Greetings!
Welcome to the June It's All Good Astrology News. As always, thanks so much for the privilege of sending it to you!
This month's feature article, "New Perspectives on the Triple Conjunction in Aquarius," delves deeper than ever into the meaning of 2009's most powerful and exciting astrological event. You'll learn how to make the most of the extraordinary opportunities made possible by this paradigm-shifting line-up!
I'm going to start giving away free astrology consultations to our subscribers four times a year! The article will give you all the details.
I now have two brand-new lectures available for download (MP3s and their corresponding PowerPoint slide shows): "Be an 'OlderAchiever': Astrological Insights for Vital, Meaningful Living" and "Integrating Solar Return Themes with Progressions & Transits." The article tells you more and gives you the links to get them!
I would appreciate your feedback on two questions: (1) do you prefer to receive the It's All Good Astrology News monthly or weekly, and (2) what are your best days and times to take my online astrology classes? Please take a moment to read the short articles and reply if you have an opinion.
This newsletter also covers:
- our 20% June birthday discount,
- my two online astrology classes starting this month: Transits & Progressions and Mentoring,
free astrology classes from the the Virtual Astrology Conference, and
- the June forecast.
Thanks again for choosing to receive the It's All Good Astrology News, . Enjoy the issue!
-- Benjamin
|
New Perspectives on the Triple Conjunction in Aquarius
by Benjamin Bernstein 
The ideal topic for this month's article was obvious to me, since
we're now in the heart of the year's most important astrological alignment: the
triple conjunction of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter in Aquarius. However, I have
already written and lectured on this subject, and didn't want to simply repeat
myself.
So I spent
some time contemplating and researching in order to come up with some fresh
perspectives on this potent partnership (including its honorary fourth member,
Uranus in Pisces). If you've read my prior writing on this subject, or heard my "Quantum Global Shift" lecture, you'll see that I have included some of that
material, which is essential for those new to the topic. (The previous
material is "front-loaded", while the new information dominates toward the
end.) In any event, you'll be rewarded with plenty of new insights!
The Triple
Conjunction
From now through January 2010, we will have the opportunity to benefit from an
extraordinary triple conjunction: Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron joining together
in Aquarius!
Jupiter and Neptune share spirituality as a common theme. Jupiter represents
your faith, your beliefs, and your specific religious path. Neptune, which
transcends the specifics of any particular path, represents the dissolving of
boundaries: mystical union and the indescribable, euphoric blending of
consciousness with Spirit. Chiron, the wounded healer, represents the wound
that needs healing. It also represents the mentorship that one can provide when
one has progressed far enough on one's own healing journey.
And let's not forget that all this is happening in Aquarius, which is about
revolution, paradigm shift and sudden change. These same energies are further
amplified by the fact that Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, is also
playing a major role in this configuration.
The
Technical Paragraph
(This paragraph is for Astrology geeks, and can be skipped with no harm
done.) For starters, Uranus is in "mutual reception" to both
Jupiter and Neptune. This simply means that they're in each other's signs.
Uranus is in Pisces, which is co-ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune. And Jupiter
and Neptune are in Aquarius, which is co-ruled by Uranus. Uranus is also
connecting by aspect, holding a 30° semi-sextile to Neptune through the Spring
of 2011. (Uranus also semi-sextiles Jupiter April through July).
Spiritual
Awakening and Healing
A valid interpretation, it seems to me, is the opportunity for God's light to
pour through with extraordinary power (since Jupiter magnifies whatever it
touches). As it does, this energy can bring profound healing to the personal
and societal wounds afflicting humanity. (Aquarius is also the sign that
represents humanity as a whole.) Even previously intractable problems, such as
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear challenges being offered by
North Korea and Iran, have a much better chance of being resolved under this
transit.
I can
imagine a mass awakening, with people all over the planet having a sudden
"Eureka!" moment. They would realize that their kinship extends
beyond their particular race or religion or culture or country. They would
"grok" that they are one not only with their fellow humans, but with
the sacred living spirits that inhabit every animal, insect, tree, plant and
stone. Once saturated with the incomparable ecstasy of divine bliss, they would
discover that slipping back into negative patterns of hate, violence and anger
is intolerable, for it wipes out the supreme joy that only a heart filled with
divine love can experience.
