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From the lens of
Shamanic Astrology, the planet Mars, as it journeys
through the sky represents the hero�s quest. This quest changes every
26 months as Mars begins a new quest in a new area of the sky. On April
24, 1999 Mars (4 degrees Scorpio) reached opposition to the Sun (4 degrees
Taurus). This signaled the beginning of a new Mars quest in the Scorpio
mysteries.
Whatever sign Mars
occupies when it reaches opposition to the Sun represents the archetype
of the masculine being integrated into the collective psyche of humanity
for the next 26 months. Mars in Scorpio is the quest for a passionate,
orgasmic connection with life force energy. When healthy and not repressed,
this is the masculine expression of the king stag, the wild man in the
woods, the green man who shows up at the oak grove every night to engage
the sacred feminine in sacred union. Mars in Scorpio asks, "What
excites my passion?" What really turns me on and feels alive in my life?"
"How can I use my life force to create passionate, orgasmic, enlivening
experiences?" "What are the fears that prevent me from living my passion?"
Scorpio is a master of manifestation and magic. The Shaman Sorcerer
connects to the source of life, to the source of life force energy.
Thus, Scorpio can track what is in alignment with their true expression
of the great mystery by tuning into their passionate response, or lack
of one. This is the intent of the Scorpio mysteries and whatever is
out of alignment with this intent invariably surfaces in the Scorpio
awareness for processing.
Effectively working
with this collective cycle calls us to remember to track our passion.
If you don�t know what you are passionate about, that�s okay. Start
with what interests you. Then go within and notice if you are feeling
a passionate response. If not, go on to the next thing that interests
you. However, if you are feeling juiced, feeling your batteries are
getting charged, feeling aliveness around what you are doing, then you
know you are on the right track. It is important to note that fear may
block the experience of free flowing life force current. So, be sure
to note if your response is fear based. When fear is present it is more
challenging to connect with passion, and your barometer is not accurate.
If you notice fear, breathe! Allow the fear to teach you and then check
in again.
July 15,
1999 Mars reached the phase of his journey identified as "The Labors
of Mars." This phase lasts until Mars enters the underworld round May
10, 2000. (See the Mars Article on the Shamanic Astrology Web Site in
the Articles section.) This phase includes ten conjunctions with the
Moon and movement through seven signs. Several major events for the
Scorpio Mars warrior occur in August. The second Moon/Mars conjunction
is on August 18th at 21 Scorpio. Mars has just passed through
the balance of the scales of the fixed stars Zuben Algenubi (15 Scorpio)
and Zuben Al Shamali (19 Scorpio). This marks Mars� entry into new stellar
territory moving past the place where Mars began its retrograde cycle
last March. This August 18 begins the second labor of Mars in the current
quest when Mars conjuncts the Moon.
The first labor of
Mars began on July 20th when Mars conjuncted the Moon for
the first time beyond the degree where Mars began his current quest.
The current quest began last April when Mars Retrograde opposed the
Sun at 4 degrees Scorpio. The first labor lasts until August 18 and
includes most of the momentous events of August such as the Solar Eclipse
and the remarkable third time Mars and Saturn move into opposition this
year happening during the potent August 11 Eclipse window. This Mars/Saturn
opposition takes place while Mars is passing through the gateway stars
of the Scales mentioned above. August 7 marks the square of Mars and
Uranus as Uranus and the Sun reach opposition. Two hours later Mars
squares the Sun. These events are precursory, helping to set the stage
for the initiatory window of the eclipse itself. The data is as follows:
Aug 7,
Saturday, Mars (15 degrees Scorpio nearly exactly zodiacally conjunct
Zuben Algenubi and at the zodiacal cross-quarter point between the Autumnal
Equinox and Winter Solstice) squares Uranus (15 degrees Aquarius at
the zodiacal cross-quarter point between Winter Solstice and Spring
Equinox) at 9:55 pm MST and PDT. Sun (15 degrees Leo and at the zodiacal
cross-quarter between Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox. The Sun�s
position marks the season so this is the season of Lammas or the cross-quarter
between the seasons) opposes Uranus at 11:38 pm MST and PDT. The exact
Sun/Mars square is taking place at 1:56 pm MST and PDT. Meanwhile Saturn
is lingering around 17 degrees of Taurus adding to the excitement and
intensity of these aspects building towards the Eclipse. At this time
the one thing we know for sure is that we don�t know anything for sure.
This timing will probably bring unexpected events designed to break
up any resistance or blocks that are preventing Mars from feeling passionately
alive. This is when we benefit immensely from completely surrendering
to the process and trusting that whatever is occurring is aligned with
our divine destiny. Letting go and allowing the current of life to carry
us is much easier than desperately trying to hang on to all that is
washing away in the flood of events.
Mars loses sight of
Venus around the evening of August 14 as Venus slips into the personal
underworld preparing to transform into a new feminine archetype when
she rises in Leo (24 degrees) around August 25. This is an important
event in the dance of Venus and Mars together. Ever since the beginning
of the current Mars quest, Venus� presence in the evening sky has acted
as an ever-present source of inspiration for Mars. The current Venus/Mars
Saga playing out in the Great Above is featuring a Venus/Mars conjunction
or joining together in the underworld, meaning their union is invisible
to our observation. This month, Venus is moving off the evening stage
and leaving Mars alone for the remaining nine labors of his quest. Venus
and Mars do not meet again until the grand gathering of the visible
planets in the underworld next May/June2000. This gathering of planets
will not be visible to the Earth based observe due to the presence of
the Sun. This gathering of planets is an underworld initiation of great
magnitude, requiring complete surrender and trust.
The first labor of
Mars includes a decision by Mars on what course of action to follow.
This decision sets the tone for the remaining labors. Some possible
choices are:
- Old Shamanism vs New Shamanism
- Outer Earth Changes vs Inner Earth
Changes
- Karmic Retribution vs Grace
- Goddess as Enemy vs Goddess as
Ally
We may see an out-picturing
of all these choices in different parts of the world. People and places
that are stubbornly hanging onto outmoded ways of living and being in
the world may experience the greatest intensity of external events.
During the Scorpio
Birth/Emergence phase of the Mars cycle from April 24 to July15, Mars
spent a great deal of time in council with the fixed blue star Spica,
symbol of the great wisdom and power of the Virgin Priestess. As August
progresses we will experience the results of their encounter. One of
the mysteries Spica teaches is about reaping what is sewn. Over the
next months we will have an opportunity to see what we have sewn in
connection with these mysteries. The events of our lives and our world
will answer these questions. Will there be anger, resentment and hostility
expressing, or will there be the shared inner sacred union of the Virgin
Priestess and the Green Man/Horned God? Will Mars lash out, possessed
by his shadow, at all who have stifled his desire and passion, or will
he courageously face and incorporate his inner demons into the ground
of his being for enlivened passionate expression in ways that enhance
life? If what we continue to sew is repression and power over others,
then we will reap the destruction of these actions. If, however, we
choose to sew actions that honor and acknowledge the gifts of the individual
and provide a safe space for individuals to express their talents we
will be co-creating a magically passionate experience of life. If we
incorporate the feminine principle as equally important though uniquely
different in her expression from the masculine principle, we restore
the balance of sacred union and heal the split between masculine and
feminine, sexuality and spirituality. Thus, in this scenario when Mars
and Venus reunite in the underworld in May they will reenact the pure
essence and ecstatic joy of sacred union as it was originally intended,
taking us beyond all we have experienced or known or thought we have
known about true sacred union.
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