There has been powerful movement for transformational change all over the United States and the world recently. People are viewing their lives and consciousness and health in different ways than before. Self-improvement, holistic living, and healing have become more and more important to everyday lives.
This movement is not just about being healthier. It is much more than that. It is part of a fundamental transformation of human living here on Earth. We are entering a big new season for humanity, a time to evolve on our way to an Aquarian Age.
Astrology is a reading of Universal cycles as seen in planetary movements. The cycles of the Universe are an extension of nature itself.
In nature here on Earth we witness cycles, caused in large part by the relationship between Sun, Moon, and the Earth. Night and day are parts of the cycles. The change of seasons is another face of the cycles. The Moon and its phases from New Moon to Full Moon is another cycle that affects our human life on Earth, the ocean tides, and evidently human behavior as hospitals, mental wards, and police stations which are known to have more action at Full Moons.
The vast majority of humans recognize these cycles. But there are more cycles that affect us all that we are less aware of as a collective human family.
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are planets that have cycles too with the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and each other. And astrologers know that these cycles also affect our human family, our lives and consciousness.
And one of the biggest cycles is the changing of Ages, based on the precession of equinoxes.
This cycle is over 2000 years, and after that many years we change from one age to another. The Pisces Age began near the time of the Roman Empire and Jesus Christ.
We are now on the cusp of the Aquarian Age, in my estimation beginning in about 2020.
So much of the transformation of our lives now is in alignment with this changing of Ages.
The Arab Spring, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the changing economy, the increasing natural disasters and climate change are all symptoms of this great change of Ages. Our individual desires to engage more in holistic healing modalities, to find more connections and Unity, to change our consciousness and beliefs, and to connect more spiritually are all in alignment with this changing of Ages.
In 1965/1966 there was a very important conjunction of planets Uranus and Pluto in Virgo. They make conjunction with one another every 130 years of so.
Uranus was discovered in 1781, at the time of two very important revolutions: the American and French Revolutions. Synchronistically, Uranus is about breaking down controls by authority and giving equal rights to all individuals.
Pluto was discovered in 1930 at the time that Ghandhi was leading a rebellion against the British Empire. Pluto is about the power of transformational change.
The conjunction of Uranus and Pluto in 1965/1966 brought on the ‘60s revolution, which brought huge social change and rights for women, blacks, and others. It also was an attempt to change the system, the establishment, and to end what was seen as an unjust war in Vietnam. People then were singing “Dawning of the Age of Aquarius” and change was sometimes overwhelming back then.
And now 47 years later the next big interaction of Uranus and Pluto since the conjunction of 1965/1966 has begun. Uranus and Pluto are square to one another from 2011-2016. The revolutionary and evolutionary energies promise to be even more powerful and transformational than in the ‘60s because we are even closer to the Aquarian Age than before.
The pace of change accelerated in 2011, and will increase even more in 2012. We are all being asked to release old patterns and beliefs that keep us stuck in unhealthy, dysfunctional situations. What we have been programmed to believe from a dying paradigm, attached to a dying age, is ripe to be let go of.
The power of purging and healing will get stronger and stronger. As you let go of the old, you open your heart and soul to new light and new truths, to greater love and compassion. Fear keeps you stuck in bad situations. Trust of the Universe and your “Authentic Self” allows you to make healthy changes.
As you move more fully into your Authentic Self, you are open to the messages and synchronicities from the Universe and your own inner wisdom.
Each time we move through an important astrological formation, as the recent eclipses in November/December have shown us, we are taken off of our usual balance and are more ready to release old ways and to have breakthroughs into new realms of consciousness and healthier ways of living.
This ongoing column for Inner Tapestry will show the coming astrological aspects and will attempt to give you, the reader, a sense of the potential collective experience that will result from the aspects. Of course each person’s individual natal chart would reveal the extent to which that individual might experience the aspects. Nevertheless, important astrological aspects do affect us all to one degree or another.