You may say I'm a dreamer, and this scenario will not play out for everyone.
But I regularly associate with people who have already had this awakening, and
see evidence all around the world that this type of consciousness is spreading
faster and faster. This embodiment of universal love -- whose propagation will
make all of our other problems so much easier to solve - is now spreading as
never before!
The
Importance of Community
The importance of community (Aquarius) is also becoming paramount. Those who are awakening and serving spiritually benefit from the amplified energetic and social support that they receive from associating with others on similar paths. And, on a purely practical level, we all need to be able to both depend on and assist others. This will be crucial if the coming global paradigm shifts disrupt the basic societal infrastructure and services we usually take for granted.
These
communities won't always be large-scale, either. The old paradigm of massive
structural hierarchy is giving way to a plethora of small, flexible and
independent groups who synchronistically connect and separate as needed.
The Dark
Side
Of course, we are also seeing darker manifestations of these archetypal
energies. Those who succumb to fear may well let their unhealed wounds (Chiron)
feed their delusions (Neptune), leading them to proclaim their rigid dogmas
(Jupiter) as the One And Only True Path (Jupiter again). This applies not only
to religious fanatics, but to any person or group that persists in advocating
outmoded views and beliefs.
There has
also been an unusual pattern of mass murders in recent months, with ordinary
people snapping and wreaking bloody havoc. (Neptune=delusion, Chiron=wounding, Jupiter=amplification.) It seems to me that the divine light is
growing so strong that it is driving insane some who cannot integrate
it.
Powerful
transits have always played out on both the light and dark sides, but, as
Gandhi said so beautifully, no matter how
strong evil may grow, good always wins out in the end.
A
Historical Perspective
Astrological
theory is all fine and good, but, as Richard Tarnas shows in his landmark (and
highly recommended) book Cosmos and Psyche, it's always instructive to
see what happened during previous incarnations of the same alignment.
The Triple
Conjunction of 1945
The last
time Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter were all together in the same place was in the
late Summer and early Fall of 1945, in the sign of Libra. The events of that
time were nothing if not historic: for starters, the U.S. dropped two atomic
bombs on Japan, which led to that country's surrender and the end of WWII.
In this instance, we
see both the dark and light sides of Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter taken to extremes.
The atom bombs caused extreme (Jupiter) wounding (Chiron) that caused Japan to
finally surrender the illusions (Neptune) that had kept it fighting even when
there was no realistic hope of victory. But that same event made it possible
for new hope (Jupiter) and a spirit of unity (Neptune) to arise as the US
healed the wounds of war (Chiron) and helped rebuild Europe. The Libran
signature is also evident: the restoration of balance, harmony and fairness.
The same light-side
qualities are self-evident in another historic event of 1945: the founding of
the United Nations. And, since this conjunction occurred in Libra, the list
would not be complete without mention of an artistic landmark which remains one
of the world's most distinctive buildings: Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim
Museum.
The Triple
Conjunction of 1881-82
What about the
Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter conjunction before that? It took place from mid-1881
through the first quarter of 1882 in Taurus. Taurus, being "fixed earth," is
the most stable sign of the zodiac, so shocking and dramatic events are much
less likely. Taurus is associated with music and ruled by creative Venus, so it
is fitting that this incarnation of the triple conjunction took on a markedly
different flavor. Neptune expressed divine creative inspiration, Chiron showed
its maverick side, and Jupiter amped it all up.
The result was an
extraordinary creative blossoming, which included Henry James' Portrait of a Lady, R.L. Stevenson's Treasure Island, Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, Brahms' "Academic Festival
Overture," Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," Wagner's "Parsifal" and Debussy's "Le
Printemps." The seeds were also planted for future creative blossoming, with
the births of the mavericks-to-be Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Picasso, Braque,
Samuel Goldwyn, Bela Bartok and Igor Stravinsky.
This glimpse into the past
demonstrates that we must consider more than just the planets involved: the
sign they inhabit is also of paramount importance. Thus, the fact that Neptune,
Chiron and Jupiter are now in Aquarius (revolution, paradigm shift,
breakthrough, awakening) and partnering with Uranus in Pisces (spiritual union,
unconditional love and compassion, the dissolution of boundaries) says much
about the high-side possibilities of our current alignment.
