The Second Uranus Square Uranus by Transit on the Horizon

In April of this year, I will begin the year long transit of Uranus squaring my natal Uranus. This is another of the major life cycle transits like Saturn Returns, etc. Stephen Arroyo describes Uranus transits in general as periods when we realize we have outgrown an old way of thinking and being, and Uranus to Uranus transits mark the periods of major shifts. The first Uranus/Uranus square is around 20-21 yrs when we break free to become truly aware of ourselves as individuals, the Uranus/Uranus opposition in the early 40’s is often referred to as the Mid-Life Crisis and this one in the early 60’s is when most people start thinking of retiring. Of course, we all do Uranus at our own pace and style . . .

Natally my Sun and Moon are both trine to Uranus giving me an affinity with Uranus and I am usually pretty good at anticipating the changes most Uranus transits precipitate. (This past year when Uranus was inconjunct my Moon by transit, it was a little more difficult mostly due to the uneven nature of the Inconjunct.) Uranus has been within about 5-8° waxing orb of the square for the past year and will be making the first exact pass in April ’08. Late last year I retired from my day job, a typical response to this transit, and have been putting energy into a very Uranian pursuit – Astrology!

Looking at the chart for the first exact pass, Uranus in Pisces forms a Grand Trine in Water with transiting Mars in Cancer and my natal Mars/Mercury in Scorpio. The Houses are the 4th, 8th, and 12th, all Water Houses suggesting I will be able to move through this transition with a modicum of ease. I’d venture to say this is not a typical Uranus square Uranus rite of passage. If someone is heavily invested in their career or public life, this transition can be very difficult. It is not unusual for men in particular to identify so strongly with their jobs they develop serious health problems and depression after retirement.

My Aquarius aunt did a very Aquarian twist in response to this transit. When she was 62 she went back to work part time at the local public library and worked there for the next 7 years. That is an example of the contrarian nature of the Uranus ruled! They go zipping off left when everyone else is going right. Most people are leaving the work force during this transit.

I dug around and read what I could find on the second Uranus square Uranus transit which wasn’t much. Most interpretations talk about withdrawing and caution against depression from feeling left out of the main flow of society, blah, blah, blah. I’m sure we’ll be getting a much more positive message appearing in the astro-blogosphere over the next year or so as the Boomers start hitting this point in larger numbers. I see this phase as time to move past old models and start developing new ones better suited to the active, generally healthy sorts we are. Shoot, I’m just getting going in my study of astrology!! :-D

Note how blue the trees in the background appear. We have Mercury conjuncting Neptune three times in the upcoming Mercury Rx and we may be seeing a lot of "blue" trees . . . :-)