Mars Retrograde In Cancer - Taking It All Very Personally

(Mars is retrograde in Cancer from 15th November to 31st December, after that it moves back into Gemini, returning to move forward through Cancer early March 2008 till early May 08).

I wrote a while ago about the sensitive side of Mars in Cancer and its tendency to therefore have a low tolerance level for irritation and frustration (read that here). Well Mars in Cancer is now retrograde (appearing to move backwards), which means there's much more chance of feeling tetchy and snappish until we settle in to the change in direction that's now making itself known in a personal way for each of us. It's a whole new comfort zone for Cancer and that takes some getting used to.

Retrograde phases are famous for throwing up delays and obstacles into our path, but I have a theory that it's when we don't turn with the change in direction that we end up walking into the wind with a sinking feeling that the universe is attempting to thwart every best effort we make. Then it's a quick downward spiral into futility and hopelessness, punctuated by inappropriate fuse-blowing, courtesy of life's little banana-skin-on-pavement moments, until we find a way to go with the flow instead of fighting against the current stream of energy. As it's Mars that is the planet in question I'm not sure how possible it is to kick and scream your way to inner poise, so it might be best to develop a good sense of humour pretty quickly to see you through this settling-in phase.

To help you along here's Basil Fawlty's coping mechanism for the straw that breaks the camel's back. We've all been there, in thought if not in deed, just taking it all too personally; and Mars retrograde in Cancer is the beckoning finger of fate that wants to take you there all over again (and again, and again).

P.S. Basil Fawlty is a character based on a real life hotel owner Donald Sinclair, born with Sun in Cancer square Moon in Aries. Not exactly Mars in Cancer but not far off).




More Fawlty Towers here

Harmony Of The Spheres?

Harmony Shmarmony - best close all the windows before pressing go on this one, or you'll set every dog in the neighbourhood off howling. But thanks to Mystic Medusa for discovering this absolute gem from YouTube - a trip through all 12 signs of the zodiac using the medium of song and dance.

Style is kind of retro Las Vegas nightclub (though I don't know what Tony Soprano would have made of a serving of this while waiting for something a bit more Sinatra), mixed with Pans People - those purveyors of the 'literal' school of dance, which required lots of wagging fingers, shocked expressions and hands crossing and uncrossing over chest).

Difficult to choose a favourite bit, but Scorpio has the best line for me: "I can see right through your soul and out the other end". Quite.

Eddie Izzard And Aquastells

It's comedian Eddie Izzard's Birthday today - 7th Feb 1962, which means he's what's known in astrology as an Aquastell.

From the Aquastell website there's this description of these folk...

"The Grand Aquarian Conjunction of February 5, 1962.
High above the noonday skies of the central Pacific, the Moon gradually devoured the Sun, in a spectacular total solar eclipse. Packed together within sixteen and a quarter degrees, five of the solar system's planets bore witness to the spectacle. This exceptionally rare and dense "conjunction stellium" took place in the constellation Aquarius, and was seen by many as heralding the first tentative stirrings of the "Age of Aquarius". Those born during the two weeks either side of this event have come to be known as the "Aquastell Aquarians of 1962". Astrology suggests that they will be the most extreme Aquarians in human history..."
(website here)

Eddie Izzard has Sun, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury retrograde, and south node in Aquarius, which means he's an access all areas member of the Aquastell club. If you're wondering what wavelength the waterbearer works on, an Aquastell is a great subject for study because there's so many planets in that sign. Not all are comedian/actor/executive transvestite's like Eddie. But that's the Aquarian point - we're all snowflakes and finger prints.

With the Saturn/Neptune opposition between Leo/Aquarius in effect for some months to come, it's an interesting time for Aquastells everywhere, and for Eddie who has Moon in Pisces, the effects are hightened with Aquarius ruler Uranus's journey through Pisces.

Eddie Izzard info here and here, and here's a great clip from one of his stand-up shows, subject: supermarket queues.