The Galactic Center
It is of more than passing
interest that all of the planets we're discussing are currently in strong
aspect to the Galactic Center at 27° Sagittarius. (Thanks to Mayan astrologer Clare Coriell, with whom I do a Mayan-Western "Soul Journey" Consultation, for reminding me about this!) The Mayans view the Galactic Center as
the place from which life originates, and the place to which the spirit returns
after death. In fact, it is the alignment of the Sun and Earth with the
Galactic Center which marks the famous end date of the Mayan Long Count
calendar on December 21, 2012. (For more on this, download my lecture on "The Astrology of 2012.")
The spiritual energy radiating
from the Galactic Center has increased substantially in recent years, and
continues to build. The fact that Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter are currently
sextiling this point, and Uranus is squaring it, means that all of these
planets - which are already about spiritual awakening - are strongly connecting
to this cosmic energy flow and transmitting it down to us!
Wet Weather
On a more mundane level, the
next few months could bring events involving wounding (Chiron) involving lots
(Jupiter) of water (Neptune, the sea god). Weather forecasters are expressing
serious concern about the hurricane season that just began. (And is it a
coincidence that Asheville, North Carolina, where I live, just had its wettest
May on record?)
Ancient Bowl, Fresh Violets
I can think of no better way to
close than with a look at the Sabian Symbol for 27° Aquarius, where Neptune, Chiron
and Jupiter are currently hanging out. (Any planet at or after 26°01' Aquarius
"rounds up" to the Sabian Symbol for 27°.) The symbol is, "An
Ancient Pottery Bowl Filled With Fresh Violets."
To me, this speaks to the time-tested indigenous, traditional and
shamanic wisdom ways (the "ancient pottery bowl") being updated to fit the
current times and attracting new adherents ("fresh violets"). Our
post-industrial revolution mindset has led us to the brink of global
environmental destruction, and we must integrate the earth-honoring perspective of our
ancient ancestors into our modern lives if Mother Earth's species (including us!) are to
survive and thrive. By carrying out the revolution of putting "fresh
violets" (that which is sustainable from our modern lives) into the "ancient
pottery bowl" (indigenous wisdom), we can chart a course from chaos and
breakdown into hope and renewal.
|
Our Sponsor
Now in its second year as the
#1 astrology podcast on iTunes!
Visit Our Sponsor
|
|
|
|
In Closing
Thanks for taking the time to read this, . Your comments are always welcome. May the stars light your way!
Be well,
Benjamin Bernstein & Spiritsong
Holistic Astrologers
It's All Good Astrology
"Hope found here"
828-658-9073 / 800-461-3569 (Benjamin) or 828-777-6688 (Spiritsong)
www.ItsAllGoodAstrology.com
benjamin@ItsAllGoodAstrology.com; mary@SpiritsongOasis.com
Benjamin hosts This Week in Astrology, now in its second year as the #1 astrology podcast on iTunes! Discover how you can make the best use of the current planetary energies while deepening your knowledge of astrology!
"Your reading put me back in the game. You offered
meaning and hope and practical reasons and steps to take...What a relief you
are!"
- Laura Frisbie, Asheville, NC
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Win a Free Consultation with Benjamin!
To thank those who subscribe to the It's All Good Astrology News, Benjamin will be giving away a free one-hour astrology consultation every time the seasons change -- starting with this month's Summmer Solstice! Each winner will be contacted by email after the random drawing takes place, right around each solstice and equinox.
You don't have to do anything special to have a chance to win -- just maintain your free subscription to the It's All Good Astrology News. If your email address ever changes, be sure to sign up for the newsletter again by going to ItsAllGoodAstrology.com and clicking the "free newsletter" link. |
|
Should This Newsletter be Monthly or Weekly? Please Vote by June 10!
 Would you prefer to receive Benjamin's astrology forecast all at once every month, or spread out in bite-size portions a week at a time?
We're thinking about changing the frequency of the It's All Good Astrology News, so that you would receive a convenient weekly reminder of the coming week's most important astrological events. (And don't worry: the entire month's forecast would still be available online at the beginning of each month.)
