FEATURE — If you’ve been feeling a little off the past few days, it’s not just you.
This week may feel a bit strained, as a tense configuration that began last week will continue through mid-week and is known as a grand fixed cross.
While this energy has slowly been building to a crescendo, the opposition between Mars in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius will peak Sunday, May 21, at approximately zero degrees. This tense angle is likely to stir up frustrations and impatience. Many may feel pushed to try to get the upper hand, which won’t be likely. It’s better now to resist urges to be confrontational; observe rather than act.
Both Leo and Aquarius are signs denoting original creativity and the polarity is referred to as the “axis of ego” due to their strong, individualized personalities. And in the zero-degree, this opposition represents a powerful thrust of potential in which the energy is magnified.
On the positive side, Mars opposite Pluto ignites the fire to go after what we need to transform, as this stimulates passion and intensity to boldly go after what we want.
This opposition is part of a grand fixed cross that began to take form last Wednesday when Jupiter entered Taurus. A fixed grand fixed cross forms when four planets stand in 90 degrees angles to one another and contains two planetary oppositions with all planets involved being in fixed signs. The first being Mars and Pluto, and the second being Jupiter in Taurus opposite the karmic South Node in Scorpio.
Fixed energy is attached to those signs that epitomize the heart of each season, as they fall at a time when that season is at its strongest and most in character. Taurus represents the heart of spring; Leo, the heart of summer; Scorpio, the heart of fall; and Aquarius, the heart of winter. Fixed energy is constant and stubborn to change. But fixed energy also is about commitment, the will to stay the course and not give up.
Collectively, this energy may have us feeling stuck in one or more areas of life, while also feeling pulled in several different directions.
The sun moving into Gemini on Sunday will bring new information and help to break up the energetic stalemate. The potency of the grand fixed cross will begin to fade around Tuesday, as the planets shift farther apart.
So what does this mean for your sign? Find out below.
Aries
March 21-April 19
With your natural ruling planet Mars in your fifth house, you are wanting to pour your energy into creative endeavors, self-expression and romance, dear Aries. But this week’s tension may be trying to show you how your temporary pleasure is at odds with your future.
Known as the axis of connection, this duality could indicate struggles with a romantic partner who may feel neglected due to your need for expanding your social circle. Be careful not to overinflate how much money you expect, especially in the case of an entrepreneurial pursuit, as you may not be seeing clearly at the moment. The South Node is pushing you to heal something on a deeply psychological level or you may need to let go of some form of passive income.
Taurus
April 20-May 20
This week could increase tension between your home and career, dear Taurus. With Mars in your fourth house now, you’re feeling inspired to pour energy into something related to domestic affairs or your inner security, but your career is creating obstacles. Or you may be seeking some breakthrough on a career level but domestic issues are standing in the way.
On an emotional level, this energy could indicate a sense of insecurity in relation to your career or where you live. While Pluto is pushing you to transform your social status or career, Mars is urging you to solidify your foundation. This is a battle between deepening your roots and reaching for higher aims. Jupiter is bringing a boost to your vitality, while the South Node is opening opportunities to let go of something disrupting close partnerships.
Gemini
May 21–June 20
It’s your season, dear Gemini, as the sun now transits your sign for the next month, bringing an uplifting boost to your mood and vitality. This week, however, you could be feeling a tug-of-war between the day-to-day monotony and a desire to escape. For some, the Pluto-Mars opposition could indicate a clash between what you learned in your youth and a new worldview pushing its way into the forefront.
In essence, this is about the short view versus the long view. The more you cling to the past, the more resistance you will create against the expansion of your perspective. Be mindful of impatience with communication or short-distance travel. With Jupiter bringing expansion to a sense of connection with the divine, the South Node is revealing a daily habit that needs to be cut.
Cancer
June 21–July 22
This week could bring a sense of financial struggles or reveal imbalances in what you share with others, dear Cancer. With Mars in a part of the sky that for you deals with personal finances and self-worth, you feel propelled and inspired to secure or grow your finances. But Pluto, in the opposite part of the sky, is pushing you to transform areas related to intimacy and shared resources. This could simply translate to arguments with a loved one over money, resources or passive streams of income.
On an emotional level, this influence may speak to self-worth issues blocking the development of a deeper sense of intimacy. Solidifying a sense of self, while opening yourself to the merging with another could be the gateway to a breakthrough. While Jupiter seeks to help expand your social circle, the South Node is showing you what needs to go in order for you to express a more authentic sense of self.
Leo
July 23–August 22
With Mars in your sign opposing Pluto in your opposite sign, this week could bring power struggles in close relationships, dear Leo. While you feel the urge to push ahead with matters related to your lifestyle, physical vitality and understanding yourself at a deeper level, Pluto is illuminating what needs to change in one-on-one relationships. Known as the axis of relationships, this polarity is very much a tug-of-war between how you connect to yourself versus how you connect to others.
