Mars conjunct Fomalhaut - Making magic and fighting the ideological fight

This aspect is forming now and is valid until Friday 8th February 2013

Mars is now approaching one of the Royal Persian Stars in the heavens, Fomalhaut the fish that drinks the water flowing from the urn of Aquarius sitting in the constellation Piscis Australis. This star is known as the "Watcher of the South" and it has a reputation for bringing magical and mystical properties. If one finds this star in your chart connected to a planet or angle, greatness can be yours but often you will have to be brave in treading a different path from the rest of society - you may have to fight against the odds, stick to your guns when everyone else says you are wrong. There is always a warning that comes with Royal Stars, and here it comes with excess pride, arrogance, and associated dishonesty. If you convince yourself or others into thinking that you can get away with murder, you take people down a road that is deceptive and wrong, then a great and mighty fall from grace will come your way.

Just to show you, Adolf Hitler had Fomalhaut in paran with his Sun and so did Abraham Lincoln. Both were leaders who dared to take a different stance, one was honest and was heralded as one of the greatest Presidents of the United States, and one tried to take over Europe by force and suffered a great defeat and humiliation. Two more examples - both Osama Bin Laden and Charles Darwin had Fomalhaut in paran with their Mercury. Both had beliefs which ran against the main stream of society - we know who was honest and true in his endeavours, and who took the wrong approach and paid the price.

Mars making contact with Fomalhaut, brings increased energy to walk a different path from those around you. This may be artistically, ideologically, deceptively or even aggressively. Mars is in conjunction now too, so you can use the charisma and inspiration of these influences to find different and clever solutions to problems we may have. When Mercury joins Mars on this star on 7th and 8th, we can express our ideas or plans and thus put them into action. Matters of deception, faith, spirituality and ethics may be in the public domain now, and issues associated with health, hospitals or care of the sick or suffering may be highlighted.

David Beckham – One last move in a glittering soccer career

Here around Europe it is football transfer deadline day, the last chance clubs have of signing up new talent for their clubs before the end of the season. David Beckham has signed on the dotted line for French super club Paris St Germain, so he will be off with his kids and Victoria to Paris for a final swansong. Think about it, he hasn’t done bad for an East London lad, has he? From Manchester United, probably the most famous club in the world to Real Madrid, to Milan to play for AC, Los Angeles and the Galaxy, playing and being captain for England of course and now to Paris to finish off an incredible career. Add in being an ambassador for the London Olympics, fashion icon, model, and through it all he has kept his image clean cut and I have never heard him say a bad word about anyone. How does he do it and what is he like? Lets have a quick look at his horoscope.

Mars conjunct Neptune - Providing a little bit of inspiration, or deception…

Mars is now rapidly getting close to a conjunction with Neptune, it actually occurs on 4th February but the initial effects of this conjunction will be felt already. This is one of those aspects that you never know how it is going to affect you, whether it's going to promote positive or unfortunate effects.

We have the planet of action of force making a connection with the planet of dreams, imagination, escapism and deception. Quite a mixed bag there as you may be able to understand. On a positive note, this conjunction stimulates us to act on our ideals, that which we dream and long for. In an artistic manner, Mars conjunct Neptune is charismatic and inspirational, great for using your imagination to solve any issue, and I also think it can promote a more mystic and psychic atmosphere, one where you become more receptive to the moods swirling around you. This is a wonderful aspect for helping others, being active in aiding the suffering, being charitable or of service to those who need help.

All well and good, but Neptune has a much darker side too. The conjunction can encourage wrong doing, slight of hand, it can deceive us into believing that fantasy is actually real. Neptune's connection to alcohol, drugs and illegal practices is given a boost now, so be careful not to engage in something that you didn't plan to get yourself into. The chances of this happening are quite high, seeing as this conjunction will be square to expansive Jupiter, breeding false confidence and optimism. My advice to to keep your feet firmly on the ground and your wits about you for the time being.

Neptune rules water, gas and noxious substances and this is possibly while Israel has used force (Mars) this morning in a pre-emptive strike against a Syrian chemical (Neptune) research plant, as according to the BBC it fears chemical based weapons falling into enemy Palestinian hands. Smoke and mirrors or a real threat? Under Mars conjunct Neptune, you never really know.

This conjunction has two parts to it as Mars makes it's initial contact on approach while in Aquarius, before making the actual contact in Pisces. It suggest to me a harder more severe edge it it during the Mars in Aquarius phase, before the softer more imaginative but deceptive side takes hold as Mars enters Pisces...

As I mentioned at the outset, with Neptune and Mars, you get a real concoction of influences happening, and it is difficult for any astrologer to get a correct interpretation on this one. Much the best to use your instincts which are heightened by these planets to see your way though the mist that is descending...

Saturn conjunct Acrux - Reconstructing that which has gone before.

Not many star to planet connections this week but we do have the start of a long term connection which will last until 14th March. Saturn is now in conjunction with the fixed star Acrux, the brightest star in the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross and I think it is an important one.

Now despite the picture we have here, there are no religious connections surrounding this star, no this is more to do with the physical connotations of the cross. The cross is a strong stable structure, and at the heart of any astrological chart which I study is a cross. From 1st house to 4th, 7th house to 10th, the angular houses of the chart are the most important. They describe our body and physical presence (Ascendant), out foundation and roots (IC), where we encounter other people (Descendant) and our pubic persona (Midheaven). On the astrological chart, the soul meets this physical world we live in and the planets and other bodies describe our journey through it. Acrux represents the physical world I describe, the resources we need for the soul to complete it's mission.

Saturn the great teacher reaching this star challenges the structure of the cross, tests the stability of the structures we have built. If they are strong, then they will survive Saturn's visit and may be yet strengthened, but if they are really weak or flawed, then we will have to rebuild. On a more personal level, Saturn is running the rule over a part of your life. If he doesn’t like what he sees right now, he may change the rules to make sure we comply to his standards. As the Southern Cross constellation sits within the boundaries of Scorpio, we have a a focus here on the structures of big business, of financial institutions, on handling other people's money and possessions, even death and rebirth. These are the targets of Saturn in particular now, aided and abetted by it's long term sextile to Scorpio's ruler Pluto. If ever we are going to see financial restructuring to combat the excesses of the corruption that lead to the crash of the markets in the past 5 years, now will be the time, however this is a double hit as Saturn turns on Acrux and will return for a second bite of the cherry in October 2013 when it's work in this part of the sky will be complete. As such we may see the initial plans set out now, before action is taken later on in the year.

As for you how might this conjunction affect you, just look to the Scorpio house on your chart and this point will be a point of "potential" transformation or strengthening, the structure of your life which could be altered here by Saturn's visit, especially if you have any planets or angles at 12 degrees Scorpio (Acrux's position). For example, if the point 12 Scorpio in your second house, then you can expect some transformation in the way you handle money, in the 4th in your home life and family may be affected by major changes, in the 7th a relationship may need some work done to it, in your 10th your work life may see a drastic change or maybe an improvement. Remember, Saturn will only have a detrimental effect if this area of your life is already weak and unstable. This first hit is like a surveyor assessing a building before the construction (or demolition) guys move in to do their thing. By the time we reach October 2013 that is when you will be able to see the full effects of Saturn's work.