Invasion OF THE OUTER PLANETS

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Have you ever done something that you were taught was impossible? Perhaps you drove your car for a distance of ten or twenty miles and, when you arrived at your destination, you didn't remember the trip; you realized, after the fact that you had been driving on "automatic pilot". How much time had elapsed? At what speed had you been driving? How could you have safely driven the car and yet been unconscious of the process?

Or maybe on another occasion you responded to a particular situation in a manner that was totally uncharacteristic of your usual behavior, or what others defined as "appropriate". You might have opened your mouth and heard something come out that was a complete surprise. At some time in your life, have circumstances required you to do something you had never done before? Something you were taught, or had always told yourself, was an impossible feat? Or maybe you witnessed an event that you later discovered never really happened. You might have vividly remembered a conversation that never really occurred.

Have you ever committed to a relationship with someone who turned out to be very different from what you originally believed? How could you have been so blind not to see what now appears so obvious? Have you ever fooled yourself in other ways and wondered later how you could have been so naive?

These kinds of experiences can only happen when you are functioning outside consciousness. All of these experiences are normal modus operandi for Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. They represent unconscious parts of you that are constantly attempting to teach you that there is more to life than what text books lead you to believe; you can do more than what you have been taught by the familial and social structures that surround and shape your everyday life. Sometimes, in the process of making their energies known to you, the outer planets create disruptions, uncertainties, or fears. At other times, these same planetary energies create excitement, exhilaration, vision, inspiration, profound understanding and liberation from the limitations of the past.

The outer planets represent parts of you that want you to be all that you can be, rather than being content with simply who you are. They represent parts of you that want you to explore what's unknown, look beyond the immediate for answers, experiment with life, and constantly grow as a result of your risk-taking adventures. These adventures can be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, but they are adventures never the less, and they always lead you to a surprise destination.

Each one of us is made up of many different "parts:"

• Moon: the part of you that wants you to be safe and secure: 
• Mercury: the part of you that wants information.
• Venus: the part of you that wants you to feel good, to know and be loved.
• Sun: the part of you that wants to shine and be confident; the part of you that puts the lights on things that once were dark.
• Mars: the part of you that wants you to be independent and assertive.
• Jupiter: the part of you that wants more! More social interaction and opportunity to expand in the outer world.
• Saturn: the part of you that wants stability, recognition, rules and, yes, even limits.

While these parts, represented by the personal and social planets, find avenues to get what they want within society' s existing structures, the parts of you represented by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are much more complex. They represent urges that encourage you to move beyond reality as it is defined at any given stage of your life. The outer planets challenge you to explore the unknown.

Uranus represents a part of you that wants you to take risks. It wants you to explore and experiment with life. It represents the part of you that wants you to be more than what your limited experience has proven possible. Uranus is the liberator, the part of you that wants to free you from overly structured boundaries that prohibit access to the unknown. Uranus is the rebel. It thrives on excitement and is repelled by rules, regulations, or structured organization. It represents a living force inside of you that sometimes must go to extremes to make its needs known to your conscious ego.

Like any family unit, the planets, representing your internal cast of characters, must learn to function with mutual respect and recognize each other's importance. When one part of you attempts to dominate or control other members of your "family," no matter how good its intentions might be, internal strife and imbalance are experienced. This internal strife is projected onto and into your external activities.

For example, if the part of you that wants to keep you safe and protected (Moon) attempts to block the natural expression of your inner rebel (Uranus), a personal crisis is experienced. Two individual parts of you are attempting to function at cross-purposes. Uranus, like an out-of-control adolescent, will retaliate by creating frequent emotional upheavals or inappropriate behavioral outbursts until you recognize the importance of its role, which is to stimulate change, progress and evolution. Until the part of you that wants guaranteed safety (Moon) realizes that stagnation, not security, is what results from lack of fluidity and movement, Uranus will create crisis after crisis in its attempt to prod you forward.

