April 21 /22: The Great Cross of April 2014 , aligned with the Trifid Nebula, the Wild Duck Cluster and the Sombrero Galaxy show a critical time for humanity, striving for freedom of speech, adjustments in the international capital, the renewal of conservative customs, and the overcoming of selfishness

April 21 /22: This week comes with a Grand Cross in the cardinal signs of the tropical zodiac. A Grand Cross, Cosmic Cross or X Cross happens when there are two planetary opposition at 90 ° apart from each other. This forms a geometric pattern that has caught the attention of astrologers and people since ancient times. It has been given great importance in astrological interpretation because it is relatively rare, and because it mixes various angular relationships known as conflicting or difficult to handle, such as the opposition (180° ) and square ( 90° ).



Cosmic Cross : a conflictive and energetic pattern

     It is often thought that this planetary pattern can represent great difficulties and misfortunes, whether it is present at the time of birth of a person or in the events that happen simultaneously. The idea behind this fatalistic view is that the planets present in this combination are locked at odds to each other, creating a paralyzing conflict with each other that restrains them from solving problems , literally " crucifying " people or situations that are victims of the Grand Cross . While it is true that this is a configuration that may be conflictive, its alleged effect has been inflated and heavily distorted by the media, always hungry for ephemeral sensationalism. Following are some considerations to address this astrological phenomenon more realistically.

     A Grand Cross or Cosmic Cross is not such a rare event as one may think. In ancient times, when only five planets visible to the naked eye were known in the solar system, such an event was very rare indeed. After the discovery of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, the asteroid belt, Chiron, the Kuiper disk etc. . , the view of the solar system has been modified and widened. Unfortunately, this is not true for many of the astrological traditions, more moved by the force of habit than by a real investigation of our relationship to the Cosmos.

     This is not to minimize the effect of the Cosmic Cross that is happening right now, but it is important to know that many more planets and heavenly bodies, which we use as the hands of the great cosmic clock which is the solar system, such configurations are much more common than you may think. Many of them happen with asteroids involved, and are very significant, but do not receive any attention from the media, often not even from the astrological community. The events that coincide with them are usually attributed to other phenomena, sometimes forcibly. It all depends on the importance we give to the hands of the astrological clock, that is, the celestial bodies : planets , asteroids, Kuiper objects , minor planets.

     Of course, the fact that there are four main planets involved in this Grand Cross may make us think it is more important. I say main because we concentrate our attention on them either by their size, in the case of Jupiter and Uranus, or because their symbolic connotation, like Mars and Pluto , which are small  But the question why some of them are more important or not is the subject of another discussion. The point here is that we have two oppositions embedded in a square of 90° in the sky right now, and the event is significant in itself .



The core of the Grand Cross : The Uranus/Pluto square

     In any case, the Grand Cross is marked by the fact that it includes the famous and persistent square between Uranus and Pluto, which coincides with dramatic changes and deep regeneration in society, and which has been in effect since 2011 and will be until 2015. This is in fact a very rare event which happens about every 180 years and symbolizes a period of social unrest and cultural revolution. Nobody can deny that the political crises in recent years has intensified, but we are also refocusing our values as a society,  becoming more conscious in many areas of human experience. Because it is a square, an angular relationship of 90° related to struggle, conflict , effort and the development of the will, this revolution of consciousness occurs through a painful polarization and playing extremes on matters such as human rights, the exploitation of animals, pollution, corporation cannibalism and clean/dirty energy sources, among other topics.

     Thus, the Grand Cross of April 2014 is simply part of this process, the Uranus/Pluto square, and, in any case, it does accentuate it momentarily thanks to the participation of Jupiter and Mars. What I mean is that this Grand Cross is not an isolated process that happens suddenly, but it is intensifying a deeper process of political and cultural renewal, which is actually reaching one of its critical and decisive moments.



 The Pluto/upiter opposition: expression vs. control

     Let's see what the deep space objects may bring to understand the nature of this event. A Grand Cross consists of two oppositions. The first and most consistent is the Pluto/Jupiter opposition. Pluto is in ecliptic conjunction to star cluster M11, known as the Wild Duck Cluster, being one of the most abundant in stars in our galaxy. Most of the stars in M11 are type A, which represent communication and expression.

     This, at the global level refers to the manipulation exerted on the media and the attempts to control freedom of expression on the Internet. On a personal level, this refers to the need to express emotions and ideas that have remained hidden and need to come to light, whether it be repressed emotions, ideas that have yet  to materialize, constructive plans, creativity or opinions seeking manifestation. But the common denominator is expression. Express or not to express... that is the question!

     On the opposite side of the tropical zodiac, we have Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet, which represents an excellent rival to Pluto, with its giant magnetic field. Jupiter, which has a much more open and free attitude than Pluto , is obviously opposed to M11, but also in contra parallel to M20, the Trifid Nebula. This nebula, located in the constellation Sagittarius, contains in its interior a complex system of stars , among which dominate three giant stars of type O , B and A, of very high temperature, which stimulate idealism and expressiveness .

