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A Guide to Astrological Influences in February 2010

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of February is: 5 conjunctions, 1 opposition, 1 trine, 0 squares. On the surface, this appears to be a rather innocuous profile, indicating a general climate of "coming together and combining" due to the relatively large number of planetary conjunctions and relatively small number of the other components of the simplified profile. But please remember what was said earlier (in the article about January) regarding the long-running Saturn-Pluto square, which manifests three peaks. The second peak occurs on January 31 and is in orb throughout the month of February.

With respect to the five planetary conjunctions peaking in February: Sun and Venus conjunct Jupiter and Neptune, and Mercury conjuncts Neptune. Mercury will complete the pattern by conjuncting Jupiter on March 7.

February starts out under the dark umbrella of the Saturn-Pluto square, which peaks on January 31. Nothing feels good under this aspect.

Jupiter 5/12 Saturn peaks in the wee hours of February 5, adding to the predominantly negative feelings which already exist at this time. And then, peaking at about midday on the 6th, Jupiter 1/6 Pluto tends to galvanize feelings and actions in a relatively positive direction. (Note that there is a small pattern here. Jupiter is aspecting the Saturn-Pluto square, injecting a Jupiterian component into the mix.)

In the evening of the 7th, Venus CON Neptune in Aquarius (the first conjunction in the pattern of conjunctions mentioned earlier) brings strong feelings, but also includes tendencies toward creating ego-based facades.

Peaking in the afternoon of the 8th, Uranus 2/9 Pluto brings a different climate: creativity intended for widespread use. Or, alternatively, news of nuclear weaponry which gets everyone's attention. Or, something involving broadcast, satellite, or cable television, or the Internet. When this aspect is combined with the Saturn-Pluto square, the result may well be something associated with the flu, including the H1N1 variety.

By the way, yes, Uranus 2/9 Pluto reached a peak on December 18 also. This is a classic case of what I call "planetary tag". Uranus went stationary-direct on December 1, and Pluto will go stationary-retrograde on April 6. By definition, Earth is the viewpoint from which geocentric aspects are gauged, and the Earth itself is in motion.

In the wee hours of the 10th, Venus parallel Neptune produces results somewhat similar to the Venus-Neptune conjunction of the 7th.

In the afternoon-evening of the 12th, Mercury 1/3 Saturn facilitates concentrative endeavors: studying, planning, paying the bills, etc. But in the wee hours of the 13th, Mercury 1/2 Mars can lead to conflict, clamming up (refusing to talk about something), and the like. Ungood.

Sun parallel Neptune peaks at about midday on the 13th. Sun CON Neptune in Aquarius peaks in the afternoon/evening of the 14th. These aspects reinforce each other, producing a fuzzy swimmy atmosphere. Look out for slippery ice and slippery sales pitches.

The very-long-term aspect of Neptune 1/7 Pluto reaches peak #18 of its 20-peak marathon in the evening of the 15th. (Please see the comments about December 16 in the article about that month.)

Venus CON Jupiter in Pisces peaks in the evening of the 16th, and Venus parallel Jupiter peaks in the wee hours of the 18th. These two aspects reinforce each other, producing expansive (and expensive) feelings. The tendency is to have grandiose attitudes (e.g., vacationing in Bermuda).

The 19th is interesting for two reasons. First reason: Mercury parallel Pluto peaks at 4:12 pm PST (7:12 pm EST) and Mercury 4/11 Saturn peaks at 4:48 pm PST (7:48 pm EST). The former is good for widespread announcements of various kinds, whereas the latter tends to be nasty or negative regarding communications. Both manifest at about the same time. Second reason: Jupiter 3/7 Saturn peaks in the evening, emphasizing big "solid" subjects, such as mountains, finances, construction, health, etc.

After several days of relatively minor planetary aspects, Sun parallel Jupiter peaks in the wee hours of the 25th, tending to produce a very nice atmosphere: comfortable, relaxing, relatively stress free.

The 27th is interesting for a single reason in two parts. First part: Mercury CON Neptune in Aquarius peaks at 6:03 am PST (9:03 am EST). Second part: Mars going stationary in declination peaks at 6:25 am PST (9:25 am EST). The former aspect tends to increase mental fuzziness and confusion and facilitates sleep, but it can also help to smooth the way for certain kinds of thinking and is compatible with receiving spiritual inspiration (especially during sleep). Whereas, the latter aspect is good for physical exertion (using force of any kind for any purpose) and competitive activities. Since both aspects manifest at about the same time, they constitute what I call a "contrasting aspect pair".

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for February 27 can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of January at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

In the wee hours of the 28th, Sun CON Jupiter in Pisces produces a nice atmosphere, somewhat similar to the influence of Sun parallel Jupiter on the 25th. However, things could feel dispersive. Avoid overspending.

Note that although the Sun conjuncts Neptune on the 14th, it doesn't conjunct Jupiter until the 28th. This clearly demonstrates that the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction -- which peaked on 5/27/09, 7/10/09, and 12/21/09 -- is now definitely out of orb. It had been spreading clouds of confusion for months, but no more -- for which we can all be grateful.

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A Guide to Astrological Influences in January 2010

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of January is: 3 conjunctions, 2 oppositions, 2 trines, 1 square. This appears to be a somewhat subdued profile, but there are two factors that enter into the picture that could modify things. The first factor is the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction that peaked in December. That conjunction is only 2 degrees past exact at the beginning of January and therefore still alive and kicking, but it will gradually fade out during the month, being more than 7 degrees past exact at month's end. The other factor is the Saturn-Pluto square that peaked on November 15. In the article about November, the Saturn-Pluto square was characterized as bringing "an atmosphere consisting of powerful nitpicking to the point of wearing people down and possibly wrecking their entire day." Well, that has to be considered to be a gross understatement -- partly because the "entire day" is more like a period of a few months. That aspect reaches another peak on January 31 and remains in relatively close orb during the whole period of time between the peak on November 15 and the peak on January 31, after which it will gradually fade out, but it won't be out of the picture until sometime in March. That allows plenty of time for "powerful nitpicking" and a whole lot more. That aspect, all by itself, is probably enough to make everybody feel uneasy (and, in many cases, considerably worse than that) through that entire period of time. The idea of "nitpicking" doesn't come close to characterizing the potential wielded by this one aspect. (By the way, the Saturn-Pluto square will be back in orb later in 2010, reaching another peak on August 21.)

As to January: Sun CON Mercury in Capricorn peaks at about midday on the 4th, bringing an atmosphere which is compatible with serious concentrative thinking and communication. And then, in the wee hours of the next day (the 5th), Mercury CON Venus in Capricorn continues the serious thoughtful climate and deepens the mood even further. In effect, this configuration represents a triple conjunction of the three planets, the third conjunction peaking on the 11th but in orb throughout the intervening period. But since Venus represents not only moods (and subjectivity in general) but also balance, there could be a greater-than-usual focus on bringing balance to various facets of our society.

On the 7th and 8th, three planets go stationary in declination -- a very unusual occurrence. The first one is Saturn (peaking early in the morning of the 7th), the second one is Mercury (peaking late in the same day), and the third one is Pluto (peaking in the afternoon/evening of the 8th). When a planet goes stationary in declination, its qualities are magnified, just as they are magnified when a planet goes stationary in longitude or in geocentric distance. So, in this case, we can expect emphasis on seriousness and stability, thinking and communication, and multiplicity and competition -- all focused into this two-day period.

