Pisces New Moon March 2021: Amplifying the Dreamtime

“You see things; and you say, ‘Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?" George Bernard Shaw - Irish playwright (1856-1950)

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” 
Douglas H. Everett - British Chemist/Academic Author (1916-2002)

We arrive near mid-month, a potent junction of time and space, to briefly step beyond the bounds of reality before the change of season arrives a week from now. Yes, we stand at the doorstep of the Pisces New Moon and its energetic merging not only with the Sun, but Venus and its higher octave Neptune too. Welcome to the dreamtime on steroids.

Before I get to the primary focus (you’ll see why that’s an unintended pun in a moment), I wanted to briefly mention this very potent New Moon dynamic. Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac represents the end point or conclusion of the zodiac. In that sense, its all encompassing theme of oneness implies an archetypal merging of the eleven other zodiacal members. It’s the culmination of life’s journey, a turn of the wheel, an end before a beginning.

New Moon arrives today (13th and my Solar Return day). Only other time a New Moon occurred on my birthday was in 2002. Also, I have had two Full-Moon birthdays, one in 1960 and the other 1979. Each of these lunar events on my Solar Return day proved significant in my growth and evolution in the year that followed.

At this New Moon, especially as a new season awaits at the coming Equinox (20th for most of the world (near midnight on 19th in Hawaii)), we are encouraged to dream big, especially over the next 2 weeks; to embrace the mysteries of life through our connection to the natural world, to be compassionate to self and others, and to heighten our awareness and expand our purpose for being on this earthly plane. 

Yet, important to remember that Neptunian energy, especially as it transits its Piscean home sign can cast spells too over one’s perspective. This can lead to delusion, addiction patterns and over-sensitivity. Neptune also rules the unseen, which includes the microbial world. 

Uranus in Taurus, especially in its square now to Saturn reminds us to stay grounded, receive meaningful bodywork/energy work to stay strong and clear, and to set aside down time to avoid overload. It also reminds us the evolution of humanity depends on forward thinking. The past is past. Building bridges leads us to a new Earth reality.

For my birthday, I’m headed to the mountains north of here to drink in the magnificent, spellbinding Southern Hemisphere night sky. There I’ll meet up with some dedicated amateur astronomers who spend hours photographing various celestial wonders. Being washed over by starlight is the ultimate birthday gift for me! And to be able to see such grandeur through large telescopes is simply cosmic icing on the galactic cake!

And now on to the blog….

Archetypal Neptune in part rules imagery, including video, movies etc. A movie is a stitching of many images: each frame an illusion of a moment. It also expresses its vibration through music. In this blog, I am sharing four images I photographed during my Japan journeys over the past 3 years with commentary about each image. This was not an easy selection, as I have a lot of memorable images. However in the spirit of the Pisces Moon I’ve selected the following as representation of what this Moon offers:

First up - Messages To The Beyond (click or tap on an image to enlarge it)

Photographed at a temple in the mountains near Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, these wooden placards, common in Japan, are placed by Shinto and Buddhist worshippers after writing prayers or wishes. And there they artfully hang in gratitude to the kami (spirits or gods) for receiving their messages. In Pisces, we reach beyond the veil of reality to embrace the realm of the soul and its poignant mysteries.

This is a wide-angle perspective to give the viewer an on-going feeling of continuation for many prayers and wishes found here.

Next - Mystical Ontake (own-ta-kay)

High in the central mountains of Japan are some memorable peaks, including Mt. Fuji. And while Fuji is the quintessential symbol of Japan, the peak pictured here is also quite revered. This is Ontake in the early morning autumn light, the day after Full Moon in Nagano Prefecture. Snow capped throughout most of the year, its 10,000+ ft (3067m) summit watches over this bountiful area of Nagano, Japan. 

Ontake is an active volcano, which last erupted unexpectedly with a methane explosion in 2014, killing 63 people who had ventured to the summit. Nonetheless, a shrine is found at the summit, and visited by many people each year. Close up or from afar, Mt. Ontake is such a stirring sight throughout the day. I chose to portray this scene in mostly black and white with the slightest hint of color to further bring focus to these mountains in the distance. Telephoto lens slightly compressed the scene for added effect. The Moon was part of this amazing early morning delight.

