Astrological Update for March , 2009

Full Moon in Virgo March 10, 2009 at 10:39 PM EDT
TUESDAY 10, 2009

Hello Everyone,
I will be in Egypt for this upcoming Spring Equinox March 21, 2009 as we onor the “coming forth into the Light” amidst the sacred precincts of Luxor Temple.  Our group will be joining the “Solar Wave” of Heart energy flowing over the planet like a soothing balm of Light after a long, stormy winter. May you all feel the peace and joy of rekindled Love in your lives as we celebrate this rebalancing of our male and female polarities; yin and yang; darkness and light.
 The Astrological Update for next month will be sent out when I return from Egypt after mid-April.
Blessings to you all,
Mary

ASTROLOGICAL UPDATE FOR MARCH 2009

FULL MOON IN VIRGO MARCH 10, 2009 at 10:39 PM EDT

The Moon will be full at 20°39′ Virgo, opposite the Sun at 20° 39′ Pisces, falling in close alignment with the (now infamous)  Saturn-Uranus opposition that has been affecting us all  since last November. Push definitely comes to shove this week as the Full Moon activates the opposition between “don’t color outside the lines” Saturn and “freelance-surrealist” Uranus. Saturn rules the laws of orthodox science and religion; Uranus, the quirky world of quantum mechanics and New Age philosophies.
As the opposition proceeds until the summer of 2010, the rules of the world we inhabit are up for review.  How our personal egos (Saturn) relate to progress, freedom and radical (perhaps even shocking) evolutionary changes (Uranus) over the next year will be the “lesson plan”.

The last times Saturn and Uranus opposed each other in Pisces-Virgo opposition, the world experienced major social, political and economic challenges. During the 1965-67 opposition, we saw large scale civil rights and anti-war demonstrations, China’s Cultural Revolution, “Flower-Power”, and the first space walks. During the 1918-20 oppositions, we saw the end of WWI and the establishment of the League of Nations, a global economic recession, the rise of the Axis War Powers in Europe, and the first public radio broadcasts. The earlier 1873-75 opposition coincided with the mass crash of the US Stock Exchange for 10 days which eventually led to the US moving to the gold standard.
Obviously, history repeats itself unless we make different choices. The collective is now dealing with the major “reformation” of structure and form as we know it (Saturn) balanced with  a more progressive and enlightened  world view (Uranus).
How you experience this opposition personally, of course, depends on where Saturn, Uranus, and the Full Moon fall in your chart. Generally speaking, on a personal level, where the Sun at 21 degrees Pisces falls in your chart is where you need to trust your intuition and use your creativity; where the Moon at 21 degrees Virgo activates your chart is where you need to discern your priorities and honor them. Both Virgo and Pisces share a common theme of “Service”; however, the time for martyrdom and “escape” from the body is over. It is extremely important, in this time of accelerated frequency, to “reestablish our connection to the Earth and with our own bodies (grounding”).  Virgo symbolizes the “Body as the Temple” in its whole and intact state, honoring both our physical boundaries (Virgo) and our connection to Spirit (Pisces). It is time to own up to the idea of inhabiting a “Light Body” in a lighter, but yet still material universe.

