Four months ago Jupiter, the planet of expansion, stationed retrograde in Capricorn and our intentions that were set on expanding our material wealth dramatically shifted focus forcing us to expand in conscious awareness how  we can be responsible with the wealth we have. For most of us these past months have brought financial challenges in one way or another that have, if we were lucky, only sharpened our wits and tightened our belts. On the darker side, too many people lost their jobs, their homes, their communities, and most tragically, their lives. On September 7 Jupiter stations direct and once again our attention is re-directed this time to discovering ways of expanding out in the world our newly  discovered responsibilities which we can use to garner the wealth and prosperity of life in benefit for all.

A few hours before Jupiter turns direct Mars in Libra makes a square to Jupiter alerting us to possible conflict in our ability to act with justice, and warning us not to allow our self to be overwhelmed with indecision. This is a time to balance how we use our resources for our self and how we share our resources with others. Less than an hour after Jupiter stations direct Mercury in Libra makes a square to Jupiter and our celestial messenger  challenges us to expand our authority with a mind attuned to fairness and compromise remembering that our goal is to create peace and harmony. Now is not a time when we can afford to remain silent or complacent on  the institutional policies made that govern the quality of our life and the life of others. The stakes are too high the potential for overwhelming loss too great. For wise and insightful astrological guidance on the current political climate in the United States I highly recommend reading the weekly forecasts from Uranias 9th House

On September 8 Jupiter in Capricorn and Saturn in Virgo make a harmonious trine bestowing pragmatic grace to us on Earth. This aspect is exact for the next week and then within 2 degrees until December  making another exact aspect for a week in Novemeber. Jupiter and Saturn are the two social planets in the celestial skies and when they are in aspect it is guaranteed that the concerns  of society are in high relief. Another way to think of this celestial connecting is to consider where transiting Jupiter and Saturn fall in your natal chart as an area in your life where you will accomplish something that you can contribute to your society. Jupiter in Capricorn is giving form to something greater than our self and Saturn in Virgo is responsibly using our talents in service to others. This is a great period to do the work necessary to manifest our social beliefs into concrete and lasting form. The only thing stopping us is our reliance upon the status quo.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/341/feed http://laurenlesko.com/335 http://laurenlesko.com/335#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:38:29 +0000 Lauren http://laurenlesko.com/?p=335 click on the image to read about the art

Yesterday the Sun and Saturn conjoined in Virgo, ouch, if we allowed our shinning light to dim in self dissatisfaction or our feet to become leaden upon the fallow Earth. The sign Virgo signifies the annual harvesting of the fertile productivity of Mother Earth providing a time of abundance tempered with cautionary concern directed at successfully managing our bounty so that it will last until the next harvesting. When the Sun is in Virgo our individuality is filled with the bountiful harvest of our life experiences which we then diligently work to preserve for the benefit of others.  When under the influence of Saturn our gaze turns toward responsibility, and this Sun and Saturn conjoining adds to our sense of self-discipline and self-sufficiency. This transit can bring us a deep comfort in accepting responsibility for who we are if we have successfully integrated our imperfections with our accomplishments, and if not, not to worry, we are offered another opportunity to try again.

Today, is one of those lucky days when what we need to evolve in self understanding is generously handed to us by the celestial heavens. The Sun in Virgo makes a harmonious trine with Jupiter in Capricorn guaranteeing that we will give form to one of the perfected aspects of our individuality. It is not important what aspect of our individuality is being perfected is as long as we take time to acknowledge what we are accomplishing. When the Sun solarizes* Jupiter our belief in our self can be magnified, enlarged, expanded into the world, bringing us an optimum opportunity to be positive about who we  are and what we have contributed to our society. This may sound inconsequential in the bigger scheme of life but do not be fooled, the first path to an enlightened society is for every individual within that society to feel positive about who they are and what they are contributing to the continuum of that society.

