Spectacular Configurations

Sometimes I just want to discuss things that are going on in the Sky. Things I notice going on in my ephemeris that makes me loose my path a moment and stop up and gasp for air. The 2011 gathering of planets in Aries is one of them. One of the events was definately the Aries New Moon of of April 3. in conjunction with Jupiter and opposite Saturn. But the action started before that with Mercury tearing through the sign up until March 30. Then Mercury entered into a backward sling - but as things were looking at its worst, he 'suddenly' refrained from the opposition to Saturn and started plodding forward again.

When planets apply to one another, either by aspect but particularly by conjunction - I tend to think of it like a rally team - with one runner passing on the staff to the next. Most often this occurs in an orderly manner with the inner and more swifter planets applying to the slower outer planets. But this Spring has been deprived of that sense of order. Mars should have applied to Jupiter, but is met by Mercury. Venus should have applied to Mars, but Mars slips into Taurus. Mercury should have applied to Venus, but Venus slips into Taurus, too - if only an hour apart. As a horary or mundane astrologer, I have really had problems working out who is joining with who. At the best I have been able to judge that there would be many changes of plans, roles and routines on the way.

The Mercury swivel has really been interesting. Just to mention how he seemed 'doomed' by both retrogradation and that impending opposition with Saturn, but then both issues were resolved in the last minute. Then Mercury was forward but gets caught be Venus from behind. It happens on May 9. - then the planets don't separate more than 15'. It's looking good, yet because Mercury is slow - he doesn't get to catch up with Ms. Dainty before they enter Taurus.

Then there are the receptions: Venus Aries - Mars Taurus being the most obvious (Does Mars escape Venus by entering Taurus, or does he move in with her?). But not forgetting Venus Aries - Sun Taurus; Venus is in the exaltation of the Sun, hence causing a powerful mixed reception. Sun and Mars in Aries is surely powerful, but how does it work out when they are in Taurus and in reception with Venus. Does Mars loose his detriment? Note how he is vazarite and virile, considering that he recently has escaped the Sun's beams.

I don't think that I have all the answers, but my point is that when the planets join and make motions that are contrary to their natural order, this opens up for the most fascinating times of excitement and unaticipated events. That does seems to summarize some of the events that have taken place over the last few months.

Nice thread Andrew.

Yes it has been fascinating to watch all the goings-on in Aries. I think the Universe's grand 'plan/experiment' is beautiful to watch ( well provided one is not caught up personally in the fallout that is !).

In terms of the specifics I would also add the importance of Aries as a cardinal sign. Things that have been stewing for ages behind the scenes in Pisces will have crystallised rapidly in Aries with all this activity going on.

When planets apply to one another, either by aspect but particularly by conjunction - I tend to think of it like a rally team - with one runner passing on the staff to the next.

Yes and I agree it definitely seems to work this way with the planets as players not just in horary but in Mundane events. It is often possible to work out how something will play out and the time it will end, or at lease the specific phase will end, this way. It is also useful for establishing how a mundane event has been bought to fruition when one only sees the end result ( Osama being an example in this case).

In my experience it is not so easy to predict an event occurence in advance by this method though because it takes the event to identify which planet is playing which role.