Part of this push could have to do with your career, and possible changes or sudden needs that require your attention, further pulling you away from relationship matters. The South Node is pointing to a wound related to home or inner security that needs to be cleaned out.
Virgo
Aug. 23–Sept. 22
With Mars now in your 12th house, you may be feeling more fatigued than usual and have an increased desire to withdraw from social activities, dear Virgo. But Pluto in the opposite part of the sky is wanting you to transform your day-to-day routine and organize your environment. Issues related to work or health could surface now that require immediate attention, while you feel yourself drifting into daydreams. This pull between wanting to escape and needing to establish order highlights areas of self-limitation.
On a deeper level, this influence is pushing you to merge the two and represents the axis of service. By working with this energy, an opportunity may open to materialize an imaginative or spiritual concept and reveal how organizing your life bolsters your ability to help others. While Jupiter is trying to help you expand your worldview, the South Node reveals flawed thinking related to early education or youth that need to be eradicated.
Libra
Sept. 23–Oct. 22
Now that Mars is in a part of the sky for you that deals with friendships and future hopes and dreams, the desire to chase after your wildest dreams has ignited, dear Libra. You also may desire more collaboration with others. But Pluto on the opposite side of the sky is pulling you to transform matters related to creativity, romance, children and what brings you joy.
The tension here underlies a need for creative self-actualization in order to integrate your truest self-expression into the vision of your future. This opposition represents the axis of connection: how you connect to yourself and how you connect to others. Jupiter in the eighth is offering support in terms of expanding the depth of your psychological understanding, while the South Node is asking you to let go of self-limiting beliefs centered around perceived worth.
Scorpio
Oct. 23–Nov. 21
With your ancient ruling planet Mars now in your 10th house of career and public reputation, you’re desire to be recognized is amped and you have an intense focus to boost your public standing, dear Scorpio. Standing opposite to this, however, is your modern-day ruling planet Pluto, which is pushing you to transform matters related to domestic affairs and inner security.
This polarity represents the axis of foundation, internal versus external security. It is inner strength that fosters how high we attempt to reach. As such, this week could reveal voids of self-nurturing. Jupiter is offering support through close one-on-one relationships. Perhaps a conversation with a loved one offers clarity at this time. Meanwhile, the South Node is revealing the weeds of a lifestyle rut that needs to be uprooted.
Sagittarius
Nov. 22–Dec. 21
With Mars now in your ninth house, your passion for higher learning, long-distance travel and philosophical beliefs is revved up, dear Sagittarius. But Pluto, standing in opposition to this, is wanting you to transform matters related to how you think and communicate. Under this influence, be mindful of your approach to others, as a tendency to be overly dogmatic or push your belief on others is likely.
This is about how you present ideas and, in essence, teach others. This polarity represents the axis of communication and activities: how you learn versus how you implement and utilize what you learn. While your planetary ruler Jupiter is helping you refine how you spend your time, the South Node is revealing patterns of addiction or escapism corroding your day.
Capricorn
Dec. 22–Jan. 19
With Mars now in your eighth house, matters related to intimacy, psychology and shared resources are being stimulated, dear Capricorn. This is an intense placement that rules the endings that precede rebirth. Standing opposite to this is Pluto, which is pushing you to transform matters related to self-worth and finances.
Known as the axis of money and resources, this opposition will feel like a tug of war between your needs and the needs of others, what you keep to yourself and what you share with others. Part of this struggle could center around restrictions with self-expression or needing to let go of people who are causing a negative impact on your life.
Aquarius
Jan. 20–Feb. 18
With Mars now in your seventh house, this week is bringing any relationship issues to the surface, dear Aquarius, and it will feel almost impossible to look away. This doesn’t necessarily mean a romantic partner, it can be any close one-on-one partnership.
Opposing this in your sign is Pluto, which is seeking to help you transform at the very core of your identity. Known as the axis of relationships, this polarity emphasizes incongruencies between your needs and the needs of others. With Jupiter working to expand your sense of security, the South Node is pushing you to let go of something related to your career or public reputation.
Pisces
Feb. 19 – March 20
With Mars now in your sixth house, you may see an increase in your workload and feel energetically driven to cross off items on your to-do list, dear Pisces. But standing opposite to this is Pluto, which is trying to pull you out of the material world, a place you are quite comfortable with, as it is the natural home for Pisces. But this polarity is likely to stir up inner restlessness, as you are both wanting to take charge of your daily routine while also escape it.
Known as the axis of service, this duality emphasizes the balance between self-work and sacrifice for others. With the South Node is urging you to let go of something connected to your worldview, Jupiter is helping you find the right words to say that reflect the early bloom of a new perception.
For a more specific outlook, read the forecasts for both your sun and rising signs. If you do not know your rising sign, use this online calculator.
It’s important to remember that astrology forecasts are not meant to be fatalistic. Rather they offer a window into current energetic influences, so we may work with them and help foster a more wise and loving spirit.
Ed. note: This information is composed by St. George News editorial staff for entertainment purposes only.
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