The Sun, moving faster than Jupiter, will translate the jubilant energy shared with Jupiter to an opposition with Uranus on September 12th, at which time, we may experience  disruption in the way we are creatively expressing our self.  We could be challenged in how we share our radiant light with others when something that we are trying to accomplish requires an unorthodox solution and we find our self having to dissolve our ego attachments. This is an important testing of our resolve  not to internalize the problem as a deficiency in our self, instead, to answer the call from our higher Self, set a steady path, and accomplish our intended goal.

*I borrowed this visualizing word for the process of the Sun from astrologer, Steven Forrest.

It’s time to prick up our ears and listen to what is going on around us, but not in the old, familiar way  by focusing our attention on the thoughts and ideas of others. The Virgo new Moon, gently guiding our attention within, has little interest in mimicking what others are thinking.  At this moment in time, we are being challenged to think for our self without losing our capacity for negotiation. Admittedly a challenging combo considering that most of us are not particularly adept at effective negotiation of the kind that considers all sides of an issue before making a decision. When under the influence of Virgo we are expert analyzers and can discern what is necessary for the well being of everyone involved, after all, the ancient symbol of Virgo embodies the sacred work of the temple priestesses who assumed sole responsibility for storing and distributing the collected grain in order to insure that the entire community  survived the year. It is with the same sense of responsibility to the well being of everyone involved that the Virgo new Moon is directing our attention, first within our self offering us the possibility to think on our own, and second, to consider how we can be of service to our community while independent of the status quo.

The difficulty we experience with Virgo is chronic judgment and criticism breeding dissatisfaction and inevitable disappointment with life. The aspect in each of us expressing through Virgo knows that life is glaringly imperfect, that we never personally do enough, and that people are generally slackers whining about life’s misfortunes. This last bit about whining has the flavor of Saturn in Virgo which on Wednesday will be conjoined with the Sun insuring a strong dose of stoic self-denial unless we  shift our perspective and use this opportunity to embrace self- responsibility which can enhance and affirm our participation in life. It is not necessary to repudiate our participation in life spewing petty grievances, remember, we inherited from the temple priestesses of long ago Virgo telling us that our contribution to life definitely matters to the well being of the whole.

The Sun and Saturn conjoined in Virgo prime us with self-discipline, self-determination, and committed fortitude so that when the Sun and Jupiter trine on the following day and our sense of entitlement expands beyond reason  we can fall back on the sobriety of Saturn and manifest more realistic goals. With the Sun, Saturn, and Jupiter in earth signs it seems rather doubtful that egos will be inflamed beyond recognition rather we are given a celestial helping hand to advance our goals in life with practical consideration. It is important to remember that all of the earth signs, Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, express themselves best in the realm of matter and so we are best served at this time to give concrete form to something in our life, which up to now, has lived the dignified life of an ideal.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/327/feed http://laurenlesko.com/320 http://laurenlesko.com/320#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:20:50 +0000 Lauren http://laurenlesko.com/?p=320 click on the image to read about the art

This week brings with it many changing faces: the balsamic “face” of the monthly lunation cycle emphasizing the internalizing of our experiences following the Leo and Aquarius eclipse cycle; the waxing Gemini Moon’s conflicted celestial faces turned to Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Pluto; and thousands of hopeful faces at the Democratic National Convention gathered in force to generate enthusiastic support for a Democratic victory in November. Traditional astrology talk will say that the days before a new Moon are spent in contemplative calm reflecting on what has recently transpired while preparing for a new cycle of action beckoning the coming lunar cycle. The days before a new Moon can be fruitfully spent meditating on our future intentions, but it is most definitely not a week for taking action which makes me wonder about the intentions of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Astrologer, Julie Demboski, sees passive-aggressive behavior in this weeks celestial atmosphere blanketed with low lying hyper criticism and turbulent self-defensive. This does not bode well for generating a spirit of unification required for the healing of deeply incurred wounding necessary to victoriously carry the Democratic Party to the White House; unless all concerned heed Julie’s warning that “there’s hope for a more tranquil atmosphere, found in several other influences, if we can just shift our energy away from shooting those ego-loaded arrows out into the world.” Unfortunately, “ego-loaded arrows” has been, in my opinion, the unfortunate mantra in the Democratic Presidential race, undermining a golden opportunity for the Democratic Party to actualize significant historical and cultural change in the Unite States by honoring that party’s commitment to liberal social changes underwritten in affirmative action stupendously manifest in this years Democratic Presidential race featuring a woman of Anglo heritage and a man of Anglo and African heritage. A terrible shame that so much bitterness soured the majestic possibilities of this coupling.