In the example just given, it is of equal importance for Uranus, as one member of your inner 'family," to recognize, respect, and appreciate the needs of the Moon. When functioning creatively, the part of you that wants protection and security (Moon) is familiar with the part that wants change and progress (Uranus). When these two functions work together, as a team, you know that it's possible to explore and experiment with life creatively and still feel safe and protected. When this outcome is attained, you can be assured that you have integrated these two planetary forces in your life.

Uranus thrives on chaos. When your life feels completely out of control, as if you are riding on the most exciting, but frightening, roller coaster ride of your life, the part of you that is Uranus is ecstatic. Uranus thrives on excitement and risk. Its purpose is to help you evolve, to discover dimensions of life that go beyond the limits of social definition or permission. It may choose, or find it necessary, to create this outcome by provoking crisis. The more unbending, rigid, or fearful you are, the louder Uranus must holier to make its needs heard, the more dramatic its actions must be. Sometimes, like an adolescent rebelliously trying to break free from family restraints to discover his or her true identity, Uranus seems to go too far in its attempt to find release. If you see this beginning to occur in your life, remind yourself that a part of you, named Uranus, wants and deserves to be heard, wants and deserves a chance to have center stage, wants and deserves a chance to contribute to your personal evolution.

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Uanus thrives on chaos. When yor life feels completely out of control, as if you are riding on the most exciting, but frightening, roller coaster ride of your life, the part of you that is Uranus is ecstatic. Uranus thrives on excitement and risk. Its purpose is to help you evolve, to discover dimensions of life that go beyond the limits of social definition or permission. It may choose, or find it necessary, to create this outcome by provoking crisis. The more unbending, rigid, or fearful you are, the louder Uranus must holier to make its needs heard, the more dramatic its actions must be. Sometimes, like an adolescent rebelliously trying to break free from family restraints to discover his or her true identity, Uranus seems to go too far in its attempt to find release. If you see this beginning to occur in your life, remind yourself that a part of you, named Uranus, wants and deserves to be heard, wants and deserves a chance to have center stage, wants and deserves a chance to contribute to your personal evolution.

It is important to recognize and appreciate the reasons that stand behind the disruptions Uranus is so frequently blamed for creating. The intent of the action, rather than the action itself, is this planet's only concern. Uranus is not concerned with what it considers trivia: things like possessions, social protocol, security or obsolete beliefs. It simply but dramatically wants you to change, to grow, to explore, and to experiment. When it deems that the time has come for change, and you consciously refuse to flow with it, Uranus will find whatever way it can to do its job. If it has to create upheaval, then so be it.

It has been said that the outer planets are "bigger than you are." They deal with energies and issues that are greater than personality, even though they manifest through it. Uranus, for example, will promote change, whether you consciously want change or not. It will keep your life topsy-turvy until you finally acknowledge and own the important role it plays in your life until you accept it as part of who you are.

Uranus is called evolution, progress, change. Fighting progress is seldom productive. Uranus encourages eccentricity, eclecticism, and detachment. It challenges you to let go of the past. It invites and welcomes surprise, excitement, and originality. It rules the unexpected because it is often the surprising, unexpected events that make you aware of something about yourself that you never knew before, and probably never would have discovered had it not been for Uranus' surprise intervention. Sometimes its surprises are frightening. Other times they are stimulating, provocative, and exciting. How you respond to the changes it encourages can only be defined by how you, and all of your complex parts (planets), view progress.

When Uranus is "playing" with your life, it is important that you consciously touch base with all other members of your "family." For example, if you do not consciously access the Moon (your urge to protect and be protected), you could attract stressful and unsettling situations that are unduly dangerous to your emotional well being. Accessing Mercury, on the other hand, encourages you to ask: are my rebellious urges intellectually sound? Do they make any sense at all?

Venus/Uranus issues revolve around relationships and personal values. If Uranus interacts with Venus in your chart, you need exciting, stimulating relationships. Uranus constantly challenges the part of you that wants to please and be pleased, love and be loved. For Uranus to be satisfied in any Venus-ruled affair, it needs to see the relationship moving, progressing, changing.