     The combined intense ultraviolet radiation these stars is so strong that is literally eating away the nebula that surrounds them: it has a destructive, competitive and dominant effect. Thus, we see that Jupiter,  opposing Pluto, actually balances the tendency to manipulate information and freedom of expression. Attempts to control freedom of expression worldwide will come up up with a fierce resistance. At an individual level , it means the possibility to express the hidden content (emotions , ideas , projects, creativity, etc. . ) more easily, with great intensity and strength. In other words, we must balance the control and suppression of information with openness and outreach. Although in the case of Jupiter, the manifestation may be exaggerated as seen by Pluto, who prefers privacy and secrecy.

     Moreover, the abundance and wealth symbolized by the 2,900 stars of M11, the typical manipulative tendency of Pluto, the competitiveness of Jupiter and the Trifid Nebula may well reflect the fierce struggle of capital in the world to seize markets and resources. This can obviously point to a destabilization of the global financial system. One more shake of the tree...



The Uranus / Mars opposition:  egocentrism vs. openness

     What about the other opposition contained in this Grand Cross? This one is between Uranus and Mars, and is more transient than Jupiter/Pluto. The Mars/Uranus opposition is aligned with M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, Mars conjunct, Uranus in opposition. The Sombrero Galaxy is in the constellation Virgo, and has several features that make it a rather peculiar object. To start with, it has a black hole of enormous size at its center: it has four billion solar masses! This represents a huge force of gravity, which in astrological terms represents a very strong concentration, so great that it can ignore the outside. In other words, a rather self-centered or selfish attitude. In addition, M104 is a very bright galaxy in the infrared, suggesting that its effect on the finances can be intense too. Finally , it moves at 1,000 kilometers per second , which is an indicator of acceleration in circumstances.

     The fact that Uranus is opposite M104 shows a tendency to rebel or manifest independence from a self-centered power. At a global level, it means resistance to monopolization, the excessive concentration of capital, power and resources. At an individual level, it refers to the need to break the concentration on our own experience, to open our eyes to realities different from our own. This process is definitely one of renewal, but because it comess through an opposition (180 ° ), it is certainly conflictive and manifests through the breaking of strong resistance.

     Socially, this reflects a fierce struggle between conservative and new cultural trends and the need to reform laws that protect human rights and the planet. If we do not change our customs and focus on them selfishly, we will continue harming people and the environment, more than ever. But it is also true that we can make the change from our personal and individual position, bringing our little grain of sand.

      But Mars opposes Uranus in this Grand Cross, giving more strength momentarily to M104 . In this scenario, the concentration of capital , and the resistance to modify rooted cultural , religious or political patterns and conservative attitudes will be strengthened, further hindering the renewal process. Ultimately, renovation will prevail despite the resistors: such are the universal laws of change. But in this case, the intervention of Mars retrograde will make the process hard, more painful, full of exalted confrontations, and unfortunately, in many cases, more bloody events. Of course, in its highest and most positive manifestation, the conjunction of Mars with the Sombrero Galaxy can be interpreted as an acceleration of circumstances, due to the high speed of this galaxy: the perspective can change quickly in some cases. The transit of Mars on M104 can involve a quick resolution, perhaps precipitated, to block the change or favoring it , according to the particular situation and the country in question .


Options and decisions of the Grand Cross

    As it can be seen , this Grand Cross is concerned, on a global level, with the fight for freedom of expression, a global competition of capital to control financial resources, the need to renew laws and customs that undermine human rights and those of the planet. Events that happen around these days and probably also during the following weeks , will be framed within this meaning. As individuals, we can do little to change social patterns at large, but definitely we can work on our own field of action to give this Cross a constructive meaning.

     To let these events "crucify" us passively would be a waste in this moment of global crisis. A better idea would be to use the large amount of energy represented by this event so that the cross becomes something like a helicopter propeller, which can be set to rotate and propel us to achieve what we would not do under normal circumstances. At this critical time for humanity, as individuals, we can change ourselves, so that  we can influence the environment around us. How? Communicating the creative ideas that have been sleeping within us, expressing repressed feelings , renewing our views, opening our eyes to other realities, breaking our self-centeredness, putting challenges that force us to excel, rebelling against injustice, promoting changes that benefit all, changing our consumption habits, bringing awareness to those obscured by their egos, speaking for the voiceless...

     In short,  we may get crucified, overwhelmed by a controlling and competitive environment, or we may  rise above the conflicts as a helicopter to move to another reality, another page of History. The decision is not in the Grand Cross, or any planet, as they only reflect what is happening to us, as synchronous mirrors that show our oneness with the Cosmos. The decision is within us. The wheel of Life is in our hands, although in the temporary shape of a Cosmic Cross...


Carlos Duarte
Research Astrologer