“Psychic Molasses” Michelle Piller

This week we look at the chart of a woman undergoing marital separation. Compassion for herself and for everyone involved guides this creative meditation. She sets out on a new journey, and so we refer to her as our heroine, for it takes courage to forge this new path.

Our protagonist’s chart has the signature of Cancer the crab, so the pull to the past is powerful, especially with Moon in the 12^th House of subconscious. Just for added emphasis: the lunar phase is full. This is the end of the sun-lunar cycle, when Sun (Male/Husband) and Moon (Female/Wife) are at their furthest from each other. During the Full Moon phase, Luna shines her light on our issues with maximum brilliance. Moon is also the apex (release point) of a t-square with Venus and Saturn. Moon, and the majority of planets are in cadent houses, suggesting she is a great source of support. But who supports her? Cancer Moon teaches about initiating self-care – our heroine must first learn to support herself before fully appreciating and receiving from outside of herself. On the deepest level of her being, she already understands that there is no separation between herself and others. This is what comes from the powerful union – called a conjunction - of Scorpio Sun and Neptune. The need to actively care for herself is emphasized by Progressed Moon opposite Natal Moon. Progressed Moon is in conjunction with Progressed Sun and Progressed Mercury. It is hard for our heroine to avoid subjectivity of thoughts, moods, feelings, inklings, yes? Harder still to avoid living in these thoughts, moods, feelings and inklings, as they fall on the conscious-unconscious axis of the 6^th and 12^th houses.

And so the reluctant heroine asks: “Will I be able to let go of the anger I am feeling at my parting spouse – I feel very dragged down by the past despite knowing that I must move forward…how much more psychic molasses?” Her descriptive term psychic molasses becomes the title of this scene in her still un-written play.

We opened with a brief narrative on the Moon’s placement, because it is the Moon that most obviously points to emotions and the past. But there are other players weaving their threads into the same narrative:

Cautious Saturn feels insecure being the only planet in a fire sign – and in impulsive Aries at that, where Saturn is in his fall. Here, Saturn cannot restrain Aries’ energy. So he tries to emphasize his importance in other ways: a) he’s the handle in a bucket pattern; b) he makes more aspects than any other planet; c) he’s pulled into a t-square with Venus and Moon, exacerbating family relationship issues (for Venus and Saturn conjunct the family-career axis of the 4^th and 10^th houses). Add to this that Saturn and Mars are in mutual reception (they’ve swapped homes), and Mars’ power is heightened by his exalted status in Capricorn. This further hints at the dynamic tension in relationships.

Transiting Jupiter sits on Natal Mars, as if to expand and blow these issues up. And Progressed Mars has moved into the 8^th house of shared marital resources, ready to add gasoline to the fire. Transiting Chiron (pain) conjuncts Progressed Mars, so healing is required for an inevitable transformation (8^th house). Transiting Neptune sits on the same spot, fearful of deception, loss, seeping energy.

The Lunar Nodal Axis deals with relationship. Libra South Node suggests that relationship has been a hallmark in previous incarnations. This is emphasized by its placement in the house of family, an angular water house, a house of endings. Progressed Venus conjunct Natal Sun and Natal Neptune points to the idealization of romance and love. Are these inner stirrings based in fantasy or reality? Perhaps the question is moot for the key to realizing the soul quest of North Node in Aries is self-reliance.

Will our protagonist move out of anger to see the gift of a new life dawning? We look to the time from May 10 through June 1, when Transiting Mars will move through her first house of Self. During this time she will be able to more directly confront and actively release the pent-up feelings. The psychic molasses will lose its hold. But we peer deeper and wonder if it is closer to the mark to suggest that our heroine is angry with herself for having lost herself in love (Sun conjunct Neptune in the 5^th house of love). The angry tears will subside – can she hear her soul whisper to her that all of Creation – herself included – is formed from Love? There is no loss, only exchange.

It is a challenge to be self-reliant, but our heroine has taken on this challenge, for it is part of her quest, as written by Saturn and North Node in Aries, as well as Moon in Cancer. She will release the anger with herself and the mate from whom she separates, just as she will forgive her past and step into a future already in the making. She will do this in the sanctity of her lunar chamber, with water colours and paper handy to capture the images of a past waiting to be reconciled with today.