T E M P E R A N C E
LIFELIGHT ASTROLOGY
APRIL 2011
What a month March was … what with Tsunamis and earthquakes, not only on our beautiful planet, but within many of us as well. When I sat down to write this month’s article and started looking at the planetary action for April, I honestly felt the blood rush to my head and my temperature rise! Remember the fire and water mixture in last month’s column? Well this month there’s a whole lot more fire – minus some of the water. April literally explodes into action, from the very first day of the month and building up to the new moon on the 3rd at 4:32 pm at 13 degrees Aries, when there will be a total of 6 planets in total in ARIES – that’s a whole lot of fire.
Until the middle of May, there’ll be at least 4 planets in the fieriest of all the signs at any one time. Almost everyone I know is already expressing the feeling that time seems to be speeding up or at least that the days are just whizzing by too fast and that they’re battling to find enough hours in the day to get everything done. I certainly feel that way. The good news is that until Mid May, we should have more energy and drive to get through those speedy days and achieve the goals we set for ourselves. The downside is that it doesn’t look like its going to slow down any time soon and that things are very likely to feel like they’re approaching a fever pitch.
Contemplating Aries and its ruler, I started thinking about my raised temperature, which led me to think of related words – temper, tempest (storm, hurricane) temperamental (volatile, explosive, excitable) and tempestuous (stormy, turbulent, uncontrolled) …. all of which are associated with Aries and its ruler Mars. To give you some idea of what I’m talking about, in last months article I mentioned that Uranus, the planet associated with shake-ups, sudden events, earth shifts, quakes and unexpected events, was moving into Aries on the 12th March. The day before, the tsunami happened in Japan, which preceded the supermoon on the 19th. This is the power of the planets and if it’s happening “out there” its happening “in here” too.
And so, I started thinking about an antidote, which I seriously think we’re all going to need this month and next. The word “Temperance” leapt into my mind. In the dictionary Temperance means -Moderation of passion; patience; calmness; sedateness.
The tarot card Temperance (see image) indicates the need for balance and tranquility, to achieve and experience fulfillment in our lives. The angel in the image has one foot on a stone and the other in the river. In this stance she represents the need to “test the waters” before jumping headlong into unknown circumstances. In so doing, she tempers the whimsical flight of the Fool who jumps without giving a second thought (a very Arian trait). In her hands are two cups which she uses to mix water. One cup can be thought of as holding hot water and the other cold water. The temperate individual mixes the opposites and finds a balance in life by avoiding extremes. Another interpretation is that she ceaselessly pours water back and forth from one cup to another, because feeling must constantly flow and renew itself according to the requirements of each moment.
That led me to really look at the word temper – which doesn’t only mean to go red in the face, stomp our little feet and throw our toys. Bear with me here…. Steel is “tempered” when it is heated up and then quickly cooled and in so doing, its effectiveness, strength and robustness is increased. (That’s what you see when blacksmiths stop hammering the sword on the anvil and plunge the glowing hot blade into a barrel of water). If you go back to the older roots of the word, more than 600 years ago, to temper something meant to prepare it specially, not by heat treatment – but by carefully mixing in new ingredients to create balance. By Shakespeare’s time, it had come to mean mental balance – which is what we need to consciously cultivate this month. .
I see it as good news that the cool headed, slightly strict, limiting planet Saturn is directly opposing this fiery festival, because he can help us stay sane, cool our fire, and serve as a tempering agent, helping us to find balance and equanimity and in so doing, become stronger and more powerful.
However…. All you hotheads out there (especially fire signs), you might feel a tad frustrated and irritated, as if there’s a handbrake holding you back from plunging forth and conquering the world in a millisecond. And that’s where the temperance comes in – that’s where we need to mix ingredients like maturity, mindfulness and tolerance to our impulsiveness, drive and determination. We need to figure out ways of tempering aggression and impatience and in so doing, transform it into assertion, patience and courage, so we can do what we need to do, without burning ourselves or others in the process. Any “watery” or “earthy” activities will help. Swimming, being near water, being massaged, bathing, spending more time in nature, creating, singing, dancing or meditating.
If we can cultivate temperance this month, it is undoubtedly the most powerful time, bar none, to plant new seeds for anything we want to start or change in our lives. Prayers and intentions sent out at this time seem to be carried further into the universe and manifest easier. It’s THE time when we need to boldly take control of our lives, inject new life into relationships, friendships, careers, creativity, home life, boost ourselves out of any ruts we’ve been in, Being self reliant and pioneering is what’s at play right now. It’s up to us, not anyone else. Make a decision to start at least one thing or do one thing differently this new Moon – particularly in the area of your chart where Aries 13 degrees is situated = this is the area of your life where you need to stand up and be counted, or even fight for what is rightfully yours – with temperance J.
The theme continues with the full moon at 27 degrees Libra on the 18th April, but there’s one more important ingredient to add. We are urged to really consider the effects of our actions on others. Wherever 27 degrees Aries falls in your chart, is the area you are being called to take risks and stride into new territory. Where 27degrees Libra falls, is the area where you may need to consider opposing views and strike a balance between your agenda and someone else’s
On the 22nd, 23rd and 24th April, we may experience restlessness, angst, anxiety, irritation or even boredom in our love relationships, which can lead to upheavals, unpredictable behaviour and more discord than normal. Take time out if things get heated and just walk away. The best antidote is to plan to do something out of the ordinary over this period – something exciting, which will bounce you out of any ruts. If you’re alone, you can pour this energy into a new, unusual creative project
Globally, Neptune moves into Pisces this month, where it will stay until 2025 and is likely to signifiy huge spirtual renewal, as new ideas challenge outmoded structures
Mercury is retrograde until 24th April11th May. As most of you know by now, this often is often accompanied by the loss of data, breakdown of computers etc, so it’s preferable to back up your computers, cell phones etc – so need I say more – BACK UP – everything!
Retrograde periods also prompt us to re-consider, re-think, re-plan, re-pattern our thoughts. Being in Aries, we need to re-look at our personal goals and how we can find different ways of accomplishing them, how we can be true to ourselves without stepping on others toes; how we can be assertive without being aggressive, brave without being foolhardy. Can we rise to the challenge of courage, fortitude and co-operation?
In life and light
Michelle
0834145641
031 765 3550
michvr@intekom.co.za
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