Torii Gates

Found at many shrines in Japan (did you know Japan has over 85,000 shrines throughout the country!), these red gates symbolize the boundary between the shrine’s sacred mystical space and ordinary space. As I walked through the gates I had the feeling I’m was stepping back through time, or entering a land beyond time and space. Getting this shot was not easy. Popular shrines are usually crowded. So to be able to photograph the ongoing flow of the red gates without anyone blocking the long path was a sign the shrine watchers were fully supportive of my creative touch, or I was just plain lucky (I think it’s the former).

This is another wide-angle capture to emphasize the elongation of the path and accentuate the on-going red gates, leading to a mysterious place. Also, the image was taken from a very low angle. In photography, seeing life from a different perspective heightens the mood and energy exchange of the scene. By the way, that low angle is essential when photographing young children to capture vividly how they see life. 

And lastly, Chaos and Stability

I love experiencing the rapid, icy streams coming from the high glacier passes of Japan’s central mountains. This very cold water is energized as it rushes over boulders and rocks on its way to the main rivers and ultimately the Pacific Ocean or Sea of Japan. I refer to this area of Japan's Honshu island as Chi Heaven. In this scene I wanted to emphasize the contrast between the rushing, fluid water and the solid rock. The illusion of stability right there. Over time, the continuous surge of water will melt away the rock. And so too such is the mysterious transformative nature of Neptune. Where Pluto energy melts down anything in its path, equally powerful Neptune dissolves that which stands fast. That includes one's understanding of reality imbued by family, tradition and culture. 

As an aside, Neptune and Pluto are now in a building sextile aspect, coming to an exact sextile in 2026. Because of Pluto's eccentric orbit, the energetic dance between these two archetypes will weave magic into the consciousness over a 6-year period and 13 exact meetings. This portends the dispelling of unnatural restrictions and delusional beliefs to usher a new wave of power. I'll write more in coming blogs.

This is a slow-shuttered image using a tripod. Using a slower speed smoothes out the water imparting a sense of rapid movement (great paradox!). It was photographed in the late afternoon.

Also, I will be posting more of my images in future blogs. Next time I'll share some of my favorite aerial images taken during my many travels. Meanwhile, I’m exploring various ways to show my images to a wider audience.

Finally, 2021 is proving to be as intense as 2020, except there’s positive movement underway. What has been learned from such a massive reset? What’s ahead? These and other questions serve as a foundation for an astrological consultation. Times of immense change require new strategies, perspective and creativity. My astrological consultations are transformative, offering guidance for navigating the current rapid changes and reorganizing your approach to life. 

As always, I am available for a professional astrological consultation session to help you better understand these profound shifts in the context of your birth chart. 

Schedule today! Scheduling is quite easy. Sessions are recorded (audio) via Zoom or Skype for your later listening/integration.

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As the shift occurs between seasons, remember the energetic field is quite fluid and unpredictable. Moving your energy, communing with nature, staying focused are strategies that will make the seasonal transition more meaningful and grounded.

Sat Nam

Starman, Joseph Mina
Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
March 13, 2021

Aquarius New Moon: a sample of my photographic creations

“Actually, it’s nature itself that creates the most beautiful pictures, I’m only choosing the perspective.”  

"You don't shoot things. You capture them. Photography means painting with light. And that's what you do. You paint a picture only by adding light to the things you see."

Katja Michael  (photographer and author)

Greetings Cosmic Seekers

At this Aquarius New Moon it seems like an appropriate and over due time to widen the perspective (Aquarius quality) and share with you some of my images photographed over the past few years. If you are also looking for astrological information, have a read of my last blog entry where I focused on the cycles of 2021. Those grand themes will be strong indicators for the various lunations in the coming months. 

