Copyright
2003. All Rights Reserved
What might
be called “keyword” astrology—the practice of simply
matching a catchy cliché with a particular astrological symbol—is
in the process of dying as more and more sensitive souls begin to
articulate the grammar of astrology. However, for the purpose of
this article we will focus on one particular facet, or keyword, associated
with Uranus— breakthrough.
Certain individuals who carry the archetype of Uranus throughout their lives
consistently break through socially or personally defined limitations to enter
into new and pioneering terrain. When individually or collectively Uranus is
active in our lives, we are summoned to let go of past security habits and embrace
the new, the original, and the innovative. Uranus is not symbolic of the long
process of labor, or slow and consistent evolution, but the actual moment of
birth: awakening, liberating, cracking, dawning. In their own personal way, the
individuals below have made recent headlines by demonstrating how this breakthrough
force associated with Uranus manifests in our lives.
Breaking
into the Good Ol’ Boys Club: Annika Sorenstam
See Annika Sorenstam's Noon
Solar Chart
In May,
one of the top golfers on the women’s circuit, Annika Sorenstam,
became the first woman in over fifty years to enter a tournament
in the male-dominated PGA. In the highly traditional, highly conservative
sport of golf, Sorenstam’s move to participate in the Colonial
Open divided opinion and created a storm of controversy. The number
of male golfers on the circuit ready to embrace change argued that
Sorenstam had the skills to play on the PGA and should be given equal
opportunity. However, the majority of male professionals were disgruntled
and peeved, citing that the proper place for a female golfer is the
professional tour created specifically for women, the LPGA.
Regardless
of temperament, we all feel the trappings of convention and tradition
from time to time: the petty and stuffy rituals, the archaic and
ignorant attitudes, the limitations placed on spontaneity and authenticity.
However, the nuisance and irritation of the limitations of any social
tradition are felt on a much larger scale by the individual born
with Uranus and Sun in aspect, and these people are the ones to often
display the courage of doing something about it. Sun-Uranus individuals
are the cultural heroes who break through old paradigms and usher
in something new. Those with significant aspects between the Sun
and Uranus are likely to be the agents of change in society because
the self-concept and ego, as symbolized by the Sun, are identified
with principle of liberation, breakthrough, and disruption, qualities
long associated with Uranus. In other words, those with Sun-Uranus
aspects are innately predisposed to rebel, defy convention,
to break new territory and disrupt tradition.
Sorenstam
was born under a Sun-Uranus conjunction in Libra. Although not citing
socio-political reasons for her decision to play the PGA, Sorenstam
was displaying the traits of a Sun-Uranus individual. Winning over
half of the tournaments she entered on the female tour in 2002, Sorenstam
needed a greater challenge, something new to potentially master.
Many of us would have remained content and fulfilled with Sorenstam’s
level of achievement, however, the Sun-Uranus individual feels the
constant nag to do something new, to push higher, and to stir things
up a little when things get too complacent in our lives. Uranus is
the voice inside of all of us that says, “I’m bored with
where I am in my life, and I need to try something radically different.” The
potential for being misunderstood, for being ostracized, and for
failing often makes most of us to repress this type of voice. However,
for the Sun-Uranus individual like Sorenstam, the voice insisting
on change will be loud and clear and not something scary or to ignore.
The life journey of those born with Sun-Uranus aspects often has
more than the usual number of forks in the road that force one to
either stay in the fold of security or breakthrough into something
radically different and refreshingly new. The secret that many Sun-Uranus
individuals find out is that breaking the mold, stirring things up,
and trying something new is not only not as frightening and scary
as one would think but a necessary ingredient to composing a fulfilling
life.
Breaking the Silence:
Hillary Rodham Clinton
See
Hillary Clinton's Noon Solar Chart
Earlier this month, Hillary Clinton published her hugely popular memoir, Living
History, an account of her life focusing in on her eight years as First
Lady, including her truth of the Lewinsky scandal. Although not running for president
in 2004, Clinton grabbed the limelight in early summer, much to the dismay of
the Democrats looking for a presidential bid.
As the
book was published, Clinton was experiencing an exact trine transit
(or 120 degree aspect) from Uranus to her Sun’s position in
early Scorpio. When Uranus transits our natal Sun, something in our
self that has been hibernating or patiently waiting emergence suddenly
is liberated; we become fuller in our authenticity and our true self.
