Riding the Waves to Victory

VII. The Chariot

"Triumph over obstacles, achieving victory, focusing intent and will, establishing an identity, self-confidence, maintaining discipline, assuming the reins of power and authority, and driving with the unwavering certainty in a cause.  Control must be exercised in a constantly changing environment that can and will present challenges - in the landscape of a world that is constantly shifting with people and emotions and circumstances all around.  Like the tenuous border where sea meets sky, a constant tension of push and pull of air against liquid is maintained, and to ride to victory, one must be able to achieve the confidence and knowledge to walk upon that fragile surface."

"She is Winged Victory, the goddess Nike, or Maeve.  She comes sweeping from the skies, confident and sure of herself.  She has summoned the unicorns of the sea out from the foamy depths. They serve her willingly, bowing as is ever in their nature to such purity of intent. The ocean swells themselves are tamed beneath the enchanted wheels of her chariot. The glittering waves crash and roar with the strength of the sea, but as she guides her unicorns across the glistening track, the waves fall still before her and into a quiescent and shining mirror path.  This stillness in what is in eternal motion stirs awareness in the denizens of the deep.  From underneath, the spirits of the ocean whisper to the sea god, and in a swirl of aquatic color, they dance to the surface to greet one whose willpower and mastery is so undeniable as to be capable of overcoming even the wild, natural fury of the seas."   ~Shadowscapes Tarot

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Riding the waves to victory, like the goddess Nike.  But it's hard to see when you are in a trough between the waves.  Have trust; have faith; remember that when you stop struggling you will float.  Remember that you have the skills to handle this with grace.  Yes the terrain may seem tumultuous at the moment. There is a lot going on.

We are in the Dark Moon phase, the time for self-care, turning within and release, as we prepare for a go-getter of a new moon in Aquarius on Monday February 8th.  

The thing is, currently, Venus is about to make a conjunction with Pluto on Friday February 5th in Capricorn, covering the territory Mercury just went back and forth over as he went through retrograde.  Uranus is still making a square to Pluto in Capricorn from Aries and beautiful Venus is running right through the cross-hairs of that, while Vesta conjuncts Uranus and is opposed by Lilith in Libra. And on Sunday February 7th, the Sun in Aquarius (which Uranus rules) is making a square to Mars in Scorpio (which both Pluto and Mars rule).  That's not all that's happening but those are some of the biggies.  

Add to the mix that we are already starting to feel the March eclipse energy. You can generally feel the energy of an eclipse begin to build about a month before it.  Eclipses are representative of big change and the astrology is very involved with Uranus right now, the change god himself.  

So, as we navigate this intense little bit of astrology this week and over the weekend, here are some survival tips:

• It's the Dark Moon through Sunday.  Taking time to nurture and care for yourself can work wonders and allow anything that's bubbling up from your inner depths to be realized and released.  Allow.
• Relationship stuff is up, and coupled with the Dark Moon/Venus/Pluto mix it may mean stuff is coming up about how you relate with others.  Remember our attachments cause our suffering and our being open and vulnerable can be healing and transformative.  Venus is love and Pluto is transformation, you can be proactive on this and work the high end of it, or you can be reactive and find out where you are attached and maybe not your best self in relationships with others because of deeply held fears and past traumas.  Also remember that Venus is self-love.  Self-love is huge when it comes to our relationships with others.  See how all of this is fitting together or coming up for you now.
• There's a highly creative, innovative change energy in the mix with some beautiful feminine and transformative energies.  Uranus is innovation, change, and sudden upheaval.  He is nonconformity and going your own way.  He is squaring up to love goddess Venus on transformational Pluto while conjuncting Vesta and opposing Lilith.  Vesta is goddess of the hearth, keeper of the sacred flame.  Also think Kundalini.  Vesta is sexual and intimate energy and she asks what our deepest desires in intimate relationship might be. They come together in conjunction in fiery Aries but are opposed by Lilith, pure feminine creative life force, in relationship sign of Libra.  This is pure creative energy, that could be expressed in many different areas of your life.  It might be art, it might be romance, it might be sex, it might be choosing love of yourself over that of a lover.
• Mars in Scorpio squaring the Sun in Aquarius on Sunday the 7th is a tense aspect.  Mercury retrograde, in January, with Mercury joining Pluto three separate times, plus Venus in that same territory has hopefully given us a deeper understanding of who we are and how we are relating. Let's calmly and gracefully stand in our center and not get drawn into an unnecessary quarrel or battle.  This square might be an instigator but choose your actions from a place of knowing and wisdom rather than getting taken by the heat of the moment.
• We have a beautiful, innovative new moon happening in Aquarius on Monday the 8th that will add to the creative vibe. Until then do what you can to nourish yourself and ease any stress or tension.  Bathing in salt water, smudging, decluttering, deep-cleaning your home, being in nature and journaling are all things that might help this process.  Think about what might be playing out in relationships and old ways of being, thinking and relating that are coming up for release.  Clear out the old and make room for the new, fresh, energy that is on its way!

Think of yourself as the Winged Victory, the goddess Nike or Maeve, triumphantly riding the ever-changing waves with confidence and certainty. You have all the skills you need.  There is a part of you that knows exactly where you are going and what to do.  Trust that part.  Ride the waves to victory, with the wisdom that whatever is happening is part of your path, your story, your journey, whether you can see it now or not.