Corporate Transparency and the Saturn-Neptune Opposition

Clive Thompson has written a fascinating article in the current issue of Wired about corporate transparency: CEOs blogging about the inner workings and infighting in their companies. This trend reflects a dissolution (Neptune) of traditional boundaries (Saturn) in the face of bad publicity about corporate deception.

Neptune rules deception, lies, viruses, leaks. When a CEO puts out disinformation, he or she is eventually called on it. Bloggers expose the untruths, lending a viral quality to breaking stories that hurt a company's reputation. Hence, the only solution is to be completely honest with the public.

Libra Full Moon -- April 2, 2007

Relationships are difficult. It takes an ability to achieve homeostasis for a partnership to thrive. Even when waves rock the corny boat of love, equilibrium is (eventually) maintained in a healthy twosome.

One of the major challenges in a relationship occurs when one individual has a need that upsets the balance of the partnership. Let's say Jack wants to go to a concert on the same night that Jill has her regular girls' night out -- if you'll pardon my heterosexist example. Jack's favorite band only tours every couple of years, but Jill relies on the sustenance derived from her weekly ritual, and they can't afford babysitting nowadays. ("What, you can buy a $60 ticket, but you won't spend the same money on a sitter if we want a night alone together?") It seems that somebody has to give. Jack and Jill cannot both get their needs met simultaneously. A compromise must be made.

This Libra Full Moon illustrates the challenge of negotiating my needs versus our needs, with the Moon in relationship-focused Libra opposing the Sun in self-focused Aries. The light shines on the Libra side of this polarity, emphasing the need to shift a little. Compromise does not entail being a doormat, or surrendering to the other's desires and then feeling resentful. It is about a healthy give-and-take in which two partners sit down and negotiate their needs, both as two individuals and as a couple. Ideally, one partner is willing to forego their own immediate pleasure (Aries) out of love for their partner (Libra). This requires open communication, reflecting Libra's Air nature.

Full Moons are culmination points, and as such, energy comes to a head. In our relationship lives, the balance of "we" has been thrown out of whack by too much "me." How two individuals sort this out will be the dance of this Full Moon.

There's more to the story. Mars (ruler of the Aries Sun) in Aquarius is making stressful eighth harmonic aspects (135 degrees and 45 degrees) to the Sun and Moon, adding an "edge" focused on being independent, acting to detach from intimate partnership. This causes friction, and supports Aries' side of the equation.

Additionally, the Sun and Moon are making soft angles to Jupiter and Saturn. The Aries Sun is in a Grand Fire Trine with the planets of expansion and contraction, drawing on the supportive relationship between these social planets. What does this mean for our partnerships? Our one-on-one concerns take place within a larger framework -- religion, law, corporations. All the elements of culture that have been developed to support (or regulate) relationships are on our side. Although we may sometimes feel restricted (Saturn) or judged (Jupiter) by the powers-that-be, during this Full Moon we may turn to them to help iron out our differences. Use this opportunity to turn to a religious figure or a wise elder for assistance.

The Fine Print: This Full Moon mostly impacts those individuals with personal planets or angles near degree 12 of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Houses: If you are familiar with your natal chart, you will be able to determine which houses (areas of experience) tenant this Full Moon. By noting which houses are involved, you may be able to predict which "actors" you may struggle with during this period.

• 1/7 - your husband or wife, long-term partner, best friend, business partner, client, open enemy.
• 2/8 - psychotherapist, accountant, investment banker.
• 3/9 - siblings, neighbors, teachers, gurus, people from a foreign country, in-laws.
• 4/10 - Mom, Dad, the boss, the realtor, any authority figure, any nurturing figure.
• 5/11 - friends, groups, children, lovers.
• 6/12 - service people, co-workers, prisoners, hospitalized persons, monks, nuns.

Want to Get to Know Your Chart? Jeffrey Kishner is available for astrology readings.

Saturn-Moon: I Want My Mommy!