Moreover, Uranus often symbolizes the need to speak one’s truth,
to break silence, and to cut through pleasantry and artifice and
to “out” the reality of what is.
Some reviews
of Clinton’s memoir have described Living History as
a safe book, an autobiographical statement written by a shrewd politician
who knows the importance of timing and image. However, the intimacy
and candidness with which she describes much of her relationship
with her husband—and particularly surrounding the Lewinsky
affair—reveals to America a behind-the-scenes look at how one
couple dealt with the difficulties of infidelity under intense public
and political scrutiny. In this way, the book is a courageous first,
increasing awareness on a cultural taboo that is often not addressed
in a public way. Thus, Hillary is not only displaying the proclivity
of a Uranus transit’s ability to further reveal our own truth
and to manifest greater authenticity but to courageously shed light
and awaken us to culturally sensitive issues. In her own way, Clinton
broke through the traditional belief that skeletons in the closet—particularly
those of politicians—should be kept locked away, and, by doing
so, she set a new precedent of candor and forthrightness in the political
sphere.
Breaking One’s
Image: Jewel
See Jewel's Noon Solar Chart
For many pop stars, changing image and musical style is part of their oeuvre and
a key ingredient to the marketing of their persona. One must believe that an
essential part of the success of Madonna or David Bowie, for instance, is based
on the public’s anticipation of their rapidly evolving style and changing
image. Other artists’ appeal appears to be derived from their ability
to stay true to their roots and to develop one approach consistently over time.
Certainly, most observers would have comfortably placed Jewel in the latter
camp, however, most observers forget that we all have to contend with the life-altering
shake-ups of Uranus transits.
Currently,
transiting Uranus is forming a tight square (or ninety-degree aspect)
to Jewel’s natal Sun placement in early Gemini, and she’s
showing all the signs of one who is getting hit hard from the planet
associated personal make-overs and identity shifts. When Uranus transits
our natal Sun, we are reborn in some fashion, either rejuvenated
and revitalized, or even more significantly, we suddenly discard
old, outworn parts of ourselves in exchange for something fresher,
more promising, strange, or exhilarating. During a Uranus transit
to the Sun, old parts of our self-concept are broken down and
something new inside of us breaks through.
Jewel’s
musical style, appearance, and image have gone through a major overhaul
as she continues to experience her Uranus transit. On her latest
musical effort, 0304, fans know they are in for a departure when
the first sentence of Jewel’s liner notes reads, “This
album may seem different to you.” The dance-pop electronica,
the sleek and seductive personal appearance, and the lyrical content
all represent a radical revolution, not a continuous evolution, for
Jewel. Only time will tell if Jewel continues to experiment and veer
off from her folk-rock roots or will return to her musical origins
as the height of the Uranus transit dissipates.
*****
In each
of the above cases, Uranus is responsible for heightening awareness
and increasing consciousness. As Sorenstam charged into the PGA tour,
the time-honoured traditions of the Association were scrutinized
and questions were raised as to the suitability of the de facto rules
of the tour. Through the publication of Living History,
new light was shed on the personal lives of public figures who participated
in pivotal events of American history. Jewel’s new fashion
and musical sensibility woke fans up who were expecting consistency
and uniformity from one of their favorite performers. The breakthroughs
made in each of these individual’s lives shifts expectations
and shocks us from our complacency, and we are forced, for good or
ill, to awaken to new levels of heightened consciousness. As Mars
and Jupiter make potent aspects to Uranus throughout the rest of
2003, we, as a global culture, will make breakthroughs great and
small. The important question to ask is, “Will we embrace the
novelty, unexpectedness, and rapid shifts by letting go of the past
and embracing the unknown, or will we prefer to stay in old patterns
and hang on to the known and conventional?”
Data:
(1)Annika
Sorenstam
October
9th, 1970
Stockholm, Sweden
Sources:
--www.lpga.com
-- igolf.golfonline.com
---www.jockbio.com
(2)Hillary
Clinton
October
26, 1947
Chicago, Illinois
Sources:
--clinton.senate.gov
-- www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/hc42.html
-- http://www.zpub.com/un/billc-5.html
(3)Jewel
May 23,
1974
Payson, UT
Sources:
--www.allmusic.com
--www.vh1.com
-- http://members.tripod.com/~simply_jewel/biography.html
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