As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) comes to life the Moon in Gemini opposes Pluto establishing the psychological undercurrents of this event. I direct your attention to astrologer, Eric Francis, for a must read analysis of this celestial signature. I encourage you to keep in mind, as you read Eric’s insights, that Senator Obama was born when the Moon was in Gemini, as it is tonight, closely square Pluto in Virgo.

About two hours into the DNC the Moon enters Cancer bestowing the opportunity for a carefully considered nurturing of family; at home, abroad, and ancestral. This is a fertile time for each of us to consider constructive ways of providing care and protection that will bestow nourishment to mind, body, and soul without falling into the all to familiar mode of hardened self-protective defense. It feels hopeful for the DNC that it is happening at a time when the transiting Cancer Moon conjoins the United States natal Cancer Sun assuring the people of the United States that the Democratic Party is deeply committed to serving and protecting both the emotional security and individual sovereignty of the American people. Danger lurks behind patriot rhetoric and sentimental slogans reducing the significance of this political forum to a solipsistic pandering to convention. It is also worth noting the one degree conjunction of Venus in Cancer between the natal charts of Senator Obama and the United States conferring the celestial signature of strongly shared values, a desired aspect in the synastry between any couple, but one which needs careful monitoring in this relationship to prevent becoming overly sensitive to the slings and arrows of others.

When the Moon enters Leo on the 27th, if we listen with our heart, we may hear the recent Solar Eclipse whispers of authenticity, and the Lunar Eclipse encouragement to give the gifts of our unique individuality in a mutual working together with others, which if heeded, may have auspicious results for the Democratic Party. The Leo Solar Eclipse conjoined the natal South Node in the United States chart and the natal Sun in Senator Obama’s chart clearly suggesting that the unique gifts the Senator will bring to the U.S. Presidency are valuable assets for the future evolving of the United States. The additional fact that Senator Obama’s natal Sun falls in the natal 12th house of the United State’s chart is a haunting cord that the Senator has plumbed the depths of the United States psyche offering possible healing for the unconscious wounding of the entire Nation if those wounds are allowed to be brought up from the turbulent waters of the unconscious into conscious light.

When we are under the influence of Leo our creative self- expression shines brightly illuminating our dynamic leadership abilities seasoned with unabashed pleasure. It is always important with Leo to be mindful of not falling foul of our insecurities making us vulnerable to the approval of others and blinding us to the evolutionary growing of Leo which brings self-assured self-confidence regardless of the opinion’s of others. I can’t help but feel that this theme is in high relief at the DNC considering that Leo fills the 2nd house, the house of self-worth, in the Solar Eclipse chart for Washington,D.C., as does Senator Obama’s natal Sun, Mercury, and Uranus.

Senator Obama’s natal Uranus plays a significant role in his presidential candidacy contributing to his electrifying oratory, mantra for change, and image of a man heralding the future. His natal Uranus opposes his natal Aquarius Ascendant, as well as, opposing the United States natal Aquarius Moon. Both Ascendant and Moon were conjoined by the Lunar Eclipse anointing Senator Obama’s already intuitive understanding of the emotional temperament of the United States: at best a deeply felt humanitarianism and concern for the equality of all people, and at worst a cold hearted rejecting of individual needs in favor of a faceless, mindless mass. Perhaps the message here lies in the ability of candidate and country to connect with the needs of the ordinary people.

The last aspect from Mercury, just before our celestial messenger enters Libra, is a square to Pluto adding psychological probing in our communication with others.* The Mercury and Pluto square definitely marks the occasion with the necessity to transform the way people are using their communication skills. Libra is that aspect in our psyche that intuitively understands diplomacy and the social art of compromise insuring that the needs of everyone involved are considered and negotiated before reaching a firm decision. Libra is a cardinal sign, ruled by Venus, speaking the virtuous language of human dignity for every action taken on behalf of human justice. It is possible that this theme will crown the DNC when we consider that Mercury in Libra conjoins the Mid -Heaven in the Lunar Eclipse chart for Washington,D.C., hopefully setting the intention for the Democratic Party of peaceful negotiation through a reconciliation of differences.

