Horoscope for Summer Season 2009

(To go directly to the Horoscopes - scroll down)

Tip of the Season:

            The official beginning of Summer 2009, also referred to as Summer Solstice, was June 20 at 10:46 pm and it hosts some interesting planetary activity. First, the Moon is its late waning phase as summer begins. This Moon Phase is about endings, completions and clearing in preparation for the new cycle. Looking at this phase as having a stamp on the entire summer, which reflects a fractal perspective on the season wherein it is seen as a whole unit of time, the phase of the Moon and the planetary alignments in general in the chart cast for that exact moment as listed above will have an influence on the overall tenor of the season. Therefore, we should see a subtle yet pervasive trend that matches these themes clearing, completing, purging, tying up loose ends, planning, preparing and targeting new developments and actions to take while we wait for the right moments. This late phase of the Moon is also about commitments to the future. I refer to it as the ‘bulb planting phase of autumn’. In other words, each quarter of the Moon Phase is associated with a season. The New Moon begins the year and is symbolically linked to Winter which, ironically, is the first season of the year. The First Quarter or from the half waning moon to full is spring, the Full Moon to the Last Quarter is symbolic of Summer and the Last Quarter to New again is Autumn.  So, the late Waning Moon Phase is symbolically associated with late autumn. Venus and Mars are in an exact conjunction in Taurus on the 21^st. Read all about it and about this summer’s eclipse season below.

            The following is an overview of planetary activity this summer:

            Pluto is now in Capricorn as of late January 2008 initially and then after retrograding back into Sagittarius, re-entered in late November 2008. Pluto advance rather quickly from then until early April whereupon it turned retrograde again and ever since has been moving back again toward 0 degrees Capricorn where it will station (appear to stay as if stopped) throughout most of August, all of September and half of October. Anyone with Natal Planets at the early first few degrees of the Cardinal Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn and to a lesser degree any of the other signs, will experience some noticeable death and rebirth themes. These can be at least as liberating as difficult, but endings are often challenging.

            Pluto will turn Direct again on September 11^th… It makes me wonder if this date of Pluto at its most still point, when it stations or appears to stop before resuming noticeable motion for another month, will stir the pot about the September 11, 2001 crisis/conspiracy. Despite the success of the media to turn this into an act or Terrorism, there remain many who believe it was an inside job and most of these voices are American themselves. There are some good documentaries on this subject on YouTube entitled: Loose Change (I & II) and the other, which offers a very deep historical perspective is called Empire of the City. Whatever really happened on that fateful day, that Pluto turns Direct at 0 degrees Capricorn is sure to raise more than a few brows in the Astrological community and is bound to produce fresh articles on the subject as well. With that being the 8^th year anniversary of the 9/11 event, the numerological number that implies culmination, harvest, toil and testing we are bound to experience a return to that event and the many subsequent issues and events and current realities that were spawned by it.

            Pluto will be in for the next 15 years. Pluto has made its first surge forward and has advanced over 3 degrees since November, which is quite fast for Pluto. Anyone with planets in the early degree of Capricorn, Aries, Libra and Cancer especially, but in any sign generally, will have already felt the initial waves of change and transformation that being ‘touched’ by Pluto implies.

            On April 3^rd, Pluto began its retrograde retreat and will actually move all the way back to 0 degrees Capricorn by late summer, September 11^th to be exact…. By Winter solstice, Pluto will have regained its ground and advance to 5 degrees by April of next year. Pluto transforms whatever it touches, or by any other name or rank, Pluto is a powerful player and when it visits sensitive points in your chart it changes your life in ways corresponding to those points forever.

            Neptune is in Aquarius as it has been since 1999. Now it is in the final degrees of Aquarius (there are 30 degrees in any sign) and is forming a conjunction with Chiron and Jupiter this spring with the closest conjunction of these three outer planets occurring in late May and into June 2009. This aspect will prove very revealing of where wounds are present on both personal and collective levels and will activate and awaken healing attitudes or will possibly be met with resistance and denial by many since Uranus, the ruling planet for Aquarius, is in Pisces which, at it lower ebb, represents denial. On the high side, people continue to awaken to the importance of working for change, in terms of healing or progress and success in the marketplace and so on, from the inside-out. This is where modern psychology and spirituality are forming a deep bond. Deeper yet, what the interactions of Jupiter, Chiron, Uranus and Neptune imply is a powerful spiritual healing and awakening. They are serving to activate a spiritual revolution which will be very evident in 2011. For now, much healing must occur so that people can awaken and this is not such a straightforward process. Despite many sincere efforts, the pace remains slow but it will undergo a significant acceleration beginning with Uranus in Aries in April 2010.