Each weekly issue would be a quicker, more streamlined read, with the content that currently gets put into each month's edition spread out over the course of the month.
Please send me an email if you have an opinion on this. We will consider all feedback received by June 10! |
|
June Birthday Discounts!
We offer a 20% discount to anyone booking a consultation during their birthday month!* So if your birthday falls in June, it's a great time to schedule a consultation, get a preview of your major opportunities and challenges during the coming 12 months (and beyond), and save some money!
__________________________________________________
* Cannot be combined with other price reduction or sliding scale offers
|
|
Two New Lecture MP3s w/ PowerPoint Slide Shows Now Available
Two astrology lectures Benjamin gave in May, along with their PowerPoint slide shows, are now available for download. The downloads are free, although a donation button is available for love offerings. Click the lecture titles or pictures to go to the download page.
 "Be an 'OlderAchiever': Astrological Insights for Vital, Meaningful Living" shows how each person's Sun Sign can provide
powerful insights on how to live a more energized, satisfying and meaningful
life. The lecture requires no previous knowledge of astrology.
 Benjamin presented "Integrating Solar Return Themes with Progressions & Transits" to the Network of Triangle Astrologers (NCGR) in Raleigh, NC on May 21. The Solar Return chart shows the moment, on or near each birthday, when the transiting Sun returns to its exact natal position. This chart shows important energy trends for the next 12 months, as well as optimal life areas to focus on during that time.
Using the charts of Barack Obama, Albert Einstein, Barry Bonds and Sean Penn, this presentation shows how to uncover and communicate the most critical life themes: the ones being emphasized by both the Solar Return Chart and current transits and progressions. This presentation requires an intermediate knowledge of astrology. |
|
Next Online Transits & Progressions Class Starts June 22
You'll learn
how to give empowering explanations of the most important moving energies used by professional
astrologers: transits and secondary progressions. Concepts will be taught by examining students' current transits and progressions. You get 12 hours of live,
lively, interactive online
instruction for just $150 --
satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!
PREREQUISITES: Students must already have a basic
understanding of natal planets, signs, houses and aspects. (Students who have
completed Benjamin's Beginning Astrology Class are welcome.)
SPECIAL OFFER: Try
the first class free -- no strings attached -- and then decide if you want to
continue!
Click here for more information, or call 828-658-9073 / 800-461-3569 toll-free, or e-mail info@ItsAllGoodAstrology.com.
|
|
New Mentoring Classes Begin Thurs., June 25
Benjamin's online astrology mentoring
class
gives participants an opportunity to significantly deepen their understanding of
astrology in an intimate small-group setting. The tuition investment -- only $15 per class! -- is much less than the cost of individual mentoring.
Classes focus
on the areas where many astrology students tend to get stuck:
how to blend natal planets, signs, houses and aspects into a clear, accurate
and helpful interpretation. We also discuss how to most productively partner
with the energies of the moving planets (transits, progressions and solar arcs).
A new round of mentoring classes begins Thursday, June 25. Please click here for more information. |
|
What's the Best Class Time for You?
 I now teach three online astrology classes -- Beginning, Transits & Progressions and Mentoring -- and have always run them in the evening starting at 7 or 8 pm US eastern time. However, since
those times don't work for everyone, I want to start offering additional weekday classes in the morning and/or afternoon.
If you'd like to take one of my classes during the day, please pop me an email and let me know which class(es) you're interested in and what days and times would work for you. Thanks in advance for your input! |
|
Free Astrology Classes!
 That's right -- the new Virtual Astrology Conference site lets you download a growing selection of classes presented by some of the country's best astrology teachers. And these initial offerings are all completely free, with no strings attached. Click here to check it out! |
|
Celestial Forecast for June 2009
by Benjamin Bernstein
Whatever your sun sign, this forecast will help you choose how to best use each month's astrological energies! Events are most powerful on the dates listed. However, their influence will be active for at least several days before and after. All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone.
While everyone is affected by these global transits, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate natal planets and other sensitive points in your birth chart.
VOID-OF-COURSE MOONS. It's best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during these times. "Business as usual" is the best strategy for these periods, which occur when the Moon has made its last major Ptolemaic aspect but has not yet moved into the next sign. Learn more about working with void-of-course Moons here.