February/March Astrological Highlights:
In late January Mars, the planet of action, will, desire, forcefulness, empowerment, self assertion, and aggressiveness goes retrograde until April 14. During the retrograde period there will be a tendency to reflect on these issues in your life. Many will feel they need to stop their forward movement in some area of life or some project. They may feel they need to look at other options or to make sure they have chosen the right course of action before moving forward.
Also during Mars Retrograde, which happens approximately every two years, some may look over their anger issues, or issues of aggression that have been perpetrated against them. It may also be wise for some to get in touch with what self-empowerment means for them. Have you been too nice and a doormat. Have you been too aggressive or self-assertive?
Mars Retrograde also helps us to get in touch with what we really want in our lives, not merely what we are supposed to do.
People from the past may come back into your life or seriously back into your memory during this retrograde, so you can better understand and navigate these Mars issues.
The Universe will bring you exactly what you need in order to deal with your Mars issues during this time period.
After Mars goes back direct again in April, you will be clearer about what direction you want to take and what you really want in your life.
Since Mars is in Virgo during this time period, there may be themes about fixing things, putting things in order, simplifying your life, and being of service.
Neptune moves into Pisces in early February and will stay there until 2025. This is an important passage for Neptune as Pisces is its favorite sign to be in. This will be a quite deep and subtle energetic shift into the mystical realms, the unseen soul of life, sensitivity, compassion, and surrender. We all will be seduced into letting go to the flow of life and trusting the Soul and inner dimension more.
The New Moons in February/March, new moons always a time for starts, new beginnings and initiations are as follows: February 21 in Pisces, a time to begin connecting more deeply to your feelings and empathy; and March 22 in Aries. This Aries New Moon flows close behind the Spring Equinox on March 20. So it is great time to begin to shake off the cobwebs of winter and get your motor for life running again.
The Full Moons, a good time to feel the magic and to bring things to climax are February 7 in Leo, and a Full Moon on March 8 in Virgo. The first one in Leo is about personal egos and social consciousness. And the second one in Virgo is about surrender of self to greater service.
Another notable event is Mercury Retrograde on March 12, which will last until April 4. Many people think of Mercury Retrograde in superstitious ways, which is not appropriate.
In reality, Mercury Retrograde is a time when our usual ways of perceiving and communicating change. We are often during Mercury Retrograde taken into a kind of twilight zone reality, as we are having our thinking mechanism adjusted. It is a good time to let go of trying too hard to use logic and left-brain thinking, and instead it is a good time to reflect and rewind and to use one’s creative, imaginative, and intuitive thinking more.
Because we are changing our perceptions during Mercury Retrograde, and not thinking in our usual manner, it is sometimes advised that we not make major decisions or sign important contracts.
Yet sometimes it is just natural for us to do so, as that is what we have been naturally presented with. In those cases, it is wise to take extra time and to use your spiritual connections to assist you in the decision.
People from one’s past often come back in the flesh or in one’s dreams or memories during Mercury Retrograde. This is because one needs to process some issues that are connected to that person.
After Mercury goes direct issues gain more clarity as the fog begins to lift.
And of course the Spring Equinox is on March 20th at 1:14 AM here on the east coast.
In the next issue we will discuss the important eclipses that will burst into our lives and bring big change in May and June 2012
Leo Knighton Tallarico is co-director of Spiritual Renaissance Center with his soul mate Deborah. He has been a full time professional astrologer, counselor, spiritual guide, and writer for 26 years. He specializes in guiding and counseling individuals and couples through the transformation of their consciousness and lives during change and crisis. Knowing the big picture of one’s life is essential for positive transformation, and is a big part of any consultation with Leo. For more information about Leo’s readings and consultations contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 207-653-7717. He has a weekly forecast blog at www.spiritualtherapy.wordpress, and has a website at www.spiritualrenaissance.com.