forward momentum is once again restored.

Mercury retrograde periods should be considered as times of preparation, a time when delays in the outside world give us an opportunity for deeper thinking. You will now be able to give form and structure to ideas and plans and thoughts that you might have been mulling over recently. And now is the time to act on these!

It may be as simple as reaching out through an email or a phone call; Mercury direct will give you a noticeable nudge. Since Mercury is in earthy and practical Taurus it may have also spurred you on to tackle more down-to-earth matters that may have been pushed aside. The time may be right for you to see through the forest of possibilities and make important choices. Your judgement should be sound and you may be more practical and realistic, fully aware that good planning is behind every success. However, a word of caution -- Taurus hides what it does not want you to see -- make sure you do not have blinkers on. Remember there are more things on Heaven and Earth than you can see, feel, touch and smell. Let your imagination fly.

Anyone want to get me this as a late birthday present?

I will love you forever and ever... I am dead serious about this.
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