The third of the three conjunctions mentioned earlier, Sun CON Venus in Capricorn, peaks in the afternoon of the 11th. Serious concerns about balance and fairness can arise in this period of time. The popularity of classical music might also experience an unexpected (but temporary) resurgence. And of course, elderly and/or authoritative women might be in the news more than usual. This climate also overlaps the influences described above for the 7th and 8th. Also, Jupiter 2/5 Saturn peaks in the afternoon of the 11th, but it is actually in orb nearly all month, eventually morphing from a "2/5" (biquintile; 144 degrees) aspect into a "5/12" (quincunx; 150 degrees) aspect (which peaks on February 5). The Jupiter-Saturn influence focuses on large solid things (such as mountains, and planets in outer space) and important "heavy" concepts (such as the mortality of the H1N1 flu epidemic). In this general period of time, laughter may be a bit more difficult to find.

By the way, a modernized list of longitudinal aspect angles is contained in the Symbols & Abbreviations chapter of the useful and informative booklet The Reference Companion to The New Standard Aspectarian, which accompanies the first monthly copy of a person's first annual subscription to The New Standard Aspectarian -- the most complete aspectarian available.

Saturn goes stationary-retrograde in Libra in the morning of the 13th, further reinforcing the atmosphere that pervades the earlier part of the month. But also peaking in the morning, both Venus and the Sun sextile Uranus. Although Venus and the Sun are in the sign of Capricorn and are therefore augmenting the influence of Saturn, their sextile with Uranus will significantly modify the morning hours of that day, making it less heavy and more alive. However, as the day wears on, the temporary lift from Uranus will subside and the influence from the stationary Saturn will reassert itself.

The remainder of the month of January is significantly influenced by a series of declination aspects, most of them involving Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the Sun. Such aspects were notably absent from earlier in the month (except for the lunar parallels), but the later part of the month appears to be dominated by them.

Early in the morning of the 14th, Mercury parallel Mars adds gusto and oomph to communications, and may even increase the number of short quick trips and conversations. The following morning (the 15th), Mercury goes stationary-direct in Capricorn, increasing the tendency for thinking and communications to be serious and concentrative (rather than being light-hearted and frivolous).

In the afternoon/evening of the 16th, Mercury parallels Mars -- again. How can that be? They just did that two days earlier. A careful check of the prestigious Raphael's Ephemeris -- both their annual booklet for 2010 and their very large (and very heavy) 151-year volume for 1900-2050 -- indicated perfect agreement with our results. Not only do they list both aspects but also the peak times they show for those aspects match ours exactly (taking the time zone difference into account). The double peak undoubtedly stems from the fact that Mercury goes stationary (and therefore changes direction as viewed from the Earth) so close in time to the Mercury-Mars parallel, thereby causing that aspect to appear to repeat itself. Remember, these aspects are geocentric. They are configurations as viewed from the Earth.

On the 17th, the Sun gets into the act by paralleling both Mercury and Mars at about midday. (The peaks are less than half an hour apart.) This will bring an atmosphere similar to what was described for the 14th (and therefore fully applicable to the 16th).

In the morning of the 19th, Mercury parallels Venus and Venus parallels Mars, bringing a pleasant active atmosphere. These two aspects actually complete a triple parallel configuration, the remaining aspect being Mercury parallel Mars, which double-peaked on the 14th and 16th. This triple parallel will tend to make this period of time generally nice.

You may have noticed that no distinction is being made here between the two kinds of parallel aspects: parallel of conjunction (where both of the planets are on the same side of the equatorial plane) and parallel of opposition (where the two planets are on opposite sides of the equatorial plane). The reason is that years of observation have indicated that there seems to be no discernible difference in how these two kinds of parallels manifest. They both seem to combine the qualities of the participating planets in a generally harmonious manner.

In the evening of the 21st, Venus 1/3 Saturn creates a predominantly serious mood, ideal for listening to (and playing) classical music -- especially since Saturn happens to be in the sign of Libra, the sign which is associated with Venus.

In the morning of the 24th, Sun 1/3 Saturn focuses on the achievement of long-term stability. Taking the long view feels better at this time. Short-term goals seem relatively trivial now.

In the wee hours of the 25th, Mercury parallel Mars invigorates thinking and communications. Umm ... Didn't that aspect already peak twice just recently? Yup, on the 14th and the 16th. This is its third peak in less than two weeks. The aforementioned two Raphael's Ephemeris references confirm the validity of this peak also, including the precise peak time.

The evening of the 26th is host to the peak of Venus 1/2 Mars. This aspect would ordinarily have a relatively long orb time, but in this case Mars is retrograde, which speeds up the relative motion (as seen from the Earth) between these two planets, so the build-up time is only a few days. In terms of interpersonal relations (and most other contexts as well), this aspect brings friction and strife in varying degrees. So this is definitely not a good time to have a party or any other social event. Things just don't seem to go right under this influence. It is generally a time to stay home and keep to yourself.

The icky atmosphere mentioned above would ordinarily fade out in just a few days after the peak of the Venus-Mars opposition, but this is not an ordinary period of time. There are also two other inharmonious aspects in action. Peaking at about midday on the 29th, Sun 1/2 Mars tends to interfere with cycles related to sound, motion, force, temperature, vibration, competition -- anything pertaining to the qualities of Mars. On the other hand, those same qualities could enter into interfering with other cycles; it works both ways. The other inharmonious aspect being referred to here is the long-running Saturn-Pluto square, which peaks in the afternoon of the 31st. As mentioned earlier, this one is nothing to mess with. (For more details regarding the Saturn-Pluto square, please refer back to the introductory paragraph of this article.)

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for January 31 can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of December at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

There are some lesser aspects which peak during the same period of time (i.e., the last few days of January), and they tend to improve things, but only by a relatively small amount by comparison. There is a triple parallel configuration which peaks during this period, as follows: Sun parallel Pluto in the afternoon of the 27th, Venus parallel Pluto in the wee hours of the 28th, and Sun parallel Venus in the wee hours of the 30th. And Mercury goes stationary in declination at about midday on the 31st, tending to make it easier to think and communicate. If left to themselves, these aspects would make things feel harmonious and perhaps even invigorating. But for the most part, they don't have a fighting chance against the combined onslaught from Venus 1/2 Mars, Sun 1/2 Mars, and Saturn 1/4 Pluto.

Not all months end on a positive note.

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A Guide to Astrological Influences in December 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of December is: 4 conjunctions, 0 oppositions, 2 trines, 5 squares. The profile could actually be somewhat misleading this time, because all of its aspects except one are short-term. The one exception in the profile is the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, which reaches a peak on the first day of winter. That aspect is within less than 3 degrees of exact all month.

December opens with a blast from Uranus, which goes stationary-direct in Pisces on the 1st in the early afternoon. That atmosphere is reinforced by Uranus having gone stationary in declination on the 29th of the previous month and by the Mercury-Uranus square which peaked on the 30th of that month. This composite influence will tend to make the 1st seem somewhat electrifying. Newness is in the air, and change seems to be everywhere. Adventure easily trumps habitual routine on this day.

Mercury goes stationary in declination in the early morning of the 6th, tending to make talking and writing more compatible, even in dreams.

Mercury CON Pluto in Capricorn peaks in the wee hours of the 7th, tending to make communications more widespread in their flows, reaching more people than usual. Serious speeches to crowds are more compatible now. Mercury 1/4 Saturn peaks in the early evening, making communications more concentrative and serious. The emphasis is on paying the bills, etc.

Mars goes stationary in declination in the morning of the 10th, making things peppier, more energetic. Doing physical exercise seems more compatible at this time. So are speed and noise. In the afternoon/evening, Sun 1/3 Mars produces a similar effect, and makes it seem harmonious.

In the morning of the 12th, Jupiter 1/12 Uranus makes you want to buy something expensive -- and it may work out under this influence. But look out for the morning of the 14th. That is when Sun 1/4 Uranus causes unexpected consequences to pop up, making you wonder if change is really always desirable. (Hint: Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't.)

The very-long-term aspect of Neptune 1/7 Pluto peaks again on the 16th in the morning. This is peak #17 of the 20-peak aspect. I believe that it is responsible for much of the cruddy feeling that many people have been experiencing over the last several years, and I also believe that it has been establishing most of the compatibility for the covert terrorist conflicts in the Middle East. It won't begin to drift slowly out of orb until after its final peak in the year 2011.

Peaking in the early morning of the 17th, Venus 1/3 Mars conjures romantic feelings. It's also good for playing or listening to music, and for reading poetry out loud.

In the morning of the 18th, Uranus 2/9 Pluto focuses on a wide range of manifestations, such as new viruses (e.g., the H1N1 virus) and possible changes in deployment of troops in the Middle East.

In the afternoon/evening of the 19th, Venus 1/4 Uranus brings out vanity and egotism in people's behavior. It can feel pretty icky sometimes.

In the early morning of the 20th, Mars goes stationary-retrograde in Leo. One of the manifestations of this could be an increase in the feeling of a militaristic atmosphere. Traffic cops could be in the news more than usual, as well as high-ranking army personnel.

Jupiter CON Neptune in the sign of Aquarius peaks in the wee hours of the 21st, spreading a kind of cloud of fuzziness in people's psyches. Magnanimous generalities are compatible with this influence. This is probably not a good time to try to handle serious matters or concentrative issues. It is probably a good time to just lean back and relax.

The Sun goes stationary in declination on the 21st, entering Capricorn at 9:47 am PST (12:47 pm EST), all signifying the beginning of winter. Peaking about half an hour later, Jupiter 1/7 Pluto creates what could be termed a "pushy" atmosphere. This atmosphere is not necessarily obnoxious, but it can be. It can manifest as a good-natured bossiness, or it can manifest as a militaristic incursion.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for December 21 can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of November at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

The morning of the 24th is host to the peak of three planetary aspects which peak within less than 3 hours of each other: Sun 2/9 Uranus, Sun 1/7 Neptune, and Sun CON Pluto. Among many possible interpretations, this could correlate with a surprise action by terrorists in Iraq or Afghanistan, for example. In any case, it could make for an interesting morning. And then in the afternoon/evening of the next day (25th), Mars parallel Pluto and Sun 1/4 Saturn peak within less than an hour apart. This could also be interpreted in terms of a military type of action, and could include many deaths. Such a scenario is not exactly what most people would prefer to confront at the peak of the Christmas season.

Mercury goes stationary-retrograde early in the morning of the 26th, in the sign of Capricorn. This influence promotes thinking and communication, especially on serious or concentrative subjects. It can make business conferences more effective, and can help in planning short trips.

The evening of the 27th may feel a lot like the morning of the 24th. This should sound a bit familiar: Venus 2/9 Uranus, Venus 1/7 Neptune, and Venus CON Pluto. It's the same line-up as on the 24th, except with Venus replacing the Sun. Also, both Venus and the Sun are in Capricorn in both of the line-ups. As a consequence of these similarities, the activities of the morning of the 24th may experience a kind of temporal echo or reincarnation in the evening of the 27th. The presence of Venus in the 27th's line-up may put an increased focus on women in the news. There are, of course, many ways that this configuration could manifest.

Strangely enough, Venus also figures prominently in the planetary influences that peak on the 28th. Venus goes stationary in declination in the afternoon/evening. And then, in the evening, the following three planetary aspects reach their peaks: Venus 3/8 Mars, Venus 1/7 Jupiter, and Venus 1/4 Saturn. This will definitely increase the compatibilities regarding subjects and activities that are associated with Venus -- such as, for example, subjectivity, balance, women, feelings, music, poetry, etc. The Venus-Mars aspect will emphasize not only music and female musicians but also women in sports (baseball, track, automobile racing, etc.). The Venus-Jupiter aspect will emphasize women participating in outdoor activities and outer-space exploration. The Venus-Saturn aspect focuses on limitations (restrictions, boundaries, constraints, unfortunate consequences, endings) involving women. Please note that the last two aspects mentioned here -- Venus 1/7 Jupiter and Venus 1/4 Saturn -- constitute a contrasting aspect pair, peaking only about an hour apart. Such pairings generate influences that "pull in opposite directions" to some extent, and usually produce interesting manifestations.

Peaking in the evening of the 29th, Jupiter parallel Neptune spreads an umbrella of fuzzy comfort, making people less likely to tackle serious issues and more likely to just relax and have a good time. To a limited extent, it mirrors the influence of the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction which peaked on the 21st and which is still in orb, being less than 2ø from exact at month's end.

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A Guide to Astrological Influences in November 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of November is: 1 conjunction, 0 oppositions, 5 trines, 10 squares. This time, in spite of the number of trines, they are vastly outnumbered by the number of squares, portending a general tendency in the direction of stresses of various kinds. However, nearly all of the squares this time are relatively short-term, the one exception being the Saturn-Pluto square which peaks at mid-month. The long-term Jupiter-Neptune conjunction will be within about 6 degrees of exact at the beginning of the month, and that will narrow to within about 3 degrees of exact by the end of the month. It will become exact (again) on the first day of winter.

By the way, Daylight Saving Time changes to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November - which is November 1 this year. A reminder.

The first major planetary aspect of November is Mercury 1/4 Mars, which peaks in the afternoon/evening of the 1st. People will tend to be more impatient, move faster, talk faster, and be angrier at this time.

In the afternoon of the 2nd, Venus 1/3 Neptune makes things feel smoother and nicer, albeit slightly fuzzy. Being sociable is easier.

The 4th is well saturated with strong Neptune influences. Neptune goes stationary in declination in the wee hours, and then it goes stationary-direct in Aquarius at about midday. As stated for last year at this time (specifically, for 11/1/08) which experienced a similar situation: "This double whammy from Neptune will set the stage for waves of confusion to manifest not only on that date but also in the general period of time before and after that date." (The 3rd is Election Day in the U.S.) However, peaking in the wee hours of the 5th, Sun CON Mercury in Scorpio will make its contribution of adding an element of coherent thinking and making proper connectivities. This influence and the "double whammy from Neptune" can compete with each other - coherence versus confusion. But if a person has the necessary ability, he can combine them to magnify the opportunity for higher inspiration.

On the 5th and 6th, there is a triple parallel of conjunction involving the Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter, as follows: Sun parallel Mercury peaks in the afternoon of the 5th, Mercury parallel Jupiter peaks in the morning of the 6th, and Sun parallel Jupiter peaks late in the evening of the 6th. This is a tight configuration (less than half a degree wide in declination) and will promote clear thinking and wide-range planning on a variety of subjects and projects. However, it must be said that the aforementioned Neptune influences will have not yet faded out.

Early in the morning of the 8th, Mercury 1/4 Jupiter tends to disperse the attention but also focuses on wide-range thinking. If a person can overpower the dispersal and keep it under control, he can accomplish much under this influence. Otherwise his thinking will go out of focus. These comments also apply to some extent to the Sun 1/4 Jupiter aspect which peaks on the 10th at about midday. Without the necessary control, dispersal will rule.

In the wee hours of the 11th, Mercury 1/3 Uranus brings out original, creative, and even surprising kinds of thinking and communications. New ideas are sparked, and novelty is in the air. However, in the afternoon, Mercury 1/4 Neptune breeds confused thoughts and communications.

The period of the 14th-15th is a mixed bag - similar in some ways to the 11th, and for the same kind of reason. On the 11th, Mercury trined Uranus and then squared Neptune. In the afternoon/evening of the 14th, Sun 1/3 Uranus makes things seem new and alive, but in the afternoon of the 15th, Sun 1/4 Neptune confuses the atmosphere. However, this time, in the middle - in the morning of the 15th - Saturn 1/4 Pluto reaches a peak, which brings an atmosphere consisting of powerful nitpicking to the point of wearing people down and possibly wrecking their entire day. Actually this Saturn-Pluto square is in orb for several days; the 15th only represents the peak of its influence. So, in a sense, the three aspects mentioned here for the 14th-15th comprise a contrasting aspect trio. The slower-moving Saturn-Pluto square establishes a strong background influence under which the faster-moving Sun-Uranus trine and Sun-Neptune square perform. (Some configurations are much easier to think about in concept form than they are to describe in words. Many concepts cannot be comfortably and accurately represented by verbal structures.)

By the way, in addition to all that, the wee hours of the 15th is also host to an aspect group consisting of three minor planetary aspects that all reach a peak within less than 20 minutes of each other starting at 12:21 am PST (3:21 am EST), as follows: Mercury 2/9 Jupiter, Sun 1/7 Saturn, and Mercury 1/11 Pluto. Under this grouping, ideas and communications might bunch up, and then trail off afterwards. If that is so, the effects of this tendency could be interesting to observe.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for November 15 can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of October at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

The 17th is host to a contrasting aspect pair. Venus 1/9 Saturn and Venus 4/11 Uranus both peak in the wee hours within only 6 minutes of each other starting at 3:48 am PST (6:48 am EST). Feelings can be a mixture of old and new, traditional and current (or even futuristic).

Peaking in the wee hours of the 19th (but strongly in orb the previous day, particularly the evening), Venus 1/4 Mars can bring strife into a relationship (especially the romantic kind). Probably the best way to "ride it out" is to be more thoughtful, tactful, and tolerant. Nobody is perfect, and picking on someone's imperfections is not a good way to maintain a relationship.

Another contrasting aspect pair occurs in the afternoon of the 20th. Mercury 1/5 Jupiter and Mercury 2/11 Saturn peak about an hour apart, bringing together thoughts of big and small, grandiose and picayune, light and dark, expensive and cheap, important and insignificant, etc.

Peaking in the afternoon of the 23rd, Venus 1/4 Jupiter tends to make one's feelings lean in the direction of things and ideas that are big, grandiose, light, expensive, and important. Please notice that this list does not include "practical". Subjectivity has center stage.

Peaking in the wee hours of the 24th, Jupiter 1/11 Uranus seems to extend the influence of the Venus-Jupiter square of the previous day but with the added element of surprise, suddenness, the "do it now" feeling, the futuristic angle. Again, practicality is not considered. (Actually the orb of this aspect is such that its influence preceded the influence of the Venus-Jupiter square. As mentioned earlier, some concepts don't fit into words as easily as others.)

In the evening of the 25th, Venus 1/3 Uranus tends to put people's feelings in present time and the future and steer them away from history and traditionalism. This would be a good time for a party, except that the next day is a major holiday.

The 26th is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Mercury 1/3 Mars peaks in the morning, facilitating the communication of rapid instructions and rapid actions. But Venus 1/4 Neptune peaks in the afternoon/evening (depending on time zone), which could tend to mess up orderly plans and confuse the feelings. Technically, it could increase the probability of fluid imbalances of all kinds.

A double dose of Venus-Mars influence peaks on the 27th at about midday. Venus parallel Mars peaks at 10:32 am PST (1:32 pm EST), and then about half an hour later, Venus 3/11 Mars reaches its peak. The first of these two aspects is harmonious in nature, facilitating smooth relationships and balancing actions. But the second aspect is inharmonious (as are all members of the "1/11" family). Since the planets involved in both influences are the same pair, this could be an interesting period of time.

Uranus goes stationary in declination in the afternoon/evening of the 29th, spreading an atmosphere of newness, surprise, and innovation. This influence will tend to make the day seem to "come alive".

On the 30th at about midday, Mercury 1/4 Uranus creates tendencies for miscommunications of all kinds: misspeaking, typographical errors, etc. Wrong connections could be made on trips and in using the telephone. So extra care should be used in talking, writing, traveling, and dialing.

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go to our website at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.

A Guide to Astrological Influences in October 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of October is: 2 conjunctions, 2 oppositions, 6 trines, 3 squares. This time the trines outnumber each of the other members of the simplified profile, possibly portending an observable alleviation of stress this month (which I think everyone would welcome). The Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is still hovering on the fringe of being in orb, being about 6 degrees or 7 degrees from exact this month, but it will find its way back into respectable orb during the month of November.

As mentioned last time, Saturn parallel Uranus and Sun parallel Mercury peak in the wee hours of October 2, and Mercury goes stationary in declination at about midday. This combination of aspects focuses on thinking and making connectivities, and the object is likely to be both practical and surprising. Perhaps something new will emerge out of the past for people to ponder.

The 4th promises to be a strange day. Mercury 1/2 Uranus peaks in the afternoon, raising the compatibility for sudden surprising disconnects of various kinds. This can apply to power outages and other kinds of electrical failures. It can also apply to typographical errors, Internet glitches, and strange behavior of the telephone system. It can also make people say things they don't really mean. Then, peaking in the early evening, Mars 1/3 Uranus sets up a compatible atmosphere for strange new sounds and motions. But hanging over all of this is Uranus 1/12 Neptune, which peaks in the evening. This aspect can attract all kinds of strange phenomena, including hallucinations and ghosts.

Late on the 7th, Mercury CON Saturn in the sign of Virgo injects a husky dose of serious stability, tending to pooh-pooh flighty notions and harebrained ideas and theories, no matter how valid they may actually be.

Peaking in the afternoon of the 9th, Venus 1/2 Uranus brings out the egotism in people, groups, and nations. Warm selfless cooperation may be hard to find at this time. People tend to emphasize their uniqueness.

Peaking in the wee hours of the 10th, Sun 1/3 Jupiter contributes an ingredient of harmony and good feeling. This is a good time to relax.

On the 10th at about midday, Mercury 1/4 Pluto makes things be (or seem) more complicated than usual, and causes communications to be more irritating than usual. On the other hand, if you need to design a complex system of some kind, this aspect might actually be helpful. (Sometimes harmony/disharmony, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.)

The 11th and 12th seem to be dominated by Jupiter. That planet goes stationary in declination in the morning of the 11th, and then it goes stationary-direct in the sign of Aquarius in the evening of the 12th. Under these influences, the things that are emphasized are spaciousness, health, wealth, color. These include things like the great outdoors, faraway places, outer space, food/nutrition, medical topics, etc. In the wee hours of the following morning (the 13th), Venus CON Saturn in the sign of Virgo brings feelings of seriousness and stability.

On the 15th at about midday, Venus 1/4 Pluto brings edgy feelings and competitive attitudes, making it more difficult to "love thy neighbor". There may be an increased tendency to show off in a pushy way.

In the afternoon/evening of the 16th, Sun 1/3 Neptune "greases the way" for accomplishing things. This is done by smoothly facilitating things rather than by badgering and bullying. Brute force should not be needed.

In the afternoon of the 20th, Mercury 1/3 Jupiter has "think big" written all over it. Grandiose ideas have a better chance of succeeding at this time. Practicality seems less important now than the wonder of it all. In the evening of the 22nd, Jupiter 1/10 Uranus adds a component of inventiveness to the influence of the Mercury-Jupiter trine, making the atmosphere feel a little bit like an adventure in outer space. Big surprises could accompany this pair of aspects.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for October 22 can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of September at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

In the morning of the 24th, Mercury 1/3 Neptune tends to open the faucet wide for a greater-than-usual flow of inspiration, hunches, gut feelings. Saturn 2/5 Neptune in the evening of the 26th (and for days beforehand) tends to stabilize hunches, etc. So, hopefully, this latter aspect will help to make the inspirations more reachable, more realistic, and doable.

In the evening of the 28th, Venus 1/3 Jupiter tends to make the evening a good time for conferences, conversations, and just plain socializing __ especially since it is accompanied by Mercury 1/6 Pluto. But Sun 1/4 Mars peaks in the wee hours of the next day (the 29th), tending to make things more forceful than might be desired in the evening of the 28th. So perhaps the afternoon (of the 28th) might be a slightly better time for socializing, etc. In reality, probably no time period is absolutely perfect for any given activity. (That may be one of the manifestations of the principle which is portrayed in the well-known Yin-Yang symbol, which expresses that total purity is impossible.)

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A Guide To Astrological Influences In September 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of September is: 3 conjunctions, 5 oppositions, 1 trine, 3 squares. In terms of stress evaluation, the planetary oppositions and squares clearly outnumber the planetary trines, which might mean that September could be another month of more stress than normal. The Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is temporarily taking a siesta (it's on the edge of being in orb), but it will drift back into orb later this year, peaking on December 21.

Probably the best way to introduce the month of September (other than the simplified profile described above) is to repeat the paragraph that was used for that purpose last time. Here it is again. "Here are some previews regarding September. Mercury is 'slowing down', getting ready to go stationary-retrograde (Sept. 6). So it will square Mars and Pluto again (Sept. 3 and 17, respectively). And Pluto will go stationary-direct (Sept. 11). And Venus will oppose Neptune (Sept. 15). Saturn will oppose Uranus again (Sept. 15) __ the third peak in their current cycle of five. And the Sun will align with that opposition by opposing Uranus and conjuncting Saturn (Sept. 17). It looks like the middle part of September promises to be an interesting period of time!"

The first major planetary aspect of September is Mercury 1/4 Mars, which peaks in the morning of the 3rd. It creates a belligerent atmosphere, tending to cause conversations to escalate into shouting matches.

Mercury goes stationary-retrograde in Libra in the evening of the 6th, focusing on Libra-related subjects, such as balance and subjectivity.

If you are a fan of the number 7, you might feel strangely attracted to the 7th day of this month, which is host to the following aspects which represent the septile ("1/7") family of aspects: Mars 2/7 Uranus and Sun 3/7 Jupiter (both peaking in the wee hours) and Mercury 1/7 Venus (which peaks in the afternoon/evening). The first two aspects may make the wee hours feel more adventurous than usual, while the third aspect may create an atmosphere which is more in line with music and poetry.

Mercury goes stationary in declination in the early morning hours of the 8th, making thinking and communication easier and more effective.

Peaking in the morning of the 9th, Jupiter 1/10 Uranus weaves a fabric of fantasy and of exploration of whole new realms of imagination and discovery. Big new ideas are in the air. (Note: Part of this influence is due to Jupiter being in Aquarius and Uranus being in Pisces.)

The 11th includes a mix of Venus 1/2 Jupiter peaking in the wee hours and Pluto going stationary-direct in Capricorn at about midday. These two aspects, which will be in orb for days before their peaks, will make the 11th a not very pleasant day. Hopes and plans could be found faulty and irritability could run high. Probably nobody will enjoy this day.

Three nonlunar terminals aspect each other on the 12th. Sun parallel Saturn peaks in the wee hours, Sun 3/7 Neptune peaks at about midday, and Saturn 5/12 Neptune peaks in the afternoon-evening. This one is a mixed bag, with the Saturn components delivering a concentrative climate and the Neptune components delivering a kind of slippery climate: hazy, fuzzy, blurred, confused, indistinct, unclear, obscure. In this kind of atmosphere, increased concentration may not compensate for the fuzziness.

In the afternoon/evening of the 13th, Jupiter 2/5 Saturn continues the serious concentrative Saturnian feeling but infuses it with contrasting expansive Jupiter ingredients: space, color, health, wealth, etc. Big mountains and outer-space debris may be in the news.

The next few days are especially interesting for various reasons. The third of the five peaks of the current Saturn-Uranus opposition cycle occurs early in the morning of the 15th, and Venus 1/2 Neptune peaks in the afternoon. There is not much chance that anyone will enjoy the atmosphere of this day. Bad things could happen on a wide scale, dashing the hopes and dreams of a great many people. The 17th may be no better, with Sun 1/2 Uranus peaking in the wee hours, Mercury 1/4 Pluto peaking about two hours later, and Sun CON Saturn in the sign of Virgo peaking at about midday -- definitely not a good day for anybody.

Sun CON Mercury in the sign of Virgo, which peaks in the wee hours of the 20th, will greatly stimulate the much-needed communications which will be triggered by the events of the recent days. A lot of people will have a lot to say about what has been happening. In the evening (20th), Venus 1/3 Pluto will encourage vigorous feelings to be vented, probably in a useful way. Peaking in the wee hours of the 22nd, Mercury CON Saturn in Virgo adds a further tendency to bend communications in the direction of seriousness. Nobody is feeling humorous lately.

Taking an overview of the astrological patterns that peaked between the 15th and the 22nd, it looks like this: The Sun, Mercury, and Saturn are all in conjunction with each other in the sign of Virgo, and that triple conjunction opposes Uranus in the sign of Pisces (with the exception of the Mercury-Uranus opposition, which doesn't peak until the morning of the 23rd). A pattern of this stature doesn't happen without major consequences in our society. It's just a matter of how it will all play out.

Note: The 16th and 17th are also unusual for another reason __ namely, Uranus is at perigee (closest to the Earth) on the 16th, Saturn is at apogee (furthest from the Earth) on the 17th, and Mercury is at perigee on the 17th. This is being mentioned here because in the previous article in this series, it was stated that "... when a planet goes stationary in either longitude or declination or geocentric distance, its influence is temporarily magnified." Apogee and perigee correspond to being stationary in geocentric distance, and yet those two kinds of aspects are not usually mentioned in these articles. Why? Because in the case of the slower-moving planets, apogee and perigee aspects coincide time-wise (within a day or two) with conjunctions and oppositions, respectively, with the Sun, which are always mentioned here. So, in a sense, some redundancy is avoided by not mentioning the apogee and perigee aspects.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for September 17, 2009, can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of August at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

The Sun crosses the celestial equator on the 22nd and enters Libra at 2:19 pm PDT (5:19 pm EDT), signifying the official beginning of autumn.

In the morning of the 23rd, two planetary aspects combine to really mess things up. Sun 1/4 Pluto creates a highly competitive atmosphere, in fact belligerent. And Mercury 1/2 Uranus (mentioned earlier) tends to disrupt connectivities of all kinds. This includes interference with communications __ oral, written, and (especially) electronic.

The period of time between the 22nd and the end of the month and into the 2nd of the following month is host to a multiplicity of declination aspects involving the Sun, Mercury, Saturn, and Uranus __ the same four planets that were involved in the conjunction-opposition configuration described earlier. Sun parallel Mercury peaks in the afternoon/evening of the 22nd, and peaks again in the wee hours of the 23rd. (This double peak is due to both the Sun and Mercury crossing the celestial equator on the 22nd.) Then Mercury parallel Uranus peaks in the afternoon of the 28th, and Mercury parallel Saturn peaks early in the morning of the 29th. Then Sun parallel Uranus peaks at about midday on the 30th, and Sun parallel Saturn peaks in the afternoon/evening (30th). And then Saturn parallel Uranus and Sun parallel Mercury peak in the wee hours of October 2, and Mercury goes stationary in declination at about midday. (Yes, the Sun and Mercury already paralleled each other twice: on the 22nd and 23rd. The parallel on October 2 is their third. This unusual action is due to the Sun and Mercury crossing the equator on the 22nd and Mercury going stationary in declination on October 2. Nobody ever said that astrology has to be simple.) And then, in addition to that veritable frenzy of activity in declination, Mercury goes stationary-direct in Virgo on the 29th, putting extra focus on connectivities and communications.

It seems that September (and the beginning of October) should be awarded a trophy of some kind for the sheer number of interactions involving four specific nonlunar terminals. In any case, the last couple of weeks of September should be a time to remember!

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A Guide To Astrological Influences In August 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of August is: 1 conjunction, 5 oppositions, 5 trines, 4 squares. Again there are a goodly number of planetary trines, comparable to June and July but unlike the months of this year prior to June. However, as in July, the planetary trines are significantly outnumbered by the planetary oppositions and squares, possibly portending more stress for the month than usual (whatever "usual" might mean in these unusual times.) And remember, the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is in orb throughout the month of August even though it doesn't peak in August.

And now let's look at the other significant astrodynamic influences in August. Jupiter 3/7 Saturn peaks in the afternoon of the 1st, emphasizing considerations of practicality regarding things like health, space, color, and finances. And then, reaching a peak later in the afternoon, Venus 1/2 Pluto will try to mess up our composure and rile our emotions. Taken together, these two aspects will tend to create a stressful atmosphere regarding the subjects of health, space, color, and finances.

In the morning of the 3rd, Mercury 1/3 Pluto sets up a nice atmosphere for meetings, conferences, announcements, or just talking and writing. Peaking in the afternoon (but in orb for days), Jupiter 1/11 Uranus injects an ingredient of big new ideas that are "out of left field" -- intriguing, audacious, but generally harebrained and impractical.

In the wee hours of the 6th, Venus goes stationary in declination, emphasizing feelings and emotions and other aspects of subjectivity.

For a few days leading up to the peak in the afternoon/evening of the 10th, Mars 1/4 Saturn creates a climate of stern harsh seriousness, somewhat similar to a militaristic atmosphere, perhaps demanding blind obedience. Arguments can turn deadly under this influence.

Reaching a peak in the afternoon of the 12th (but in orb for days), Jupiter 1/7 Pluto spreads an influence which could be conceptualized as "widespread multiplicity". Anything that relates to that concept is brought into focus under this influence -- viruses, war, multifaceted competitiveness, etc. (Item: Please realize that astrological influences originate at levels of existence higher than the gross planetary levels, and so describing them verbally is inevitably limited by the constraints of language and the human mind. That is one of the reasons why some people find it so difficult to comprehend astrology.)

In the morning of the 13th, Mars 1/3 Jupiter establishes a nice climate for working on big projects of all kinds, either physical or ideological. Jupiter is in the sign of Aquarius and Mars is in the sign of Gemini, and so the concept of "new ideas" is included as an ingredient in this influence. However, Sun 1/2 Jupiter peaks the next day (14th) at about midday followed by the peak of Saturn 3/7 Neptune early in the afternoon, and so this should be taken into account -- such as by not working on the project very long after the peak of the Mars-Jupiter trine. In practical terms, this actually means that the latter two aspects will tend to put a damper on the otherwise nice Mars-Jupiter trine.

By the way, Jupiter and Neptune are at perigee in mid-August (peaking on the 14th and 17th, respectively) -- meaning that they are closest to the Earth at this time. Another way of saying this is that both planets are stationary in geocentric distance. The reason this is mentioned here is that when a planet goes stationary in either longitude or declination or geocentric distance, its influence is temporarily magnified. So, due to these two perigee aspects, the influences of Jupiter and Neptune should be felt more strongly than usual at this time.

The 17th is a mixed bag. Mercury CON Saturn in the sign of Virgo peaks in the morning, increasing the compatibility for mental concentration. But Sun 1/2 Neptune peaks in the afternoon, increasing the compatibility for confusion and blocked flows of all kinds. Mars 1/3 Neptune peaks in the evening, tending to facilitate flows of all kinds. As indicated, the 17th is a mixed bag, and it is anybody's guess as to how this will all play out. As usual in this kind of thing, what each person experiences will probably depend on his or her personal aspects.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for August 17, 2009, can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of July at http://www.newstandardaspectarian.com/.)

Peaking in the evening of the 18th, Mars 1/4 Uranus makes things feel a bit strange. Unusual motions and sounds (including noises) emerge from various sources (including people). Some things may move erratically.

Jupiter 5/12 Saturn peaks in the morning of the 19th, focusing on areas similar to those associated with the Jupiter 3/7 Saturn aspect which peaked on the 1st (namely: health, space, color, and finances) -- except that in this case, the focus will be less harmonious. A "5/12" aspect is generally inharmonious whereas a "3/7" aspect is more nearly neutral.

Peaking in the wee hours of the 21st, Mercury 1/2 Uranus creates a strong tendency to alter communications. Mistakes in talking and writing abound under this influence. Wires come loose in electrical apparatus. Things that are routed are more likely to wind up in the wrong place -- such as mailing materials and telephone calls. If you need to change your mind about something, this is a compatible time for doing so. Appointments are forgotten. Pens and pencils won't write. Things are uncoordinated. Numbrs and wurd spelings are unaccountably jumbled. Dreams are weird.

A really strange set of aspects occurs on the 22nd and 23rd, as follows:
On the 22nd: Sun 3/7 Uranus Venus 1/3 Uranus
On the 23rd: Venus 3/7 Pluto Sun 1/3 Pluto
Please notice the uncanny (if not downright spooky) symmetry involved. This appears to be a case of pure coincidence. If that's what it is, the probability of occurrence must be very close to zero. In terms of aspect interpretation, this period of time will feel fresh and new, due to the two Uranus aspects. And it will feel somewhat competitive and pushy, due to the two Pluto aspects. Still, the outstanding feature of this configuration is its extraordinary symmetry. (Actually there is a coincidence involved. The Sun and Venus are about 34 degrees 17' apart, and that just happens to be very close to the difference, 34 degrees 17'09", between the "1/3" and "3/7" aspect angles -- indeed a highly improbable occurrence.)

