So there’s these people who when you meet them, there’s such a clash of egos that you’re glad you’re sober because otherwise the temptation would be to say something like “how about we have that made up on a t-shirt so you don’t forget just how great you are?” Seriously, anyone would think I was a threat. I’m encountering a few of these at the moment.

And I’m in a bad mood. Perpetually. Probably because I’m tired, but even when I’m not as tired as I currently am, the one thing I really can’t tolerate is intolerance, or stupidity or bad service- don’t get me started on that one. Anyways, I’m having difficulty faking the smiley face at present- everything seems to be a faffing tour of duty.

And, I’m tired- I already said that didn’t I? I wrote about the reasons behind that here– there’s a lot going on, but some amazing opportunities.

At present there is just so much that I have to do and so much that I want to do- and the two aren’t intersecting anywhere. In fact they’re so far apart I’m squinting into the distance- and we all know that squinting can be very ageing.

I’m resenting the tasks and duties that are inhibiting me from doing what I really want to be doing. So I’m trying to do it all- and it’s exhausting.

Yep, I’m in the middle of a Saturn/Mars conjunction. In fact Saturn finally moved from the degree of my Mars on Thursday morning- just as I sent off the manuscript I had been working so many hours on. But I’m not kidding myself- I have at least another degree, possibly two to go. Saturn transits tend to have a longer tail of separation than most other transits.

So, what can we expect when Saturn meets Mars?

Think about the energies involved.

The essential nature of Saturn is cold and dry.

In the body it represents the processes of ageing.

The direction of the energy is limiting and confining.

The essential nature of Mars is hot and dry.

In the body it represents the burn.

The direction of the energy is outwards.

When the two meet the outward energy of Mars is curbed, frustrated and harnessed.

Your energy is firmly focused outward, but other things are conspiring to turn it in on itself.

At it’s worst, you see conspiracy, red tape and blockages everywhere you turn. Your boss hates you and is deliberately holding you back and criticising your ideas. Your colleagues seem threatened by you, and it’s egos at ten paces. You’re accident prone- largely because you’re so tired and so frustrated and are in such a hurry to get everything done that you forget to take proper care and precautions.

At it’s best, the energy is one of discipline- where your focus and activity is firmly directed towards that which is most important.

Success is not only possible, but most likely in this scenario.

It won’t be easy, though. Nothing related to Saturn is.

When it comes to Saturn conjunct Mars, the thing you’re being asked to get real about is the effort required to achieve your objectives. If it’s worth it, if you really want it from the very depths of your being, you’ll be prepared to put in the hard yards during this transit.

If, like me, you have Mars in Scorpio, this transit will intensify the already intense energy with which you pursue your desires.

After that, the choice is yours. You work with the energy, or you don’t.

If you accept the challenge, be prepared to be tired. Bone achingly, jet laggingly tired. Like that tiredness you get after an all night long haul flight- but without the duty free.

Work through it. Keep your focus. Take more than the usual precautions- to do otherwise can mean your efforts are thwarted by accidents if you take your eye off the metaphorical road for a microsecond.

A bloggy friend said it best the other day when she said that if you don’t use your engine, it’ll rust over in the backyard with a horse blanket over it. As knackered as I am at the moment, I intend for a lot more miles to be clocked on my engine.

If you choose not to accept the challenge, that’s cool too, but please don’t blame the world, your colleagues, time limitations- the coulda woulda shouldas.

If you really want it, you’ll make the time, you’ll harness the energy and you’ll be disciplined.

As I write this I’m sitting in the passenger seat of the car on the way to Canberra.

It’s a 3 hour run, so I’ll get this blog drafted, one that I’m late delivering for astrology.com, and make a dent in my 1700 words per day target for my nanowrimo challenge.

I’ll do the same on the way back.

This week in my partition job I have a warehouse move that’s happening, umpteen meetings, some style look-books to complete and a heap of recruitment interviews to do- in 3 working days.

On those days I’ll write before work, and again after dinner. It means that much to me.

It would be easy to strike a highly dramatic pose, pop the back of my hand to my ever suffering forehead and wail something like “it’s so not fair. If I didn’t have to go to work, I could have this novel finished. I’ve got sooooo many responsibilities, I just don’t have time to do what I really want to do.” Or something like that. I won’t do that.

Some things will have to give. I’m not doing any readings or committing to any more guest posts until December. I’m saying no to social engagements that eat into my precious writing time- the people who know and love me will understand- those who don’t…well, they’ll have to deal with it.

I’m too busy getting real.

What about you? I’d love to hear from anyone with Mars in Scorpio- sometime over the next couple of years you’ll be dealing with this one? Which way do you see it going? Are you looking towards it with fear, resignation or anticipation at the opportunity of kicking some seriously cool goals?