SUN CONJUNCTS MERCURY AND EROS IN LEO; PALLAS TRINES VESTA ; NEPTUNE OPPOSES JUNO AND VENUS PREPARES FOR HER RETROGRADE

My friends, we’re at the brink of The Sun-Mercury-Eros conjunction at 0 Leo. This is a potent alignment which brings both our conscious awareness to, and the ability to give/receive messages about matters that link with our hearts, wombs, romantic, passionate, creative, co-creative, pro-creative/sensual lives. (Applies for men, and other genders in different ways – but bear in mind we all have a powerful link to the archetype and energy of the Womb.) Leo also links to the archetype of the Inner Child and the vulnerable, authentic self that resides within that tender, layer of self. Eros’ role in this conjunction brings it back to that intrinsic, unspeakably intimate connection we share with the Source of Life itself. It is that quality that excites us about the fact of our existence, and allows us to revel, sparkle and delight in that realization.

We’re looking to our lives, and opening ourselves to messages/ideas/information that will expand our awareness of ourselves in this vital aspect of life. The Royal Sign of Leo fills our worlds with a fearless approach to life, and love. It’s a beautiful energy, and one which can show us the way forward, especially when we may feel stuck in our abilities to express our innermost, authentic selves.

Ceres and Hermes oppose the Sun/Mercury conjunction at 2 Aquarius, energizing current energies. We are likely to be able to provide nurture through or be nurtured by our friends, charitable networks, associations for humanitarian causes – or simple – from the Ether of the Cosmos itself. Aquarian energies seek to bring the Gifts of the Self to the Collective, that they may then be honed to facilitate manifestation of the Mind’s directive. Such forms of nurture can come through social media, other forms of electronic communication and related networks (FB, Skype, Twitter, etc. ). Hermes’ much like Mercury, emphasizes the roles of communication – of giving/receiving messages of use and interest at this time. Stay open to and in tune with your sense of intuition, as it were.

Those of you with placements near to 23-9 Libra-Scorpio / Aries-Taurus will experience this as a Fixed T-Square, or Fixed Grand Cross – with the points of greatest intensity nearest 0-2 Scorpio/Taurus.

The Sun/Mercury trines, whilst Ceres sextiles Saturn Retrograde (28 Scorpio). This indicates that the messages we receive now (with respect to our authenticity / passion / vulnerability / lovelife / kids / creativity / etc.) and the nurture we give/receive in ways that connect the Higher/Deeper Mind, The Cosmos, and the Collective – leave larger ripples in their wave than anticipated. Saturn observes and tests us all methodically through its final retrograde in Scorpio (for another 30 yeas at least). This trine-sextile (i.e. Wedge) alignment provides us harmonious opportunities to work with these elements and find authentic, compassionate ways in which we can address the challenges that taskmaster-Saturn presents us with at present.

There are other supportive aspects present (depending on how you choose to work with their energies/opportunities):

Pallas Athena Retrograde (11 Sagittarius) trined Vesta (11 Aries) – The Goddess of Strategy, Wisdom and Assertion asks us to look inwards, revisiting our understanding of belief systems, ideologies, philosophies, attitudes to travel, ability to teach/preach and so on. Vesta, The Priestess, continues her counsel … She asks us to continue to burn the remnants of the Ego in the Fires of the Self, as she reveals to us our Innate Divinity. Those with placements at between 4-18 Leo will experience this as a phenomenal Grand Fire Trine (as the Sun/Mercury will, over the next few days). It’s already in the works 😉

Neptune Retrograde (9 Pisces) opposed Juno (8 Virgo) – We are asked to look at the ways in which we experience and understand the Formless aspects of Divinity. The illusions of ‘being spiritual’ and what that must ‘look/feel/be like’ are presented to us now, and we are challenged to allow what is no longer required to be washed away into the Compassionate Waters of Spirit and Mystery. Juno, the energy of the Soulmate, opens us to the Divine Feminine at the same time. We are likely to experience encounters – with Priestesses / Facilitators / Service Providers of some kind who challenge our ideas of an otherworldly idea of Spirit. Those of you with placements at/near 1-16 Sagittarius/Gemini will experience this as a Mutable T-Square, or Mutable Grand Cross.

Osiris (9 Virgo) and Niobe (10 Virgo) are nearby, exerting their influence. Osiris asks us to discover a grounded, practical understanding of Service that seeks to heal the Wounded Masculine, whilst Niobe warns us of becoming too attached to the physical trappings to any path of Service – titles, adulation, movements, followings, and so on – these can be useful and needed depending on what you’re meant to be doing, the catch is not attaching the whims of the ego-self to it.

It’s important to also note that Venus (0 Virgo), in proximity to Jupiter (26 Leo), prepares for Her Retrograde, in a little over 24 hours’ time (July 24). The Lady herself questions her material form, her value system, the ways she relates to things, people, and different aspects of her self. We’re going to feel this, at first, intensely focused upon our understanding of what constitutes a Practical Path of Service – then she shifts backward into Leo, circa July 31st. Her lessons then focus upon Leo-related concerns as delineated above (circa July 31). I feel the messages we receive from Sun/Mercury now will also help us understand and prepare for the Venus Retrograde Transit.

There’s more happening in the skies (there’s always more, e.g. Mars squaring Uranus), but I think this should be enough to give you a sense of what’s up with the skies right now 😉

Blessings to All,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam

The Sky Priestess

For those of you seeking readings, please contact me via ( http://wp.me/p4OUNS-zB ). I might be travelling after the 26th, and so I’m leaving my calendar wide open. Not sure when it will be as free after that. Blessings.