At the same time, it is important that you don't get so involved in creating constant change in relationships that you fail to acknowledge their value (Venus). If Uranus dominates, valued and valuable relationships are often lost, and the part of you that wants love (Venus) feels cheated. Relationships are exciting, but they are usually unstable and not satisfying. On the other hand, when these energies work in harmony, and the needs of both planets are met, relationships are exhilarating, vital, exciting, stimulating, and progressive.

This same principle is applicable when assessing any and all aspects in your natal chart. Aspects simply indicate the degree of ease or discomfort experienced between any two or more parts of you. In all cases, the slower, or more distant, planet represents a part of you that is attempting to shape the expression of the faster. It is attempting to work through the function of the faster planet in order to make its needs known.

For example, consider a square between Uranus and Mercury. Uranus wants Mercury to think in progressive, possibly unconventional ways. Uranus challenges the Mercury-mind to take risks, dare to explore mental concepts that go beyond those you already understand. Break out of a traditional or conventional mind-set and explore the unexplainable, explore the unknown. Because the square suggests that this challenge is not easily met, one of two things could result. If Mercury shuts out Uranus, and refuses to investigate progressive ideas, Uranus will rebelliously retaliate by creating mental "short- circuits," unrest, and disturbance. This can happen in any number of ways. At the other extreme, if Uranus dominates and doesn't respect Mercury's role, the mind will function erratically and with extreme eccentricity. The way you express your Uranian energy simply won't make any sense to others.

At a positive level, this combination contributes to genius. Regardless of whether or not the aspect is easy or stressful, cooperation between the "thinker" (Mercury) and the "rebel" (Uranus) is the ultimate goal. Easy aspects, such as sextiles and trines, suggest that an amiable relationship was established at birth between these two inner parts of you. For example, a sextile suggests that constructive tools are available to assist the two energies in forming a productive relationship. Challenging, provocative aspects, such as the conjunction, square, quincunx, or opposition, require effort to integrate the energies. But regardless of the aspect, Uranus/Mercury contacts always imply a potential for ingenuity and exceptional originality.

Whenever Uranus overwhelms or ignores the needs of your other "inner people," instability and disintegration occur. For example, consider what might happen t

he first time you meet an opportunity to go skydiving... something you've always wanted to do. A part of you (Uranus) is excited. You can almost hear its silent voice saying, "Go for it! Its what you want! It will be exciting! Liberating! It will change your life forever! Jump!"

Uranus thrives on chaos. When your life feels completely out of control, as if you are riding on the most exciting, but frightening, roller coaster ride of your life, the part of you that is Uranus is ecstatic. Uranus thrives on excitement and risk. Its purpose is to help you evolve, to discover dimensions of life that go beyond the limits of social definition or permission. It may choose, or find it necessary, to create this outcome by provoking crisis. The more unbending, rigid, or fearful you are, the louder Uranus must holier to make its needs heard, the more dramatic its actions must be. Sometimes, like an adolescent rebelliously trying to break free from family restraints to discover his or her true identity, Uranus seems to go too far in its attempt to find release. If you see this beginning to occur in your life, remind yourself that a part of you, named Uranus, wants and deserves to be heard, wants and deserves a chance to have center stage, wants and deserves a chance to contribute to your personal evolution.

It is important to recognize and appreciate the reasons that stand behind the disruptions Uranus is so frequently blamed for creating. The intent of the action, rather than the action itself, is this planet's only concern. Uranus is not concerned with what it considers trivia: things like possessions, social protocol, security or obsolete beliefs. It simply but dramatically wants you to change, to grow, to explore, and to experiment. When it deems that the time has come for change, and you consciously refuse to flow with it, Uranus will find whatever way it can to do its job. If it has to create upheaval, then so be it.

