This Week in Astrology

Jupiter Squares Saturn

“Eternity is in love with the productions of time.” William Blake

This week the Jupiter/Saturn square is exact and in close aspect with the planet ruling dreams, visions and illusions. It is a good time to keep hope and optimism in the picture along with discernment and respect for the mandates of Saturn – the ruler of discipline and mundane time. As with the myth of Icarus it’s not a good time to be flying too close to the sun in terms of actions related to inflated dreams and expectations. Rather factor in a solid foundation and steady path forward. Be willing to be patient.

Juno is in a complicated aspect to Venus now. This can bring up conflict in committed relationships (of any kind) around the need for individual independence/ autonomy and the needs of the relationship/partnership. There is not a pressing need to act on any perceptions in this area now- it is best to clarify issues and figure out strategies for striking a better balance.

The need to discernment in regards to your individual life and strivings as well as the collective life on our planet will be an important theme throughout the year. Best to keep it in the picture.

Mercury and Mars Retrograde

“Despair is hidden arrogance : ‘I have seen the future and it doesn’t work.’ Hope is rooted in trust of the unknown. Work, wait and hope. That is enough. Sam Keen

With Mercury and Mars now retrograde (Mercury through 5/23 and Mars through the end of June) there can be more confusion than usual with processing feelings and information. This can be in part because of the retrograde period – which provides a better time for review and revisioning – particularly about your plans and options for proceeding – than trying to push forward. It is a good time to practice patience. Don’t let delays or snags with technology catch you by surprise.

With Mars and Saturn in Sagittarius it is a good time also to consider the interplay between faith and fear in your life. Saturn’s square to Neptune, an ongoing influence this year, has to do with in part with experiencing disillusionment – in a sense seeing through the veil – and what we learn and how we grow from these types of experiences.

“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith: it is an element of faith.” Paul Tillich

Friday’s New Moon in Taurus

“To the dull mind nature is leaden.To the illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday’s New Moon occurs at 16 degrees of Taurus at 3:29 PM EDT. This provides a good time for appreciating the gifts of nature by , for example , having a well crafted meal or taking a hike to a place you love and feel connected to, or looking up and appreciating the beauty of the night sky.

It is a good time to set or reaffirm goals which move your life in a more expansive direction. Do be aware of opportunities you might not normally consider. With all the powerful earthy energy significant changes can be made over time – just start to build a solid path forward. The sign of Taurus is associated with the cycles of nature – from the seed point to the harvest – and is aware of the value of slow and steady growth.

One of the Sabian symbols associated with this New Moon is, “A new continent rising out of the ocean.”

Sabian Symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom.