Sun Enters Pisces, Stellium of Stars in Pisces

Feeling awash with emotions, memories rising to the surface, or feeling an overwhelming sense of pathos or desire? Could be because today, with the Sun’s entry into Pisces, there are now six planets in water signs, five of them forming a stellium in Pisces. It is also the day when Saturn in the early degrees of Scorpio, goes retrograde (12:20 P.M. PST), taking us back over some of the unconscious, unresolved, undeveloped and unhealed matters that have begun to awaken in us since Saturn entered Scorpio last autumn.  Also today, the Moon in 9 degrees of Gemini is still in close conjunction with Jupiter in Gemini. If you look at the waxing moon in the sky tonight, you will see Jupiter, appearing like a bright star, right next to the Moon. Jupiter is not a star, but the largest planet in our Solar System, and one of the archetypal rulers of Pisces. Pisces is ruled by the archetypal energies of both Jupiter (the planet of Abundance, Expansiveness, and Good Fortune) and Neptune (the planet of dreams, Illusion, the Unconscious and the Collective Consciousness).

Jupiter’s realm is that of higher thought and the abstract mind. Guardian of religion, philosophy, and higher learning, Jupiter is active as we seek through paths of both reason and spirit, to develop and shape our own philosophical framework, ethical and moral code, and infuse us with a sense of hope, optimism, and goodness. Also the archetypal ruler of long-distance travel, Jupiter motivates us to search far from our homes for answers and destinations that are meant to awaken us. Jupiter is currently in 6/56 Gemini in the first third of this benevolent planets three-year transit.  A symbol of good fortune, Jupiter represents growth, development, and joyful movement, urging us on the right path. In the area of your life where  Jupiter is transiting, you may feel more playful, relaxed, and we may find ourselves reaping the rewards of our hard work. Accomplishments, success, and prosperity are all within Jupiter’s realm. The shadow side of the Jupiter archetype, is laziness, overdoing, and sinking into the pleasure realm at the expense of everything else.  Jupiter rules sports and pleasure, so using the energy of Jupiter for healthy, balance in our lives is probably better than taking the next three years off and sitting on a pillow eating bon bons. That would of course lead to weight gain which is the result often of overdoing and not knowing when to say “no” to excess and when to say “yes” to restraint. 

Since this month we will have an abundance of Jupiter-ruled planets, the Sun and the Moon transiting Pisces, we may want to notice how Jupiter is affecting the area of our chart/life where Pisces currently is. It takes twelve years for Jupiter to cycle through all the houses of the zodiac, so you might want to look back 12 years to see what the last Jupiter cycle initiated, brought to the surface, presented you, or cleared the way for. Jupiter is also the ruler of Sagittarius and of the 9th and 12th houses of the chart. Looking at these areas in your life/chart could give you an idea of where you are being propelled forward and what is being triggered by the transits of the various planets and the Sun currently in Pisces. No doubt issues, relationships, connections, and ties to the past and from afar, are rising up to reappear, address, heal, resolve, or remind us of something of great and worthy importance in our own development and from our past. We get both the call of the deep Unconscious and the call from afar to explore those areas that hold great treasure for our growth, development, and well being.

Neptune, the traditional ruler of Pisces, is pictured in Greek mythology as Poseidon the ruler of the seas and oceans. He loved to ride across the oceans in his golden chariot, his long blue hair flowing as dolphins pulled his chariot. Poseidon is pictured holding his trident representing his power over all natural and supernatural  In Roman mythology, Neptune, the brother of Pluto and Jupiter was part of the trio who ruled the Heavens (Jupiter), the underworld (Pluto), and the oceans, seas, rivers and all water ways of the Earth. The archetype of Neptune in astrology  views the archetype of Neptune as the ruler of our watery planet, emphasizing our own fluid and changeable nature. Neptune is the archetype of generations due to its slow-moving orbit around the Sun.  It takes 165 years for Neptune to complete her cycle, giving her 14 years in each sign.  Each generation of humans then shares the Neptune placement, and this has a collective effect on each generation. Where Neptune is in your chart and how you deal with the energy and trends of the planet, do differ.  Currently, Neptune in the 2nd degree of Pisces, is near the start of a 14-year cycle. Not only will this cycle affect those born during this time, but it affects all of us in the area of life where all the planets in Pisces are currently lined up. 