6/1, 4:33a -
11:17a (Libra)
6/3, 2:01p - 6:44p (Scorpio)
6/5, 10:19p - 6/6, 4:24a (Sagittarius)
6/8, 9:51a - 4:00p (Capricorn)
6/10, 11:31p - 6/11, 4:53a (Aquarius)
6/13, 5:05p - 5:33p (Pisces)
6/15, 9:18p - 6/16, 3:52a (Aries)
6/18, 5:36a - 10:21a (Taurus)
6/20, 8:03a - 1:01p (Gemini)
6/22, 8:20a - 1:12p (Cancer)
6/24, 7:25a - 12:51p (Leo)
6/26, 8:29a - 1:47p (Virgo)
6/28, 11:26a - 5:25p (Libra)
6/30, 5:59p - 7/1, 12:19a (Scorpio)
THE STORY SO FAR:
(I apologize that this is so similar to last month's "The Story So Far," but the
major aspects are still the same!)
2009's most powerful astrological alignment continues from May:
the triple conjunction of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter at 26° Aquarius.
This powerhouse combination, active now through January, also includes Uranus at
26° Pisces due to mutual reception.
This stunning fusion of energies creates the opportunity for Spirit's
light to pour through with extraordinary power. As it does, it can bring
profound healing to the personal and societal wounds afflicting us all. Since
free will allows any astrological setup to be used for good or ill, this intense
energy can also breed fanaticism, delusion and insanity. (Not to mention a
stock market bubble that may burst this Fall. According to savvy financial
astrologers such as Ray Merriman, this could cause the market to drop even lower
than before.)
Whatever the market does, you can do your part to help keep his
energy on the high side by inviting in this light, allowing yourself to be
transformed and uplifted by it, and sending it back out to the world on the
wings of your healing prayers.
Also, Pluto continues its retrograde thru 9/11.
6/2 (Tue).
Because of the four planets hanging out at 26° all month, many of this month's
transits will consist of the same planet making four aspects within a day or
two. Such is the case today with Venus sextiling Neptune, Jupiter and Chiron
(hereafter referred to as "the three Aquarians") and semi-sextiling
Uranus. This is a great time for financial visualization, spiritual union,
and connecting with the divine in your fellow physical beings. Creativity will
also get a boost - listen for those singing Muses! And if you're into "lucky
days," this might just qualify, since the two classic "benefics" (bringers of
good fortune) Venus and Jupiter are making a harmonious sextile.
6/4 (Thu).
Strong, easy-flowing energy for initiation and accomplishment is the order of
the day as Taurean Mars trines Capricornian Pluto. Diving into
psychology, research, or the occult arts is also supported.
6/5 (Fri).
Be prepared for a more challenging day as the Sun squares Saturn. If some
person or institution challenges your authority, it could be an invitation to
step into your own power so effectively that it becomes the dominant force.
Persistence is central to accomplishment under these energies.
6/6 (Sat).
Venus enters Taurus today thru July 4. With the natural ruler of
relationships in the zodiac's most stable sign, her placement here will act as a
ballast to the relationship challenges that have been so strongly lately. This
is also a good time for creative artists to get steady and methodical with their
output.
It would be great if Venus' sesquiquadrate to Saturn could act as
another stabilizing factor, but it's actually more likely to throw a touch of
challenge into the mix.
6/7 (Sun).
June's
FULL MOON
occurs today at 2:11 PM at 17° Sagittarius. Sagittarian full moons are good
times to see how "full-filled" you are in the areas of inspiration,
spirituality, higher learning and adventurous immersion into foreign cultures.
This is one of the more difficult lunations we've seen recently, with
the Moon making somewhat challenging aspects (sesquiquadrates and a semi-square)
to Venus and the Nodes, and a square to Saturn! There may be some challenge
in the areas of relationship and life purpose, while the basic vibe of the Full
Moon Seems to be about maintaining faith, hope and optimism in the midst of
adversity.
This Full Moon's Sabian Symbol is, "Children playing on the
beach, their heads protected by sunbonnets." This seems a positive image to
me. The children represent new hopes and possibilities, while the sunbonnets are
screening the potentially damaging rays of the Sun.
Click here for the rest of the June forecast.
|
|
|
June 2009