On and On and On by Joseph Mina

We are in a strong Aquarian surge right now, and Mercury retrograde too, evidenced by social justice eruptions in different parts of the world. Yet Aquarius is also directed to future thinking and technology, as well as viewing reality through the widest possible lens. So in that spirit, here’s some of my imagery that sees life through that wide-field optic. The above image is one example how I look for the unusual in unusual, Aquarian ways.

How I came to be enamored by the photographic arts will be for another time. Yet, one thing is certain: I want my imagery to be evocative and compelling for the viewer. We are sensual beings. We drink in light in its myriad forms and shapes. Its energy acts like a trigger that arouses emotion, empathy and memories. This art form can also inspire us to see more of the world, deepening our appreciation and stewardship of the Earth's many treasures.

I must add it was back in 2015 that I felt spent by dissecting astrological cycles on a more regular basis. Focusing on such was proving to be a drain. More so, I wanted to further explore the world of photography and expand my compositional abilities.

A few years later though I came to the realization that photography, astrology and bodywork are talents of mine that ought to be integrated within my overall work focus. I had grand designs to do so in 2020 (aka not listening to your own astrological advice😉). Now as 2021 unfolds, I'm taking steps to bring this trio onto a bigger stage as I anticipate borders in other countries reopening later in the year. More about that in some future blog. For now though, I present eight of my images, most from my time here in South Africa over the past few years, along with a short account of why I photographed each particular scene from an Aquarian wide perspective. (Note: clicking or tapping on an image will yield a larger version).

I begin here with a self-portrait taken in an elevator of all places at a hotel in San Diego back in late 2018. It was my first full day at the hotel. When I stepped into the empty outdoor-facing elevator, whose sides were glass, my eyes were immediately drawn to its mirrored ceiling. Fortunately, I had my camera in hand and the elevator remained empty for a short while allowing me to compose this extreme wide-angle self portrait. I like using very wide-angled lenses. They convey a somewhat distorted perspective of what otherwise would be a rather ordinary scene. As with this image, I also have learned to seize the moment and not get dizzy in the process. Shortly after taking this image, the elevator was suddenly full of people. Carpe diem!

This next image (above) was taken just a couple of weeks ago at the nearby beautiful Vergelegen Gardens in Somerset West in South Africa’s Western Cape. It’s summertime here now. These gardens are a wonderful oasis from the structured reality of the human world. It’s here that magic is revealed and rejuvenation takes place. Walking barefoot in the grass, hugging a tree, listening to the birds, smelling the captivating fragrance of roses and being fueled by the wind and nearby mountain scenery takes therapy to a whole other level. And it’s in settings like these I feel most creative, open and expressive. 

I owe this self-portrait to my tripod and this massive camphor tree, whose age spans over 400 years old. I felt so excited the first time I saw this grove of camphor trees in the Western Cape back in 2014. 

It was during my early travel days in Japan I first became familiar with this amazing tree species. There, the cinnamomum camphora tree is indigenous and now found throughout many parts of Asia. Camphor oil is quite therapeutic containing anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its fragrance creating a feeling of calm. Standing in the presence of its massive size sure is humbling and meditative. 

I have such a love for our arbor friends. Each tree conveys a unique characteristic even within the same species. The ancient ones reveal much about a long life of environmental stresses and growth that span way beyond the average human age. They also carry an amazing vibration and presence. 

Placing my body against a tree and breathing slowly transports me into a different energetic realm. I’m transfixed. It’s here I’ll look up to see an entirely different perspective of these ancient living wonders. Which leads me to this next image below I photographed near a very old temple on the southern-most large island of Japan, Kyushu. This particular camphor tree makes its South African cousin seem rather young. Its age approximates 1,600 years. That’s a long time to be a watcher of this temple complex. Yet here it stands, having withstood the ravages of time. As I gazed at this tree's varied canopy, I marveled how its branches twisted and turned into a spiral. Equally marveled at the variety of life that grew on the trees outer skin. Life completes itself in the most amazing ways.

Next time around I’ll feature more of my Japan images to introduce you to this rather mystical land. But for now, I’m jumping back to South Africa and a much bigger perspective.

