Sunday 8 December

Moon in Aquarius

As this post goes to press, all going well I’ll be boarding a plane. Where am I going? To Melbourne, for a few days with Miss 15.

It’s something that we do at least once a year- spend a few days together, that is. It’s something that we’ve been doing, at least once a year, since she was 4. It’s something that we both look forward to, and something that I think has helped keep our relationship as strong as it is.

At first it was just a night in the city and a trip to the zoo, a ride on a jet boat or a show. We’d have room service, watch a movie, and chat.

Over the years, as she’s got older, we’ve pushed that a little further afield. Instead of room service, we go out for dinner, we do some sight seeing, we do some shopping, we chat…and at this stage of her teenage years, it’s that incidental chatting that is most important.

Miss 15 has Mars in Aries, so direct confrontation or questioning, results in either her sticking her chin out (no idea where she got that from), getting her back up (that must come from Scorpio hubby), or shutting down with earphones and loud music (no idea where she got that from either). Instead, I’ve always been able to find out what I need to know, or get across the message I need to get across in other more indirect ways. The result is a far better relationship, far fewer battles, and generally a more peaceful home life.

Is it manipulation? Hell yeah. Do I care? No. She gets to learn how to be independent without feeling that every time my husband and I open our mouths that she’ll be challenged. That’s important for a teenager with her particular chart. We get to have a relationship with a teenager whose company we totally enjoy, and who smiles more than she frowns. That’s not to say it would work with every kid, just that it works that way with ours. It’s also not to say that I don’t feel gratitude and touch wood every day.

Speaking of fewer battles and indirect routes of action, the big news of today is Mars, or, more specifically, Mars moving into Libra.

This is something that an inordinate number of people are worried about. Yes, worried. They’ve told me so.

Sure, when Mars is in Libra, he’s said to be in the sign of his fall- in the sign opposite to that he rules….but is that reason enough to talk about anxiety, fears and worry?

The thing is, Mars in Libra isn’t bad- not necessarily. He does, however, operate differently in Libra (and Taurus- the other Venus ruled sign) to how he usually does. Instead of asserting his will and desires, he achieves it through manipulation, negotiation and compromise. And seriously, what’s so bad about that? Nothing…not really…it’s just different…and uncomfortable.

If you’re a pure Mars type- with the Sun, Ascendant, Moon or Mars in Aries, Scorpio or even Capricorn- you’re going to feel frustrated. Know this. If you continue to try and get what you want in the way that you usually do, you’re going to feel frustrated. Know this.

If, however, you employ a little diplomacy, a little tact, a side serve of negotiation and compromise, you might just avoid frustration over the next six or seven months. You might just also get what you want- it just may take longer than it usually would and be achieved in a different, less direct, way than it usually would. Over the next 6-7 months, rather than fighting for what you want, try giving peace a chance- as they say, you attract more bees with honey.

No, it’s not Mars in Libra that’s the problem…it’s what Mars does while he’s in Libra that is the potential problem- and that’s an entirely different story. It’s also a story that’s likely to impact more than just you. More on this as we get further into the cycle.