Transiting Saturn has been opposing my Aquarius Moon, and due to its retrograde motion, the planet of restriction and deficit has been hanging out there too long. The most pressing theme of this aspect has been a longing for Mother. No offense to Mom, but she could not have met each and every need of mine as a child. We all make do with what parenting we've received. I invested in about fifteen years of psychotherapy (and became a shrink myself) to heal my own wounds. I got to a place just a few years ago when I felt I no longer needed therapy, and I've functioned more-or-less fine without falling apart. But the ache for a mother figure still comes up -- especially when transiting Saturn puts a focus on my 'planet' of nurturance. Growth for anyone, in my definition, is being able to just be with the loss without filling the hole with compulsive behavior, or shutting down completely.

This is no small task. Part of growing up requires that we develop an "inner mother" to help us self-soothe when we feel small or anxious. In psychonalytic terms, we "introject" the mother, we take her inside ourselves. When do you know you've successfully done that? When you stop sleeping with your teddy bear? When you stop looking for mother figures in your lovers, your teachers, your friends?

It may be a life-long task. We all, from time to time, want our mommies. Life is scary. We take on new things, and want reassurance that everything will be OK. We want advice that only a mother can give. And yet, she's not available. Our real mothers might have passed away, or they just might not be very maternal. The archetype of the Perfect Mother who is all-compassionate is just that -- an archetype. More like Quan Yin than the woman who smacked you for talking back.

So with Saturn pressing down on my Moon, the lack is all the more apparent -- forcing myself to grow a mom inside myself. This looks different as I grow older. In my twenties, I felt like I was literally going to die if I felt an ache in my heart-center. Now, I experience that as a benevolent opening -- intense, yes, but not dangerous. I can tolerate my emotions better. In astrological terms, I can contain (Saturn) my feelings (Moon).

Everyone has a different Moon, depending on its sign, house placement and aspects to other planets. This complex combo will provide a picture of how you experience Mother, nurturance and feelings.

Everyone also has an inner mother. How we treat ourselves is often how Mom treated us. No better time than a Saturn transit to drop what doesn't work. And with transiting Neptune conjunct my Moon, no better time to introject the Compassion of the Divine Mommy.

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Pisces - March 18, 2007

Sometimes I listen to progressive metal, a hybrid of art-rock and heavy metal with guitar lines so low and loud, they shake every molecule of your body. Yet this music also includes all the pretentions of serious musicians intent on including odd meters and contrapuntal melodies -- not to mention lyrics about ancient civilizations and occult claptrap.

This solar eclipse is kind of like art metal. The Sun and Moon are conjunct (a New Moon ) in ethereal, musical Pisces, but in a tense square -- a 90-degree angle -- to Pluto, lord of the underworld. We plant our dream-seeds into the fertile earth, just a few days before spring, with the chthonic power of nature forcing our fantasies to either survive or perish.

Pluto drags our transcendent urges into the nether regions of our psyche, confronting us with our devils and demons. One spiritual downfall (to which Pisces is prone) is the propensity to meditate for hours on end, revelling in bliss states to escape one's very real problems here on earth. Altered states of consciousness are not ends in themselves, strivings to experience mental fireworks and out-of-body experiences. Rather, the "work" is useful insofar as it helps us to be more compassionate beings in daily life.

The elements of Self we have cast off into the recesses of our unconscious cannot be avoided, especially with Pluto blocking our path at the intersection between heaven and hell. An attempt to paint, write music or sit zazen releases all the twisted, dark images that have been rooting around in the basement. They can no longer be avoided. Instead, incorporate them into your art. Black paints, harsh power chords, chaotic dance moves ... unleash the hell-fire of Self and channel it into your spiritual strivings, creating the humus to bring your dream-seeds to life.

The Fine Print: This New Moon occurs at 28 Pisces. If you have personal planets or angles between 25-29 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) or 0-2 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), this Solar Eclipse will have a strong impact over the next year. Look to the houses containing 28 Pisces and 28 Sagittarius to see which areas of your life will be affected.

Related posts:

• Fear of an eclipse
• How to prepare for an eclipse