BREAKTHROUGHS  OR BREAKDOWNS
Although the stage was set for this full moon on Sunday (3/8), when the Sun opposed Saturn, events will continue to unfold until Thursday (3/12), when the Sun conjoins Uranus.  Those of us with strong Uranian energy in our charts do not do well with restrictions and limits, which are the hallmarks of Saturn. We would rather take off on our eccentric research marathons, and vision quests, investigating the secrets of the universe. However, at this Full Moon, Saturn in Virgo says we have to think about our priorities: the bills that are piling up, the car that needs to be taken to the shop, the project at work we’ve been putting off. 
At this Full Moon, with the Sun moving through sensitive Pisces and moving into a conjunction with radical, unpredictable Uranus, we may be finding it especially difficult to contend with “terra firma’s” recent shifts. When we seem to be overwhelmed, spiritual enlightenment sounds like one more burden, and it is very tempting to seek escapist pleasures instead …..TV, the internet, our iPods, alcohol, food. Retreating into these immediately gratifying mini-retreats, while not the healthiest or most enlightened response, is oftentimes our path of least resistance. With the Virgo Full Moon, we are being asked to forego our immediate pre-programmed escape mechanisms and to really redefine our relationship to our physical bodies. Do we need more rest….better nutrients….more exercise…more water??  Do we connect with nature, even if it is a 5-minute walk per day? All of these are very uncomplicated (Virgo’s favorite theme is “keep it simple”) “grounding” tools in this time of MUCH accelerated frequency.
Interestingly enough, the very tasks we find overwhelming may potentially provide the spiritual solace we seek. Moon in Virgo is the archetypal “no-nonsense mother, who says: “If you clean up your room, you won’t have time to feel depressed.”   It’s time to turn off the ever-present barrage of bad news and streaming videos coming at us 24/7.   If you are on “overwhelm”, just DECIDING to take a single action is important, and by focusing on one area of your life and setting a modest goal and seeing it through to completion, immediately gives you a sense of power and control.  Virgo says: “Make a plan, take a walk, and learn something new…clean out a closet…give up one unhealthy habit…trust in Mother Nature!

A Virgo  Full Moon is always a great opportunity to evaluate what is really happening; gather the information we need to make informed decisions and  to move forward with deliberation and focus, if not outright confidence. With a Full Moon in Virgo conjunct Saturn and Venus retrograde in Aries, we must work diligently, one step at a time. The payoff is worth it!
SABIAN SYMBOL For the Full Moon at 21 Virgo:  A girls’ basketball team, with the keyword GROUP INTEGRATION.  By emphasizing fair play and teamwork, the possibility of achieving our mutual goals is much greater. This is not a good time to go it alone and ignore the needs of others.
VENUS  IN ARIES RETROGRADE:
 We all know about Mercury retrograde. But what can we expect when Venus, the planet of love, beauty and relationship turns her back on us?
Fortunately, Venus only goes retrograde every few years unlike Mercury, which retrogrades about three times per year.  This time around she is in the sign of Aries, not her “best side”, for most of the retrograde period, March 6-April 17.
Finding security is especially difficult now, as retrograde Venus reflects the widespread realization that a large portion of our carefully amassed economic investments are not so secure after all. But there's another way to read retrograde planets, which is that they offer an opportunity to look within and rediscover your inner resources. With Venus, the emphasis is on feeling “whole and complete” within ourselves (the Alchemist’s Sacred Marriage).

