Cardinal Grand Cross

Astro Doings July 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

July gets off to a great start with Mercury ending its retrograde on the 1st at 8:50 a.m.  He’ll be at 240 Gemini.  As I said in my June Astro Doings, one of the reasons this retrograde was so powerful was that Mercury is in his own sign.  Planets can express their energy much more easily when they’re in a sign with similar energy.  (We call that the sign the planet “rules.”)  So we’re all likely to feel a rush of clarity and things will move forward more smoothly.  Good news, eh?

Mercury is not the only planet changing directions in July.  The week of July 20 will be a busy one with both Saturn and Uranus changing directions. These two planets represent opposing modes of operation. Saturn is the planet of restriction, lack, delay, old age, ego, and fear.  He brings us lessons to help us grow. He also represents structure, the status quo, corporations, etc.  Uranus is the destroyer of form, promoter of abrupt change (not always wisely), and inspiration from the higher mind, “ah-ha” moments and lightening bolts.  To continue their contrariness, Saturn is ending his retrograde motion that started in March and Uranus is beginning his retrograde motion that will continue until December 21 (the Winter Solstice).  Saturn goes direct on July 20 at 4:36 p.m. at 160 Scorpio and Uranus goes retrograde on July 21st at 10:53 p.m. at 160 Aries.  With both Saturn and Mercury going direct this month, I believe that energies that have felt “bottled up” during their retrogrades will begin to be released and those “internal” issues that we were all working on during the Saturn, especially, retrograde will be resolved. Continue reading →

Astro Doings June 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Can you believe it’s June already and that the Summer Solstice is this month?  In addition to the Solstice, aka the longest day of the year, two planets turn retrograde in June, including everyone’s favorite – Mercury.

Mercury stops on June 7th at 8 a.m. EDT at 30 Cancer.  Most of his retrograde motion will be in his own sign, Gemini, and he’ll go direct on July 1 at 9 a.m. at 240 Gemini.  Gemini is concerned with how we process information, endlessly curious about just about everything and is accused of be a “jack of all trades, master of none.”  Gemini’s real job is to reconcile opposites, but in order to do that he has to experience both sides of the teeter-totter, right? Continue reading →

Astro Doings May 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Phew!  Well, April was certainly intense!  Many people whom I’ve talked to and done readings for this spring have not felt the rush of energy that generally comes in the spring – myself included.  I would describe everything as feeling very inward still. I believe it is due to the Cardinal Grand Cross in April, which will continue through May, and the fact that Mars has been retrograde since March 1.  When a planet’s motion is retrograde, we tend to experience its energy more inwardly.  Mars is the planet of getting things moving, war, initiating new projects; he rules Aries, a fire sign. So if you’ve been feeling like your get-up-and-go got up and went, you’re not alone. I believe this will ease a little bit towards when Mars goes direct.  (See below.)

May promises to be a little quieter in that there are no eclipses.  However the Cardinal Grand Cross will still be there:  Pluto in Capricorn square Uranus in Aries (with Venus most of the month), square Mars in Libra, opposed Jupiter in Cancer.  (See April Astro Doings for a full description of this intense configuration.)  Again those with planets in middle degrees (8-20) of cardinal signs may feel this Grand Cross more intensely than others. Continue reading →

Astro Doings April 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

The theme of deep-seated change gets an extra boost of intensity in April with two eclipses and Pluto changing directions.  Let’s take them in the order they will occur.

Pluto: stations retrograde on April 14th at 7:44 p.m., just hours before a total lunar eclipse (see below).  When a planet changes direction its energy intensifies because it is basically standing still on the degree of the sign where it is – in this case 130Capricorn.  Thirteen degrees happens to be what we call a “critical degree” for cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn).  It’s a point that is very sensitive for that particular sign. Those with planets in mid degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and of course Capricorn may feel this change of direction more strongly.  The other earth signs (Taurus and Virgo) will experience this more easily.  Retrograde motion means that we tend to experience the energy of the planet – in this case transformation, power and power struggles, unearthing that which is hidden, compulsions – more inwardly.  It’s a very powerful time to totally leave behind that which no longer serves and/or gets in our way. Continue reading →

Astro Doings January 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Happy New Year! This year is off to an intense start, astrologically speaking, so set your New Year’s intentions carefully! This January has two new super moons, the first on January 1st at 100 Capricorn and the second on January 30th at 100 Aquarius.  A super moon occurs when the moon is closest to the earth, which can mean higher and stronger tides.

The new moon on January 1st is part of one of the most challenging astrological line-ups, called a Cardinal Grand Cross. Essentially it’s a big X in the heavens involving planets all the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn). Cardinal energy, you will remember, is essentially male in its feel, initiates, rarely finishes, bores easily and is constantly moving.  It has an “in-your-face” quality about it. The relationships between the planets on the ends of the X are all challenging, providing opportunities for growth, adjustment and integration. Continue reading →