Saturday, December 21, 2024

ASTRO BUTTERFLY NOTES 2

 On December 24th, 2025, Jupiter is square Saturn.

Everyone gets excited about Pluto in Aquarius, Mercury retrograde, Chiron, or other headline-making transits.

Astrological events like Jupiter square Saturn often get overlooked, or don’t get the attention they deserve.

Yet, a square between the 2 largest planets in our solar system is incredibly important. We are talking about a clash between the 2 planets that shape the very structure of our lives!

Jupiter is now at 14° Gemini, Saturn is at 14° Pisces. At the time of the square, Mercury is at 11° Sagittarius, T-squaring the 2, rewiring our brain to think beyond limitations and integrate opposing perspectives.

Jupiter Vs Saturn

Let’s talk a bit about Jupiter and Saturn to get a better understanding of how the tension between these 2 might play out.

We first meet Jupiter at the age of 12, when we experience our Jupiter return. This is the time when a whole world of possibilities opens up. From the age of 12 to 27 (leading up to our Saturn return), we are in our Jupiter phase – optimistic, invincible, believing we can do everything. The world is our oyster.

However, when reality hits – hello, Saturn return, hello, late 20s – , we eventually discover that the freedom to do everything means we don’t accomplish anything. Saturn steps in to show us what is realistically possible, given our skills, circumstances, and the finite time we have.

Chances are we’d all become famous authors, world-class athletes, or millionaires – if only we had unlimited time to learn how to get there. But we don’t.

There’s a sobering clarity that comes with the realization that we are mortal and that we have to prioritize how we spend our energy.

Saturn is our reality check. It tests what’s feasible. This is when we stop scattering our energy and choose one path to focus on.

Important: Saturn is not here to clip our wings, or crush our dreams. In fact, some people achieve greater success under Saturn’s discipline than they ever imagined during their freewheeling Jupiter phase.

Saturn doesn’t block our Jupiterian goals; it provides the structure and focus needed to achieve them. To reach our Jupiter goals, we need to embrace Saturn’s wisdom and play by its rules.

Jupiter Square Saturn – Opening Square

Jupiter and Saturn, like all the planets in our solar system, move through cycles. A Jupiter-Saturn square is not just a square. A Jupiter-Saturn trine is not just a trine. They are milestones in a larger journey.

When we view aspects in the context of cycles, we uncover layers of meaning that we wouldn’t see otherwise. Each aspect is part of a broader, unfolding story that starts with the conjunction.

Jupiter-Saturn cycles last approximately 20 years. The current cycle began in 2020 with the famous Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at 0° Aquarius.

4 years into the cycle, we arrive at the 1st Jupiter-Saturn square.

This phase, called a “crisis in action,” is pivotal. The opportunities seeded at the conjunction are still alive, but adjustments are needed. It’s a time for massive action, so that by the “Full Moon” phase of the cycle – at the Jupiter-Saturn opposition – we are ready to reap the rewards.

This square is a turning point. We know growth is possible, and opportunities are available, but critical questions start to arise:

  • Which opportunities should I focus on?
  • What key actions should I take to move toward my vision?
  • This is also when reality hits: am I willing to invest the time, effort, and take the risks to get there?

Jupiter Square Saturn – Growing Pains

Growing pains is a term used to describe the discomfort adolescents experience as their bodies stretch and grow rapidly, while their physical limitations struggle to keep up.

Similarly, at the opening square, the expansive energy of Jupiter (growth, vision) collides with the grounding energy of Saturn (structure, discipline).

Initially this clash is met with frustration: “I’ve put in so much effort – why isn’t this working?

There’s a strong urge to get the wheels moving, and we may double down on strategies that aren’t bringing the results we expected, despite the signs urging us to pause and reassess.

This is the stage where the ideals and ambitions born during the conjunction meet the hard realities of limits, rules, and external demands.

Jupiter is retrograde. This is a time to test our initial vision:

Which parts of your vision are viable, and which need to be adjusted?

Growing pains happen when we try to expand too quickly, when we’re too eager to move to the next level but lack the necessary tools or foundation.

To emerge from its cocoon, a butterfly needs to push against the resistance, strengthening its wings in the process, so it can fly. Without the push, it will not grow wings. No pain, no growth.

This phase of the Jupiter-Saturn cycle is not about abandoning your vision – it’s about adjusting it to fit within the frameworks and expectations of the external world.

It’s not about ‘downsizing’ your goals – it’s about taking strategic, critical action to make them achievable and sustainable.

The opening square is a key developmental stage in the cycle. Without this phase, growth would remain idealistic and ungrounded.

Jupiter Square Saturn – Resistance Vs. Adjustment

When we navigate the Jupiter-Saturn square, we want to be mindful of the inevitable resistance that arises when expansion meets limitations.

What stops you from moving to the ‘next level’ whatever that may be for you?

  • Perhaps it’s a lack of belief in your vision: “This might not work”
  • Perhaps it’s resistance to putting in the work: “This is too hard”
  • Or maybe it’s the fear of being ‘wrong’. Jupiter loves being right. Try changing someone’s religious or political views (both ruled by Jupiter). Good luck with that.

Yet, Jupiter is squared. An adjustment is required. If we want to move forward, we have to adjust our world view. We have to question our beliefs.

This is not about a complete 180-degree shift. It’s about recognizing where our belief system might be too rigid or unrealistic.

It’s one thing to have faith in your leader, partner, or favorite public figure. But blind faith – thinking “my leader is always right,” “my partner is perfect,” or “I share 100% of [insert favorite figure]’s beliefs” – is where problems arise.

A squared Jupiter is when we turn against people we used to follow blindly: “X or Y disappointed me.” This is when we take them off the pedestal we ourselves put them on, from a Jupiterian need for one ultimate truth.
However, the Jupiter square Saturn adjustments are not about giving up on your beliefs.

Maybe your leader is still doing a good job overall, despite a few missteps. Your partner is not perfect, but they’re still the best partner for you. Your favorite public figure is still inspiring, but not everything they say applies to your life.

Jupiter Square Saturn – Something Needs To Change

Jupiter and Saturn are the 2 largest planets in our solar system. In astrology, they represent the structure and foundations of our life. When the 2 square each other, change becomes inevitable.

The square is the most dynamic aspect in astrology. The square is pretty much the definition of change.

At the Jupiter-Saturn square, something needs to change.

What is it?

Be honest with yourself.

Chances are, you already have an inkling. Perhaps it’s hard to put into words, or you’re still trying to make sense of it.

Don’t rush this awareness. Jupiter is retrograde, and Saturn is still picking up on speed. You don’t have to do anything bold just yet.

However, you do need to start tuning in. Ignoring the call for change can reduce that Jupiter potential to missed opportunities. Acknowledging it allows it to grow into what it was meant to become.

Change is uncomfortable. Change requires patience. Change is a vital part of building something lasting and meaningful.


Saturday, December 14, 2024

ASTRO BUTTERFLY NOTES

On December 15th, 2024, we have a Full Moon at 23° Gemini.

The Full Moon in Gemini highlights the dynamic interplay of the Gemini-Sagittarius axis.

The Sun is in Sagittarius, and the Moon is in Gemini. The Sun and the Moon are at cross purposes, yet within this tension lies the potential for a new, higher perspective or understanding.

What is Sagittarius? What we believe in. Our ‘truth’. The framework of meaning. What makes sense to us.

What is Gemini? The actual, ever-changing reality. The facts. What we actually do.

At the Full Moon in Gemini, our beliefs may come into conflict with the actual facts or experiences around us, challenging us to reconcile the gap between truth and reality.

Full Moon In Gemini - Cognitive Dissonance

One term that captures the essence of the Gemini-Sagittarius axis is cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological concept describing the mental discomfort or tension that arises when a person holds 2 or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes simultaneously, or when their actions conflict with their beliefs.

We believe one thing (Sagittarius) and do another (Gemini).

For example, we believe junk food is bad, yet we indulge in it. Cognitive dissonance is not the same as lying. With cognitive dissonance, the struggle is real. The belief is real - it’s wholeheartedly felt. The behavior is real too.

And the contradiction creates conflict, which the person tries to reconcile.

This process eventually leads to a resolution. The discomfort pushes us to make a choice. This may result in a change of beliefs - “Maybe junk food isn’t that bad if I only eat it occasionally” - and/or a change in behavior - “I will start eating healthier.”

Every Full Moon in Gemini - and we have one every year - is an opportunity to renegotiate these internal contradictions so we can align more authentically with our truth and actions.

Full Moon In Gemini - The Aspects

The Full Moon is square Neptune in Pisces. If the cognitive dissonance inherent in the Gemini-Sagittarius axis wasn’t enough, Neptune adds a dose of extra fog - aka confusion, aka endless possibilities - to the mix.