Those with a strong Venusian element in the birth chart (Sun, Moon, Venus or Ascendant in Libra or Taurus) are more likely to catch the “tailwind” of Venus moving in reverse. The two most important factors to consider in determining how Venus retrograde in Aries will affect you are: 1) where Aries falls in your chart; and, 2) the aspects Venus is making to the other planets in your chart.
Some general rules for the time Venus is retrograde: avoid impulse buying on major fashion/cosmetic purchases; be prepared to take a second or third look at any new lovers, don’t schedule major cosmetic procedures (as in surgery) and watch your sugar  and “goodies” intake, as you may be prone to over-indulgence.
At this point, you may be asking, does Venus retrograde have any good points? Well, yes…. in this particular instance, it may tone down the Aries desire to burn bridges as fast as they are crossed and allow more time to evaluate a person or situation. As with all retrograde periods, we can use the time to finish up projects, particularly artistic and creative endeavors.  This is a great time to go on retreat or spa, or take a well- deserved vacation someplace quiet and soothing. With Venus retrograde, you are more likely to be traveling solo, as it does not favor beginning new relationships. You may also find that people from your past (especially “old flames”) resurface. If anyone owes you money from the past, this may be the time that they finally decide to pay up, even if the amount is less than originally expected.
Most of us live in a fast-paced world and need the occasional reminder to slow down and breathe; Venus moving slowly in reverse offers this opportunity.
SPRING EQUINOX MARCH 20, 2009
 Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs at 7:44am EDT when the Sun enters 0 degree Aries.  At this instant, the world of form is held in balance, with day and night of equal length. This is a very powerful time as the “winds of change” are blowing hard. Aries is impulsive, energetic and idealistic, a willing pioneer of unfamiliar territory. However, at this time, we cannot afford to be naïve, as “shadowy” Pluto (the planet of extremes) forms a tense relationship with the Equinox Aries Sun. Instead of “ramming” our heads against walls, the Universe is asking us to be more measured in our actions, as the consequences may far exceed our expectations. We may be experiencing higher “highs” and lower “lows”, so this is not the time for scattering our energy or acting before thinking.  Some of us may begin to feel a profound sense of purpose and commitment to transforming our inner reality, as well as our outer world …..”Our Mission Statements” from the universe are unfolding! 
Conversely, if you begin to feel like you are on overload and overwhelm, remember to breathe deeply and to touch into Mother Earth and nature. The old forms are no longer working and with Pluto in the planetary picture, there is no way to hang on to the “old”.  Surrender, Forgiveness and releasing old attachments is the optimum formula for moving into the next phase of evolutionary progress. The New Earth is our reality. In the acutely memorable words of Jonathon Livingstone Seagull, “If you can “see” yourself in the picture, then the picture is real.”

NEW MOON IN ARIES MARCH 26TH
“Choose your battles wisely”.
With this Moon in Aries, we are asked to move beyond our comfort zones. We develop the courage and wisdom of the “peaceful warrior”. Where do we need to stand out ground? Where do we need to let go?   During this New Moon, the planet Pluto (intense emotions) is in the sign of Capricorn and is making a challenging aspect to the Moon in Aries. This is a turning point, where we are impelled to make a shift in consciousness.   Pluto, as Lord of the Underworld, symbolizes the Unconscious. Pluto impulses us to look at the shadow side of Capricorn and redefine out goals. As the higher octave of Mars (the Warrior), Pluto forces us to look at our  own Shadow side and to go deeper and to examine the root causes, so we can make real changes in our personality, rather than “band-aid” the bail-out responses. Pluto in Capricorn reveals where we have been duped into worshipping the “almighty dollar, and the old “gods” are definitely up for review! With all four personal planets in the fiery sign of Aries Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus) we are destined to make a leap of faith. The idealism of Aries asks us to quest for the “Grail”…to envision a new “Camelot”.  How far we go is up to each individual, but with Jupiter, Neptune and the North Node (the karmic destiny point) all in the sign of Aquarius on March 26th, a “New Age” of enlightened and liberated optimism is upon us.  “Let the Sun shine in”!!
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon at 7 degrees Aries: “A man succeeds in expressing himself simultaneously in two worlds”.  This speaks of birthing a new model for the masculine, for business and for the world … one that integrates the physical with the spiritual. We are rewriting the rules of reality.

I will be in Egypt from mid-January until mid-February, so the February Newsletter will be for the New Moon in Pisces February 24th.  There are still a few spaces left for my Spring Equinox trip to Egypt with Hillary Raimo.  Please contact either Hillary or myself if you are interested. If Egypt is part of your “mission”, this Full Moon will point the way!

Egypt for Spring Equinox March 2009 Last Call for Deposits! All trip deposits are due by January 11th to ensure you cabin space and hotel rooms. We have only a few spaces left on this tour! Final payments are due by February 15th lease contact Hillary Raito TODAY hillary@hillaryraimo.com or call 518-376-2503 This trip Is sold out ! Next trip with Hillary Raimo March 2010 "You only get one chance to live your life to the fullest" - Dr. Wayne Dryer