            The healing implied includes addressing issues and blocks of any kind by dealing with the subconscious has grown in popularity steadily over the past century and several decades especially, and now it is rapidly becoming common knowledge. This is what this powerful and rare conjunction is influencing. People with planets from 23-27 degrees of the fixed signs –Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius - especially will be strongly influenced by this alignment. But as with Pluto, any planet at this degree will feel the call to awaken to the age old understanding that true change of a spiritual nature occurs from the inside-out.

            With Uranus in Pisces hovering at 26 to 24 degrees over the course of summer, Persons with planets and sensitive points at those degrees or those of the mutable Signs Pisces, Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius will experience measurable awakenings, sudden realizations and rapid change. For some this awakening is a welcome process as it is the needed shift of consciousness leading to liberations necessary for the next set of experiences in their life journey. There are many other attitudes, beliefs and practices in the market and lifestyle patterns that also reflect the ‘old’ days of only 10 years or so ago. To those unwilling or unable to adjust and adapt to the rapidly changing times, these changes may not be so welcome at all. It is important that people at least keep an open mind and moreover, that they mobilize in consciousness and action to understand and cooperate with the changes that Uranus will bring.

            Saturn in the mid degrees of Virgo is in a strong and favourable position, again especially for anyone willing and wise enough and able to be disciplined and work with the changes that are underway. Education, knowledge, skills and new habits and approaches and strategies in general are implied by the placement of Saturn in Virgo. The old world and ways is dissolving quickly now and wisdom says adapt and learn, learn and adapt. So, if this is speaking to you, intend to watch less television if you do normally and reach out to people and resources and the internet to tune-in so that you can meet the changes with awareness, intelligence and knowledge and information that you can put to practical use. This placement marries well with the themes of the Chinese Year of the Earth ox which we are currently in and will continue to be until February 2010.

            Saturn is traveling fast now and will move from 15 to 25 degrees of Virgo by the time autumn arrives. Expect the pace of change in society in general, especially regarding the environment, the economy and new technologies this summer.

            Amidst bigger waves and deeper currents, Venus and Mars – the mythical lovers – formed an exact conjunction aspect on June 21^st. The stimulation they are stirring will be quite noticeable indeed, especially for people with planets and other sensitive points at the middle degrees 13-17 and especially 15 degrees where they meet in Taurus and as well for Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius - the Fixed Signs. At best, this will stir deep passions to the satisfaction of those who are influenced by it. Alternatively, it could lead to get rich quick schemes and other short term interests where interest ranks higher than integrity and sincere effort.

            Mars is the ruling planet of Aries and Venus rules Taurus where the mythical lovers will meet at the powerful mid degree. The 15^th degree of the Fixed Signs is considered very powerful to Astrologers because the mid degrees of the fixed signs are the mid points between the Solstices and Equinoxes.  With Venus now in full embrace with Mars - her provocative playmate and lover – many pregnancies will be traced back to this period about 9 months from now as Taurus is symbolically linked to Beltane – the pagan spring fertility festival!

            Mercury begins the season in Gemini and will gain speed as summer progresses, especially in July and August. Mercury will enter cancer on July 3^rd, and then will enter Leo on July 18^th, then Virgo on August 3^rd then Libra on August 26^th. By September 6^th Mercury will turn Retrograde in Libra – one of its most difficult sign placements. By September 17^th Mercury will retrograde back into Virgo which could help alleviate the stress somewhat as Mercury is the co-ruler of Virgo. Mercury will remain retrograde until September 30^th.

            Venus the summer season in Taurus and in conjunction to Mars as stated above. Venus is very well placed in Taurus and stimulates a slow but sure and sensual pace. By July 5^th Venus will enter Gemini where she is very friendly and flirtatious. She will transit through Gemini until August 1^st when she enters Cancer bringing a noticeable desire to be close to home and family and perhaps pursue artistic activity there. By August 26 Venus enters fun, playful and passionate Leo where she will be inspired to put on a show. This is the same day Mercury enters Libra. By September 20^th, Venus enters sober Virgo where she is meant to give more than receive.

            Mars begins the season in Taurus and it will take until July 11^th before the red planet enters Gemini where it assumes added energy and vigour. There it will remain until August 25th when it enters Cancer where it brings energy and focus to repairs and renovations around the home where it will remain until mid October.

            Finally, I would like to add that summer 2009 is an Eclipse Season. Three eclipses in all are scheduled by the divine powers of nature: two Lunar Eclipses and one Total Solar Eclipse. The first Lunar Eclipse will occur on July 7^th at 15 Capricorn 32 and the other on August 6 at 13 Aquarius 35. In between these on July 22^nd is the Solar Eclipse and it will take place at 29 Cancer 27, the final and critical degree of Cancer!