South Africa has the oldest mountains in the world, some dating back over 3 billion years. To put that enormous time frame in some sort of context I’ll squeeze that epoch of time into a 12-month calendar: on that scale the entire 4 ½ billion-year time span of our solar system renders each second as 150 years. Imagine! The average human life span occupies a mere half-second of time on this cosmic calendar. An entire lifetime in a blink of an eye. By contrast, a 1,400 year old camphor tree has been on the calendar all of 9.3 seconds. The American Revolution occurred about 2 seconds ago. Yet these ancient African cliffs have been on the same calendar approximately 8 months or near 21 million calendar seconds (I did warn you I was going down an Aquarian path 😉) Such ancient wonders these mountains. Here’s a sampling.

This snowy image was taken in July 2018. Winter in the Southern Hemisphere usually brings snow to the upper mountain passes of South Africa and its high desert plains. It’s quite a stirring sight. When I first saw this particular scene I was struck by the enormity of scale. Fortunately, there were buildings nearby to keep everything in perspective (very important in photography). 

This particular mountain chain is part of the Boesmanskloof. While the elevation is a mere 6,500’ (1980m), the steep nature of these cliffs point to days far beyond the comprehension of anything else on this planet. Rock climbers from around the world come to the Western Cape of South Africa to test their abilities against such sheer cliffs.

Not too far from the Boesmanskloof are the mountains of the McGregor area. Here in the high mountain valleys, winter is awashed in a multitude of flower blooms known locally as fynbos. Native aloes, a wide assortment of protea, jades (crassula), many succulents and a great variety of other indigenous plants awaken from the summer's searing heat (sometimes exceeding 110f (43c)) by the onset of much cooler temperatures and the Cape's winter rains. Here, at sunrise one very chilly morning, these flaming Aloe torches blazed in the golden light of the Sun as if they were heating the surrounding air. It was such a stirring start to a memorable morning of mountain-valley hiking and flower enchantment.

From mountain to sea, this is Kogel Bay area on the eastern side of False Bay, which rings the southern area of the Western Cape. Personally, I find the European-named “False Bay” an affront to this magnificent body of water. Long stretches of course sandy beaches line its coast in a wide arc some 25 miles (40k) across, bordered by steep mountain cliffs.  These wind swept beaches are favorites of surfers and beach goers alike. In the summer its mid 60's water (18c) is so rejuvenating, fueled by the relentless on-going wave action emanating from colder Antartica waters far to the south. 

Which leads me to this wider perspective view of False Bay taken from high above the town of Muizenberg in the northwest corner of the bay. As is typical in the month of February, it was super windy that day making for an endless surge of waves along the bay. In the distance are the Hottentots mountains, which form the backdrop of the Kogel Bay image above. A little bit of history: English sailors were looking for the southern tip of Africa, which is Cape Agulas somewhat to the east. They thought this bay was the southern point. Learning it was not led to the False Bay moniker.

Moving south along the coast from here is a beach area called Boulders, near Simon’s Town. This area is known for its massive granite boulders (estimated age 540 million years) and its colony of small African penguins, which are also found along the coastlines of Southern Africa and Namibia. This indigenous species of penguin is on the verge of extinction due to development and over fishing of their food supply. Fortunately, environmental efforts are underway to reverse this trend. The colony at Boulders was started in 1982 from just one pair. It now numbers over 3,000 penguins and is under the protection of the Cape Nature Conservation and the South African government.

For this image, I wanted to capture the penguins in their protective rock habitat they call home. I find the penguins ability to navigate these large boulders rather remarkable. Environmental adaptation never ceases to amaze me. 

Observing the penguin's social interaction is quite magical. At times, a penguin pair can be seen touching flipper to flipper: standing motionless for a long time. Also, their calling sounds can be ear piercing. Hard to imagine such sound comes from such a small bird. At Boulders, the local conservation group in concert with the government created a special viewing area to watch the penguins without disturbing them. Proceeds support on-going conservation protection efforts.

