When I put the chart for the 24th August up on my computer I was interested to see that we have a grand cross involving Mars in Gemini, Mercury in Virgo, Jupiter in Sagittarius and the North node in Pisces.

Transits : 27 Aug 2007

But, we have very interesting phenomena during the same time.

Venus Retrograde - 40 days of introspection and seeing what the world politicians are up to.

During a Venus retrograde her power is apparently obliterated by the Sun. Now if we recall the mythology of Venus, this is not a Lady who gives away her power easily, so now, what is it all about? We may see a conflict between inner values and the learned rituals of society, meaning that there may be a tendency for everyone to be more secretive and internal and reflective, this is not necessarily a bad thing, because sometimes we as human beings need to have "time out", we need to withdraw and reflect on what is out own truth, or what is the truth of others. So when Venus is retrograde it may well be in our interests to have a look at the idea of "what do I believe" or what has society taught me.

We may change old dead values during this time, and internationally there may well be some change taking place where the old values do change or at least there is impetus to rethink the issues at hand. Also using the Mars Mercury Jupiter energy as well, there could be massive change in thinking, especially if you look at the weather reports over the past week, with the worst rains since the 1700 in UK and poor old Cape Town being battered by lashing rain and storms again. Maybe some people in power will actually put a more "green" plan together seeing what our poor Mother earth is suffering. There will be a change in values, and this is the time to set people thinking. To quote Isabel Hickey in her very good book on retrograde planets she says." Venus stands guard against that which will poison us or render us outmoded."

We have been fortunate in these past two months to see Venus at it's greatest eastern elongation [Hesperos, evening star] where it has at times been nestling near the moon giving us a romantic look at these magnificent heavenly bodies.

On the 31st July 1999 Venus was also retrograde in Virgo at that time [during the retrograde period there was a devastating earthquake in Turkey and then a tidal wave, where more than a thousand people died.] Those of us who watch the news know that there are many floods in England, India and even the Cape of Storms is getting a battering.

Venus being both the goddess of love and the goddess of war we find that there is some leaning towards balance, the dual nature of Venus is to eventually bring balance, and as she is the ruler of Libra, a sign that requires balance and Taurus, a sign that requires acknowledgement of physical and earthly groundedness. I see that this retrograde period can surely evoke a sense of needing to find balance on earth.

To quote Isabel Hickey once again she says; "The retrograde cycles of Venus describe a lotus-mandala in the heavens and is apt", because it is the internal activity of the Venus retrograde transiting cycle, which ultimately is impossible to externalize. The lessons learned in the course of the forty-day retrograde period are relative only to the individual experiencing then. In fact, it might well be that the lotus flower only picks up that which was left off at the last station of Venus in the same sign and house ... And again "The retrograde period creates a quiet introspection which takes place on a very deep level, rather like observing one's own behaviour and responses while nevertheless participating wholly. Of all the retrograde cycles, Venus' appears to be the most unconscious in its immediate effects, but in the long view the most rational."

So I would suggest that we look back eight years ago in our own lives and see what was going on psychologically then, and analyse the current trend in your life, see what you have learned and if your personal growth deepens in this cycle. The inferior planets pick up on unfinished business where they ended last time they were in retrograde.

In Late August, Rx Venus is opposing Rx Neptune. I have the feeling that this could be some kind of sacrificial love or that there will be sacrifices taking place. Or that it is now time for the "powers that be" to sacrifice personal interest for the good of others.... oh well, one can be the eternal optimist can't one?

Sun moves into Virgo:

Later in August we have Mercury opposition Uranus. Are we going to witness a sudden blow up or verbal altercation with communication being erratic or eccentric, although it looks as though some good could come of this as Mercury is in Virgo and therefore in dignity.

As the clock ticks on, Mars opposes Jupiter and is Square Uranus. Well I think that this could spell some interesting fireworks, with positive outcomes, as I mentioned before. Jupiter is in dignity in Sagittarius and Mars is OK in Gemini, but now we have Uranus in Pisces, and as history continues to repeat itself I see an increase in a holy war, [Pisces] as well as that Rx Venus opposing Neptune.

11 Sept 2007

Transit Chart - 11 Sep 2007

What was interesting for me is the number of contacts that the various planets made that were similar in the two charts:

Please do understand that I am not predicting another twin towers event, but I am interested in the similarities that this date in this year and in 2001 shows ... I am also aware that this year there is an eclipse happening on the 11 Sept! To quote Deborah Holding on www.skyscript.co.uk she mentions that for eclipses which take place in the Desc, the key words are wars, contentions and old people ... [In Pretoria the eclipse takes place in the 7th house].

The nature of the eclipse is found by its planetary ruler [Mercury] and the prominent fixed starts of the time. Please refer to Bernadette Brady on fixed stars as she is the expert and has an excellent program and course. www.astrologos.com. I really am not in a position to discuss fixed stars yet.

The other thing that Deborah Holding says is that eclipses in Virgo bring the pitiful death of great men and general ruin through plague, drought or crop failure. All things are scarce. Writers and poets and mercurial men suffer. [Southern Greece, Crete, Iraq, Paris and South West France.] This is quoted directly from www.skyscript.com

So let's watch the eclipse and see if any of this astrology rings true... who knows, we may see a change in world circumstances.

On the 18th September we have a grand trine in air, Mercury in Libra, Mars in Gemini and Neptune in Aquarius. I would say that this is a relief after all the goings on during the eclipse, and if we think of the quality of air, at least it is about talking and communication and even some more spiritual intervention with Neptune being part of it! [Unless we have all been so horrified with the previous weeks events that we have hit the bottle and decided to continue our days in an alcoholic funk!]

T-square between Mars in Gemini, Sun in Virgo and Pluto in Sagittarius, I suggest that we all pay some attention to detail and that we keep a record of everything. [See Virgo Myth - www.astrobern.com] that has happened so that we can put it down in history and hopefully learn from our mistakes, and get on with transforming our lives into something positive quickly.

So that is all that I will am looking at for this bi monthly peep at the planetary aspects, I hope that you can tie the pieces together as you read the news papers and watch the news, keep your ear to the ground and your eyes on the planets! Visit my new website at www.astrobern.com.