            This family of eclipses is particularly potent and assertive if not outright aggressive and even potentially violent. The latter could be especially the case where there is resistance to change. The changes implied, and change is an especially strong theme in this case, invite new methods and approaches and major and sudden reforms. This will be especially experienced by persons with planets and other sensitive points at the last few degrees of Cancer especially and the same in the remaining Cardinal Signs – Libra, Capricorn and Aries and the first 1 or 2 degrees of Leo especially and the remaining Fixed Signs – Scorpio, Aquarius and Taurus - in general.

            The path of the Solar Eclipse is always especially important. It is said that this is the region that experiences the greatest intensity of the eclipse. Generally, people with planets at or close to that degree especially in one of the signs listed will also feel the influence in measurable ways. The path starts in Pakistan, Sweeps through central India and crosses South China and then sweeps south over the Pacific and culminates around Hawaii. Expect to see things heat up in those regions in more ways than one! Social and Political reform is very likely and this could escalate into apparently sudden revolution. Earth quake activity and possibly severe Hurricanes in August and September may also result from this potent influence.

            As ever, how much the above mentioned planetary positions and activities will influence any person specifically depends on how the planets in aspect currently in the sky make connections to the planetary positions in one’s Natal or birth Chart. (In Astrology, this is referred to as the “Radix” chart and is cast for the date, place and time of birth.) Comparing current planet positions with natal planet positions is the basis of prediction in Astrology. To gain more specific insights based on exact transiting to natal planet positions is where seeing an Astrologer will bring best results.

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

            Summer season for you indicates new foundations in love relationships and/or in your business interests. You could feel excited about the prospects of land purchase. New levels of authority and responsibility have been brewing all year and this will continue. This will bring about acceleration to the focus on learning and training which will be especially evident in September and October. Entirely new commitments are brewing and these could be established before autumn begins. These could bring changes close to home and include renovations or outright moves to new locations.

            Early summer will find you happy to hang close to home with the one you love. If you are without a partner, you may long for or seek out one. Mid summer will only take the above theme to even deeper levels. Late summer will make you much more playful and passionate. Be careful not to take on too much work lest you miss out on the fun only to regret it later.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 21)

Nurturing new perspectives and philosophies will become apparent themes this summer. Your desires and ambitions will be running high, especially initially. New projects and studies will be more grounded and it could prove to be a very productive season for you. Your intention will remain expansive and you will be willing to take some noticeable risks and leaps of faith. You should feel extra playful and creative especially by mid summer so get the extra work in early. Relationship themes and making improvements in that area will increase in August.

            Early summer emphasises a lot of initiatives and travels close to home. Mid summer will prove more playful and a lot of activity will surround the home life. Late summer will prove more serious with a back to work attitude so do not put off your holidays to late, if you can get them in earlier.         

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21)

            Creating more security on both obvious material levels and also on emotional psychological levels will be a major theme for you this summer. Some big changes are brewing and these will become apparent beginning in late August. You have probably already faced your share of fears over the past few years. All being well you feel stronger. These may prove to be the basis of the strength and courage required to meet the changes that will occur yet. Change can be positive, so do not interpret these as negative. Rather embrace the changes and make ready for them.

            Early summer will be mixed with desires to move forward yet muddy emotions may slow the pace. Mid summer will prove much more dynamic and you will actively pursue any and all desires. Late summer will show the first signs of some measurable changes designed to liberate you from restrictive situations.

Cancer (Jun 22 – Jul 22)

            This summer will see you taking new initiatives. A rebellious and at best creative mood has been stirring and you are ready to take action. However, you are wise to think carefully before making big commitments. There are indications that you will be of tow minds about certain things, split or in conflict perhaps within yourself but quite possibly with someone else. Get ready to work rather diligently both within and without to achieve your goals. Yet, once you work out the details and get past the initial stages, things should flow more smoothly.

            Early summer will stir your ambitions and determination to break new ground.  Mid summer will be more internal and you will find yourself working things through either in your mind or literally behind the scenes. Later summer in the summer like in August especially, you will be ready to move forward at full speed again.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 23)

Making diligent efforts to advance your public and professional standing will be a central theme this summer. This should include a lot of work behind the scenes initially anyway, but probably all summer long in varying ways and degrees. You are still fully in a foundation building phase so, do not put too much pressure on yourself to produce big returns or draw audiences worthy of your offerings. Maintain a diligent pace and continue to fortify your foundation in any way you can.

            Early summer will be a mix of inner retreat yet active measures to advance your social and professional position. Mid summer will be more assertive and adventurous in many respects with a healthy twist of rebellion to boot. Late summer will be mixed and you will be happy to flow at a steady pace with a mix of retreat and pioneering initiative – a complex mix!

