Seeming TO

Uranus, the planet of liberty, unpredictability, and riot, turns retrograde this week (Aug. 28, 2023, 7:39 pm PDT, 23º05’ Taurus). A transiting planet that’s retrograde generally seems to behave opposite to its normal mode – within the case of Uranus, seeming to toe the road and go together with the gang.

However the important thing phrase right here is “seeming to.” Retrograde movement is an phantasm, and so is that this reversal of character.

By the point Uranus turns direct once more on Jan. 26, 2024, it can retrograde all the best way again to 19º05’ Taurus, territory it final visited in Could. A sense of liberation that emerged at the moment will probably be questioned within the coming months. What are you prepared to surrender, or put up with, to take care of your sense of freedom? You’ll be a lot clearer about that by the point Uranus turns direct within the new yr.

Dancing Lesson

There are a minimum of two completely different approaches to dancing. One is to be taught and grasp prescribed steps, and the opposite is to let your thoughts go and your physique comply with.

Between Virgo and Pisces, I feel we are able to safely hazard a guess as to which signal prefers which technique.

The Sabian image for the Solar at this week’s Full Moon in Pisces (Aug. 30, 2023, 6:36 pm PDT, 7º25’ Pisces) is 8 Virgo, First dancing instruction. Image these little foot decals on the ground of a dance studio, exhibiting a novice the steps; an teacher is fastidiously guiding a brand new pupil alongside that trajectory. That is an mental method to dancing – not a mistaken one, precisely, however formal, studied, and cautious. It assumes a proper method and a mistaken one. Later, as soon as we’ve mastered the strikes, our our bodies will take part as we glide ecstatically with our accomplice. However for now…

“Ouch!” the scholar’s first accomplice cries out, as he misplaces a few steps on her toes. The Pisces Full Moon is on the Sabian image 8 Pisces, Woman blowing a bugle. If we don’t sound the alarm when one thing goes mistaken, we have now solely ourselves in charge for our sore toes!

However fortunately, Pisces has a giant coronary heart and a very good humorousness. This Full Moon will tell us if we’ve made some errors, however typically does it in a heat and delicate style.

The Pisces Full Moon sits near Saturn, on the Sabian image 4 Pisces: Heavy visitors on a slender isthmus. Pisces is extra of a free-form dancer by coronary heart, however Saturn introduced her to this dancing faculty so as to add some kind and self-discipline to her normal, instinctual method. Watch her carefully, although, and also you’ll see her improvise a number of furtive steps for her personal amusement, when the trainer turns his again. Whether or not in heavy visitors or on a crowded dance ground, Pisces is aware of that one of the simplest ways to navigate the crowds is to maneuver fluidly and gracefully, laughing when somebody steps on our toes.

Mermaids and Fishermen

Venus has been retrograde since July 22, when it stationed at 28º36’ Leo on the Sabian image, 29 Leo A mermaid. This week, she turns round and strikes direct (Sep. 3, 2023 at 6:20 pm PDT, 12º12’ Leo) on the Sabian image 13 Leo, An outdated sea captain rocking.

Mermaids and fisherman are sometimes thrown collectively in folktales. Typically, mermaids are sirens who lure fishermen to their loss of life, generally they grant granting needs, and sometimes they’re even brides. However they at all times belong half to the ocean and half to the land, paying homage to Venus’s time spent half within the underworld and half above floor.

In the beginning of Venus’ newest retrograde interval, the mermaid descended into the ocean. Now, forty days later, because the outdated sea captain sits rocking on his porch, I think about him awaiting a glimpse of the siren reemerging.

What does she imply to him? What’s he been excited about, whereas she’s been away? What has Venus’ retrograde interval meant for every of us – have we grown nearer to her pleasures and treasures, or have we felt disadvantaged of them?

Are we happy to see her return, or just a little unhappy to give up the quiet days of her retrograde?

Venus turns direct sq. Jupiter at 15º34′ Taurus, which can be stationing and turns retrograde simply 13 hours later. The 2 have been entangled in a collection of sq. facets – on June 11, on Aug. 22 whereas Venus was retrograde, and arising once more on Sep. 16. They’re the 2 “benefics”, or most lucky planets, however even they spat now and again; and in these squares, we see a battle between our appreciation of what we have now and the very human need for extra.

The outdated sea captain is having fun with the benefit and contentment of his twilight years, however a part of him yearns for his years at sea. Throughout this Venus retrograde interval, we might have skilled an identical dissatisfaction. Because it involves an finish, ask your self: Are you happier about what you’ve, or extra stressed for what you don’t have?

Writing and pictures © 2017-23 by April Elliott Kent

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