It has been said that the outer planets are "bigger than you are." They deal with energies and issues that are greater than personality, even though they manifest through it. Uranus, for example, will promote change, whether you consciously want change or not. It will keep your life topsy-turvy until you finally acknowledge and own the important role it plays in your life until you accept it as part of who you are.

Uranus is called evolution, progress, change. Fighting progress is seldom productive. Uranus encourages eccentricity, eclecticism, and detachment. It challenges you to let go of the past. It invites and welcomes surprise, excitement, and originality. It rules the unexpected because it is often the surprising, unexpected events that make you aware of something about yourself that you never knew before, and probably never would have discovered had it not been for Uranus' surprise intervention. Sometimes its surprises are frightening. Other times they are stimulating, provocative, and exciting. How you respond to the changes it encourages can only be defined by how you, and all of your complex parts (planets), view progress.

When Uranus is "playing" with your life, it is important that you consciously touch base with all other members of your "family." For example, if you do not consciously access the Moon (your urge to protect and be protected), you could attract stressful and unsettling situations that are unduly dangerous to your emotional well being. Accessing Mercury, on the other hand, encourages you to ask: are my rebellious urges intellectually sound? Do they make any sense at all?

Venus/Uranus issues revolve around relationships and personal values. If Uranus interacts with Venus in your chart, you need exciting, stimulating relationships. Uranus constantly challenges the part of you that wants to please and be pleased, love and be loved. For Uranus to be satisfied in any Venus-ruled affair, it needs to see the relationship moving, progressing, changing.

At the same time, it is important that you don't get so involved in creating constant change in relationships that you fail to acknowledge their value (Venus). If Uranus dominates, valued and valuable relationships are often lost, and the part of you that wants love (Venus) feels cheated. Relationships are exciting, but they are usually unstable and not satisfying. On the other hand, when these energies work in harmony, and the needs of both planets are met, relationships are exhilarating, vital, exciting, stimulating, and progressive.

This same principle is applicable when assessing any and all aspects in your natal chart. Aspects simply indicate the degree of ease or discomfort experienced between any two or more parts of you. In all cases, the slower, or more distant, planet represents a part of you that is attempting to shape the expression of the faster. It is attempting to work through the function of the faster planet in order to make its needs known.

For example, consider a square between Uranus and Mercury. Uranus wants Mercury to think in progressive, possibly unconventional ways. Uranus challenges the Mercury-mind to take risks, dare to explore mental concepts that go beyond those you already understand. Break out of a traditional or conventional mind-set and explore the unexplainable, explore the unknown. Because the square suggests that this challenge is not easily met, one of two things could result. If Mercury shuts out Uranus, and refuses to investigate progressive ideas, Uranus will rebelliously retaliate by creating mental "short- circuits," unrest, and disturbance. This can happen in any number of ways. At the other extreme, if Uranus dominates and doesn't respect Mercury's role, the mind will function erratically and with extreme eccentricity. The way you express your Uranian energy simply won't make any sense to others.

At a positive level, this combination contributes to genius. Regardless of whether or not the aspect is easy or stressful, cooperation between the "thinker" (Mercury) and the "rebel" (Uranus) is the ultimate goal. Easy aspects, such as sextiles and trines, suggest that an amiable relationship was established at birth between these two inner parts of you. For example, a sextile suggests that constructive tools are available to assist the two energies in forming a productive relationship. Challenging, provocative aspects, such as the conjunction, square, quincunx, or opposition, require effort to integrate the energies. But regardless of the aspect, Uranus/Mercury contacts always imply a potential for ingenuity and exceptional originality.

Whenever Uranus overwhelms or ignores the needs of your other "inner people," instability and disintegration occur. For example, consider what might happen the first time you meet an opportunity to go skydiving... something you've always wanted to do. A part of you (Uranus) is excited. You can almost hear its silent voice saying, "Go for it! Its what you want! It will be exciting! Liberating! It will change your life forever! Jump!"