The Sun and Mercury are at the very edges of Cancer right now. The transition from water to fire signs is one of instability and volatility. This is because at these points not only does the planet pass through a delicate juncture where the zodiac sign ends, but the Nakshatra (lunar mansion or star group) also ends there. Typically, at the place where zodiac signs end, there is the energy of a Nakshatra still operating behind it, which holds together the indications of that point in space. It is a well-known source of weakness when planets change signs. This is magnified when water gives way to fire. Those who have studied the zodiac, realize that the juncture between water and fire is where, elementally, a mini cycle starts over. For example, the signs progress from Aries (fire), Taurus (earth), Gemini (air), Cancer (water) - then the elements start over again with Leo (fire), Virgo (earth),.. etc.. These Gandantha points show where a 1/3 portion of the zodiac ends and the next 1/3 portion of the zodiac begins.
Every 2 1/2 days or so, the Moon changes signs. So, three times per month she will pass the Gandantha point. Twelve times per month she will change signs, with a Nakshatra still operating behind her.
As you can see by these charts, there is a big shift that happens from August 15 to August 16. Tomorrow, August 15, the Sun and Mercury are both at the edge of Cancer, 29 degrees — and the Moon is in the very early degrees of Virgo — having just changed signs. By the next day, the Sun and Mercury are both in Leo. Venus is also barely one degree of Leo and is retrograde.
This shows a lot of unstable energy for the next couple of days. The sun, Mercury, Venus and the Moon - all personal type planets will be affected. This also may portend more natural disasters, with all those planets aligned together.
On the personal front, we have all been experiencing some unpredictable energy with Venus retrograde joined Saturn, the South node and squaring Mars - as I have been discussing recently. Some very unusual relationships with other people are happening. These relationships may be disturbed or challenged at work or with family members or close friends — it is not necessarily relationships that are affected. But, if you are a spiritual type of person, one who does a lot of inner work, this could be an incredibly powerful time for your right now. It could be a very important time for re-examining your relationships with people — growing in compassion and patience.
Vedic astrology views retrograde planets a little different than modern Western astrology. It acknowledges that retrograde planets are powerful and also have a lot of power to heal. Given that they are closer to earth at that time, and appear to be moving backwards in relation to our forward moving life, their energy becomes internalized. The Western mind tends to think that if something upsets our worldly life it is automatically “bad”. The Eastern mind tends to consider this a little differently.
Everything is a blessing, even the “bad stuff” - and in many ways, especially the bad stuff. There are entire religions in India that worship pain and hardship, because they know it is the fast track to strengthening our weaknesses. There are innumerable stories of devotees that are the closest to God getting the harshest treatments in order to make them tough and speed up their karmic understanding.
Most of the time when we are getting the good stuff, we simply fall asleep and enjoy it. It is not until we have the external things mess up that we actually become introspective and grow. For instance, in an abusive relationship, the abuser will keep acting like a jerk until their partner gets fed up with the abuse and leaves them. But as long as their partner stays and puts up with it, their abusive ways will continue as they are being validated by the complicity of their partners weakness. In our lives there is a similar pattern. We think we have it all figured out on some level - admit it, it’s true - then some problems occurs that holds a mirror up to our process, and we reevaluate. It is the harshness of facing our mistakes or losing what we thought we could count on that wakes us up to who we really are and how much we have really learned in a particular area.
Do not get me wrong, as a full-time astrologer I spend everyday trying to help people avoid trouble or understand it better so their life is not so painful. So, I am not being cavalier about the suffering of others or frankly, my own suffering. Here is something to ponder: The soul comes here to earth because it is much easier to experience the consequences of our wrong actions due to the severity of life here. Stated more simply, is very easy to suffer on earth with a body that feels pain very easily, a fragile and emotional psyche, and the multitude of opportunities we have to make mistakes. This is not a bleak statement about earth or our life here. Rather it is a testimonial to how lucky we are to be able to learn about our truthful selves. In fact, once we start to desire knowledge and open our hearts, we realize that nothing has to be painful. To tell the truth, the whole thing sorta cracks me up - I think is quite hilarious.
Think about this: There are many Vedic stories about sages who pray to be born in a difficult and dark time like we live in. This is because of what I mentioned above, we have so many opportunities to grow. There is such a contrast between darkness and light on earth and its inherent duality. It is an enormous blessing to be able to live on earth at this time, worry also have comforts and time. Just ponder how much you have grown in your life - how much transformation has taken place within you. Could you have ever imagined your life would turn out the way it did and that you would have learned so much about your true self. Would you have believed that you could endure the difficulties and hardships you have and actually grow in compassion and love as a result? What a miracle. And how much of that growth happened due to your mistakes? Probably all of it?
Back to retrograde planets. More often than not I see retrograde planets create worldly problems that make us face our mistakes around the things they rule. In this case, Venus. In facing these issues our energy becomes internalized and we truly learn about the thing. With Venus, we are learning to compromise with dignity and without regret or excessive self-sacrifice. Also we learn how to transmute our desire for personal happiness - first into the desire to serve all as expressions of Self, and then to transform that into devotion to God.
Retrograde cycles are complicated. Astrology is not simple. Nothing is good or bad in astrology, or in life.
For the next few days be careful with some volatile, unpredictable energy in your life. With the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus all either changing signs, retrograde, or at delicate points in the zodiac there may be a tendency for rash and impulsive decisions that we regret.
One of the things I have learned the most about astrology is it teaches us that sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. Sometimes the best thing to do is wait and delay decisions until your mind is clear.
Consider this a good option the next couple of days.
