The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - September 2012
Every year there are periods of challenge and periods of rest. For the past several years, including this one, the times of difficulty have been outnumbering the times of harmony. Perhaps it’s simply been that the tests have been so overwhelming that even in more pleasant periods we haven’t been able to enjoy the good times. This is one month where we might be able to kick back and enjoy the bounty of the season and beauty of life. Problems, of course, still exist. But this might be a time when we can deal with something other than life altering circumstances.
One of the places we could focus this month is on personal relationship. The two prime planets of relationship are Venus and Mars. Venus provides the feminine component. It prioritizes sharing, harmony, thoughtfulness and diplomacy. Mars is the male element – drive, assertiveness and sexuality. Of course we all have both planets, as well as both influences, in our horoscopes. We need, therefore, to take both parts of relationship in consideration when we are establishing a new relationship or functioning within an ongoing one.
This month Venus will spend most of the time in Leo. Leo is a fire sign and as such it is dynamic, expressive and spontaneous. Leo is one of the most playful of the signs and can revel in its recreational activities. One of the activities Leo enjoys is being romantically affectionate with a lover. Sex for Leo is fun, pleasurable and provides an outlet for the most important quality of life – love. Nothing provides a Leo with more joy than giving and receiving love. When Leo is off-center, however, its expression of love can be conditional upon receiving love back. It’s as if Leo lives within and for the light of love. Being off-center, however, can prevent one from feeling love flowing within the self. One could assume, therefore, that it must exist outside the self and effort is put forth designed to impel others to provide that love. This is the Leo who can be demanding of attention and quite dramatic when seeking the recognition of self. When centered, however, Leo feels love flowing through its own heart continuously and can love others generously and freely.
It’s important to note that if the love is not returned Leo may feel drained or taken for granted. In order to avoid that experience, note the exchange of energy. If over time it isn’t balanced, it may be time to move on. Under those conditions, one should attempt to stay centered in the heart. Don’t turn off the love light just because someone else can’t respond. Similarly, women with a lot of energy in Leo in their natal chart often feel rejected because they are seen as “too big” energetically. A man might feel intimidated by a woman who is creative, playful, confident and expressive. Often under those conditions a woman will deliberately give the bulk of her dynamic energy to a man, submerging herself in the process. This does not work. It not only creates an energy deficit, it will also lead to frustration and resentment. If you are female and have a lot of Leo energy, stay centered and patient, waiting to connect with someone who truly appreciates who you are.
Mars is transiting through Scorpio this month. Mars is one of the planets said to "rule" Scorpio so this transit is quite strong. Scorpio is a water sign and as such is sensitive, passionate and intense. Mars can pertain to sexuality but Scorpio’s way of dealing with sexuality can be quite different from Leo. Leo is inherently romantic and prioritizes love and playfulness. Scorpio prioritizes emotional connection with the partner. That connection is, in turn, grounded in trust. If there is not trust, there is no basis for a relationship, let alone sexual activity. Without the bonding, sex either has no interest to the Scorpio at all or can lead to feelings of being drained or taken advantage of. At best it will simply be a boring waste of time. With the emotional connection, however, sexual activity can lead to an emotional and even spiritual peak experience. This form of intimacy can generate a continuous sense of renewal of the relationship and a deepening of the bond and commitment.
There are no signs that prioritize sex more that Leo and Scorpio. But their orientation and prioritization of it is quite different. Nonetheless, I have seen countless relationships involving people with their Sun in Leo and Scorpio. I have come to call this the ‘fatal attraction relationship’. These people may be attracted to the power, presence or charisma of the other person, and the value they each place on being sexual. But ultimately this relationship is usually unsustainable because each person is looking for something other than what their partner is seeking and providing. Now, if the Leo can be emotionally open and vulnerable the Scorpio could feel safe enough to be open, playful and spontaneous. But if each clings to their prioritized behavior it won’t work.
