by Erik Roth

In recent weeks, there has been a surge of intensity of emotion and energy in general in our environment, but mainly within ourselves.  The astrological climate that we are in has been playing a big role in these “accelerated” times for decades now.

Even if we are not experiencing personal planetary initiations/cycles, we are still in the very long window of great changes, the run-up of which began in the 1930s, but doubled-down in revolution in the 1960s and early 1970s.  Astrologically-speaking, this period in which we live now is a higher (or the next) octave of the intensity of 1960s.  Only the context and technology has evolved.  The alignments in the southern sky (in the northern hemisphere) in the constellation of the Scorpion and the building alignment in the western sky is where we can look as the current epicenter of the flood of energy many of us are experiencing.

Every 2 or so years, Earth’s orbit brings it close to Mars (relatively-speaking) and that is when Mars ‘slows’ down in the sky, moves backwards between 2-3 months, that re-traces over the same part of the sky (also being brightest point of its orbit).  This entire process can take up to 7 months with the Red (it’s really more orange than red, actually) Planet placing attention/focus on a specific region of the sky.  This year, that focus has been on the Scorpion constellation and the area between the Scorpion and the Scales, as well as the planet Saturn and the star Antares.  All of these celestial objects and groups of stars “activate” each other or essentially provides a more concentrated form of activation from an astrological perspective.  But that back and forth from Mars (and also Saturn) is leading up to the second half of this month where Saturn, Mars and Antares line up vertically with its center-point on the days/nights of August 23-24 in the sign of Sagittarius

This August alignment is joined by the triple-planet configuration in the western sky consisting of ‘his Grace’, Jupiter, the jewel of the twilight, Venus and the fleeting and difficult-to-see messenger planet, Mercury, all in the sign of Virgo.

For more on why Mercury is difficult to see right now, read Guy Ottewell’s blog here.

This is a rare spectacle of planets in the early evening sky, especially when one includes the star Antares and the star Spica (symbol of the Priestess and her role agriculture and cultivation) placed right in-between the sets of conjunctions.  One can easily trace a line from the western planets to the southern planets with Spica in the middle.  All of those objects sit close or on the path of the Sun (called the Ecliptic) which is the Plane of the Solar System.

I went back through the annals of planetary conjunctions that took place similar to this where all 5 visible planets were indeed visible at the same time in the same quadrant of the sky with the stars Antares and Spica.  The last time anything skin to this (with the parameters described) was in year 750 CE (Common Era), so almost 1300 years ago.

The mere fact the rarity of this configuration of planets and stars is really enough to draw attention to what we are feeling in general.  However, when placed in the greater context of a World Age turning into a new one (at least 13,000 years if not than 26,000 years) during this time (The window began in the 1960s and carries into the 2030s so we are still in the middle of it) it adds more intensity to the meaning of this alignment.  For years, things has been building, then expressing, then building more, then expressing and this pattern will continue for a long while.

On a personal level, many of us are experiencing a restlessness, a greater influx of energy that is generally hard to work with because there is not really a “pause” button.  Each of us has our own unique limits to how much we can take on, absorb or utilize in some way.  For some us, this can truly tire or exhaust us and for others it is non-stop action-related goings-on.  On some level, it can feel like an internal gale-force wind pushing us along our life path, but accelerating and not entirely beyond our control.

Daniel Giamario has written about this very alignment and more can be found in his article by clicking here.

I certainly have a great deal of agreement with Daniel on this issue as we have the ability to work with this energy instead of it controlling us in the end.  This powerful alignment of planets in the second half of August can be used to make constructive and beneficial changes in our lives.  It can give us an opportunity to work pro-actively instead of re-actively as many of us do.  During this time, we can feel triggered in deeper areas of our life and may not know how to respond, especially if we have little time on our hands to do so.

For those who are feeling fatigued by the overwhelming energies, it is best to find some quiet time for yourself.  Resting and meditation can help a great deal.  Finding a peaceful spot like a meadow or forest well outside the city or even your own garden can assist in grounding the additional energies.  I find that sitting and listening to the wind, birds and rustlings of nature can rejuvenate me and help balance the intensity of civilization.  Perhaps creating a sacred space in a room or the room itself can be of benefit in this area, if one feels so inclined.

Some of you may wonder if the coming Mercury Retrograde has anything to do with what we are feeling?  While we are in (right now) what is known as the “shadow” of Mercury Retrograde, it happens 3-4 times a year and is so common that I wouldn’t place any “blame” on the shape-shifting Mercury.  However, Mercury does station retrograde officially on August 29^th and could very well add to what one is experiencing at this moment, especially in how we are perceiving our own patterns.  The greater story, though, and where we are experiencing this extra vibe is from the planetary-stellar complex itself.

In addition, I do recommend going outside to see the actual alignments of planets and stars.  They are more than just an intellectual or philosophical curiosity.  They are as much a part of us as we are of them.  We are Earth.  And Earth has a powerful relationship with the rest of the solar systems and beyond.  The ancients held the celestial patterns, stellar and planetary bodies in reverence and awe, but also lived with them as if they were a celestial family.   Our souls are remembering this.  We are remembering this.

This surge of energy is not something we can escape or ignore unless we happen to live outside our solar system.  We are all here to get aligned with our soul’s path and the other alignment takes place in the sparkling night sky.  There is an old Cherokee saying, “We can only be what we give ourselves the power to be.”  That is certainly a deep truth, whether we do realize it in ourselves or not.

I will leave you with some eloquent words from Daniel Giamario from the above-mentioned article about navigating this challenging time period:

Additional suggestions for informing and being informed by Great Mystery

Be really curious and courageous to know the truth (Mars in Sagittarius).

Be confident about speaking the truth to the established order and obsolete structures (Saturn in Sagittarius).

Form alliances with like-minded exponents and explorers of truth (Saturn + Antares).

Be willing to point out the contradictions of fundamentalism of all kinds.

As much as possible, make connections with our Earth Mother.

As much as possible stay away from technology and the media, especially if you are overly influenced by this, or if it keeps you from the land and sky (Venus and Jupiter in Virgo).

Go to sacred sites, or create your own.

As much as possible, have the earth and sky direct your actions.

Make your life a living hierophany, a sacred space, actively living the truth of “As Above So Below, As Within So Without.”

Always remember that Great Mystery is loving, and that our human essence most resides in our connection to our Earth Mother, and that we are not separate from her.  She responds to our love for her, as she always has. Lastly, remember we cannot control the outcome. We can be a part of it. We can Love as much as possible from wherever we are.