The configuration on the 25th and 26th is also interesting though not nearly as spooky. In essence, Mars 1/2 Pluto peaks in the afternoon of the 26th, creating an extremely competitive influence. It could easily give rise to widespread belligerence. Mercury squares that opposition in the evening of the 25th (Mercury 1/4 Mars) and the morning of the 26th (Mercury 1/4 Pluto), generating a very argumentative atmosphere that will set the stage for the belligerence on the 26th. These two days are definitely not compatible with cozy comfort, serenity, and peacemaking.

Saturn 3/11 Pluto, which peaks on the 28th at about midday, does little or nothing to quell the unrest of the previous few days. It just solidifies the general attitude of belligerence and all but shuts out the possibility of negotiation, arbitration, reconciliation, and compromise. Tapping into the feeling of serenity is still not yet in the cards.

The three-terminal configuration peaking on the 29th and 30th won't help either. The Sun, Venus, and Jupiter all aspect each other on these days. Sun 5/11 Jupiter peaks at about midday on the 29th, Venus 5/11 Jupiter peaks in the afternoon, and Sun 1/11 Venus peaks in the wee hours of the 30th. (Reminder: The entire "1/11" family of aspects is inharmonious. This includes "1/11", "2/11", etc.)

In the wee hours of the 31st, Mars goes stationary in declination, motivating us with a sense of purpose and stimulating us to "do something".

Here are some previews regarding September. Mercury is "slowing down", getting ready to go stationary-retrograde (Sept. 6). So it will square Mars and Pluto again (Sept. 3 and 17, respectively). And Pluto will go stationary-direct (Sept. 11). And Venus will oppose Neptune (Sept. 15). Saturn will oppose Uranus again (Sept. 15) -- the third peak in their current cycle of five. And the Sun will align with that opposition by opposing Uranus and conjuncting Saturn (Sept. 17). It looks like the middle part of September promises to be an interesting period of time!

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A Guide to Astrological Influences in July 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of July is: 2 conjunctions, 3 oppositions, 6 trines, 7 squares. Like last time (only a bit more so), we have the battle of the trines and the squares. And, as mentioned last time, we also have influences from the Saturn 3/10 Pluto aspect and the Jupiter CON Neptune aspect.

The Saturn 3/10 Pluto aspect peaked twice in May (due to "planetary tag" between those two planets, as mentioned before), and was still in orb in June, doing a slow fade-out during that month. This aspect will finally fade out completely in July, as follows: It will be almost 3 degrees from exact at the beginning of July, more than 4 degrees from exact in mid-July, and more than 6 degrees from exact at the end of July. So the widespread increased tendency toward being fussy and finicky and "splitting hairs" will finally end its reign during the month of July.

The Jupiter CON Neptune aspect has a much longer life. It has been in 5 degree orb since before mid-April, reached a peak on May 27, peaks again on July 10, moves beyond 5 degree orb in early September, moves back into 5 degree orb in about mid-November, reaches a peak again on December 21, and moves beyond 5 degree orb in about mid-January 2010. So, altogether, this aspect will have exerted its influence for roughly nine months. During all this time, we can expect to have a background tendency of vague fuzzy-mindedness. (A more comprehensive description of the expected tendencies which can be attributed to this aspect appeared in the article for May.)

Do the above-mentioned two aspects align with each other in terms of similar manifestations? No, not really. They manifest independently of each other. For example, one of them tends to make us fussy and the other one tends to make us fuzzy - concentrative versus dispersive. Can they actually manifest at the same time? Oh yes! One of the evidences of this is the swine flu outbreak which first hit the headlines in the latter part of April. Jupiter is associated with health and anything widespread, Neptune is associated with things that are airborne, and Aquarius (the tropical sign in which the Jupiter-Neptune aspect manifests) behaves like Uranus in that it is associated with surprises. Bringing in the Saturn-Pluto aspect: Saturn (in tropical Virgo; health) is associated with tiny things (like viruses), and Pluto (in tropical Capricorn; tiny things) is associated with multiplicities. So, taken together, we have all of the makings of a sudden outbreak of a pandemic due to dangerous airborne viruses. Yup, that's the way it works.

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Now let's look at some of the planetary influences that peak during the month of July. As mentioned at the end of the previous article in this series, Uranus goes stationary-retrograde in Pisces in the wee hours of the 1st. Newness and surprise are emphasized during this influence. Since an aspect of a planet going stationary in longitude is neither inherently good nor bad but just strong, we can expect to experience newness in the air at this time - things that were not foreseen, both desirable and undesirable. The atmosphere could feel "electric".

As it turns out, July 1 is loaded with astrological aspects. Peaking at almost the same time as the stationary Uranus aspect, Jupiter 4/9 Saturn tends to focus on large solid/stable/serious things, like mountains and buildings, and financial matters of all kinds - personal, national, and international. In the afternoon (1st), Mercury, Venus, and Neptune all aspect each other, as follows: Venus 1/4 Neptune, Mercury 1/3 Neptune, and Mercury 1/12 Venus. Feelings and emotions are under stress, perhaps in a turmoil. The situation is helped (made better) by communication.

The early part of the evening (1st) is primarily influenced by the following four Mercury aspects: Sun parallel Mercury, Mercury 1/3 Jupiter, Mercury 1/4 Uranus, and Mercury 2/9 Saturn. Ideas and communications, old and new, tend to dominate the early evening. Later in the evening, Venus tends to dominate: Venus 1/4 Jupiter and Venus 1/6 Uranus. New feelings may emerge, but they may be impractical and expensive.

By the way, in addition to having an unusually large number of planetary aspects reaching a peak, July 1 is also host to an unusually large number of total aspects (planetary plus lunar). As already mentioned, that day "is loaded with astrological aspects" __ an extremely "busy" day.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for July 1, 2009, can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of June at www.newstandardaspectarian.com.)

In the morning of the Fourth of July, Mercury 1/2 Pluto tends to make things argumentative in nature. It is possible that the noise made by exploding firecrackers may ignite belligerence in some neighborhoods.

In the morning and afternoon of the 6th, Mars squares the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, which is only about 12' from exact. "Fiery actions" of all kinds are likely to go awry in one way or another. This may be a good time to keep a low profile and confine our activities to normal duties.

Mercury goes stationary in declination in the wee hours of the 8th, tending to shape our dreams in rational terms: thinking rather than emoting.

The wee hours of the 9th are dominated by Saturnian influences, due to Sun 1/6 Saturn, Venus 2/7 Saturn, and Mercury 2/11 Saturn all reaching peaks within a total time span of less than 4 hours. This period tends to be more-or-less serious, but probably nothing major is involved.

As already mentioned, Jupiter CON Neptune in Aquarius peaks on the 10th. Since the peak occurs in the wee hours, this could create really good "sleeping weather". This influence also increases the compatibility for things like hunches, intuitions, inspirations, and mystical revelations. (As already mentioned, the article about the month of May contained a more comprehensive description of the wider effects of this aspect.) (Note: At about 12:45 pm PDT, the Moon conjuncts Jupiter and Neptune, forming a triple conjunction and temporarily strengthening this already powerful aspect. If a flood or a leaky faucet is "waiting to happen", this lunar complicity could be the final trigger.)

