If you haven’t yet heard the phrase “nuclear option” you will most likely hear it this week. The words have been declared in the hallowed halls of Washington, DC as a last resort method of forcing a position. They also appropriately sum up the planetary energies for the coming days in classic “as above, so below” fashion. You don’t need to know astrology to feel the tumultuous times we live in, but it certainly helps to use this esoteric symbolic tool to gain a greater perspective on the big picture socio-politico-economic movements, as well as developments in our personal lives that reflect the overarching path of our soul’s growth. The nuclear option we’re currently hearing about is related to the confirmation of President Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court and the unprecedented rule-changing response the GOP is planning to take to counter the Democratic filibuster attempt to block the nomination. This has the era-changing square between the atomic restructuring force of Pluto in Capricorn and the shocking rule-breaking audacity of Uranus in Aries written all over it.
Activating this revolutionary alignment this week, the Sun in independent and courageous Aries squares Pluto on April 9th and conjuncts Uranus on April 13th. The two titans of the archetypal cosmos largely responsible for the wholesale shakeup of life as we know it over recent years are being activated by the center of our solar system, making this very personal down to the core of our collective being. Battle grounds are becoming more clearly defined: the ultimate law of the land Supreme Court that decided such cases as the paradigm changing Roe v. Wade, Bush v. Gore and Citizens United, may ultimately become responsible for resolving such highly controversial issues as the administration’s alleged involvement with Russia in the recent election, presidential conflicts of interest, civil rights, police brutality, education and religious freedom, to name a few. Closely aligned with the Sun translating the Uranus/Pluto square is Jupiter in Libra, which the Sun opposed on April 7th (covered in the last AstroCast), with all together creating a tense four-planet T-square. Jupiter’s alignment with Uranus and Pluto lasting through October is bringing legal issues to the forefront and that is where the challenges (Uranus in Aries) to the current U.S. administration (Pluto in Capricorn) is most likely to be waged as dramatic executive orders reshape the world view (Jupiter) of what it means to be American. The main theme of Jupiter in Libra is certainly related to issues of justice and particularly situations where injustice and cruelty to others seems to prevail.
No doubt a contributing influence to the outcome of the current machinations playing out in DC, Venus in Pisces is in an unusually long term square with Saturn in Sagittarius that began in late March, has an exact alignment on April 8th and another on April 21st, then finally goes out of orb the first week of May. They both are retrograde at the time the aspect perfects this week and both are moving very slowly as they each are near their respective station points (Saturn turned retrograde on April 5th and Venus turns direct on April 15th). The archetypal energies are therefore incredibly potent and may already be putting the brakes on any forward movement in areas involving our relationships, finances and/or social justice (Venus) to ensure unassailable deliberations (Saturn) are made on any decision. Saturn in Sagittarius represents practical vision; Venus in Pisces symbolizes dedicating our values to the greater good. For me personally I have been using this Venus retrograde period to inquire into my own perceptions of scarcity and lack of resources. As Venus moved into closer alignment with Saturn, I feel I am being asked to make hard choices about where I choose to commit available resources and feeling the need to close up any “energy leaks,” where my money is going for example, that do not return sufficient value in alignment with my soul purpose. The squeeze is forcing me to look at my considerations about what “sufficient” looks like. With Venus conjunct expansive Jupiter in my natal chart, it is challenging to reach the satisfying state of feeling like I have enough (of whatever I’m focused on in the moment). The Saturn/Venus alignment is teaching me to be more realistic about my priorities and more importantly to be present with each experience and choice as it comes without the mind projecting a fear of lack in a future that doesn’t exit. This certainly requires an adjustment if not a complete overhaul of my beliefs and all their little tributary systems about my values, but also changing from externally focused desires to setting clearer intentions that are not bound to expectations. During this Venus/Saturn period, perhaps we will all gain in our “losses” rather than losing perspective in our “gains.” There is great freedom in simplicity.
Adding to the review mode for the month of April, Mercury in Taurus turns retrograde on April 9th. The communication planet entered the shadow (the degree space to be traversed three times) in conjunction to disruptive Uranus and will end the retrograde there, creating a shock and awe type bookend around this period that marks the end of the current Mercury cycle and the beginning of the next, which may correlate to striking revelations. However, during this time, the Mercury/Uranus pair also form a long lasting trine to Saturn that acts as a stabilizing force to temper our speech and thought processes. Perhaps it will add a much needed dose of practicality to whatever out of the box solutions come to mind as part of the process of wrapping up old business and planting seeds for the new. Particularly influenced by this transit are those with sensitive natal chart points between 24° Aries and 5° Taurus.
The culminating Full Moon on April 10th is aligned with the cardinal T-square, bringing the fullness of our feeling state to bear on whatever is unfolding for us. The Moon in other-oriented Libra is conjunct Jupiter, meaning emotional swings may be extreme in either direction. In opposition to a Sun/Uranus conjunction in self-oriented Aries, this Full Moon may also culminate in revelations or unexpected events. The middle ground on which the Sun and Moon symbolically need to meet is in collaboration. With the justice oriented planets in Libra and the freedom oriented planets in Aries, all in square to Pluto in Capricorn which is the focal point of the 5-planet alignment at the Full Moon, some sort of transformational restructuring may be the only outlet for all that tension. These are revolutionary times and as documented in Richard Tarnas’ profound Cosmos and Psyche, significant Uranus/Pluto alignments such as the one we are experiencing now correlates pretty much to every “Epoch of Revolution” in recorded history.
Here’s the data (using Pacific Time and planetary positions rounded to the nearest whole degree, unless otherwise noted):
April 8 – Venus square Saturn at 28° Pisces/Sagittarius at 1:28 p.m.
April 8 – Sun square Pluto at 19° Aries/Capricorn at 5:45 p.m.
April 9 – Mercury station retrograde at 5° Taurus at 4: 15 p.m.
April 10 – Moon opposite Sun (Full Moon) at 22° Libra/Aries at 11:08 p.m.
April 13 – Sun conjunct Uranus at 24° Aries at 10:29 p.m.
Interesting that the nuclear option was not only exercised for the Supreme court, but right on it’s heels of that the president, fired missiles in Syria without consulting Congress. Presuming that kind of energy fit in that square also.