Astro Weather for the Last Week of July

Jupiter retrograde July 23 - November 18, 2010

Jupiter stationed at 9 degrees Pisces, and began its retrograde motion early this morning in the nakshatra of Uttara Bhadrapada. This lunar mansion has the power to bring cosmic rain, varshodyamana shakti. So watch today's tropical storm Bonnie intensify under Jupiter's station and cause BP to pull out most oil spill personnel until the storm passes. (UPDATE on Bonnie.)

Uttara Bhadrapada consists of two stars, Pegasi and Andromedae which form the two legs of the back part of a funeral bed. Like the myth of Andromeda, it signifies the release of bondage, the release of kundalini, the release of life through death -- the deep sleep of consciousness. The deity associated with Uttara Bhadrapada is Ahir Bhudhanya, the serpent of the deep. Watch the media for stories about what is happening deep in the oceans like today's headline that the Deepwater Horizon alarm system was partially disabled prior to the explosion of April 20, 2010.



Jupiter is the planet associated with abundance, wealth and prosperity, as well as spiritual and philosophical wisdom. So how does a retrograding Jupiter effect business and the economy, or our spirit? The retrograde motion draws energy and intention inward, thus increasing opportunity for soul growth. However in the mundane world, Jupiter retrograde can be a difficult time to start a new business venture. The backward motion doesn't support new projects or material goals. It's not about focusing on prosperity, which is usually the domain of lucky Jupiter, but about being aligned with your integrity, beliefs and destiny. It is a time for reflection, and seeing whether your soul is as prosperous as your work. If you do launch a new business during retrograde Jupiter, you may find yourself giving away services to those in need, which can be a good thing in the long run, but frustrating financially. Today's headlines indicated that the European Economy is stronger than expected, and according to President Obama Legislative Victories Show Economy Is Progressing.

Vedic astrologer Joni Patry has a fascinating theory that the stationing points of Jupiter indicate great opportunity for increase in good fortune, windfalls, wealth, and income to those with natal planets at the stationing degree in all the trine-related signs. For example, Jupiter stationing at 9 degrees Pisces would also stimulate 9 degrees of Cancer and Scorpio.

President Obama's natal Mercury, ruler of the 6th house of enemies and 9th house of philosophy and law, is at 9 degrees Cancer placed in the 7th house of partnership and marriage. Jupiter's station in his 3rd house trines and casts a positive glance to both his 7th and 11th natal houses. There could be a boon to his wife like the recent poll showing that she is ahead of her husband in popularity. There could also be a boon to his other partner, the American people. For example, today the president also signed the long-awaited emergency extension of unemployment benefits. The aspect to his 11th house may indicate he benefits from working with groups or with large corporations. Perhaps we will see him show more leadership skill over the powers that be at BP, as well as refocus our attention on the economy.

Jupiter is a key planet for Barack Obama because in addition to its natal neecha banga raja yoga and conjunction with chart ruler Saturn in a mahapurusha yoga, it is also dasha lord. He began the last antara dasha of Jupiter-Rahu in February which runs until the beginning of his Saturn maha dasha in July 2012. Thus the movements of Jupiter (and Rahu) reflects the potential of destiny and karmic change for the president. For example, when Jupiter entered Pisces in May and conjoined Neptune, the modern indicator of oil, the truth about the extent of the oil spill finally came out and the Obama administration came under fire for blindly accepting BP's cover story.

Neptune is also the planet associated with the sublime and mystical, and when Jupiter conjoined it in May we witnessed another sublime spiral in the skies over Byron Bay in Australia as I posted in June's Astroweather. This past May also found the scientific community abuzz with the this image of Jupiter that clearly shows that some of its banded features had disappeared.



In Sanskrit Jupiter is called Guru meaning "the spiritual teacher" or "guide", so what happens to this planet astronomically may present a cosmic lesson for us to unravel astrologically.

Western astrologers describe Jupiter retrograde as a period in which we should evaluate how we are not being honest with ourselves. This may be played out on a personal or group level. In Vedic astrology retrograde planets are considered to be more powerful and have an internalizing effect. Retrograde planets are also believed to indicate a karmic result and show an influence from the past. Thus when Jupiter turns retrograde we may have the opportunity to fulfill some karmic debt or clear up affairs from the past. By looking at the degree of where it will turn stationary direct in November, we see that it will be at 29 degrees Aquarius, as it was on May 1, 2010. The lessons will be tied to the events that occurred near that time, such as the Oil Spill, the Australian Spiral, and the Disappearing Bands of Jupiter.

Jupiter turns retrograde in the President's 3rd house of communication, so we may see his power of communication change and slow down. For example today's headline on the Huffington Post reveals his attempt to blame the media role in the reactive firing of Shirley Sherrod over allegations of racism that later proved unsubstantiated. He told ABC news "I've told my team and I told my agencies that we have to make sure that we're focusing on doing the right thing instead of what looks to be politically necessary at that very moment. We have to take our time and think these issues through." This call to slow down and act judiciously very much reflects Jupiter's current transit through his chart. This weekend's full moon at nearly 9 degrees Capricorn conjoins the President's natal Jupiter within two degrees casting a bright light of illumination to his powerful dasha lord. Hopefully he will take advantage of this karmic opportunity to make some enlightened changes that he promised in his campaign.