The ruler of the Full Moon, Mercury, is in Sagittarius and about to turn direct. A shift in clarity is just around the corner - but we’re not there yet.

The Full Moon is also loosely conjunct Jupiter (a separating aspect), infusing us with a sense of optimism, faith, and possibility.

The result? Unexpected turns of events may leave you feeling both excited and confused, making you second-guess your choices.

This combination of conflicting energies creates an atmosphere where clarity feels just out of reach, and every option seems both promising and uncertain.

  • Are things really as they seem?
  • Should I pursue this opportunity?
  • What’s best for me?
  • What if I’m fooling myself and I’ll regret later? What if I don’t?

Full Moon In Gemini - 7 Of Cups

The Full Moon in Gemini reminds us of the 7 of Cups Tarot card, where a person stands before various cups floating on a cloud. Each cup holds a different item - like a dragon, jewels, a snake, or a castle.

The person reaches out, but without clear focus or direction. The card emanates a sense of confusion, yet also boundless possibilities.

The 7 of Cups is a "bridge" between the material and spiritual realms.

The 6 of Cups (harmony, nostalgia) is the comfort of the past, while the 8 of Cups (leaving behind unfulfilling situations) is the decisive action after achieving emotional clarity.

The 7 of Cups sits in between: it is the moment of exploration, confusion, and overwhelm before clarity or resolution can be achieved.

Similarly, the abundance of options presented by the Full Moon in Gemini can lead to analysis paralysis.

The root cause of this paralysis? Fear of making the wrong choice.

This fear - the fear of ‘reality’ and its consequences - often leads to escapism (Neptune).

Astrologically, the natural order of planets offers a framework to understand this process.

Saturn is the planet of hard work, discipline, and accountability. Once we’ve done the hard work (Saturn), we find freedom and clarity (symbolized by the following planet, Uranus).

However, when we get stuck in this phase - when we feel overwhelmed by responsibility - we skip Saturn's lesson and escape directly to Neptune, searching for a magical or unconscious way out, projecting our desires onto fantasies rather than grounding them in reality.

The narrative often goes something like this:

“This is so hard; I don’t have the resources, bandwidth, time, or energy to deal with it. What if there was a magical solution?”

The dream job, the knight on the white horse, the magic supplement that will fix all my health issues - the 'shiny object' - are not necessarily expressions of Neptune’s illusion or delusion, but rather of our escapism from Saturn’s hard work.

Understanding this dynamic can help us discern between our projected desires and the actual possibilities Neptune has in store for us.

Full Moon In Gemini - Even Better Than The Real Thing

Even better than the real thing” - a phrase popularized by U2’s song in the early 90s - is a great way to describe the mysteries and possibilities of Neptune.

It suggests that there is such a thing as a ‘real thing,’ and that whatever is deemed ‘even better than the real thing’ might not be real at all - at least by material, 3D standards.

And yet, it is ‘better.’

This means that what we call illusion or fantasy is not inherently bad - just because it doesn’t have a tangible form, or just because it doesn’t meet Saturnian standards of reality.

We often dismiss it (because it doesn’t fit in our current reality). We make fun of it (because we can’t make full sense of it). We call it foolish (because it frightens us with its lack of logic).

Yet, the possibilities that Neptune offers are real (pun indeed).

Perhaps you applied for a job and you got a rejection. You feel deflated and don’t answer your phone. Perhaps your partner is late again, and you’re too frustrated to notice the billboard you pass by on your way home.

However, Neptune reminds us that there’s always a higher plan.

If we believe in this higher intelligence - if we trust the unfolding process - then we can perhaps look at these changes of plans, these interruptions, not as inconveniences - but as the universe's gentle nudges to pursue something different, something that is more aligned with our higher purpose.

At the Full Moon in Gemini, answer your phone. Read that advertisement on the billboard. Pay attention to the small, seemingly irrelevant details that might initially feel like they’re disrupting your plans. Let serendipity in. Allow the magic of possibility to enter your life.

These Full Moon in Gemini options can be the “shiny object syndrome” OR real opportunities - ones that may not initially look like what you thought you wanted but turn out to be exactly what you needed to move forward.

The Full Moon in Gemini is an invitation to reconsider your options and explore new perspectives. Sometimes, what seems like an illusion can be even better than the real thing.