The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - April 2008
Angular relationships between planets (called aspects) determine how those energies relate to each other. It’s as if they provide the lubrication that allows your energy force field to be dynamic in creating opportunities for growth and change. Without the aspects, the planetary influences would be static. They are what they are, with little if any deviation. Certain of those relationships create harmonious, mutually supportive interaction. Others indicate challenges. The most harmonious of the aspects is the trine, an angular separation of 120 degrees. The most challenging are the squares (90 degrees) and the opposition (180 degrees). This month all three of these aspects are in high focus.
The trine is present in the form of three planets, each one 120 degrees away from the other two. We call this a Grand Trine. It represents the most harmonious connection planets can make with each other. It is comprised of the Sun, Saturn and Pluto. Each of these planets is transiting through an earth sign at this time. The earth element is of major significance this whole year, since Saturn will be in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn. This month the Sun in Taurus completes the Grand Trine.
The best way to take advantage of this major aspect is by applying your time and energy to doing practical things in deliberate, cautious ways. The trine between Saturn and Pluto, ongoing throughout much of the year, is excellent for long range planning and overcoming obstacles with perseverance and clarity of goal. The addition of the Sun this month suggests the potential to be consciously creative and applying those qualities to something that can be done immediately or to a long term project.
One potential problem with a Grand Trine is that the energy flows so easily that we don’t take advantage of it at all. In the case of planets in earth signs, we may spend so much time contemplating and planning that we never actually get anything done. Or we could become so cautious and conservative that our plans fall short of their potential. The energy implies the need for thorough, complete understanding and strategizing. But after a period of doing so, take advantage of the potential by actualizing these plans to the best of your ability.
Squares and oppositions tend to create tension, which in turn, can impel us to grow by creating new patterns and making different choices. This month both aspects are in play by virtue of a pattern called a T-square. This exists because one planet, the Sun in Aries, is squared to both Mars in Cancer and Jupiter in Capricorn.
The opposition creates interactive tension between the self and something or someone outside the self. We could be challenged by restrictive or demanding circumstances or by a person who is trying to control our choices or behaviors. The opposition, therefore, can provide a sense of direction. Once we become aware of the blockage, and where it’s coming from our goal becomes to clear the obstacle. Mars pertains to action. It can represent the drive to get involved in new activities. It can also enable us to be more present to a situation and presenting ourselves in an authentic, self-affirming way. Mars also manifests anger. Jupiter is about expansion; often in terms of consciousness developmet. Usually we associate Jupiter with academic or spiritual development and relating to others in an integral way. But in combination with another planet Jupiter can bring the ability to expand whatever that other planet is doing. So if Mars is bringing the energy of courage and a pioneering spirit, Jupiter can blast us into really brand new experiences. But if Mars is acting out, and expressing its energy with hostility, Jupiter can expand that too. We could also get caught in a loop of Mars in Cancer bringing greatly heightened sensitivity with tendencies to take everything much too personally. Our emotions can trigger explosive responses, especially if we feel blocked by an ego-tripping authority figure (Jupiter in Capricorn). Or, if we are trying to be conscientious and rule-abiding, we may feel challenged by someone acting out and following their own rules. In either case, a small situation could get out of hand quickly and our ego-driven emotions heighten the contentiousness of the experience.
The Sun is squared to both Mars and Jupiter. The square usually implies internal tension. It’s as if we block ourselves, often by wanting to respond in two ways at once, or to act in ways that may somehow cancel each other out. In a T-square, the planet squaring the other two (at this time, the Sun) provides the way out. In order to avoid excessive ego, contentiousness and frustration dealing with others, we need to focus on the solar energy. We do that in two ways. First, get centered. If you’ve been reading this column for a while, you know how much importance I place on this. We are centered when we are consistently in touch with our material needs, working to achieve them and simultaneously working on emotional health, psychological clarity and spiritual growth. Being centered enables us to utilize the second method of growth and tension reduction at the time of this T-square. Specifically, this involves being creative. The Sun is transiting through Aries, the sign ruled by Mars. This is the energy of new beginnings. This could take the form of initiating a creative project. The project could be in the area of life (house) that you have the sign Aries in your natal chart.
If this T-square finds us un-centered and non-creative, the energy could fluctuate wildly. We could feel constrained and frustrated, followed by expressions of extreme anger. It would be like a sense of entitlement on steroids.
