from the chair: 10th September 2020: Mars retrograde, 13th Jupiter direct

Hi everyone!

Completion time: From now to December!

We’re in the Virgo solar month and the ninth month of the calendar year. In Numerology, 9 is the number of completion and it seems that just since the Full Moon last week some of us are finding breakthroughs of varying kinds. In the Tarot cards, The Hermit card is the number 9 and relates to ‘the journey’, our individual quest for truth, love and wisdom. It’s message...’go on and complete’.

Clearing the final obstacles

It feels like what we’ve been chipping away at for months is starting to show signs of release as the inner resistances to change are beginning to fall away. Are we worn out? Are we surrendering and accepting? Which parts of us, which sub-personalities have finally given over to the inevitable change and accepted the shift in consciousness to truth, love and yes...freedom!

Readying ourselves for clearance from the undertow!

We are on the edge of some imminent major shifts in the planetary energies with Jupiter already stationing on 17 degrees almost at a standstill as he turns direct after months of retrograde energy. He moves on to 18 degrees at the end of September, just when Saturn stations/turns direct.

Starting to feel the release from the undertow of retrograde energies in Capricorn: Starting this week, this month and onwards to December

It’s been the feeling that we’re dragging our heels, wading through mud which we can put down to Jupiter Pluto and Saturn in Capricorn travelling retrograde. These slower moving planets are what’s giving us all a general feeling of ‘nothing’s happening’ of a lack of impetus as the world undergoes the challenge of social, economic and political change.

Regenerating our inner sloth:

Getting a new vision of the world through 2020...2020 vision!

Capricorn’s a cautious sign anyway which has added to this underlying sluggishness of the energies. We needed the karmic clearance so we can be ready for the Aquarian energies coming in this December. In just a couple of weeks, 29th September, Saturn will be turning direct and we’ll feel that undertow of heaviness release from our bodies and our life force.

Mars retrograde: Still fire in the engines keeping them idling if not firing

Now, we could think that Mars stationing retrograde could hold us back from taking physical action and slow our progress. More than likely. However, Mars is still in his own sign of Aries so there’s still fire in the engines. And he travels at the top of the energetic framework of planetary speed.

From 6th to 10th:

A little less oomph in the engines as Mars ‘stations’ at 28 degrees Aries

Mars is slowing down preparing to turn retrograde on 10th September. As one of our main engine drivers for vitality and physical get up and go, we may well be feeling his slowdown sitting on the stationing degree of 28 Aries. However, there’s an added intensity to his energy during this period that may well be internalised.

He's preparing to enter the retrograde labyrinth for the next 2 months where he can access immense inner fire power for healing and building new cell structures as he squares off to the Capricorn team of Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter.

10th September: Mars retrograde 28 degrees Aries at 8.22 am AEST

Resurrection?

Stations direct at 14th November at 15 degrees Aries

A two month retrograde stint heightens the energies and transforms action

Intensification!

Mars is in his own sign of Aries for an extended period thanks to a retrograde stint of 2 months. The last time this happened was 1988. Like so much of this year, we are in highly unusual circumstances astrologically with these planetary forces playing out across the world in our everyday reality.

Mars is now to play a significant role in the change process:

Firing up the warrior!

We are at a significant turning point in history, a turning point which can make us or break us, a time for getting serious about maintaining life on earth for the good of all. At this time we are still being brought face to face with the facts whilst our political leaders are in as much if not more confusion about what to do. The growing rebellion intensifies in what form? Finding our avenue for expressing the fiery emotions brewing inside. It may go out or in or a balance of both. We are looking to evolution, new ways of harnessing and expressing energy.

In the labyrinth, a time of renewal, reflection: Fast spiritual growth

Mars is our masculine warrior, our fire and drive, our get up and go is now entering the labyrinth of reflection where his energy is contained by a slowing down of everyday movement.

He’s backtracking over the past few months reviewing, rediscovering in a process of renewal.

Mars gains a new sense of power...contained energy!

As one of our personal movers and shakers, Mars is not comfortable in this holding process. However, a retrograde journey intensifies the power of the planet as it’s forced to hold energy where once before it readily dissipated that energy. This is a new inner power that will need harnessing if we really want to work some magic in our lives.

Hocus, pocus, focus: Being a master of fire and healing forces!

We’re doing the inner fire dance round and around, maybe covering some old ground, old issues around who we are, identity, around being a source of spiritual power for ourselves and in the world. Spiritual wounds around taking the initiative, taking the lead, feeling okay to be fired for life may arise during these months.

The physical body: Cocooned by the retrograde journey, our bodies, cells are regenerating! We’re transforming!

Mars is ruler of our physical body so chances are we may feel less than dynamic during his retrograde. Retrograde planets pull us back from physical action and in doing so accelerate spiritual expansion and growth as they demand inner work. However, with this contained fiery energy, we have a chance to access some powerful physical healing in the body. Be aware of heat surges, downloads which flood the system with light energy and power.

Awaken to the healing power which is our birthright!

The forces of light are here to support us as we find ourselves!

The potential for physical healing is very strong during this retrograde period as Mars continues to square off to Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn until November. Capricorn is an earth sign, a very physically oriented sign ruling the skeleton, bones, joints and knees.

Building new cell structures:

Believe in the healing power within and call it in!

During this period Mars will continue to square off to the Capricorn team of Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter. Capricorn rules structures. It’s the sign of ‘the builder’ so there’s every likelihood we can harness the intense inner healing power of Mars in challenging our bodies to build new cell structures. Of course it’s a long term process but we get a boost with this planetary set up.