In the evening of the 13th, Sun CON Mercury in the sign of Cancer greatly heightens the tendencies associated with thinking and communication. Face-to-face conversations, telephone calls, letter writing, and e-mails can be expected to manifest much more than usual under this aspect.

In the wee hours of the 16th, Mercury 1/3 Uranus brings fresh new ideas and stimulating conversations. If you have been waiting for a good time to plan how to build a flying saucer (or whatever), this is a compatible period of time for such a project.

In the afternoon/evening of the 18th, Sun 1/3 Uranus creates a sense of newness and adventure. If you wanted to explore a cave (or whatever), this might be the time - depending, of course, on your personal aspects.

As you may have noticed, there is a pattern involved in the influences that peak from the 13th to the 18th. The pattern involves the Sun and Mercury conjuncting each other and then individually trining Uranus. In general, that period of time should feel pretty good to most people.

To an extent, the 20th may feel kind of good also, due to a triple parallel configuration: Sun parallel Venus (in the wee hours), Mercury parallel Venus (in the morning), and Sun parallel Mercury (in the afternoon).

The phrase "to an extent" was used above because a couple of "heavy" aspects show up in the next two days. On the 21st, Venus 1/4 Saturn peaks in the afternoon and brings a "downer" atmosphere with it, making everything feel like insurmountable drudgery or repositories of sadness. And then, peaking the following morning (22nd), Saturn 2/7 Pluto reprises (to some extent) the Saturn 3/10 Pluto aspect described earlier.

Then things improve for a while. A contrasting aspect pair peaks in the evening of the 23rd: Mars 1/5 Uranus and Mercury 1/10 Saturn, which peak only 13 minutes apart (9:57 and 10:10 pm PDT). This could actually be a good time to focus your mind on purchasing (or designing) a new kind of automobile or musical instrument (or whatever).

In the evening of the 26th, Venus 1/3 Jupiter creates a pleasant atmosphere, suitable for relaxing, socializing, or even partying.

In the evening of the 27th, Venus 1/3 Neptune creates another pleasant atmosphere which is likewise suitable for relaxing. (In effect, Venus is trining the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction on the 26th and 27th.)

In the afternoon of the 28th, Venus 1/4 Uranus breaks the recent pattern of comfort, pleasantness, relaxation, and congeniality. The Venus-Uranus square can bring unpleasant surprises and unexpected disagreements.

The 30th features three planetary aspects involving Jupiter, but only one of them could be classified as pleasant. In the wee hours of the 30th, Mercury 1/2 Jupiter creates a kind of dispersive atmosphere that encourages a "think big" attitude but seems to chiefly attract ideas that are either too expensive or too "far out" to be taken seriously - such as, for example, painting Mount Everest. In the morning (30th), Sun 5/11 Jupiter likewise focuses on the negative side of Jupiter's influences. But in the afternoon, Mercury parallel Jupiter encourages bright and potentially doable ideas and long-distance communications.

In the wee hours of the 31st, Mercury 1/2 Neptune creates confusion - definitely not a time to engage in cycles which require clear thinking.

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A Guide to Astrological Influences in June 2009

The simplified profile of planetary aspects reaching a peak in the month of June is: 1 conjunction, 1 opposition, 6 trines, 5 squares. Again we have the battle of the trines and the squares, adding unpredictabilityto the stress index. Also, please be reminded of two planetary aspects which are in orb but do not peak in June. Saturn 3/10 Pluto peaked on May 1 and again on May 13 due to a game of "planetary tag", as mentioned last time. It will still be within less than one degree of exact at thebeginning of June and within less than three degrees of exact at the end of June. It tends to make people "split hairs" and become fussy over trifles. The other aspect is Jupiter CON Neptune in Aquarius. This aspect peaked on May 27 and will remain within roughly half a degree of exact through out the month of June, spreading feelings of fuzziness and out-of-focus hopefulness. It will peak again on July 10 and December 21.

The first significant planetary aspect peaking in June is Mercury going stationary in declination in the afternoon of the 2nd, tending to clear the mind and make things somewhat easier to understand.

The 3rd may well belong to Mars. On this day, Mars forms the following peaks: Mars 2/11 Neptune in the wee hours, causing things and people to be more slippery than usual; Mars 2/11 Jupiter in the afternoon, making things louder and more aggressive; Mars 1/10 Uranus in the afternoon/-evening, stimulating new projects; and Mars 1/3 Pluto in the evening,boosting competitiveness in a harmonious way. An interesting day.

In the afternoon of the 5th, Sun 1/4 Saturn makes things concentrative. On the 8th, Venus 1/3 Pluto brings strong but harmonious feelings.

In the afternoon and evening of the 9th, Mercury 1/6 Uranus brings bright new ideas, Mercury 1/4 Neptune brings confusion, and Uranus 1/12 Neptunebrings hunches and inspiration.

(Note: The precise timings of the aspects for June 9, 2009, can be seen on the sample aspect page which is posted during the month of May at http://www.newstandardaspectarian.com/.)

In the morning of the 10th, Mercury 1/4 Jupiter brings a tendency to think big. And in the morning of the 11th, Jupiter goes stationary in declination, focusing on expansive topics. The next day (12th) in the afternoon and evening, Venus 1/9 Uranus and Mars 1/5 Jupiter furnish a fitting climate for the official date of the changeover to digital TV.

Jupiter goes stationary-retrograde in Aquarius in the wee hours of the15th, focusing attention on health, wealth, color, and large spaces.

In the wee hours of the 17th, Sun 1/3 Neptune tends to bring good sleep and pleasant dreams. But peaking a few hours later, Sun 1/4 Uranus can introduce weirdness and surprise, messing up (or at least significantly altering) the smooth comfort of the Sun-Neptune trine. In the evening, Sun 1/3 Jupiter brings feelings of abundance and affluence.

The Sun enters the tropical sign of Cancer on the 20th at 10:46 pm PDT, signifying the official beginning of summer.

Venus CON Mars in Taurus peaks early in the morning of the 21st, boosting the probability of romantic interludes. But late the same day, feelings tend toward seriousness and objectivity because of Venus 1/3 Saturn.

Early the next morning (22nd), Mars 1/3 Saturn reinforces the feeling of seriousness and objectivity.

Peeking in the wee hours of the 23rd, Sun 1/2 Pluto brings a negative competitive atmosphere that could easily escalate into belligerence. This is a good time to stay away from crowds.
In the wee hours of the 26th, Mercury 1/4 Saturn brings a concentrative atmosphere good for serious matters, not good for light-hearted humor. Peaking at roughly the same time, Saturn 4/9 Neptune creates a mood that focuses on practical ways to achieve one's hopes and dreams.

Peaking early in the morning of the 29th, Uranus goes stationary in decli-nation, livening the atmosphere by focusing on newness.

In the afternoon/evening of the 30th, Jupiter 1/12 Uranus expands on the Uranus atmosphere of the 29th and adds an ingredient that brings in the factors of money, health, and spaciousness. Inventors will resonate to this influence.

Note: Uranus goes stationary-retrograde in Pisces in the wee hours of July 1. This aspect will have been in orb for many days before hand - which means that it will reinforce the Uranus influences which peak near the end of June.

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