Winter Esoteric Column, Begin 2010

Mars Retrograde and Jupiter in Pisces

Spring 2010 Note: Mars has ended its retrograde cycle on March 10, but it continues in its shadown through May 19th. So we are coming out of this energy of Mars retrograde and beginning to take action so that we are living and acting in a more heart-centered way. So there is some validity for the Mars information through early June 2010. Or, scroll down to the Jupiter information.

Winter 2009-10 brings two significant energy shifts through warrior Mars and expansive Jupiter. There are also two eclipses that are the flip side of the coin from the ones that occurred in July 2009 (remember all the emotions and memories that were brought up with the death of Michael Jackson, Walter Cronkite, and others). The best way to deal with this winter is to practice flexibility to changing environments and desires. With Mars retrograde, you will be doing a lot of behind the scenes review of activities and ambitions, deciding what to keep and what to release.

About every two years, ambitious Mars gives the illusions of turning retrograde. There is an excellent picture of what a retrograde looks like at Nasa's Astronomy Picture of the day http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080511.html

Most people are familiar with the more common Mercury retrograde cycle that occurs approximately three times per year. In any retrograde cycle, you must review and revise the energies associated with the planet. With Mercury retrograde, you review and revise your communications and transportation needs. Mars is an aggressive, masculine energy that asserts itself to get what it needs. From Dec. 20, 2009 through March 10, 2010, Mars appears to move backwards in Leo. Mars is actually in Leo between mid-October 2009 and early June 2010, but only in the intense retrograde cycle for about eleven weeks. On the simple level, Mars retrograde is a good time to revise your exercise program.

Now is the time to review and revise your actions and ambitions. The sign Leo is associated with leadership, creativity, remembering the child within, and opening your heart. If you are not passionate about your actions in the world, then this is the perfect time to make behind the scenes revisions. Although you may not be able to change everything in your life now, it is important to take positive steps to bring more passion into your life.

This can include passion in relationships, bringing more of the creative side into your work, or simply making time to play more. If you have a great idea -one of those "someone should create or invent a ...," then it might just be time for you to step into leadership and take on the project.

In the body, Mars rules anger, headaches, blood circulation, adrenalin and certain parts of the adrenal glands. If you are starting a new exercise plan for the new year (recommended), it would be good to start in an easy and steady way rather than impatiently forcing yourself to get up to speed.

Although it is a graphic example, the 9-1-1 events explain this energy quite well. Prior to September 11, Mars was retrograde in Sagittarius. This is the sign representing religion and distant cultures. All of the planning for the attack was done while Mars the warrior was retrograde. When Mars ended its retrograde period and moved into the next sign Capricorn (rules government, structures), the attacks took place. Of course, there is more to the story since Saturn (structures) was in Gemini (twins) opposite Pluto (death & destruction) in Sagittarius (religion and foreign cultures).

The point is to look at what behind the scenes actions you need to prepare to get ready to take out into the world by spring or summer 2010. It is also good to know that it will be late summer before your plans get on a roll because restructuring Saturn will make one more pass back into Virgo to clean up any old business or clutter before fully entering Libra in July.

Jupiter in Pisces

Expansive Jupiter enters Pisces on January 17th and passes through the sign of the fish for a full year (with just a brief peek into Aries in the summer). Jupiter has two favorite signs (called rulership) - Pisces and Sagittarius. This journey through Pisces is considered to be favorable, which is a good thing because there are several challenges coming up in the summer of 2010.

Think back to the previous time Jupiter was in Pisces, twelve years ago. February 1998-February 1999 was the last time Jupiter was in Pisces. It is common to see similar activities or endings/beginnings when you compare 2010 to 1998.

For example, there was a bombing of an abortion clinic in Alabama when Jupiter entered Pisces in 1998, and now abortion is an issue (again) in the national health care discussions over the government paying/or not paying for abortions. During the same year, NASA discovered potential water hidden in craters on the moon; and just prior to Jupiter moving into Pisces, a spacecraft was driven into the moon to find water.

Jupiter rules large things. Pisces rules the ocean (water element sign). Japan opened the largest suspension bridge in the world over the Akashi Straight when Jupiter was in Pisces. Citicorp and the Traveler's group merged to become the biggest financial group at the time (Pisces likes to lose itself in merging with others). UNESCO declared 1998 to be the Year of the Oceans at the Lisbon, Portugal Expo. The Yangtze River experienced massive flooding in China. The European Court of Human Rights was established.

Think about your life in 1998, Feb. 1986-March 1987, or March 1974-March 1975 when Jupiter was in Pisces. Jupiter rules adventure, expansion, mentoring, coaching, enthusiasm, generosity, distant lands & cultures, and anything big & generous. In the body, Jupiter is associated with growths, liver, sciatica, and hips. Pisces is associated with dreams, sleep, escapism & addictions, the ocean, spirituality, psychics, illusions, and the film business.

It is likely we shall see new developments in televisions and the film business, such as the 3D televisions that are about to come onto the market. New laws, and perhaps events (accidents, big tsunamis, ocean wind farms, expansion on the moon due to water discoveries) regarding the oceans will come into being. The confirmation of the existence of water on the moon and Mars will have far-reaching ramifications.

On a personal level, perhaps it is time to expand your vision. Maybe it is time to take a journey or retreat to a sacred place. Jupiter rules publishing, so perhaps it is time to write that book- or with Pisces ruling the film business, you can make your DVD.

Philosophical shifts in thinking about how the USA deals with foreign cultures is in the works. For example, shutting down terrorism in Afghanistan simple meant that those people are setting up shop in Africa, and Africa is just too big to use old strategies. Generosity, be it in government subsidies or individual donations will change.

