Arachne - caught in the spider's web

I know from messages some of you have sent me that many of you have been feeling the squeeze this month already.

Today I spent some time seeing what other celestial bodies are at play with the major, traditional astrology planets.

We have the Sun in 45 the gate of Rulership ... here being amplified by the Sun's presence we also have;

Asbolus - belief that efforts are unappreciated despite how much has been done for others, drive for revenge
Diana - huntress for freedom and independence, where you may be reluctant to commit
Hephaistos - the wounded artist, rejected by parents and love interests ... the blacksmith to the Gods.
Ariadne - abandon illusions as you travel the painful labyrinth
Vulcan - fire and forger of tools of consciousness
Midas - is what you really crave what you think it is
Kaali - firey destroyer for burning off the dross ... all in the gate of (would-be) Rulership ...

Earth and Jupiter are sitting together giving us a grounding and expansive vision of all things trickster-related ... being and spotting the BS.

The North Node wants us to progress gradually but Mars is sitting there too wanting robust progress but also we have Nemesis ... a reminder perhaps to examine what is ego-driven in this progress, especially with Mars here.

Uranus has Tantalus for company in the gate of nourishment and self care.  Uranus brings us shocking awakenings ... we've been working this energy for a while now, it's a Taurian gate with all its grounded earthy need for comfort and care.  Tantalus was eternally punished with fruit and water just out of his reach ... how seriously have you placed yourself and your needs in your schedule, are you really looking after yourself or will a shock arrive ... is the goal just out of reach, what's stopping you stepping into true self-care.

Mercury has the company of Cronos, he overthrew his father Uranus and ruled the Golden Age but here we have them in the gate of Provocation ... be aware of messages and actions that are perhaps intended to overthrow you, or where you might be guilty of such plots against another ... this ties closely with the work of Saturn and the South Node where we are being urged to review who we may have trodden on to make our ascension ... or perhaps have been trodden upon as others have made their ascent ... in this Marrying Maiden energy we also have Persephone, she was unable to make the match she wanted and spent her life between two worlds.

Pluto is sitting in the gate of Inner Truth with Chariklo for company, she was the wife of Chiron and companion of Athene (Pallas), she can represent where we feel we've completely disappeared from view ... perhaps in this position with Pluto they are reminding us to be true to our soul calling, to hold on to the truth of who we are amidst the competing energies at play.

Gate 20 is very busy today ... this is the energy of the 'now' and is where we have Venus (relationships, wealth, good life) - it's a throat manifesting energy and this is where we have a number of players jostling for attention, NOW ...

Astraea - sensitivity and purity, the last of the immortals to leave Earth at the end of the Golden Age when Cronos succumbed to his own sons' treachery ... she promised to return and is associated with new beginnings and she's here NOW.
Minerva - strategies we have learned to please the Patriarchy
Pan - the balanced masculine in touch with nature
Admetos - the anchor point for life's cycles, and, for the spider connection ...
Arachne - she challenged Athene (Pallas - and the Roman Version of Minerva ...) to a weaving competition ... the mythologies vary but she's associated with losing and being turned into a spider to weave a web for eternity.

Overall this is about sitting with who you 'be', holding firm to that whilst all around there are competing energies, much of them ego-based and driven for goals which may simply be illusions.

Take time to pause, step back and observe, aim for a response, not reaction, and perhaps best of all keep your own counsel ... next week we head to more 12-22 action with the Sun sitting in that gate of Standstill and Hindrance.  In the I Ching this represents the moment when we need to withdraw - this is the time for allowing the mundane earthly concerns to fall into the background and allow space for higher insight to be heard.

I can't help but be amused at the timing of these positions given the UK's search for a new Prime Minister ... life really is one big Cosmic joke if you just angle the kaleidoscope just so :-)