[to truly understand this, knowing your chart would help. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you have your chart done so you can follow the movement of these major transits. The more you understand what areas of your life are affected, the more meaningful information like this will be to you.]

Neptune’s archetypal influence relates to our abstract reasoning, our dreams, intuition, insight, and seeing through or better understanding illusions we may be operating under. There tends to be a blending of so-called reality or realistic thinking and the ability to envision, imagine, or intuit deeper and broader understanding  of situations, experiences, or conceptual thinking. Neptune can be a  very creative influence, if used correctly. It can also aggravate areas of our thinking, reasoning, or sense of identity if we have been abused, have suppressed, or ignored whatever has risen  up from the unconscious to be confronted, healed, and understood.  Neptune brings into awareness that which we need to be wholly human-body, mind, emotions, spirit. Neptune also rules the creative and performing arts. Even when dealing with the shadow sides of Neptune, we can use the creative forms of art, music, writing, film, dance, and sculpture to express, inform, and discover deeper meaning and find greater healing. One of the shadow sides of Neptune is the use of drugs including alcohol and other addictive behavior and patterns to attempt either to suppress what Neptune brings to the surface of consciousness or to express or attempt to numb out, the unconscious material that is in need of being felt, understood, and transformed. Sleep and dreams are ruled by Neptune, so your dreams can be a gift for you or can awaken areas that will make you more uncomfortable.  When we use our dreams, especially during a Neptune cycle like this passage through Pisces, we can discover greater strength, creativity, human potential, healing, as we also deepen and strengthen our ability to form lasting and deep connections in our relationships. 

Low Tide Reveals                                                                                                                       Catherine Al-Meten

Look at the area of your chart where Neptune is transiting through Pisces, and notice what has already begun to stir in the watery depths of you unconscious and what has awakened in the world around you. How have your illusions and beliefs about life begun to change, alter, or reveal cracks in the lens of your perceptions? Where in your life are you being made, from some inner urge or awareness, to see the distortions in the way you are living, relating, viewing, or altering your life patterns, habits, and direction? Receive your dreams as the  gifts they are, making an intentional effort to learn how to read them and use them to strengthen the areas of your life that are undergoing the deep transformation that both Saturn and Pluto have been creating in all our lives over the last couple of years.  

We are through the gateway of a new era, and now is the time when we are given the gifts of the spirit to bring us into connection with our inner gifts of transformation.  We now move forward to use what we have learned, heal and alter the areas of our lives that have survived the changes, and put forth the effort, develop the discipline, and begin putting one foot in front of the other to live according to the beliefs we profess.  The dreams we had, the goals we set, the plans we made, and the intentions we set, we now surrender so that we can receive that which is meant for our wholeness, our creative growth, and our deepest learning and transformation.  

During this month, and far into this year, the influence of so many planets in water signs, and so many of both the inner planets (Sun, Mercury, Mars, Chiron) the slow-moving outer planet Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio (also for a long transit), a time could not be greater for us to live with a fuller awareness of the body, mind, emotion, spirit connection and our soul connection with one another and our journey of life.  We experience greater connectivity, have the opportunity to tap into our own spiritual gifts and abilities, and to grow personally and influence and serve others with those gifts through the music we create, the relationships we strengthen and build, the love we share, the help we give, the awareness we experience, and the soul purposes we discover for making life more meaningful for ourselves and others.  Take whatever lessons you need, prepare for whatever task is calling you, and use your life for fulfilling and living out your dreams and desires.  Let go what needs to go; be receptive to what is coming into your life.  Both are gifts. One of loss which creates space. The other of a gift to fill the space.  Enjoy the movement throughout the process, and surrender to your highest good. 

Mars in Pisces moves deeper into the unconscious realms, and operates on a quieter, more penetrating level of our being.  Normally, noted for its energetic power and activity, Mars in Pisces, is muted and somewhat slowed down in the watery realms, but is no less potent and active. Imagine a speeding arrow moving through water, and visualize that arrow representing movement through the emotional and spiritual realms (the watery depths). The arrow still moves, but is muted by the element. In our lives, the movement is within, yet it has a powerful effect, as it awakens us in a new way. We are informed in new ways, and that assists in the deep transformation taking place (in conjunction with Pluto’s transit of Capricorn) moving in areas of our lives that bring about great change as Mars awakens our psyches, spirits, emotions, and memories. At the same time, Saturn, the Great Teacher, transiting Scorpio, turns retrograde today, and reminds us that we must see the past to resolve and heal the past. Anything we may have tried to ignore, is now coming back to be dealt with or received in order to become more whole.  What we thought may have been lost, will be found. What we were afraid had passed us by, will reappear. What we thought we had finished, will come back into our awareness to be acknowledged.  We may feel we are going back over ground we’ve already covered, and that might be the case. We also may rethink an old situation, or find healing from something that had caused us great sorrow or loss over time. Healing is coming to those who have sought it.  