And lastly, this scene is from Helderberg Mountain Nature Preserve not too far from where I live here. The fynbos here is so magical and varied. Many hiking trails too, some which lead to the very top of Helderberg mountain (3,730ft (1137m)) and its expansive view of the area. The last third of that hike is steep! Hence, taking camera gear to the summit for the bird's eye view of the nearby bay is not my calling.

So that’s my Aquarius perspective of life here in South Africa's Western Cape. In future blogs I’ll feature some of my images from Japan, aerial scenes (I do like to fly), artsy stuff and more!

Back to astrology for a moment. The script above Greece's Temple at Delphi reads "Know Thyself". Astrology is a compelling tool to explore the inner psyche and outer experiences. In a period of enormous change, this is the gift to yourself or others that keeps on giving.

2021 is a year ripe for reorganizing and resetting your focus in a sea of immense change. The coming years will build upon this foundation, creating a world significantly different than the one we used to know.  As always, I am available for professional astrological consultation sessions to help you navigate these shifts. Schedule today! Scheduling is quite easy. Sessions are recorded (audio) via Skype or Zoom.

Sat Nam

Starman, Joseph Mina

Stellenbosch, South Africa

February 12, 2021

Coronavirus Round 2: Cancer New Moon and the coming surge

"Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect"

-- Margaret Mitchell, author (1900-49)

Life Path Astrology Consultations:

For anyone ready to explore in greater depth the unique dynamics of their natal chart, or for previous clients ready to update their chart for the current planetary transits, private one-to-one sessions with me via Skype or Zoom (audio recorded) are available. Gift certificates too! 

Great change presents great opportunity. My personal astrological counseling session is designed to help you create meaningful strategies for adapting and shifting with the current planetary changes. You can schedule on-line by going to this link where you can access my appointment calendar. I’ll be available for session work beginning in August.

Greetings from Ocean City, New Jersey!

I thought I would complete this blog prior to the New Moon. So much for my plans. Regardless, below is a good summary of the current energy dynamics, what to expect in the coming days and some suggestions for reflection. Read on....

The hot days of summer have arrived on the United States East Coast, and I'm very glad to be near the ocean. The second consecutive New Moon in Cancer (first Cancer New Moon occurred on the solstice in June) arrived on the 20th at 1:32 pm EDT (on the 21st from Southeast Asia east to the International Date Line). As with the Cancer New Moon this past solstice, the New Moon vibration carries added significance. Why? Because it's 2020 [humor intended]. Here's my perspective.

The sign of Cancer brings our awareness to your personal life, your family and even extended family, and community-at-large. Opposite earthly Capricorn, archetypal Cancer imbues the field with encouragement to create a more nurturing and connective reality. As a watery (emotional) sign, it stands at the front of the line when it comes to helping others in need.  At this lunation, the Sun/Moon position occurs almost at the very end degree of Cancer, providing the opportunity to focus on the personal, family and community related lessons learned/experienced over the past 28-29 days of the lunar cycle. That cycle included a solar (solstice) and lunar eclipse, and Venus and Mercury retrogrades. Hence, its collective vibration serves as a strong foundational platform for the remainder of 2020.

Most people love a good story with a happy ending. Our fairy tales are filled with positive endings. We not only rely on such, but expect "they lived happily ever after" outcomes too. With that said, back in December I gave a few astrology talks about what to expect in 2020. Attendees wanted to know what lay ahead for such a powerful numbered year. Yet, true to my astrological roots, I didn't sugar coat my words. In each talk, I spoke about the intensity of the coming planetary cycles starting at the December Solstice and being prominent for all of 2020. In other words 2020 would prove powerfully intense in a yet-to-be-defined way affecting all aspects of humanity. How's that for a contra-happy ending! 

Yet, given Jupiter's recent optimistic 2019 transit through its home sign of Sagittarius, the feedback from some in my audiences didn't take to my message, but preferred to remain optimistic about the unfolding New Year (didn't 2020 have a nice ring to it?). To say the least, my message wasn't high up on the favorite festival story of the month chart. 