*This sentence has been revised from the original post due to my mis-calculation when Mercury made a square to Pluto.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/320/feed http://laurenlesko.com/317 http://laurenlesko.com/317#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:32:06 +0000 Lauren http://laurenlesko.com/?p=317 click on the image to read about the art

Today, as the Sun prepared to enter Virgo, we had a lovely earth trine between Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon; a celestial blessing guaranteeing that we can bring creative form to our emotions. The Moon in Taurus tickles our tactile sensibilities encouraging us to reach out and grab hold of the sensual pleasures of life. When we are under the influence of Taurus we hunger for the simple pleasures abounding in Mother Nature; our radar on the alert for physical security we seek comfort in the realm of our senses. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, each an earth sign, each deeply aware of our physical needs, each directing our attention to our bodies, especially with so many planets presently in earth signs; Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Under the current influences of Virgo, we are paying close attention, albeit unconscious for many of us, to how well we integrate the daily rhythms of our body with those of our mind.

Mercury, our celestial guardian of the mind, as well as, ruler of Virgo is adding extra emphasis on how well we communicate who we are. Not surprising that we are challenged today as Mercury opposes Uranus to pay closer attention to our mental attachments; the ideas we cling to that may be preventing us from a more fully realized independence in thought and action. Remember, this Virgo Sun , coupled with the recent eclipses, is asking us for an honest self-evaluation in the face of our past choices. The last aspect the Taurus Moon makes before moving into the waxing Moon is a square to Neptune in Aquarius alerting us to our very human tendencies for mental fantasy and illusion which can set up unrealistic expectations in our communication with others and ultimately lead us into emotional isolation.

The waxing Moon in Gemini square the Sun in Virgo further accentuates the possible split between our mind and body as Mercury, the ruler of both Gemini and Virgo, is pitted between the two. Regardless of the celestial mayhem this situation causes each year, if we shift our perspective and look at a situation in our own life which is confusing or conflicting we may find resolve in the space between; what the Buddha referred to as “the middle way”. Both Gemini and Virgo can express in extreme ways; Gemini can destabilize our attention out of mental restlessness and boredom, and the mental obstinacy of Virgo can constipate our capacity for communication. On the other hand, Gemini makes us youthfully inquisitive and Virgo meticulously records our pluses and minuses each spurring us on to grow more fully self-realized. Every waxing Moon garners internalized self-reflection, but this Moon heralds the waxing phase of the Solar Eclipse, and turning our gaze within means experiencing a deeper connection to the core of who we are. I am speculating that this waxing Moon reflects our need to integrate our abstract idealizing with our concrete realizing to create a more perfected self reflected in our imperfection.

As the Sun prepares to enter Virgo it is worth spending time meditating on what aspect of our individuality we want to improve as we work the coming month toward a conscious integration of the disparate bits and pieces of who we think we are. The Leo and Aquarius eclipse cycle focused our attention toward paying attention to who we are, as well as, what we are contributing to the collective. Now is the time when we can “reap what we have sown” and benefit from the self-honesty offered by a Virgo Sun if we are willing to drop our veil of self-deluding and face a realistic fulfilling of our dreams. This is definitely the month for rolling up our shelves prepared for concentrated working at learning more about who we are and what we are contributing to life.

The last aspect the Sun makes before entering Virgo is a magnificent Grand Trine with the Aries Moon and Sagittarius Pluto nurturing inspired passion for transforming our past, while calling for emotional courage tempered with patience lest we find ourselves spinning our wheels but going nowhere. The good news is a Virgo Sun heralds a definite time of tempered patience to help guide us on our continued journey to self-discovery. It is worth remembering that the Sun is the central force guiding the constantly changing planetary cycles with each new cycle influencing and impacting our personal life. In astrology the Sun represents our life vitality, the essence of our identity, the place deep within our psyche symphonically resonating “I am”.