Text © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015. All rights reserved.
Image – 1873 Pierre Auguste Cot – Spring.jpg

JULY 22, 2015 – GRAND CARDINAL CROSS, SATURN’S CHALLENGE + PRACTICAL ADVICE

Blessings to All. We’ve got several powerful aspects in the skies right now – some of which are kicking up a storm. For starters, we’ve got a GRAND CARDINAL CROSS formed between The Moon in Libra, Pluto Retrograde (13 Capricorn), Mars (18 Cancer) and Vesta (11 Aries) — along with other alignments. I’ll explain the Cardinal Cross, then Saturn’s position, followed by a discussion on what to do.

The Grand Cardinal Cross is reminiscent of the kind of energy we collectively experienced in April/May 2014. It’s a similar kind of pressure, that either leads to some kind of intense breakdown, or breakthrough. The challenge is a new one, however, as the players in this alignment are very different. Some of you will sail through this challenge remarkably well, smiling as you do, whilst many more are likely to feel this as an unexpected bubbling or building up of intense pressure.

The Moon’s role in the alignment asks us to watch the ways in which we manage the concept of balance, across different realms in our lives – be it personal and professional partnerships, collaborations, elements of finding inner balance, etc. Whilst Libra represents the detachment of the Scales of Justice, when unbalanced, it can swing wildly, even violently in search of a point of equilibrium. Emotions are likely to be unusually intense when concerning these particular areas of life.

Pluto Retrograde in Capricorn, as it has been for the past few years, continues to teach us about our relationship with power, integrity, intimacy, boundaries, alchemy and the depths to which we descend in order to find our greatest hidden treasures – all in the realms of what the super-ego has been conditioned to define as ‘success’, ‘power’, ‘legacy’, ‘status’, ‘prestige’, ‘achievement’, and so on. Here the Lord of the Underworld questions your right to be at the top, and … whatever for?

Vesta in Aries, being the newest player in the Grand Cardinal Cross, asks us to discover and find our path of dedication, to some quality, ideal, person, or simply state of being which we identify as The Sacred. There is something to be given up here, burnt in the Holy Fires of the Self, before something New Emerges. Priestesses and other Spiritual Facilitators will be feeling this aspect with great intensity. Many will be reminded of their sacred Calls to Devotion and Service.

Mars in Cancer highlights the ways in which we act upon, or towards our goals, desires and wishes with respect to the ways we connect with the Mother / Familial / Traditional / Domestic spheres of life. Some may seek sanctuary in what is known, traditionally sanctioned / seen as comfortable – whereas, others may feel the pressure to break through/out of these constraints at this time. As the Sun is at the anaretic degree of Cancer (29 degrees), collectively, it’s a heightened time for our emotions, and sub-conscious impulses surrounding this part or aspect of our lives.

Very briefly – the Cosmos is also placing an added emphasis on Saturn, the karmic taskmaster. The Sun (29 Cancer) -and- Mercury (28 Cancer) trines, whilst Jupiter (25 Leo) -and- Venus (0 Virgo) squares to Saturn Retrograde (28 Scorpio). What this means is that we are being urged to look at issues surrounding Plutonian themes, i.e. power, integrity, intimacy, boundaries, alchemy and the depths to which we descend in order to find our greatest hidden treasures. The decisions we make in these areas of life now are bound to have a greater influence, or set the foundation for a longer-lasting legacy than we give them credit for. Bear in mind that Pluto and Saturn are in Mutual Reception once more, with Pluto in the sign ruled by Saturn (Capricorn), and vice versa.

The Sun and Mercury’s emphasis tell of a domestic, familial, cultural and/or maternal (Mother-related) issue that Saturn’s tests of discipline and restriction currently center themselves upon at this time. It may either be an exacerbation or an amelioration of the Saturnian challenge. Jupiter continues its lessons in Leo, with the energy of the Teacher/Guru emphasizing the expansion that comes through love, romance, children, the Inner Child Archetype, joy, creativity, sensuality and the like. Venus has just entered Virgo, the Virgin-Priestess, as it prepares for its upcoming retrograde (and back into Leo), in just a few days time. Jupiter squaring Saturn amplifies its intensity, and can signify the role of a mentor or teacher, or even a situation abroad that feeds into Saturn-test at this time. Venus’ role asks us to find practical, embodied, and materially grounded ways to find a solution to the situation we find ourselves tested upon. It may also involve a certain way in which we express our femininity and experience of sexuality/sensuality – or even in our financial/business affairs. The possibilities are endless – but it’s safe to say that Saturn’s position is highly charged in the skies at this time.

So – what do you do?

PRACTICAL ADVICE:

Cardinal Crosses, and just about any alignment involving Saturn are testing times/energies. As I said, some of you are going to sail right through this, but most people are going to feel some sense of intensity. My advice to you would be to not take your emotional responses to people/yourselves too intensely today. Many are bound to be tripping over familiar triggers, whilst others may find a general sense of ill-ease, or pressure which they can’t put their fingers on, much like a heaviness in the air.

Bear in mind that this is transitory – the intensity will die down in a day or so. Observe what comes up with you at this time, but do not feel the need to rush into a judgement or conclusion. Give it time, and give yourselves and others the space to Just Be.

Blessings to All,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam

The Sky Priestess

Image: Astrolog Screenshot. Text/Content © Bairavee Balasubramaniam 2015. All rights reserved.