Sabian symbol for Mars retrograde station: From Lynda Hill www.sabiansymbols.com

Aries 29

THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES

This Symbol speaks of the beauty of music and harmony and it is particularly intuitive. It doesn't matter if things are going well or not, if you are in tune with the inner voice, this can show an inner accord with your path. Savor the lessons that come and know that everything happens in its own time and you’ll grow in wisdom. ‘The Music of the Spheres’ can show attuning to the messages of astrology, numerology, mathematics and science. Sing, tune into the planets, listen to music, dance and celebrate life. Voices bringing messages. Music, harmonies, chords, keys, octaves. Circadian rhythms. Days of the week. The planets speaking. The measuring and the passing of time.

Interesting to see how astrological events are mirrored in physical reality: Exploration of Mars

Mars entered shadow retrograde on 25th July. Just 5 days later the space explorer vehicle ‘Perseverance’ rover was launched by NASA on a journey to Mars to collect signs of ancient life, rock and soil samples. It will touch down on Mars on 18th February 2021 about 6 weeks after Mars moves out of shadow retrograde on 2nd January 2021.

13th September:

Jupiter direct at 17 degrees 24 Capricorn at 10.40 am AEST

On the move!

Slowly we awaken, come to our senses, stretch, yawn and wonder:

’What happened?’

Although it will take a few weeks for Jupiter to really get up some speed to kick off out of retrograde, the fact that he is moving forward will make a difference to all of us. He is a movement oriented planet, the ruler of Sagittarius one of our freedom loving signs.

Jupiter’s new sense of freedom unleashed from the retrograde labyrinth

He’s been constrained on two fronts, both in retrograde motion and travelling in slow moving cautious Capricorn who wants us to put in the hard yards, the commitment, persistence, patience and focus to reach a desired goal, the top of our mountain, to be the best we can be. He remains in Capricorn until December. Climbing high.

Gradual widespread awakening:

Jupiter is one of the ‘social’ planets which means his impact is widespread across society. It may feel a little like we’re starting to emerge from a mass dream like state. For many, it’s been a nightmare.

Jupiter still working with Capricorn constraints:

Discipline, responsibility, good karma maybe?

We’re going to start feeling like we can stretch ourselves after a long sleep.

There’s no rush, urgency or push to activate as this will feel like a slow awakening, a feeling that we’ve come into a new day with a new impetus.

From end of September: Eyes open, mind expanding changes emerging

Jupiter won’t really get under way until the end of September when he moves off the degree of his ‘station’. He starts to pick up speed when he moves onto 18 degrees on 29th September. That’s when we’ll get some idea of just how much we’ve grown in knowledge, wisdom and consciousness inside the labyrinth of ‘the mountain king’.

Sabian symbol for Jupiter’s stationary direct degree:

From Lynda Hill www.sabiansymbols.com

Capricorn 18

THE UNION JACK FLIES FROM A NEW BRITISH WARSHIP

This Symbol talks about supervision, border protection and control. There can be a feeling of having to oversee a large ‘empire’ where reliability and leadership are vital. This can be a tiring responsibility, but there can be an awareness of the protection of 'all who went before'. However, political and social restraints from the past could be causing you to feel that you’ve somehow got to ‘wage war’. Issues to do with the government can come up, whether you agree with what they do or not. You may be confronted with having to make your presence felt and guard your territory. Effective supervision will help you to relax. Colonialism. Protectionism. Nationalism. Border patrols and border protection. The ruling elite. Empires. The mother country. War games. Pitting people against each other.

Golden Oldies:

‘I can see clearly now’ Neil Finn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgtSiTW7Fn4 for Jupiter moving direct

‘On a clear day’ Kate Smith with lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzI51z0rAjo for Jupiter moving direct

Barbara Streisand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz5DLO8fclA Jupiter moving direct

‘Healing Time on Earth’ John Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wrDc8lx3_I for Mars retrograde

‘Come Healing’ Leonard Cohen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUB1O2cT2gM Mars retrograde

‘Come Healing’ Lyrics

O gather up the brokennessAnd bring it to me now
The fragrance of those promisesYou never dared to vow

The splinters that you carryThe cross you left behind
Come healing of the bodyCome healing of the mind

And let the heavens hear itThe penitential hymn
Come healing of the spiritCome healing of the limb

Behold the gates of mercyIn arbitrary space
And none of us deservingThe cruelty or the grace

O solitude of longingWhere love has been confined
Come healing of the bodyCome healing of the mind

O see the darkness yieldingThat tore the light apart
Come healing of the reasonCome healing of the heart

O troubled dust concealingAn undivided love
The heart beneath is teachingTo the broken heart above

Let the heavens falterLet the earth proclaim
Come healing…

Upcoming Dates:

22nd September: Sun enters Libra

27th September: Mercury to Scorpio

29th September: Saturn direct 25 degrees Capricorn

That’s all folks! Hugs all around!

Yes, we’re still travelling in the light of the earthy Virgo Sun and the showy Leo Moon who seem to have switched roles as the light of Leo normally in full splendour in sunlight is learning to shine from within while the private, sensitive light of Virgo, so comfortable working ‘undercover’ is shining the feminine healing power into our physical bodies and worlds.

It seems appropriate with fiery Mars turning retrograde in his own sign that we join hands around the power of the fire, the lightest of the elements, the element that signifies spirit energy which keeps us going even when our other energies may be depleted.

With Jupiter, planet of expansion and growth, moving direct in Capricorn, we’re given the go ahead with one of the slower moving planets which has had immense pressure to slow down retrograde when all its energy is go, go, go. This is one big sign of what’s to come with release from this containment.

Love and blessings to us all as we join in spirit if not physically in the promise of the beginning of release from some of the challenges of this year. No, it’s not over yet so maintaining focus and faith in our process is vital to our renewal and recovery.