When under the influence of Virgo our “I am-ness” is prepared to face our disappointments and failures in the belief that we can improve our past choices and become a more whole, self-realized, individual who is not dependent on pleasing others, shades of Leo, or in needing the rules and regulations of others to make our self complete. This Virgo Sun is offering us the earnest possibility of becoming more authentically who we are by taking personal responsibility for our individual choices in life. It is no longer fruitful to blame others for the difficulties in our lives without first examining how we have contributed to the problem. In other words, Virgo requires that we accept personal responsibility for what happens in our life without criticizing, chastising, or condemning our self or others.

This month’s celestial signature is strongly suggesting that we use precise objectivity in our process of self-analysis. The Sun, Saturn, and Jupiter are in earth signs signaling a golden opportunity for manifesting an improved aspect of our individuality by using acquired skills in ways that can improve the quality of our society. We can easily exercise our leadership qualities this month as long as our goal is for improving, not sustaining, the statis quo. We may experience a sudden or unexpected change in who we think we are, and if we continue hiding our authenticity behind other people’s choices or blaming them for our dissatisfaction in life, we may find ourselves at the end of September, when the Sun squares Pluto, experiencing a profound emptiness within.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/314/feed http://laurenlesko.com/310 http://laurenlesko.com/310#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:04:04 +0000 Lauren http://laurenlesko.com/?p=310 click on the image to read about the art

Discerning how successfully we communicate in our relationships is on the rise. Yesterday, Mars entered Libra, the celestial signifier of diplomatic negotiation. And, today Mercury and Venus indulge in a discriminating kiss in Virgo directing our attention toward a thoughtful deliberation in our communication skills. This is not a time to be brash or impulsive, remembering that Mars recently made a square to Pluto, our impatience with our self and others is being reined - in and our celestial guides are directing our attention toward a measured assessing of our current situation before asserting our will. Mars, the God of War, is seeking balanced negotiations; solutions and resolutions that consider the interests of each person involved. Never an easy job having been made more irritating today as Mercury and Venus quincunx Chiron and the North Node in Aquarius. We are warned not to allow our analyzing and discerning to become overly determined and rigid to the point of suffocating our mental breathing. Chiron and the North Node in Aquarius are offering us the opportunity to open our minds to the new and unconventional and the influence of Virgo can ground our hopes and wishes if the threads of discrimination are masterfully interwoven into the intricate fabric of our life.

On the full Moon Lunar Eclipse Mars made a Big Fat square to Pluto and we were given a Big Fat reminder to temper our willful acting. Today, Mars enters Libra and we are given the golden opportunity of acting with balance and harmony. The first aspect to Mars in Libra is an opposition from the Moon in Aries pricking our emotional impatience urging us to diligently reconsider our impulsive reactions in our relationship with others. This is a time for becoming aware that our impatience with our self and others disrupts our equilibrium in life tossing us upside down and inside out. When we act without forethought, as Mars is oft to do, we can create double work for ourselves cleaning up our mishaps.

Mars is definitely at home in the cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, the impetus of each to take action. The lesson we are learning each time Mars travels through Libra is the best time for taking action, which can be nerve wracking with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake. I have Libra at my mid heaven and I never enjoyed, even as a child at the amusement park, being jolted about, however, it is worth pondering the deeper meaning of Mars in Libra exposing our awkwardness, and difficulty, in taking harmonious action.

The first aspect this LIbra Mars makes is a square to Jupiter in Capricorn challenging us not to exaggerate the imbalance of our actions, instead, to use this aspect and garner disciplined action leading to constructive results. The conjunction with Mercury and then Venus, when both are in Libra, accentuates harmony in our communication with others; and the trine to Chiron and the North Node in Aquarius provides added breath to our actions allowing them a wider circulation and greater effect within the collective. The quincunx to Uranus curbs our tendency for defiant action, the trine to Neptune softens our motives, and the sextile to Pluto stimulates creative resolution. All in all, Mars in Libra heralds a time of greater accepting and allowing for each other’s differences which can open new levels of communication bringing understanding and offering mutual benefit.

