Give strength to weak areas through the Saturn gathering with M3

Transiting Saturn in ecliptic conjunction with star cluster M3 indicates a time to give structure and strength to areas that require maintenance. 

     On August 18th, 2011, Saturn will be placed in degree 11th of the sign Libra, just the degree of the zodiacal position of star cluster M3. This is what is called an ecliptic conjunction, which of course combines the joint effect of both celestial features. These may coincide with various situations in our lives, and are in fact indicating a time to do heavy repairs and servicing to different areas in our lives. The effect itself may be felt from July 1st to August 4th, although its maximum intensity is around July 18th. Therefore, this trend will permeate the atmosphere in the background during the second month of summer 2011. It is therefore important to investigate what this ratio planet / star cluster is about.

     M3 is a large colony of stars in the constellation Canes Venatici, located above the constellation Virgo and zodiac sign Libra. When projecting M3's position to the zodiac, the zodiacal degree in which it falls is is 191, exactly at 11° 29 'Libra. Saturn will reach that position on July 18, 2011, as can be found at the diagram. Note that the red line represents the ecliptic or zodiac and its signs, while constellations are depicted in white. The signs do not coincide with the constellations of the same name are different things (more on this in the article of this blog: ). The positions of stars in the constellation Canes Venatici correspond to different degrees of the zodiacal sign of Libra, and ifferent ones of the constellation Virgo.

To understand the effect of Saturn transit sobrre M3, one must take into account that the latter is a fairly old stellar cluster and that many of their stars are exhausting their fuel and thus reaching the last phases of their lives. They are called variable stars. They increase and decrease their luminosity in a pulse that goes from a few hours to several days or weeks. This means astrologically a tendency to weakness, since there is not enough strength to hold back anything new, just enough to keep the routine. Thus, M3 represents situations that no longer stand easily by themselves, that require attention as their functions become obsolete. Maintenance is necessary and the best for this is definitely planet Saturn. He is This is because its effect is normally to balance and structure. This transit will coincide with situations that require catching up with an injection of strength and order.

However, it is easy to ignore this need, but then it is likely that circumstances will force us to do the opposite, to recognize it. The situations that depend on a set routine, of an old or obsolete organization, are the ones that will tend to fall apart more easily and cause problems. Therefore, we should watch with attention around us in these days and see what is asking for a renovation, maintenance, restructuring.

During the month of July, Saturn will make us see what are the areas that require all this, and therefore, throughout the month maintenance activities, renewal, reinforcement and protection of structures in general are widely favored. In psychological terms, the parts of our personality that have become obsolete will be under heavy questioning. To grow, we must adapt, renew and modify some views. M3 represents deeply rooted traditions that can also prevent the manifestation of new trends. Hence the transit of Saturn calls into question many of the procedures and beliefs that have rooted. If they do not, will we see Saturn´s effect clearly through the results of our mistakes. If so, we must balance extremst behaviour and perhaps temper our opinions about things.

The idea is to give force to situations that show weakness. Saturn is very strong lately as far as storms in its atmosphere are displaying a prodigious energy at this time. This may serve to balance the weakness of variable stars of M3. Balance that gives structural strength to a weakened situation, what a great way to spend the rest of the month! Of course, this indicates he collapse of situations at an international level. Some social nuclei, political situations and institutions will have large shocks as they might be outdated and need renovation, as is the negotiation of debt in the United States, the government in Sudan or other pressing situations. The circumstances that get fixed by the first week of August 2011, will corrected and then remain in a stable manner. But those that are not properly arranged by that date, may probably collapse or generate a stronger crisis, in the second half of August, having lost the right pace to improve.

Let's look for what happens in these days globally, but personally we can renew and give maintenance to things that depend on us, either at a practical level, in our head or in our hearts. Thus, we can capitalize on a trend that may otherwise be seen as a disaster, when in reality it is an indicator for a cosmic necessary maintenance ..


Carlos Duarte

Read the daily astrological trends in relation with deep-sky objects like galaxies, nebulae, stellar clusters and more in the GalacticGuide

About the "13th " sign of the Zodiac, Ophiucus, and the "sign changes"

     The idea that there is a "new sign" of the zodiac -Ophiucus- or that "zodiac signs have changed" has been widely circulated in the media several times in the last decades. These are the kind of rumours that seem to pop out of the blue from time to time and grab the public's attention. People usually do not remember that the same news was fashionable some years before. But, beyond ephemeral headlines or viral posts, these themes are discussed in astrological academical circles, too. What's this all about?

     The first subject of speculation is about the zodiac (from the greek zoo=animals and diakos=circle), which is the yearly path of the Sun in the sky. At some point, it crosses a section of the constellation Ophiucus. This is why it has been speculated if Ofiucus should be considered the 13th zodiacal "sign".However, this is not possible,as Ophiucus is a constellation, not a sign. What is the difference? A constellation is a visual group of stars, as seen from the Earth's perspective. A sign is a monthly phase of the annual seasonal cycle; there are spring, summer, fall, winter signs.They are two different things, even if they bear the same names. In fact, this causes much confusion between them. Many people assume that constellations are the signs, but this is not true. Not at all.


     In the following diagram, the Sun's path across the sky or zodiac, can be seen divided in sections. Each one is in fact a sign and measures exactly 30°. Signs are depicted in different colors and cross the sky through different groups of stars or constellations.

     In mid-December, the Sun crosses the southern part of constellation Ophiucus, in a zone that corresponds to the sign Sagittarius, as can be seen in the next diagram:

     However, signs do not match the constellations of the same name. This is because signs are slowly receding through the relatively fixed background of stars. This movement of the zodiac is called precession of the equinoxes, but it does not imply a "change" of zodiacal sign. It just means that the signs move through the constellations.

     This is nothing new, the Sun's Ophiucus transit repeats itself every year, this is known since very ancient times and cannot be considered a discovery. The seasons of the year have also been well known for a long time, so the discovery of new signs is impossible. Further, the constellations as we know them today were mostly visualized and catalogued by the ancient greeks. Ophiucus has been a familiar name in the heavens for thousands of years. Where is the newness, then?

     Nowhere. The media regularly promote highly speculative material whose impact is based in a general lack of information on the subject. The goal is to generate controversy and attract people's attention for publicity reasons, whether lycit or hacked. It is also quite possible that the very same people that promote these ideas do not know themselves the astronomical truth. But, those who have the necessary information to question such news as "a new zodiacal sign has been discovered" (as if it was a planet) or "your sign has changed for another" (as if it was that easy), won't let themslves be fooled by such manipulative trap. I hope this will be a contribution for getting things clear. And, do not worry at all: your zodiac sign stays the same. Any doubts? Check it! Compare the characteristics of your sign with your actual personality. There is no better example for that than oneself.