Your Stars 18 July 2010

Posted on 18 July 2010

In the lexicon of astrology, you won’t find a stranger or more appealing word than ‘chronocrator’, a term that means ‘time marker’ and which is applied to Jupiter and Saturn. For the ancients, the two slowest-moving celestial bodies were the keepers of time, and their conjunction, every 20 years, was the cosmic clock chiming midnight.

The discovery of planets beyond Saturn means we now have longer planetary cycles to apply to history. Saturn and Pluto, for example, meet every 35 years or so. The conjunction of Neptune and Pluto takes place only every 493 years (the last time was in the 1890s).

For most of us, however, the 29 year cycle of Saturn is the most useful piece of planetary time-keeping. Saturn being the planet of maturity (among other things), its cycle marks points in our personal growth; the so-called ‘Saturn Return’ at age 29-30 invariably coincides with a major life stage; marriage, divorce, professional elevation and so forth.

This week Saturn changes sign, finally leaving Virgo’s stretch of the sky for that of Libra, where the ringed giant will lurk until October 2012. This is big news not just for Librans but for all four ‘cardinal’ signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), and for anyone born between October 1980 and November 1982, or between August 1951 and September 1953; years when Saturn was in Libra.

You can look upon Saturn’s energies in several ways; as the imposition of hard work, or the chance to make one’s mark. Saturn can be ‘The Lord of Karma’ or, as one slightly dizzy Oregon astrologer put it, ’our personal trainer’. People certainly achieve great things under a Saturn transit, but not without effort.

However you interpret Saturn, the great chronocrator is chiming the hour.

Cancer

Cancerian birthdays end later this week, when the Sun moves into Leo (at 10.21 pm on Thursday), but you don’t have to fade out. This remains a well-starred phase of your year, when the faster and more determinedly you proceed the better. An enforced slow-down is just a month away.

Open, honest communication – not always a Crab’s forte, as your tender inner feelings tend to remain hidden inside your shell – is the key to the next couple of weeks. No need to be confrontational (something of a temptation next weekend) but look people in the eye when you deliver your opinion.

Saturn in your solar fourth house means: providing home life is secure and happy, so are you. Time for a more dazzling public role, however.

Leo

Sound the trumpets, unfurl the flags. The royal parade of the Sun in Leo (ie your birthday) is on its way, arriving next Friday. If you have a birthday next weekend, you have splendidly crazed stars for it; indeed, you may well have been recently shown the makings of an expansionist 2011.

It’s a promising week for all Lions, however. Messenger Mercury continues its transit of your sign, favouring noise, practical jokes and laughter. Where you have bragging rights, exercise them.

Travel and overseas promise to deliver something more than just a beach to flop on; a life-enhancing experience even.

Saturn in your third solar house means; study hard and prosper.

Virgo

Exhale. This week you wave goodbye to Saturn for at least seven years (unless you were born in the years designated in the introduction above) so the first thing to do is reflect how much of a tough, capable operator you are compared to three years ago. Glory in your achievements, write off your losses…and move smartly along.

Venus in your skies continues to favour the personal touch, the social gathering, the rewarding friendship (probably female). With a dash of luck there’s a sexual frisson to current proceedings too, though it’s less peace and love than hot and sweaty. With Mars involved, you can also dispose of unwanted associations. Keep the mill of your associations turning. People either thrill you or they don’t, and at this point, your loyalty to lost causes is surely spent.

Saturn in your second solar house means: being super shrewd about money issues.

Libra

Uh -oh. The dreaded spectre of Saturn is back to loom over your life of lotos-eating and creative dreaming. No point quaking in your boots, just be clear that through to Christmas is a time when perspiration is as important as inspiration, and displacement activity has no place. This isn’t the most pressured week of your summer by any means, but you can start practising being purposeful and decisive now if you like.

It’s worth reviewing any social contacts that have been made or renewed this weekend (including today, Sunday) when a Libran Moon has been the dominant signifier in your ‘scope. Who are you glued to and is it rewarding? You’ll be asking yourself that question a lot more over the next six months!

Saturn in your solar first house means: an entire new cycle begins. Take control!

Scorpio

Work looks a bit over-loaded (if you are in work that is), but dutifully tick all the boxes that are required by form-filling, press the flesh with your colleagues, and be a stand-up guy/gal. August will almost certainly not be this straightforward, so everything sorted now is a major gain (a month in Provence, incidentally is a good bet for high summer).