I have fallen sadly behind in my writing because I temporarily diverted my attention finding myself diligently working to complete a project that in form is unrelated to astrology. However, nothing in life remains unrelated to astrology for very long; inscribed upon her ancient face is a wisdom for discerning meaning in our daily experiencing of life. In fact, Diligently working is a fine describing of one manifestation of Virgo, and with all three personal planets, Mercury, Venus, and Mars in Virgo, as well as, Saturn’s two year sojourn through this sign, the celestial spotlight shines upon our capacity to work toward the completion of a goal that will improve our life albeit not without a certain amount of struggle and possible strife. With Mercury dignified in Virgo, our communication crisp and precise, we turn a skeptical face to greet the world with a wise worn skepticism.

When under the influence of Virgo we become critical of things as they are, or have been, and we experience events in our life as forces insisting that we improve some situation usually concerning work or health. We question the daily habits and rituals in our life examining which are working as we need. Virgo is that aspect in our self honoring the rhythms of our body, listening to what our body needs, and working to insure that our body has exactly what it wants in order to function at optimum capacity. Diet and exercise come immediately to mind, as well as, doing the work that we enjoy and being mentally nourishment in what we are learning. Virgo is that aspect within our self seeking union between our body and mind, and this month we have amble opportunities if we do not run amok in self criticism.

Mercury has unabashed winged heals in Virgo swiftly approaching a last retrograde station for 2008 taking place on September 24. The first aspect Mercury in Virgo shares is a trine with the Moon in Capricorn adding a serious emotional tone to our communication. I think it worth mentioning that on either side of this months Lunar Eclipse Mercury first conjoins Saturn and then trines Jupiter suggesting that our communication skills will be directed toward our social goals. These two celestial conversations certainly substantiate the potential of the Aquarius Lunar Eclipse offering us all a chance to reach beyond self- interest and assume personal responsibility for the consequences of our choices in life and the effect that they have upon the quality of life for all people.

“A total eclipse of the Sun in Leo stands as a direct invitation to wake up and pay attention to who we are. But rather than trade one Self-Concept for another, we have a bold calling to trade a Self-Concept for an actual sense of self. ” I have been reading amazing insights from other astrologers about the meaning of the August 2008 Solar Eclipse and all are pointing fingers at gaining a deeper understanding of who we are by surpassing what we identify as our ego. The quote above is from the astrologer Eric Francis who, in the same article, pointed out that the last time we experienced a Solar Eclipse on the Leo South Node was in 1971 a time in recent history when people were willing to give up how they identified themselves for something new and unknown. It seems possible that once again we are given the same celestial opportunity to drop the prescriptive veiling of our individuality for something more authentic and rooted in the core of who we are.

On Friday August 8 we experienced the waxing phase of the new Moon Solar Eclipse, the Moon in Scorpio, alerting our attention to survival. Few celestial signatures are as intense as a Scorpio Moon and when coupled with the Leo Solar Eclipse it seems likely that we are preoccupied with the survival of our individuality. This of course can take on a myriad of faces and easily account for any number of worldly events all of which seem to point at a fearful ego terrified of sitting on the side lines. When under the influence of Scorpio our insecurities can flare manifesting raging jealousy and manipulative possessiveness. Certainly not the prettier faces of Scorpio but perhaps the faces we need to face in order to discover the rich treasures buried deep within our Scorpio nature; self honesty and profound self-transforming.

This Scorpio Moon bestows celestial harmony except on the Sun, Neptune, and Mercury offering us on Earth a curious déja vu when earlier in the week Mercury opposed Neptune and communication was rife with uncertainties and mis-understandings. Moon square the Sun brings conflict with how we emotionally express our self and Moon square Neptune can provide creative communication if we can stay afloat of emotional innuendos. The last aspect the Moon makes before leaving Scorpio is a square to Mercury adding additional stress on changing the way we emotionally communicate. The square aspect harbors creative change disguised as tension or stress, and this particular square, coinciding with Mercury’s ingress into Virgo, is heralding a definite time for thoughtful communication taking full advantage of implementing the many useful skills acquired in prior years.