August 11 Eclipse

Uranus conjunct the south node warns us that there is a tendency to act drastically, severing ties to gain autonomy and power. This can lead to a fragmentation of one’s life, leaving behind individuals and structures that still serve. The formula here is inclusiveness—allowing it all to be part of the mix, yet allowing the way we interact with it all to flow as it may, and for the (en)lightning bolts of Uranus to break down old structures as they may. Saturn squaring the nodes tell us that we can’t allow fear and insecurity hold us back either. A disciplined understanding of the natural and spiritual laws involved assist in moving from the old to the new. It’s about not racing ahead and also not about getting bogged down with the past. To stay grounded, in the moment, and to move step by step with the unfolding flow of events and circumstances as revealed by the soul, is the key. The difference between a revolutionary and an evolutionary is that they both demonstrate the need to break with the existing order to exact transformation and change, but the "revolutionary" reacts from the anger and aggression of the separate ego personality, further polarizing and fragmenting the situation, while the "evolutionary" responds and moves from the soul, introducing forces that will result in transformation and a real paradigm shift. These are always forces of love and unity in action.

Mars square the nodes indicates that we will have to deal with the passive-aggressive nature of the lower self and personality in order to effectively deal with the karmic challenges. This means being aware of the possibility of facing intense, threatening situations in which the fight-flight response is stimulated. When this occurs, the traditional roles of victim and aggressor are often divided up and assumed by the parties involved. Neither obviously work. The rich and poor, powerful and powerless, Hitler and the Jews, Serbs and Albanians—this is an old theme on the planet. Maybe it is time to transcend it all by channeling our powerful animal natures into constructive projects designed to see that the planet gets cleaned up, everyone gets fed, and we all support each other to follow our soul’s path. What a possibility that an awakened group of beings could all get behind together!

The fixed grand cross, being the central planetary pattern in the chart, provides the primary energetic context or environment that the eclipse will function within. The planets and their aspects on the fixed cross provide insights as to what the planetary playing field will look like in the cycle beginning August 11, 1999. The planets on the fixed grand cross are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Saturn and Uranus. This is a very powerful and volatile combination, as Mars and Uranus are extremely willful energetics, needing to be expressed in balance. When this doesn’t occur, there are potentially explosive episodes and violence, expressed inwardly in self-destructiveness or outwardly in dominance and aggression. Saturn is much the opposite, demanding, patience, order, often placing obstructions on the path, imposing laws and rules. Uranus and Mars often feel very repressed by Saturnine energy, creating a high tension and potentially volcanic situation. All this energy needs to expressed, constructively or destructively. With the Sun and Moon—our two most intimate and core aspects, our basic Yang/Masculine and Yin/Feminine natures—on the upper part of the vertical axis of the grand cross, there is an inexorable pull of our core being into the energetic crucible formed by Saturn, Uranus and Mars.

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