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 22)

            You will continue to push for what you want and branch out in new directions this summer. Your ambitions will be on a steady rise and you stand to make steady and noticeable progress. You will be happy to meet new people and make new friends. Be willing to reach out. Your objectives may surround business yet they may also be simply to increase the quality of your life and the scope and quality of contact with others. Your confidence should be steady but you can increase it yet. Focus to succeed.

            Early summer should be quite social and adventurous overall with a determined focus to stimulate your career and social network. Mid summer could prove more inward and yet you will still probably want to get ahead somehow so when it is time to take time out, take it fully! Late summer will be much the same yet you will be happier to do creative work behind the scenes while taking calculated risks to increase your personal power.

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

            The trend that began in spring that brought about some noticeable changes close to home will continue and even deepen this summer. You will be pushed fro both within and without to be more resilient, mature and integral. It is likely that you will have to face certain challenges on your own. At best this will turn into a spiritual victory whereby you feel stronger within and in your connection to your source; aim for that. Be willing to surrender to situations that seem to big to overcome. Trust that in doing so you will experience new levels of peace.

            Early summer will be dynamic, even aggressive in ways at certain times – stay cool in the heat! Mid summer will activate the rebel and ideally lead you to a greater sense of your individuality – you will not be so eager to compromise at all. Late summer will find you happy behind the scenes yet you will invariably be drawn out and into social circles – listen more than speak.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

            After a process of change in your perceptions, which will continue steadily for years to come, you may feel ready to sow a few new seeds of refined awareness this summer. This will prove to have measurable effects in your career and social life before summer is out. This natural cycle is part of a larger process and should not be taken too personally. Relationship fronts are active meanwhile. You may be developing s deeper sense of intimacy through straightforward dialogue. You are not so much in the mood to mince words as to get clear about things. The time is coming to share your insights more fully as well – prepare!

            Early summer will prove to raise your spirits and increase the intimacy, sincerity and clarity of perspective on relationship fronts. Mid summer will bring energy and opportunity, recognition and perhaps even fame. Late summer will find you happy to enjoy a more independent pace again, with ambitions still running high.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

            The time has come to move upward onward and forward. The past is just that and it is time to look to the future. Your creative aspirations stand to rise. How to share your newfound wisdom and understanding will begin as a process. Maintaining a steady pace and stride of disciplined focus and action will remain a top priority. Clear with your thoughts and words and deeds will be your resolve. This could stir some rebellious backlash through mid July anyway and perhaps through to late August.

            Early summer will produce changes that include outright endings. Mid summer will bring more fun in the sun, laughter and significant cultural experiences. Late summer prove to be very ambitious and industrious.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

            Balancing self assertion with respect and appreciation of others will be a central theme this summer. Staying on track with your objectives, yet keeping an open mind will bring more success in a more balanced way. In other words, honour all fronts and be careful not over assert yourself either in your own efforts or in your relationships. Set intentions to continue to learn and gather knowledge. Include empathetic communication skills for long-term and genuinely human success.

            Early summer will largely surround love and relationships and investments for the long-term may be on your mind. Mid summer reveals a process of deepening of your passions and your energy and determination. Late summer will continue to ride high but exercise extra caution when making important decisions when Mercury turns retrograde the second week of September and through to the month’s end.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 19)

            A deepened soul searching process will begin this summer. Perhaps you already know who you are and what you want but the time has come to connect that much more deeply to your intuitive source. If you are just getting going, go for the source with confidence that it will lead you to greater self awareness and clarity of objectives. Old ways of referring or deferring to the authority of others is being replaced with a progressively deeper grasp of your own inner authority. Be patient with progress in any case, the acceleration may take until October to really begin.           

            Early summer will prove rather busy as you work your foundation in a variety of ways. Mid summer will prove much more fun and exciting and your work ethic will be running high as well producing an exciting blend. Late summer will deepen your mood and intention and the pace will prove lively if complicated at times on relationships fronts.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

            You may notice that your sights and visions will grow and expand over the course of summer. You are poised to make steady progress early on. This will include some deliberate changes to increase your advantage somehow. You may be seeking new streams of income or better positioning. The focus could well hover around the home and with family and friends who love close by. Commit to the task of strengthening and, if necessary, renovating your foundation whether that is on your home, in your relationships, in your career, in your relationships or all of the above.

            Early summer will prove to be a mix of fun in the sun and industrious effort. Mid summer will bring much of the same yet the foundation repair or reconstruction will begin. Late summer will prove to be a continuation of these themes and you will be that much more eager to do the ‘creative work’.