The energies this month can be confusing. For every productive action we take and make successful through the Grand Trine, we could feel repressed in a different area. Or we could be so focused on the material side of things that we could be unaware of the hostilities we are generating either in that or another activity. One way of harmonizing these extremes is to follow the nature of the Grand Trine in earth signs and to strive to be deliberate in everything we do. The T-square will provide plenty of energy, so the challenge is to act with sensitivity (Cancer) and honor (Capricorn) in order to ensure a positive, productive use of these transits.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
The Grand Trine is activating your earth houses, so practical, grounded productivity should manifest for you this month. The challenge of the T-square suggests the importance of doing things with diplomacy. Your energy level is very high right now, physically, professionally and emotionally. Success will be more likely, and sweeter to experience, if you handle the energies and opportunities with tact and sensitivity to others.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
The Grand Trine could either keep you on track, or enhance any tendencies you have to be lethargic. The T-square can help provide to drive and outgoing energy, but in order to use the potential effectively strive to be conscious about how your words and actions are being experienced by others. You could come across as being more hostile or intimidating than you realize. Lack of consideration could cause others to respond contentiously to your efforts.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
You can apply the Grand Trine to your life by becoming more consistent and grounded in striving for greater connection with your family, your partner and Divine Spirit. You may find it easier to be more consistent and stable in these areas than usual and find that you are also more productive. The T-square could bring challenges with friends or colleagues. Be clear and straightforward with these people, but remember to communicate with sensitivity and tact.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
A period of heightened emotions and sensitivities for you. Mars in Cancer can also provide the drive to be more expressive of what you are actually experiencing internally. The full Moon in Scorpio on the 20th will bring awareness of some of your deepest and most passionate feelings. You may feel somewhat conflicted about being open about things and feel quite vulnerable. The way out is to be open with those you know well and trust. Be more careful and discerning with others.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
This is a good time to spend some quality time alone. It will help you to take advantage of the potential of the Grand Trine by giving you the opportunity to plan and strategize in a clear minded, deliberate way. It will also help you to avoid the potential excesses of the T-square by enabling you to tune in to your psyche and notice any hidden agendas that could lead to conflict with others. Self-awareness maximizes growth and minimizes mistakes.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Grounding, hard work and productivity are common features of your nature and your life experience. This month will enhance those qualities. Growth for you comes from being more open and out front about who you are, what you are doing and why. Coming out of your shell can enhance your social life as well as providing increased self-confidence.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
This can be a frustrating period for you if you respond to the tensions of the T-square by trying to mediate everybody else’s problems and interactive conflicts. One way out is to take advantage of the Grand Trine. This could inspire you to become more consistent and deeply immersed doing inner work. Meditation, psychotherapy or art therapy or simply working with your dreams can provide useful insights into your inner being and help you avoid being in the middle of problems that aren’t yours.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
A charged and highly energized period for you. The T-square involves one of your ruling planets (Mars) so you could get caught up in ego struggles especially with teachers, students, siblings or employees. One way out is to rely on good friends and primary partner to ground you and provide useful parameters of expression. Your own emotions could get heightened both at the new Moon in Aries on the 5th and the full Moon in Scorpio on the 20th.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Conflicts could manifest for you this month around financial issues. You could feel the need to reign in your spending. You could balance losses or lower than expected returns on investments by being more focused in career and enhancing your level of earned income. This can be a potentially productive period if you remember to be cautious in action and realistic in expectations.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
The Grand Trine can enhance your creativity as well as romantic and playful feelings. Spending time in these activities could minimize the tension of the T-square that could manifest in either primary relationship or with your family. Growth comes from balancing your need to be direct in expressing yourself even as you strive to accommodate others’ needs and feelings.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
You are one sign that might not be too affected by either the Grand Trine or the T-square. But you can take advantage of the former by seeking to deepen the bonds of primary relationship and strengthen and stabilize relations with family. If nothing else, this is a good time for some thorough spring cleaning.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Often Pisces has difficulty with anger. It may be hard to get in touch with and challenging to express appropriately. This month provides the opportunity to enhance the awareness and refine the expression. Conflicts could arise in relationships with friends, lovers or children and possibly around financial issues. In any case, growth comes from allowing the hostile feelings to manifest in your consciousness and to be expressed in deliberate but effective ways.