At the time of Mabon this year, planet Mars and the Moon will be traveling close together in the star constellation of Cancer. Mars represents ambition, assertiveness and drive; the Moon relates to feelings, emotions, ego constructs, security needs and the past. The energy of Cancer resonates with home affairs and nurturing, but it is also associated with changeable emotions, wanderlust and travel by water. In sum, Moon-Mars-Cancer can be moody and restless, inclined to extremes in action in order to acquire security, protect that which is close to the heart or attack that which is perceived as a threat. Deep feelings can well up suddenly from within, propelling us forward out of reaction much more than reason.

The planet Jupiter retrograde is traveling in a zone of the sky bounded by the constellations Taurus, Aries, Pisces and Cetus the whale. Taurus represents the abundance of life on the earthly plane; Aries is the beginning of life, the spirit of the aggressor and explorer; Pisces rules the end of life and the urge to merge with something greater then self, be it a social collective or cosmic consciousness. Cetus is a sea monster, symbolic of the human collective unconscious, from which can erupt flashes of great enlightenment, or horrific episodes of chaos and violence. The central void between these four constellations serves as a great whirlpool for these archetypal energies; any planet transiting this cosmic sea would stir the waters, focus and amplify a forceful nexus of influence within.

As an activating principle, planet Jupiter generates, expands, inflates, exaggerates, inspires and rules through belief systems; in Taurus and in retrograde motion it would appeal to righteous conservatism and a mandate to preserve comforts and property at any cost; at the time of equinox Jupiter will be dredging up the darker and deeper currents that run through the human state of being relative to matters of survival; Mars and Moon will be moving in an applying square to Jupiter, igniting the drive to expand and gain control with the explosive power of fire and water. Consider how strong emotions can energize cruel words and deeds. Or how smoothly a surge of fear or anger can propel an urgent craving to acquire, dominate, or punish.

Pluto as lord of transformation also plays a part in the celestial dance at equinox. It has been traveling for a few years in the constellation Sagittarius the archer, which in ancient times was known as the Giant King of War or some variation on the theme of bow and arrow. Pluto is currently near the nebula Facies, situated in the face of Sagittarius, wherein resides some of the most merciless and violent symbolism of the heavens. It carries the cool stare of a sniper, shooting his weapon with no regard for those who are wounded. One born with planets under this influence can become a great leader or an abusive tyrant; in polarity it can indicate a victim done in by the ruthless words or deeds of others. Functioning at its best, Facies symbolizes focused and concentrated energy channeled into great achievements, but prone to stepping on some toes on the way to the top.

The combination of Pluto with Facies is reflective of the mercenary capitalism, suppressive regimes and dirty wars for profit that are now active in various
parts of the world today; we have also come to a time wherein we could easily annihilate the world beyond repair, especially as the lord of life and death rides in exact square to revolutionary Uranus over the next five years. At the equinox Pluto with the Vertex of Fate at his side moves in quincunx to turgid Moon-Mars, stirring primal chthonic forces like a Balrog rising from the depths with fiery whip in hand. We need to be careful in the remaining months of 2011, that the lash does not catch at our feet and trip us up.