Yet, the tone of what I shared then as now actually is rather practical, pragmatic and a tip of the hat to upside potential, i.e. we need to prepare for a very different world emerging over the next nine or so years. And part of that preparation is a major overhaul or reorganization of the very structures that make humanity tick. Why? Because there are very (underscored) intense astrological patterns now weaving their way concurrently through the consciousness that reflect themes of upheaval, surrender, oppression and transformation. 

And yet, there can actually be a very positive ending and new beginning to it all. Attaining such will require hard work, courage, determination to strengthen oneself, a willingness to look deeply within and some Universal luck.

While current societal structures have worked to some degree in the 20th and earlier centuries depending on affluence, the 21st century has become a wholly different reality. Advanced technological wonders such as robotics, computers, digital currency, massive social media platforms, instantaneous communication and instant access to content represent the new structural pillars serving a rapidly evolving world. 

Chicago City Maze by Joseph Mina

Also, and most importantly, an unprecedented heightened awareness of human society, including all its deep scaring blemishes from times past now emerge for all to see (Neptune in Pisces/Pluto in Capricorn). 

The unfolding big planetary transits of 2020 into 2021 point to an essential introspection period (current circumstances) in order to address issues such as systemic racism, climate change, immigration between nations, poverty vs disproportionate wealth, health care, political discord, intensive farming practices, unbalanced commerce and social inequality that are causing great damage to the physical elemental state and balance of the planet's ecosystems. 

And therein lies our opportunity for healing and reorganizing on a personal, social and global scale a more connective world for current and future generations. Mind you, this human endeavor is occurring at a time when the speed and dissemination of information, as well as perception of time, is rapidly accelerating. And it can be exhausting at times!

With that as a backdrop, here's the details of this New Moon lunation.

This New Moon theme continues the 2020 pattern of major challenges as Saturn along with Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn strongly oppose this New Moon's vibe. And of course, since it's 2020, an unexpected brightening of a comet has recently become part of the sky story I guess to put an exclamation mark on what is now unfolding. 

Visible comets (they occur very infrequently: last one was Southern Hemisphere Comet McNaught in 2006, are symbolic signs of unfolding powerful change. Given this year's upheaval, this particular comet not only underscores 2020's chaos, but also becomes a herald signaling greater change to come over the next 3 years. 

Comet Neowise

As I mentioned in my Solstice blog entry, the second half of 2020 is loaded with a surge of planetary retrogrades. Usually, at any given time, 1 to 3 planets are in retrograde. Not this year (of course). Anywhere between 5 and 7 retrogrades will now be in play through December. From a geocentric perspective, this forward/back/forward planetary motion in the sky story symbolically implies a strong or heightened pull back or introspection individually and collectively to reflect, reorganize, regenerate etc. aspects of your personal, social and global connections and integral structures (rules, traditions etc). 

Given the added intensity of so many retrogrades (there are 6 at this New Moon), a very introspective energy now builds across the human consciousness. So if you are feeling inward, or seemingly lack the motivation to manifest or create something new, look no further than this juggernaut of inward energy. Here, surrender to a higher source may be the best strategy, i.e. let the energy reveal itself rather than attempting to define it.

On the external, more evidence of this slow down is seen by renewed lockdown restrictions now being imposed due to increased virus spread throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Personally, given the current planetary cycles, I would not be surprised if the spread of COVID continues through the end of the year. So let's have a look at the New Moon chart:

As you can see from the various energetic lines connecting various archetypes, this is quite a busy New Moon. What follows is my top 5 list from the above chart starting with...

Phoenix Rising

1. Saturn/Pluto/Jupiter in opposition to the New Moon. Saturn's in its challenging aspect points to the imposition of boundaries, limits, and restrictions affecting laws, rules, politics, organizations and business. In its expansive state it influences the creation of functional structures that organize our energetic flow as a society. From its recent 4-month ingress into the water-bearer sign of Aquarius, strong Aquarian themes of social justice and equality came to the fore around the globe leading to protest about systemic racism at every level of society. The police presence and its catalytic effect is a classic example of challenging Saturn cause/effect.