Jupiter says that we must expand our vision. Pisces represents compassion and forgiveness, so perhaps we can add a little compassion into how we deal with the serious problems of the world.

I'll leave you to sort it all out, but the main thing is that it is time to expand your vision and look at your philosophical base. Expansive Jupiter will help you go to the next level, but he requires that you take a leap of faith. Jupiter offers no guarantees, but he does support you in allowing the God-energy to flow through you more fully.

The spring and summer 2010 columns will deal with major changes by way of a planetary pattern called a T-Square. This is a very aggressive combination of life-changing planets. For now, know that it is time to go beyond your current belief system, because the changes coming are definitely outside the box.

Following is an article published in New Connexions Journal in the Pacific NW. Mark has had a column in their paper for over 12 years now.

Rebalance and Revolutionize in the New Year

2012 Arrives Early

Get ready for an exciting year. Astrologers have been privately talking about 2010 at astrology conferences for several years, and now it’s time to bring our secrets into the world. If you have been impatiently waiting for 2012, then you will be happy to know that it is arriving two years early.

The heavy-duty outer planets that transform lives are all tied together in 2010 in a challenging pattern called a T-Square. Imagine the tension you would feel if you were sitting on a three-legged chair that should have four legs. You can sit on it, but you need to pay conscious attention to your actions to maintain your stability.

The least little movement, like reaching for your cup of tea, requires you to re-balance on the fly. Add to that, explosive Uranus moves into impatient Aries this summer to blow up your comfort zone.

Before you rush to call your favorite astrologer, know that this motivating planetary alignment is a good thing. When planets line up in the early degrees of action signs (specifically, Libra, Aries and Capricorn), there is an impatient rush to pioneer a new path.

In 2010, the universe reminds you that everything is connected. You must look several steps down the road when you make a decision, because your actions this year will reverberate throughout all areas of your life during the next two years.

The planetary energies of 2012 look calm compared to this summer. 2010 does the intense transforming work, so that you are prepared to peacefully meditate on creating a new galactic reality by 2012.

Because these expansive and explosive frequencies do not peak until summer, it is important to begin with relatively uncommon energies currently building towards a summer crescendo.

Warrior Mars, now passing through passionate Leo, begins the year in its rare retrograde cycle. From December 20, 2009 through March 10 th, you are reviewing your ambitions. Leo requires you to step into leadership, urging you to create your life based upon your heart’s desire.

If you are trying to keep a relationship or job in motion, but your heart just isn’t in it, Mars retrograde stimulates you to quietly prepare your battle plan for action come spring. With Mars spending six months in Leo when its normal passage is six weeks, you are getting an aggressive push to align your worldly actions with a passionate, heart-centered path.

Before making excuses as to why you cannot have what your heart wants, remember that summer brings paradigm shifts in your life. Trust that your old beliefs and behaviors will fall away. Now is the time to do the behind-the-scenes preparation before announcing your plans to the world.

The energy of these changes picks up speed by August. Before you run off to a cave in Montana, know that the T-Square has already been building since 2008.

Destructive Pluto moved into restructuring Capricorn to change aspects of the world that were sitting on faulty foundations (bad real estate loans, money games on Wall St. and Bernie Madoff Ponzi schemes).

The second leg of the T-Square started last October when integrity-focused Saturn entered the relationship sign of Libra. You are called to re-balance your relationships, beginning with your relationship to self. If you have been giving too much of yourself away, then you must reclaim healthy boundaries or risk burning out Libra-ruled adrenals.

On a global level, Saturn was in Libra in the early 1980’s and early 1950’s. The United Nations was in the news and the USA was actively changing relationships with the Russians through the reduction of weapons systems. As this energy was getting started in 2008, the installation of weapons systems near Russia’s border was cancelled by President Obama. The United Nations will go through a restructuring before Saturn leaves Libra in the fall of 2012.

Whether you are looking at global or personal relationships, they are all in the process of change. Good relationships have the opportunity to go to even better levels. Bad relationships must be torn apart to be restructured or released.

Whether this is the relationship of the USA with a country in change like Cuba, or in your love, family or work relationships, they key is the same. Libra urges diplomacy, grace and cooperation. Saturn requires long-term, patient changes to create a solid foundation for the future.

There is a wild card to add to the mix. Expect the unexpected Uranus moves into independent Aries at the full moon on May 27 th.

Uranus revolutionizes your life and Aries wants it done yesterday. All of your neatly laid plans get hit by a thunderbolt. Uranus wants to sell it all and go on walkabout. Aries wants to pioneer a completely new path. You must balance this freedom-seeking energy with the stabilizing energy of the other two legs of the T-Square.

It is like putting a complex puzzle together while all the pieces are floating in zero gravity. The beauty is that you creatively combine different aspects of your life in a way that has never been done before. The challenge is that you must release old paradigm modes of thinking.

Although my intent is to not participate in doom-and-gloom mentality, it is important to look at the difficult side of this grinding planetary pattern. Personal relationships that have not been working are going to crash and burn. Let them go.

Many people will choose to vacate the planet rather than work with this new energy. A recent example of this is last July when changing emotional energy released Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite and others who represented their generations.

Summer will be a busy fire season and earthquakes will be significant this year. Political and social revolutions will be in the news. The uncovering of corruption and hidden secrets continues to bring new surprises into the media. This same energy brings new inventions in diseases of the heart, natural energy, and faster everything.

In summary, the phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” does not apply in 2010. Be willing to release old beliefs and behaviors and trust that you are being divinely guided to your highest good.