The Dharma of Aging
There’s much to love about July- a time to vulnerably connect, bear responsibility with grace and take assertive action before Mercury retrograde begins on August 5th. But first, we need to understand the overarching themes of Saturn retrograde in Pisces.
Why did we come here? Simple: to discipline our talents, manage our wounds and individuate into an inspiring emissary of the Absolute.
To accomplish this ego mastery, we will need to assume the “elder poise” of Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn: a sign revisited this month by the second-of-two full Moons in Capricorn on July 21st.
Here’s an example of what “elder poise” might look like:
In this moment, you are reading an article written by someone in their “ninth cycle of Saturn.” What does this mean? Which Saturn cycle are you in? Saturn says, “Time to find out.“
It hurts to not know the season of individuation we are in; to live oblivious to the seven year cycles we are being guided through. Saturn sucks the randomness and chaos out of life by putting banks on our slippery river of days.
Without soul-guiding parameters, the mechanical march of time and the writhing spectacle of separation is dumbfounding at best– demoralizing and depressing at worst.
July is our chance to ride wisely “the conveyor belt to death” by studying The Dharma of Aging.
Saturn Retrograde: June 29- Nov 15, 2024
Why so much talk of Saturn? Because Saturn in Pisces just went retrograde on June 29th until November 15th. Saturn’s mission? To loosen our tight, timebound frame of reference and turn us into “dream animals.” Should we resist, we will likely feel disoriented and afraid. Should we stand steady on the rock of awareness, and remain paradigmatically pliable, Saturn will drench our work-a-day life with soul-seeing guidance.
Said more playfully: a cosmic drill Sergeant is testing our mettle, dropping us to the ground, over and over, for spiritual “pushups,” turning us into a lean, mean meditative machine.
This particular Saturn retrograde is moving through the ten degree subdivision of Pisces (“decan”) that connects to the themes of Cancer, asking us to revisit family wounds and “own” the childhood needs that were suppressed and frozen.
We all have adolescent festering that persists. Over the next 4 1/2 months Saturn in Pisces asks us to stroke the head of this festering “little one.”
Was it your father or your mother that “wore the pants?” Time to look past their flawed authority to the dysfunctional societal pressures that shaped them. Could our gripe be with God?
Saturn will retrograde between 12 and 19 degrees of Pisces. Time to learn what house Saturn is moving through in your birth chart so you can work vigilantly on its corresponding themes.
Got personal planets in mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) between 12 and 19 degrees? Luck you. You’re being fast tracked on the journey…
From the Innocence of Ignorance to the Innocence of Wisdom
We are all born into the “innocence of ignorance.”
Through hardship and trial, Saturn delivers a mortal blow to our childhood preciousness and dependency, so we can begin the process of individuation and self-parenting.
Over time, this constructive “selfing,” ossifies into prideful positionality. Again, Saturn descends to crack our paradigm paralysis, sucking the meaning out of every existentially infantile idea of who we are.
Finally, we become as children again, embodying “the innocence of wisdom.” Embodied yet free of identity-grasping, our soul-seeing skills come alive as we follow in the footsteps of an awesome existential ally and way-shower: the Shepherding Presence.
Our Spiritual Home
Saturn retro in the Cancer “decan” says,
“Home” is wherever you feel support to wake up as “awareness having a personality.”
Watching faces fall off the people we love and care for is heartbreakingly exquisite. Saturn in otherworldly Pisces gives us the fortitude to “stick around” and withstand the traumatic majesty of these moments.
A good time to ask: Are like-minded beings sprinkled throughout my local neighborhood– unrecognized and untapped? Or is Saturn nudging me to relocate, allowing an old, dharma-parched community to dissolve?
When we lack adequate soul-mirroring, It’s difficult to tell the difference between “alive purpose” and lock-and-load survival strategy . Ego goes numb inside its roles, confusing flaccidity with flow and sternness with commitment.
Not sure where on earth “home” actually is? Good news! I now offer Astrocartography Readings.
Four Dates to be Aware of:
1) July 5th- New Moon in Cancer
Bearing responsibility with grace
This cozy Sun/Moon conjunction in Cancer sets the tone for the first half of the month. With the challenging Venus/Saturn squares of June now behind us, this New Moon hosts a pleasantly workable Venus/Saturn trine that helps us bear responsibility with grace.
2) July 11th/12th- Venus in Leo opposition Pluto
A passing fear
Even the most beautiful and blessed love experiences passing fears of loss, tempting ego to control. Who sees that?
3) July 14th/15th- Mars conjunct Uranus in Taurus, conjunct fixed star, Algol
The art of being eternally shocked
Commonly associated with impulsivity, accidents and, in a collective context, violent rebellion, best to delay confrontations and “stay put” during this time. What do do with that pent-up fire? Remember: it takes militant individualism to pause, reflect and become startlingly present.
4) July 21st- Full Moon in Capricorn conjunct Pluto, trine Mars/Uranus
Objectivity and Support
The shadow side of Interpersonal dynamics is but-naked now but, with the Sun entering Leo and opposing Pluto the next day, and the pre-Mercury retrograde shadow now within the orb of influence, it’s difficult to communicate clearly and objectively about touchy subjects during the last ten days of the month. Best to process inwardly and get support from outside the relationship.
Hunter Reynolds
astrodharma.org
July Transits 2024
Jun 29 Saturn goes retrograde in Pisces
July 2nd- Neptune goes Retrograde in Pisces
July 2nd- Mercury enters Leo
July 5th New Moon in Cancer
Jul 11th- Venus enters Leo
Jul 13th- First Quarter Moon in Libra
Jul 20th- Mars enters Gemini
Jul 21st Full Moon in Capricorn 29 degrees
Jul 22nd- Sun enters Leo
Jul 25th- Mercury enters Virgo
Jul 26th- Chiron Retrograde in Aries
Jul 27th- Last Quarter Moon in Taurus
Ready for more?
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