Q. I have a number of male friends who are in varying degrees of inner turmoil and some are either recently separated or juggling joint custody of their kids. Are there some astrological events that go with the so-called “mid-life crisis”?
A. In my early years of practice I was very influenced by the very solid work of Robert Hand who wrote, amongst many others, the classic “Plants in Transit”. He spoke of the midlife transits, primarily Uranus opposition Uranus, Neptune square Neptune, Pluto square Pluto and Saturn opposite Saturn, all of which came around the 38-42 year mark, at least for those born in the 1950’s. For later generations, these are much more spread out, due to the varying movement of these great outer planets (which is perhaps why some, particularly men, feel that 35-55 is one continuing midlife crises!)...click 'Read More' to continue...
A. In my early years of practice I was very influenced by the very solid work of Robert Hand who wrote, amongst many others, the classic “Plants in Transit”. He spoke of the midlife transits, primarily Uranus opposition Uranus, Neptune square Neptune, Pluto square Pluto and Saturn opposite Saturn, all of which came around the 38-42 year mark, at least for those born in the 1950’s. For later generations, these are much more spread out, due to the varying movement of these great outer planets (which is perhaps why some, particularly men, feel that 35-55 is one continuing midlife crises!)...click 'Read More' to continue...
Each of these transits calls for transformation and revolution in an individual’s life and they are meant to be strong. Each represents deep psychological and spiritual processes, which is why those who have not tended to these parts of self have the toughest time of it. They are necessary steps in the process of growing up psychologically and, initiations into a much more expanded form of individuality that incorporates more of the spiritual and creative essence of self. Seen correctly, they are enormous opportunities for creating a more fulfilling life. However, those who don’t make the transitions on an inner level tend to start to die psychologically and spiritually from this point on, with life becoming progressively greyer and meaningless.
Simply put, Uranus opposition Uranus is a call to greater individual freedom, by cracking or crashing anything that has imprisoned the creative genius of self. Unfortunately the Boomers have tended to interpret this calling from a rather adolescent place, hence the drop the wife/red sports car/ young girlfriend syndrome. Certainly the outer reflects the inner but if the changes are not done on the inner level, targeting self-imprisoning mindsets then nothing essentially changes.
Neptune square Neptune challenges where we have anaesthetized ourselves to cope with the demands of the world to the point that we don’t know who we are or want we truly need. It brings to the surface the residues of all the emotions that we haven’t been able to feel, making us vulnerable and anxious as our system flushes out the plumbing. The end result however is the reclamation of our sensitivity, intuition and creativity, as part of the journey to live a life more inspired and directed by spirit and vision.
Pluto square Pluto does similar to the Neptune process but deeper and more ruthless. As a dark angel of transformation, he demands a death of the old self, so that a newer, more authentic and empowered self can be reborn. S/he works like a dredge in the bowels of our past, our lower chakras, our psychological deadwood. Out of this we can reclaim our true potency to be a creative and transformative agent in our world, emerging out of the rubble of our emotional naivety.
For all of the above, we need help, because of the intensity of these processes but also for all the fantastic possibilities that can come from doing it well. Men do need a lot more encouraging in this and the work of Steve Biddulph’s book “Manhood” is a good place to start.
Simply put, Uranus opposition Uranus is a call to greater individual freedom, by cracking or crashing anything that has imprisoned the creative genius of self. Unfortunately the Boomers have tended to interpret this calling from a rather adolescent place, hence the drop the wife/red sports car/ young girlfriend syndrome. Certainly the outer reflects the inner but if the changes are not done on the inner level, targeting self-imprisoning mindsets then nothing essentially changes.
Neptune square Neptune challenges where we have anaesthetized ourselves to cope with the demands of the world to the point that we don’t know who we are or want we truly need. It brings to the surface the residues of all the emotions that we haven’t been able to feel, making us vulnerable and anxious as our system flushes out the plumbing. The end result however is the reclamation of our sensitivity, intuition and creativity, as part of the journey to live a life more inspired and directed by spirit and vision.
Pluto square Pluto does similar to the Neptune process but deeper and more ruthless. As a dark angel of transformation, he demands a death of the old self, so that a newer, more authentic and empowered self can be reborn. S/he works like a dredge in the bowels of our past, our lower chakras, our psychological deadwood. Out of this we can reclaim our true potency to be a creative and transformative agent in our world, emerging out of the rubble of our emotional naivety.
For all of the above, we need help, because of the intensity of these processes but also for all the fantastic possibilities that can come from doing it well. Men do need a lot more encouraging in this and the work of Steve Biddulph’s book “Manhood” is a good place to start.
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