Plus, Monday and Tuesday, with a waxing Scorpio Moon operating on your behalf, gives you the canny touch that makes others wonder, ‘How does he/she get away with it?’ At present you can get away with a lot.  Romance? In the office or in the offing. Give it time.

Saturn in your solar twelfth house means: health and sanity have priority.

Sagittarius

The authorities are invariably in a pain in the rear; this simple, time-honoured truth has doubtless been made especially clear over the last three years, when Saturn has transited your career zone. Things may not change dramatically overnight when the ringed planet moves on this week, but you are at the start of a more congenial cycle. For now, take your professional friends where you find them, keep communications open and simple, and give over plenty of time to your personal life, where you have the chance of thrills and intimacy.

Wednesday and Thursday – Moon in Sagittarius days – are peak times this week. Stay centred. You still have to deal with people who aren’t on your side, even if their days are numbered.

Saturn in your solar eleventh house means: forging professional allies.

Capricorn

Complicated times. One big decision is on the table awaiting a response – a partner is very likely involved, not necessarily a romantic partner – and this week is a perfect deadline for your choice. You can stall to the weekend, when an almost-full Moon in your skies finds you strolling across velvet lawns/rugged moors (delete to taste) with a grand perspective.

There are limits to how long you should prevaricate, however. July is more accommodating than August, when new issues, professional most likely, present themselves. Get whatever business you can despatched now.

Saturn in your solar tenth house means: more work politics. You’re good at them!

Aquarius

If you’re feeling in limbo, you don’t have to wait long before the outlook become clear. The Sun moves into your partner sign of Leo on Thursday, with a full Moon in Aquarius following early next week. Planets moving into your fellow air sign of Libra next month (including Saturn) blow away some cobwebs, but as you’ll simultaneously be opposed by the Sun, conserving your energies is important.

Communication with key partners, romantic or otherwise, remains the order of the hour. Listen hard, put your intelligence to work on behalf of your spar or amigo. Secret lovers can stay secret for now.

Saturn in your solar ninth house means: philosophy and pragmatism go hand in hand.

Pisces

Saturn in opposition over the last three years has irked, tested and provoked you – not forgetting rewarding you for your best efforts – but that phase is over (see exceptions in the years designated in the introduction). You are not out of the woods just yet, thanks to Mars briefly stirring up aggravation, but, as someone once sang, it’s getting better all the time.

Partnerships that are truly worth the title  – not just romantic associations but any serious alliance – are now in pay-off mode. If not, this is a splendid moment to give them the heave-ho. By contrast, for developing romances, this is bill and coo time. For steady, committed relationships, July isn’t your easiest month. You’ll just have to endure the barking and moaning.

Saturn in your solar eighth house means: putting dearly beloved individuals under financial constraint. The deals have to be fair.

Aries

The less than thrilling news is that Saturn moves into opposition this week, a transit that at its most brutal Saturn spells less money and tough decisions about people with whom you’re inextricably involved. On the positive side comes clarity and decision-making. What’s more with Uranus and Jupiter both big players in the Aries world of 2011/12 you are also promised the kind of excitement Rams cannot live without, with an element of sheer luck involved. The picture is complex – should be an interesting couple of years!

In the immediate future, the month of Leo that begins on Thursday evening is always good news for you, a fellow fire sign. Get some rest and recreation into your schedule.

Saturn in your solar seventh house means: chilly weather.

Taurus

How other members of the zodiac admire Taurean doggedness, the flip side of this quality being a tendency to become mired in intractable situations. Currently it seems you are being shown a route out of a sticky patch, and while persistence always helps, so does a willingness to change tactics when things aren’t working out. You can make quick progress now, and with Venus and Mars both on your side, charm and self-assertion are twin allies. Be a social animal, stay in the loop. If you’re looking for a romance, this is a good time to try your luck.

Saturn in your solar sixth house means: hard work, good health, self-improvement.

Gemini

As your planet, Mercury, is currently working to your advantage, speed, fast talk and a widening social circle are all the order of the day. Push at the doors that open most easily. Any tight spots in which you find yourself, including emotional jams, will loosen up once we enter the month of Leo later this week. Staying mobile is one way of coping with uncomfortable situations until you can resolve them properly – but you can’t just run away!

Saturn in your solar fifth means: pursuing your greatest passion with renewed vigour.