Now Saturn has returned to its home sign of Capricorn (early July) where it remains for its final and most intense pass through December 17 and fueled by its Aquarian transit. Remember, any planetary energy in its home sign amplifies the expression of that sign's energy. At this New Moon, Saturn in Capricorn, Neptune in Pisces and Mars in Aries all position in their respective home signs. That's a lot of potent fuel. And why not...it's 2020. 

In the coming months, Saturn will once again create a near conjunction with Jupiter and Pluto (last was back in December to March) perhaps reenacting and reinforcing the potent dynamics of that time. And to add a very strong exclamation point, that trio will be further amplified (squared) by...

2. Retrograde Mars in Aries. Mars and Saturn are akin to the young brash and elder warriors, respectively (think Karate Kid movie). In its home sign of Aries, Mars energy is naturally relentless, impulsive, boundless and lacking the maturity to be responsible (that's Capricorn's job). It also possesses an enormous amount of kinetic energy to initiate massive shifts of energy in rapid fashion! 

Mars' first of three squares with Saturn on August 24 (and a little earlier with Jupiter (8/4) and Pluto (8/13) too) ultimately fuels Mars with a new directive about its archetypal role in the coming years of this decade. Thus while Mars energy, especially in Aries, is quite the achiever, this coming retrograde in early September will put the brakes on any sense of forward progress at least through the end of the year. This vibration will become more and more noticeable as Mars soon enters its retrograde shadow on July 24th. 

I must add here: outbreak of war is not uncommon during or after a Mars retrograde. That's not a prediction, just a reflection about how this retrograde transit has played out in the past. The alternative is to use Mars fuel to effect positive/constructive change. As always, the choice is ours.

In the political realm, Donald Trump's challenges will become even greater as his natal conjunction of Saturn/Venus in Cancer will be opposed by Saturn/Jupiter (once again) and Pluto and soon squared by Mars. That energetic surge represents significant once-in-a-lifetime headwinds adversely affecting his ability to control circumstances around him  

Lastly, Mars, which ordinarily spends approximately 6 weeks transiting a sign, doesn't leave the shadow energy of the Aries retrograde until January 2, 2021 or over 5 months later! That's a very long time for this Aries energy to be bound/reined in. In short, expect the unexpected. It's not often Mars retrogrades in its home sign of Aries. Add the potent fuel of Saturn/Jupiter/Pluto to the Mars retrograde and we are headed for unchartered waters, especially in October and November and the US Presidential election. 

This is an epic planetary cycle and one that will be long remembered for its yet to be revealed dynamics. If there were ever a time for inner clarity, focus, renewed purpose, determination, and a willingness to explore the heretofore unknowable as a prelude to a post-pandemic era around the globe, this is it! And of course no outcome, including any clear sense about the current pandemic, can be anticipated or predicted thanks to...

3. Neptune, which from its Pisces home perch not only creates a strong sextile (60 degrees of angle) with Jupiter/Saturn/Pluto, but completes its 3rd and final square with Venus and its June retrograde in Gemini (exact on July 27) . Remember, it was back in early April when Venus entered its retrograde shadow in early degrees of unpredictable Gemini. By early May the 1st of 3 squares with Neptune occurred just as the President and many Governors in the United States decided it was time to reclaim a normal flow and ignore potential spread of COVID-19. 

Given the strong murky vibration of Venus square Neptune, such actions were ill-timed (imagine if leaders actually followed astrology chart dynamics when making decisions?) opened the door for the virus resurgence and spread we now see. Neptune energy dissolves ever so slowly, like water eroding metal, until nothing is left. Its influence is pervasive and lasting. Spawning a new wave of spirituality, imagery, music, connection to the natural world, and greater compassion for all is Neptune's primary mandate in the 21st Century. And with 6 more years to go before it enters Aries, the process of dissolving (surrender to a greater force) will only intensify.