The main message for all of us at this time is our Unconscious (our personal storehouse of memories, reflections, desires, dreams, experiences), that which lays undeveloped or unexperienced within us as well as all that we have suppressed,  and the Collective Consciousness (all the potentialities, knowledge, and all that is) combine to provide the flow of movement that could bear islands on the surface of our lives, much like undersea volcanic eruptions create the beauty and grounding of the islands that rise to cool into manifestation as islands on the surface  of the ocean.  

Uranus in Aries and Venus in Aquarius form a semi-square today and tomorrow (Feb. 18-19) and this aspect may raise some uncertainty within us about whether or not we want to be with someone. The struggle comes in the urge of Venus in Aquarius’ desire for freedom and unconventional views on relationships and commitment, and Uranus’s desire and tendency to move too quickly or act rashly.  Venus is moving into Pisces on February 25, and in a more positive realm for romance and understanding.  While Venus is in Aquarius, pushing limits or experimenting may be more detrimental than helpful if you are looking for something more deep, more traditional, and more lasting in relation to love, commitment, partnerships, and mutual joy.  Later in the week, February 22, Venus also semi-squares Pluto, indicating that this is a time when we are undergoing a transit that makes us look for the flaws to the exclusion of all that is right in relationships. It also is a time when jealousy, due to our own insecurities, may become an issue.  Examine your relationships, your partnerships, and your love connections with an awareness that what we find as flaws in someone else signal to us something that we need to face, release, heal, or understand about ourselves. When we continually try to heal ourselves by trying to change someone else, our partner, we miss the gift of transformation and true innovation; we are responsible for our ability to give and receive love. If we are not able to see ourselves as lovable and accept ourselves as we are, we will seldom find someone who meets our needs.  Venus in Aquarius could be a revolutionary gift for us to see that we ourselves have to love ourselves, accept ourselves, and see what gifts we are and what we have to offer others.  Then, and only then, can we act from our authentic selves, and then and only then, can we have a relationship that isn’t based on fixing someone else, but of truly giving and receiving love. 

Venus parallels Saturn on February 24-25, and though relationships begun at this time may carry some heavy responsibilities, they will be more long-lasting than most. Saturn teaches, Venus reveals our ability to give and receive love, and the combination can provide a time when we identify what it is that brings us together, thus making the commitment clearer than it may have been before. 

On February 25, Venus enters Pisces at 9:03 P.M.. Venus conjuncts Neptune in Pisces on February 28, as Venus moves into Pisces, signally the start of a new experience, phase, or stage of a relationship.  This should be a very romantic time, a time when beauty, sensuality and sensitivity awaken our senses, heighten our awareness, and infuse our psyches with deep intuition.  Avoid anything that will artificially alter your consciousness this is already a very potent time, and using mind-altering substances can cause imbalance and disorders. Use the energy to deepen your awareness, create, connect, enjoy, and embrace a new level of love and relationship. 

Lest I forget Chiron, the Wounded Healer also in Pisces, will be in close conjunction with the Sun in her early degrees of Pisces, bringing us opportunities for deeper healing in areas of our lives that have been experiencing the Neptune transit and is now being activated by the Sun's passage. Turn from fear, anxiety, and doubt, and embrace the power of Love to heal you from the inside out. Be grateful and joyful as you give and receive love. Live in communion with allowing love to flow in and out of you on each breath. That is Divine Love's way.

San Francisco Astrologer and Writer, Tosha Silver, shared this prayer for today, and it fits beautifully as we navigate the watery depths of our own psyches and the movement and trends of our times. 

"My Beloved, free me from attachment to ANY situations that hamper my highest good or Your Divine Will. 

I now put all of my relations in Your hands...whatever needs to come, let it come. 

Whatever needs to go, let it go. 

All of my needs are always perfectly met; 

I am safe and fully cared for.

I am Yours.

You are mine.

We are One.

All is well."  (Prayer by Tosha Silver)