This month with Venus in Leo and Mars in Scorpio we are each being given the opportunity to engage in intimate relationship using tools of both of these powerful signs. We can be playful, romantic and affectionate as ways of increasing the love being shared. But we also must be willing to open and share deeply with our partner. Too much emphasis in either area, or sharing exclusively in only one, could lead to frustration and lack of fulfillment. As noted earlier, this could be a pleasant period, especially if we seek to deepen our primary relationship in ways that increase the love, security and intimacy that we experience and share.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Aries: You are often present, direct and self-affirming in your relationships. Sometimes that can lead to being one dimensional and not emotionally involved. The challenge, and growth opportunity available to you this month, is to practice being more expressive of how you are feeling about your partner and the relationship. Start slowly, sharing information that does not leave you feeling too vulnerable. Work up to communicating more significant information as time goes by.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Taurus: Mid-month provides the energy to make significant changes in your social life. This could be anything from changing partners to changing the way you engage in relationship. Feeling more comfortable taking calculated risks could be one area of change. Late month brings the challenge of needing to share deeply,, openly and honestly even while being playful and romantic.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Gemini: Focus on personal or family issues in early month. This is a good time to sort things out. Late month could bring some challenges. Unexpected changes at work could impact your time at home. Financial issues could create the necessity to alter budget and spending patterns. Growth comes from remaining flexible in the face of change even while keeping track of your goals, values and priorities.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Cancer: Early month might find you puttering around the house or yard or engaging in family or community events. An enjoyable and pastoral time. Late month, however, could be more turbulent. Growth in the face of these challenges comes from being comfortable taking risks in making change. The more creatively you respond to the times the less instability will result.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Leo: This is a time to activate your social and artistic natures. Growth comes from following internal inspiration creatively and allowing a balance of energy to flow in relationships. Avoiding being too open or generous in early month will lead to satisfaction and fulfillment later on.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Virgo: Financial issues and challenges could arise this month. This could pertain only to you or could involve a partner, either business or personal. Make sure to do your due diligence and present your information clearly, succinctly and powerfully. Growth comes from being adaptable in the face of facts, but also persistent when truth is on your side.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
Libra: It’s your nature to be a mediator and strive to make others feel comfortable and at ease. This month the drive to be pleasant and thoughtful is going to be quite strong, but it may be hard to nice at all times. You may want to be more outgoing or more secretive. Maybe both at once! Libra is inherently about balance. Not between you and others, but within yourself. This month challenges you to create and maintain that balance in the face of some extreme influences and issues.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Scorpio: You may be comfortable and in control in early month. After that, the challenges emerge. You may need to be more open and vulnerable than you normally feel comfortable. But you may need to open up in order to get what you want – a deep connection to your partner. Growth comes from embracing the inevitable but proceeding in gradual, harmonious ways.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Sagittarius: One of the challenges for you this year with Jupiter, your ruling planet, in Gemini is remaining focused and on task. That issue could really surface for you this month. Growth comes from being selective about who and what you respond to. If it’s information that you know is useful to you or you are interested in then have at it. But you may also let a lot of information or social opportunities pass in order to avoid fragmentation and being overwhelmed.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Capricorn: This is the last month with your ruling planet, Saturn, in Libra. Take advantage of this by striving to develop more harmonious, egalitarian relationships, especially around work or career situations. Saturn is particularly strong in Libra so you should be able to achieve some desirable goals even while creating or experiencing harmony in your associations.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
Aquarius: You may feel as if you have been spun around by a cyclone. This is a good time to slow down and review what you have been doing, how you have been responding to various situations and the effectiveness of your attitudes and behaviors. You can often be extreme, and the last few years could have ratcheted up that tendency. Use the energy this month to review and, if necessary, redirect your efforts.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Pisces: Home, family and relationship may dominate this month for you. Growth comes from working to stabilize the situations. Feelings of confusion or fragmentation can be minimized by clearly communicating with others. Bringing compassion and devotion to a primary relationship helps to deepen and stabilize the connection.
Rio Olesky has been a professional astrologer since 1976. He is the author of A Manual for the Modern Mystic and Astrology and Consciousness. He offers both private readings as well as classes for both beginning and intermediate students. Rio will offer a class in beginning astrology through Santa Rosa Junior College starting Wednesday September 26. To register for the class call 707-527-4824. To make an appointment for a reading, call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: www.starwatcher.com.