There’s a lot going on this week, and no matter what your Sun or Rising sign is, you’ll feel a shift.

We’re still in the wake of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, a long-term aspect with far-reaching consequences. The effects are going to take a couple of years to shake out. The challenge here is to walk the fine line between making much-needed changes in your life and being practical and grounded.

Throughout the week, major aspects will release the energy of this opposition, much the same way that an earthquake releases pent-up earth energy. Most of these aspects are positive, and I’m hopeful that this will help tip the balance in favor of maximum change while keeping within tolerable bounds the disruptions that inevitably come with that change.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Sun in Scorpio makes favorable aspects to both Saturn and Uranus, along with Jupiter, which currently is sitting at a near-exact sextile to Uranus and trine to Saturn. Jupiter, a benevolent influence somewhat tempered by his residence in Capricorn, moves into an exact sextile with Uranus on Thursday and trines Saturn next week. Growth starts in your head; what you think and what you believe, both about yourself and the world, can limit your possibilities. New doorways will appear, but to see them, you may have to be ruthless in examining errors in your thinking.

On Wednesday (late Tuesday in later time zones), Venus conjoins Pluto in the last degree of Sagittarius before moving into Capricorn several hours later. Depending on where this conjunction falls in your chart, you may become obsessive or possessive about something or someone. The feelings themselves may be fleeting, but don’t discount deeper, underlying motivations. It all flows into better self-understanding.

Also on Wednesday, the Moon in Taurus amplifies the Saturn-Uranus opposition and forms a grand earth trine with Jupiter and Saturn, providing still more cosmic support for keeping an even keel while abruptly changing course, if necessary.

Thursday is the Full Moon, with Sun in Scorpio and Moon in Taurus (the Full Moon always falls in the sign opposite the position of Sun). Neith has written a full report already, and she also noted that this is the start of Day 6 of the Galactic Underworld (according to Calleman; I’ll have more on this in a day or two over on The Pisces Chronicles). Not only will this Full Moon activate events of the current eclipse series, but it marks a major shift in planetary energy.

Mercury squares Chiron on Friday, calling attention to our deepest wounds. This is never comfortable, but it is a necessary part of the healing process. Accepting the pain, even for an hour or two, will do you more good than resorting to your favorite painkiller, be it an actual drug or escapist behavior.

The Moon enters Cancer on Saturday and, along with Mercury, keeps the energy of the Saturn-Uranus opposition in full flux for the entire weekend. Add to that the entry of Mars in dynamic Sagittarius, and we’re all in for a wild ride. I’ll have more on Mars in Sag in next week’s forecast.

To sum up, if you’re overwhelmed and feeling a sense of inner chaos, so is everyone else, and this is not a bad thing. We’re all ready for change, and this is a necessary phase.

Much courage and love to all…

Pat

Image: World High Wire Championships in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2008. Photo by Lee Jin-man for the AP.