| From PS-Magazine.com Astrology Uranus, the Great Awakener, by Jessica Murray By Jessica Murray Sep 24, 2005, 13:45
Uranus, the planet of revolution, incites an urge to break through and break out. Its purpose is to promote the impulse within each of us to explode the rules that define our context. When Uranus is strong, either natally or by transit, we may find ourselves daring to be exceptional. An event may come along that seems to necessitate our defiance, or a spontaneous inner willingness may bubble up within us to open ourselves to risk.
Beyond the ego Uranus is a trans-Saturnine planet. Planets that orbit beyond Saturn represent states of awareness that reach beyond what Saturn governs (the ego structure). Thus Uranus operates by laws that supercede those imposed by our ego’s needs, desires and values.
Like Neptune and Pluto, it takes its orders from a part of our greater identity (variously called the Higher Self, the Oversoul, the Universal Mind, etc.; that part of the self which mediates between our egos and divine consciousness). This part of us is driven by impulses which transcend conscious intention, which is what makes Uranus both so confusing and so powerful.
Uranus in the natal chart Individuals who were born when Uranus was prominent in the sky are probably more comfortable with Uranus’ clarion call than are the rest of us. Through sheer familiarity, a person born with Uranus rising, for example, or Uranus conjunct a personal planet, will tend to be less taken aback by sudden disruption. These folks are meant to be role models for everybody else. They have hopefully learned to take Uranus in stride, and are probably not going to get all shocked and appalled when life throws them a curve ball.
Uranus is one of those planets that depend utterly on the right approach. When our perspective is sufficiently detached, natal Uranus can be used to keep us on our toes in that area designated by its house position. Uranus stations -- retrograde or direct pivots along the planet’s orbit -- give us sharp reminder to stay flexible. Since we already know that things tend to shift without warning in the part of our lives designated by the planet’s natal position, we already expect the unexpected in that arena. Ideally, our experience with those particular activities has taught us to relax and allow change to find us.
By contrast, if we approach our natal Uranus with a lack of perspective, our impulse will be to cast blame upon whatever it is that seems to be unsettling our comfort zone. This is a misuse of Uranus’ intent. It is based upon the fallacy that the agents spurring the changes operate in a different universe from our cherished plans. This fallacy would break down if we allowed ourselves to look at how the type of events now throwing us for a loop in fact fit into a distinct pattern, suggestive of a lifelong theme; one which we might align ourselves with, rather than resist.
Someone born with Uranus in their sixth house, for example, who reacts with dismay to each on-the-job shift, might consider that there is a soul-driven reason why instability dogs them in their work life. For this person, the work environment is fated to be constantly refreshed and revitalized. The native is ideally suited to model, for her co-workers and others, a spontaneous approach to everyday vicissitudes. Conversely, for someone with this placement to cleave to the standard expectations of their employment situation would not only cause a lot of unnecessary stress, but it would not work. And what a waste of Uranian potential!
Similarly, the person with Uranus in their natal seventh house who habitually attracts flighty partners, or geniuses, or iconoclasts, might give a thought to the phenomenon of astrological projection. In the 7th house of relationships, this would take the form of projecting one’s own unconscious need for originality and unconventionality onto the partner.
A rule of thumb with projection is that things go more smoothly when we take back the qualities we have been giving away. Not only do we then get in touch with the impulse within ourselves which generates the pattern, scoring a point for self-knowledge over denial; but we can play out the archetype in a more enlightened form. Instead of attracting the “wrong” partners, we would begin making deliberate use of the like-attracts-like principle. We would dedicate ourselves to embodying, in our relationships, the Uranian principle of freedom; which would mean championing the independence of both people involved. The result is a very free and freeing relationship.
Take a look at the placement of your natal Uranus. This is where you are being given lifelong lessons in how to develop first acceptance, then respect, and finally gratitude for changes whose time have come. Realize that the twists and turns -- in whatever part of your chart Uranus resides -- will not stop coming. The changeability itself is not supposed to change. Our attitude towards it is supposed to change.
Uranus by transit A look at where Uranus is transiting the birth chart will reveal where the station will try to zap the complacency right out of us. Known as The Great Awakener, Uranus bestows a new alertness to areas where we have been falling asleep, regardless of whether we want to wake up. Uranus is like a trickster at a party who catches us spacing out, sneaks up behind us and pops a balloon in our face. Uranian surprises are not malevolent, but neither are they merely whimsical. They pack a punch.
Uranus has been traveling through the early to middle degrees of Pisces in 2005. Wherever these degrees fall in our natal chart indicates where we have probably been feeling itchy for a while now, as Uranus has been provoking that department of your life by transit. It takes roughly seven years for this planet to traverse a given house. When it stations during its tenure there, issues that have been triggering a kind of background restlessness will pop into prominence.
If Uranus has been hovering around your Mars, for example, there may be irritability which can be your signal to translate impatience into positive, bold action. If Uranus has been aspecting your Venus, you may have been feeling dissatisfaction in your relationships. You are being nudged to own up to your feelings and to push the boundaries of partnership.
Uranus’ transit to the Moon shakes up the domestic life in a similar way, promoting an urge to break out of your everyday patterns, whatever that entails. On the Ascendant, Uranus goads you into prioritizing self-expression over relationships.
Jessica’s telephone number is +1 415 626 7795 and her email address is jessica@MotherSky.com. Her Web Site is www.MotherSky.com.
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A common misconception is that modern astrology makes predictions... centuries ago astrologers did, and some schools of astrology still do; most notably in those societies ..where the predominating world view follows a more fatalistic bent. It is psychology, however, rather than divination, that underlies most contemporary astrology in the West.