Full Moon, Sunday July 25, 2010 at 5:37 pm pdt

The Capricorn full moon occurs in the nakshatra Uttara Ashada meaning "the latter invincible one". It is known as the "universal star" and gives humanitarian interests. For example, John Lennon, Deepak Chopra, Robert Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln all were born with moon in Uttara Ashada. Barack Obama's chart ruler Saturn and dasha lord Jupiter are both under the influence of this asterism, and as we have seen he often describes Abraham Lincoln as his role model.

Purva means "earlier" and Uttara means "latter". There are three sets of nakshatras that are paired: Purva/Uttara Phalguni, Purva/Uttara Ashada, and Purva/Uttara Bhadrapada. All three of these nakshatras are represented with symbols of beds indicating areas of relaxation, healing, and sometimes death. Uttara Ashada, is therefore, the latter "undefeated" or final victory. Uttara Ashada has ten ruling deities known as the Vishvadevas or Universal Gods. Their names translate into: goodness, truth, willpower, skill, time, desire, firmness, ancestors, brightness and peak. They are benevolent and the guardians of good. Their power is to grant an unchallengable victory, apradhrisya shakti, as I discussed in the election chart for President Obama.

Within the nakshatra of Uttara Ashada is an older, more ancient and mysterious nakshatra called Abhijit. According to ancient Vedic legend, the stars of this asterism, which are located at the end of the Sagittarius constellation and early degrees of Capricorn, point to the battle ground where Indra and the divine forces celebrated final victory over demonic forces. Some ancient texts describe a 28th nakshatra called Abhijit, whose translation also means "final victory." Although scholars differ on it's exact degrees, it is referenced as 0-12 degrees Capricorn. In the ancient classic The Bhagavad Gita Krishna says: "Amongst the nakshatras, I am Abhijit." Is it a coincidence that the blue star Vega that makes up this nakshatra is connected with Krishna who is always depicted with blue skin. Abhijit is considered a light nakshatra that is auspicious for healing, traveling or starting a business.



My natal south node, Ketu, is located in Abhijit which may explain my attraction for this beautiful star. Ancient Vedic texts describe the time when Vega was the north pole star -- between 10,000-12,000 BCE. According to David Frawley, "Vega may be the other point of light which governs life and spiritual evolution on Earth."

Ancient Egyptians refer to Vega as Maat, the great Egyptian goddess who helped souls move from one life to another. Maat may also refer to a place. In the movie Contact, Jodi Foster travels through a wormhole to Vega and visits with her deceased father. According to Wikipedia the Egyptian sun-god Ra came from the primaeval mound of creation only after he set his daughter Maat in place of Isfet (chaos). Egyptian kings inherited the duty to ensure that Maat remained in place and they with Ra are said to "live on Maat", with Akhenaten in particular emphasizing the concept.

Many channeled teachings and ancient legends describe some of the oldest root races that originate from the star system of Vega. According to the legends, survivors of some galactic calamity escaped to Pleiades and Sirius, and eventually established an interstellar portal with the earth. In Energy Blessings from the Stars Virginia Essene describes Vega as beaming gifts of sound healing to the earth. The connection of Vega with sound healing with the Vedic tradition of the flute playing Krishna originating in Abhijit are intriguing. See what music moves you under this full moon.

Aspects to Neptune and Uranus

As we are painfully aware in the US, the BP Oil Spill is the most devastating news headline of the year and is represented astrologically by the Mars(Skanda)-Neptune opposition which I discussed in previous posts. There are some new astrological aspects coming up that may indicate more trouble beneath the seas and abroad.

Mercury, the planet of thinking, commerce, and communication opposes Neptune, the ruler of oil, on July 26, 2010. Although a Mercury-Neptune opposition is not volatile, it does indicate there may be plenty of confusion as to whats going on. On the same day Saturn makes an opposition to Uranus which is in exchange, or parvartana yoga, with Neptune. Saturn-Uranus oppositions can bring obstruction (Saturn) to unique self-expression (Uranus). It may also indicate blocking attacks involving Uranium (Uranus).

But the most intense and volatile aspect of the week is the Mars-Uranus opposition on July 30, 2010, closely followed by a Mar-Saturn conjunction on July 31, 2010. Mars may trigger what Saturn tried to block, or there may be some stop-start quality to events. Western astrology Robert Hand describes the Mars-Uranus opposition in his book Planets in Transit:

Most commonly it makes you strike out rashly against people who seem to have held you back in some way or angered you consistently in the past. Or you may suddenly act impulsively to escape duties and obligations that circumstances have imposed on you. Most frequently this transit signifies the explosive release of tension through sudden anger against someone. . . on the other hand, this transit can represent a time when your efforts to liberate yourself from unnecessary and inhibiting restrictions start to succeed.

Two days later Venus enters its sign of debilitation further inhibiting conciliatory conversations and diplomacy. While it makes for beautiful evening sky watching, Venus will not be up to full power to keep the demons at bay.



So it seems the last week of July may bring an explosive shift to the Gulf of Mexico, or possible terrorist attacks. But the station of Jupiter in Uttara Bhadrapada promises healing and wisdom, and light of the full moon in Uttara Ashada promises final victory. Let's hope these positive forces out weigh and cancel the aspects. Focus on the spiritual wisdom of Jupiter and ask the Vishvadevas to help humanity.



Namaste!

UPDATE:
North Korea ramps up threats against military exercises. North Korea "will legitimately counter with [its] powerful nuclear deterrence the largest-ever nuclear war exercises to be staged by the U.S. and the South Korean puppet forces," the state-run KCNA news agency said.

UPDATE: Hugo Chávez breaks diplomatic ties between Venezuela and Colombia