August 10/11: Mercury and the North Lunar Node make everyday life flow easier, while Mars and Eta Carina generate an explosive energy, with a positive potential if properly directed

August 10/11: Mercury, now resuming its direct motion, makes a trine to the North Lunar Node, a relationship that facilitates communication and can make everyday life flow much better than in previous days or weeks. Hence, it is a good time to arrange situations in our daily routine, communicating effectively. It is a good opportunity to untangle complications related to Mercury retrograde, and if you have put a project or action in stand-by due to this retrograde motion, now is the time to act...

     If everyday life becomes a little smoother, Mars in ecliptic conjunction to the star/nebula Eta Carinae indicates high energy processes. This mix may involve, if not handled properly, conflicts, accidents, assaults and even violence. Eta Carina is one of the biggest stars in the galaxy, and because of its mass excess, it becomes very unstable, producing from time to time eruptions that have created part of the nebula surrounding it. Therefore, the combination with Mars may involve an energy out of control, and in times as violent as those we experience, we must be alert. The last time Mars was in conjunction with Eta Carina, on September 3, 2010, there were several violent events around the world: a Taliban bomb kills 53 people at a rally in support of the Palestinian people in Quetta, Pakistan, there is a mass slaughter of civilians in Darfur, Mount Sinabung erupts in Indonesia, Volgograd and Saratov fires in Russia destroy just over 500 buildings, there is an earthquake of 7.1 degrees in Christchurch, New Zealand...

     Of course, each time a cycle is repeated it does not necessarily produce the same types of events, but it is important to realize at a personal level the magnitude of Mars/Eta Carinae combination to properly channel the trend in our personal field of action. This astrological combination may indicate an aggressive, egocentric and domineering attitude, but also one that can help achieve difficult tasks that cannot be done without a great motivator. The energy of Mars combined with the powerful ego of Eta Carina are useful when they are put to service a noble cause, when strength is needed to compensate for weakness, instead of just satisfying a need for power and control.

    Once gain, astrological combinations like this may make us think how the world would change if the resources spent on war and weapons were used to help the world's hungry population and with health problems. What are we doing in our field of personal action for this situation to be reversed? Maybe Mars and Eta Carina have the answer for those who know and understand their manifestation.

Carlos Duarte
Research Astrologer