Neptune's recent interaction (sextile) with Saturn/Jupiter and its long-term building sextile (into 2026) with Pluto's intense transformative vibe now fuels a huge well of uncertainty in a Western society used to a fair dose of day-to-day certainty and organization. Such uncertainty in part strongly impacts our traditional methods of communication, which is further underscored by the recently completed...

4. Mercury retrograde in Cancer and its strong influence upon the Cancer themes of personal, family and community life, as exemplified at this New Moon. 

Mercury's recent retrograde began opposite to Saturn's 2019 retrograde station, and began direct motion last week in square to the current position of Chiron/Mars in Aries. These are major lessons about the workings of cause/effect. Understand too a retrograde pattern doesn't really end ("when will Mercury retrograde be over?" is a common question I hear). Rather the intense effect of any retrograde eases up as the motion regains its forward speed. Hence, the collective experience of any retrograde transit adds to an ever evolving conversation around our human evolution, while rebuilding its tension pattern for its next retrograde phase.

As far as lessons learned from the recent Mercury retrograde, the buildup to the next Mercury Retrograde come this mid-October (in Scorpio) will be fueled by the various Cancer themes brought to your awareness in July.  And that leads me to...

5. Uranus in Taurus and the ultimate conundrum of human society on Planet Earth. The energy of archetypal Uranus (ruler of Aquarius) is catalytic, lightning quick and usually out-of-the-blue. The current built up of this rocket fuel comes from the epic eight squares between Uranus and Pluto between 2011-15. The power of this vibration will literally bring us to social collapse, or usher us into utopia within the next 10 years. 

Earthly Taurus in part points to our connection to the Earth and its natural beauty and denizens. It also mirrors the natural world's function, which includes your physical body. Since May 2018 Uranus has brought its surprising/unsettling intense vibe into that natural world cauldron, creating breakthroughs as well as unusual health challenges.

By 2025-26, Uranus and Neptune will create a sextile at the very end degrees of Taurus and Pisces, providing a strong guide for the evolving state of planet Earth. At that time, Pluto will be firmly placed in Aquarius, Saturn will be beginning its Aries transit alongside Neptune, and Jupiter will be in early degrees Cancer. That's a lot of expansive air and fire energy, which will prove either highly combustible or highly energizing. 

Beyond the current pandemic, if there were ever a reason to further strengthen your physical, emotional, and mental states in alignment with your deeper soul-driven directives for what lies ahead, this massive shift of outer planetary energies from an earth/water state to air/fire underscores the urgency to do so now.

Here's a few suggested themes for reflection over the next two weeks of this New Moon lunation:

What have I learned about myself since the December 21st solstice of last year?

What changes am I now making to ready myself for a rapidly emerging new mythos in this 21st Century?

How do I plan on nurturing myself (including strengthening of the physical body) in the coming days?

What actions on my part are required to create a more sustainable and holistic family and community structure?

How can I become an effective voice for change, or support those who espouse progressive ideals in our quest for a more sustainable and life-giving reality?

And finally, keeping with the evolving 21st century trend of using technology to connect with a larger audience, join me for a live Zoom session on Sunday, August 2nd at 2 to 4 pm EDT where I will explore in greater depth the planetary cycles for the remainder of 2020 and their rippling effect into 2021 and beyond. The last 30 minutes of the program will be open for non-personal Q/A, specific to the discussed content. The Zoom call is open to 100 participants and will be recorded (audio). 

Copies of such will be available via a donation to defray the time to process the sound file and disseminate it. More specific information will be forthcoming in an email to my mailing list and this blog towards the end of July.

Here's the Zoom link for joining in. I will activate the meeting room 20 minutes before the scheduled start time. As this is my first solo Zoom, I won't require registration this time. So it's first ones in line. A friend will help me review any questions submitted in the chat section. From there, she will select (as time permits) questions for my further exploration most germane to the content. 

I look forward to further exploring these epic changing times with you.

Sat Nam,

Starman, Joseph Mina

Ocean City, New Jersey

July 21, 2020