The Astrology of Transitions

What can be learned from the sky about how to navigate this tenuous time? The crisis was written in the stars and has been prophesied in a number of traditions: in some cases with extreme accuracy. This suggests that it is not a mistake: we are meant to be right where we are, watching a broken system labor in its attempts to hang on to its inherent dysfunction.

The transits in the sky, if read correctly, are forms of communication. The entire practice of astrology is one of decoding these planetary positions to understand their impact and what they are asking of us. There is an undeniable message from the sky at this time that the way of life that has been in operation for the past 200 years has been fundamentally disrupted in such a way that it is not a viable option for moving forward. We will have to collectively disassemble the system that we inherited, using our innate human creativity to figure out a different way. If we resist this change or attempt to build on top of a broken system I am quite sure we will see more catastrophe.

We are being asked to change, and each of us must be digested by the mind of this crisis so that we might come out on the other side a contributing part of an evolving society. In this overhaul of life as we know it there is a chance to create a culture worth living in and for. Up to now we’ve been entangled in an overarching system that is incredibly destructive to nature, hypnotized by material and financial gain and with no real collective goal other than to be comfortable. In the words of one of my teachers: “comfort facilitates dysfunction,” so that may not be the best goal to be striving for. This is not to say there has not been some beauty, also, in that system—but those granules of beauty are forced to struggle for survival.

There are several principles embedded in the system of Vedic Astrology that can help us navigate this time, and ANY time of intense change. One is gandanta: the transition wherein planets move from a water sign into a fire sign. These elements, being naturally inimical invariably cause some sort of internal explosion and tension. Navigating the divergent qualities of fire and water is similar to moving through the change of epoch we are currently experiencing (and written about in detail here). We are entering a new landscape, but still in the very early stages when the tendency is to cling to old ways. Essentially, we lean back into what has historically been comfortable, even if it has also been limiting. This is a completely natural human tendency which is rooted in the habit patterns we’ve created individually over a lifetime, and culturally over generations. Rewiring a habit pattern is no easy task, and cannot be successfully approached only superficially through the use of willpower or other forcible measures. It requires awareness, sensitivity, and ability to listen. Only through deep listening can we know how to respond. There is a way to effectively straddle fire and water, or any apparently opposite elements of life, and a tremendous amount of strength and spiritual maturity can be acquired in doing so. In an attempt to help build the collective muscle for positively engaging and releasing habit patterns and building some healthy coping skills I’ll be offering a meditation course. This will be similar to previous ones I’ve taught, but without the astrological component.

Another astrological principle that can help here is the is the archetypal nature of the planets, which basically mandates that something about their house and sign placement is fulfilled through our lives. The planets operate almost on the level of instinct, and we all know how well things go when we try to subvert or ignore a basic human instinct.

If we can understand what their energy at any given time is asking of us then we can generally chose to incorporate it consciously, instead of being pushed around unconsciously by the impulses generated by the planets. I think I’ve given the example previously about mars moving into someone’s 7th house of relationship. Mars is too aggressive and fiery for the house of relationship, generally bringing arguments. But if it is known that Mars will be moving here then we can decide to take a martial arts class with our partner.

In the context of the crisis we can begin by understanding the archetypal nature of the sign Capricorn—which can be known through its planetary rulership, elemental and moveable nature, mythologies, assigned gender and more—and the heavy-hitter planets currently involved in this dramatic transit: Saturn and Jupiter. That is a big subject, which will be addressed in an upcoming eight week course called The Astrology of Transitions which aims to equip participants with an astrological map to chart a course through this difficult terrain.

And then of course there is the topic of offering, prayer and donation which is another way to deal with difficult planetary energies, as well as a way to begin a reciprocal relationship to the “more-than-human” realm of presences of which the sky is only one of many. I see this is as the organic growth from 1. becoming familiar with and comfortable in the ‘gandanta’ space mentioned above, wherein the mind is capable of relaxing into the physical body even in very stressful situations, and 2. starting a conversation with archetypal energies such as the planets. When we finally approach to make the offering, we can know where to make the offering and can also be fully present to the way our bodies and minds are wired to engage in just such a ritual.