Wheel of Light

 With the heavy hitting planets Saturn, Uranus and Pluto lining up in challenged squares and oppositions, it’s easy to expect crises and meltdowns both personally and collectively. Therefore, it’s important to note when there is a change of pace and harmonious flowing energy becomes available to us. Such is the case this month when four planets line up in a Grand Trine during the last week of August.

 A Grand Trine is a major aspect pattern wherein the planets are 120 degrees away from each other. This degree of planetary separation is called a trine. This month the Sun and Venus are in Virgo and will trine Pluto in Capricorn and Jupiter in Taurus. In general, the good news about a Grand Trine is that all the planetary energies are being filtered by signs that are of the same element. This Grand Trine is in earth signs. This enhances our ability to function harmoniously yet productively in grounded, practical activities. These days when so many of us are dealing with job loss, foreclosures, bankruptcies and stress resulting from these losses, anything that provides relief or a way out is a blessing.

The only problem with a Grand Trine is that we don’t take advantage of the opportunities that it provides. We may not trust the energy because it feels too easy. Or may simply be so attached to our losses and ensuing pain that we aren’t even aware of the positive potentials. How can we, therefore, tune in to the beneficial support of this energy pattern?

The first step in personalizing any transit is to put the planet or planets into your own natal horoscope. For example, all the planets of this Grand Trine are in the early degrees of the three earth signs. Where do you have those degrees of those signs? What houses (areas of life experience) are being triggered at this time? Once you’ve established where the energies are available to you, the next step is to figure out how to use each one. Jupiter is in Taurus, a sign that is oriented toward security and stability. To that end it creates and maintains habits and routines. In turn, those patterns are grounded in values. Thus, relative to the house Jupiter is transiting in your chart, what do you define as meaningful and important?

Pluto is in Capricorn, a transit we’ve noted several times in this space already. The essence of this transit in one’s chart is to focus on what you are striving to achieve in the house Pluto is transiting and how you are attempting to do so. In that process, Pluto will root out anything from unrealistic goals to anything within you that may prevent you from being confident in your ability to achieve them. The trine between Pluto and Jupiter can offer support in two ways. One way is to bring a sense of ethics and integrity (Jupiter) to the task of achieving goals (Capricorn). We tend to feel more confident in what we are doing if we feel we are pursuing higher goals even as we are engaged in practical and productive activities. Second, this aspect can provide confidence and optimism (Jupiter) to the work of achieving those goals.

 The Sun and Venus in Virgo suggest a harmonious social flow, awareness of aesthetics and a drive to express ourselves creatively. This combination can also generate a desire to connect with others in thoughtful, diplomatic ways. Virgo is not the most social of the signs. In fact, it can be quite self-contained and fairly modest. But it can relate well if in a position of service. One potential problem with that tendency is giving more that one is receiving. The resulting sense of frustration can cause one to emotionally withdraw or become very critical. The trine from Pluto to these personal planets can enable us to see the truth of both our behavioral patterns as well as the big picture (especially the emotional truth) of the entire relationship. The trine from Jupiter provides self-confidence as well as the desire to deal openly with our feelings rather than keeping them bottled up. Otherwise, the energy is either not released at all or comes out in ways that increase the problems while bring no clarity or change.

This Grand Trine does not remain with us very long. It will only be active during the last week of the month. It’s important, therefore, to tune into it and take advantage of an energy pattern that can provide practical solutions and the grounded discipline necessary to achieve them.

Aries: This could be a challenging time you. Conflicts within your family may require you to do some deep inner questing. The purpose of this is twofold. First, to help you determine what your part in the conflict is. This in turn enables you to get more in touch with your feelings. Second, it is imperative to share those feelings as a way of resolving the issues.

Taurus: This is a good month to work on refining your habits and routines. Health related issues may also come up, primarily in the context of maintaining good patterns or improving others. Spending time in nature can enhance your spiritual connection. If being in nature means being in the garden, the harvest should be abundant.

Gemini: Usually you enjoy gathering new information and new people into your life. This month you would be better served going back over what you already know. Integrating previously learned data can help you creatively as well as refining old techniques or applying new ones more effectively on the job.

Cancer: The full Moon on the 13^th can help you to clarify your relationship needs as well as provide the motivation to communicate the results of that research. With Mars in Cancer most of the month, this is a good time to start a workout routine, explore your sexuality and to practice being direct in sharing yourself with others.

Leo: This could be an incredible period of creativity for you. In addition, romantic feelings and desires to both give and receive affection are powerful. Growth for you this month can come from developing deep feelings of devotion for those in your personal life as well as profound compassion for the pain and suffering of others even if you don’t know them on a personal basis.

Virgo: Three planets transiting through Virgo this month suggest that this is a time for you to shine. Being creatively expressive, verbally interactive and prioritizing harmony in primary relationship is furthered all month. Growth comes from spending some quality alone time that will enable you to become more aware of intuitive insights and realizations. Integrating those into the logical mind can create the wisdom to make good decisions.

Libra: Early month is a good time to plan activities with friends. Playfulness, fun and adventure are good qualities to look for in both people and the activities. Late month could bring more inner focus. Spend it in mediation, in the garden or even doing some type of volunteer service. Early month, recognition and spontaneity give way to organized routine later in the month.

Scorpio: Physical activity is necessary for you this month, especially in order to avoid meltdowns or volatility in mid-month. Beyond that, harmonious social activities that provide opportunities for creating stability and grounding should be available. Growth for you comes from enjoying and participating in social pleasantries even as you are addressing situations that require a more direct, even contentious approach.

Sagittarius: The next four months would best be spent reviewing your activities and growth since the beginning of the year. The focus should be seeing which of your plans have been realized and which have not. If they have been, are you taking advantage of them in grounded, practical ways? If not, why not? Part of the review process is to prepare for late fall when it will again be time to move forward.

Capricorn: Early month social harmony may give way to conflict from mid to late month. Growth for you this month comes from taking responsibility for your part of the problem. Don’t just project it all on your partner and expect them to change or to work at making it better unilaterally. At the same time, don’t take on all the responsibility for the problems either. Learning to share both the creation of the problems as well as resolving them is the goal.

Aquarius: The full Moon in Aquarius on the 13^th may bring up feelings you are not used to dealing with or aware of. This is a time to grow beyond the detached comfort zone you may normally prefer. Getting in touch with immediate emotional responses should lead to your expressing those emotional states in ways that may cause you to feel vulnerable, but will make your relationships more honest.

Pisces:  Ever since Neptune entered Pisces in April you have hit your stride. Your sense of compassion, your insightful wisdom and your creative efforts should all have reached new heights and degrees of fulfillment. Neptune is now retrograde and returns to Aquarius August 4 and stays there until next February. This is a good time to step from your activities of the spring and early summer and in an objective way make sure you have been taking advantage of the Neptune transit. If you haven’t make some plans that will enable you to so after the first of the year.

Rio Olesky has been studying astrology since 1967 and has been a practicing professional astrologer since 1976. The author of Astrology and Consciousness, Rio offers classes in beginning astrology through SRJC and ongoing classes through New Horizons School. To make an appointment for a reading call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: rio@starwatcher.com