Is it just me, or does the world feel like it's in suspended animation?

[barbh]

Hi everyone

I do massage therapy in a major hotel downtown, and it has never, ever been this slow before. They say its the US recession etc....but people still need massages. I've heard that it's slow all over, and I'm thinking Mercury in retrograde is making it all that much worse. Plus, doesn't Venus and Mercury combust make it all that much worse as well? Venus rules beauty and massage, and combust, it could mean the industry is not at it's 'peak' right now. Or, just in general, venus and merc combust could mean everyone is feeling out of sorts right now.
Is anyone else finding this to be true? A sort of suspended animation, where nothing really comes together??

cheers
barbh

[gaer]

Originally Posted by barbh

Hi everyone

I do massage therapy in a major hotel downtown, and it has never, ever been this slow before. They say its the US recession etc....but people still need massages. I've heard that it's slow all over, and I'm thinking Mercury in retrograde is making it all that much worse. Plus, doesn't Venus and Mercury combust make it all that much worse as well? Venus rules beauty and massage, and combust, it could mean the industry is not at it's 'peak' right now. Or, just in general, venus and merc combust could mean everyone is feeling out of sorts right now.
Is anyone else finding this to be true? A sort of suspended animation, where nothing really comes together??

cheers
barbh

I think to look at why things are not at their peak right now is impossible to see purely from "now".

You say people always need massages. But they don't. I would like to think that people always need piano lessons.

The fact is that when things get really tough, people eliminate the non-essential first. Perhaps things are better in Canada, but I really doubt that there is anyplace in the world that is not facing serious problems due to the problem of skyrocketing oil prices (among other things).

The people I know in other countries all tell me that times are difficult.

Gaer

[DixieGent]

Remember this, when the economy goes bad people have less money to spend. So they cut back spending on luxery goods and servies, such as a massage. That could explain it, in simple economic terms.

I can relate to the suspended animation thing though. Seems like my life for the past three weeks has been the exact same. Nothing really going on, really quite boring. Moving along through life, but getting no where.

[barbh]

I know about the recession and higher prices...I was just asking about the astrological contributors on top of all that, merc retro and the combust planets. They have to be making it all worse. Just looking for a little bright ray of sunshine to look forward to when merc goes retro and venus leaves combustion july 9th!

b

[gaer]

Originally Posted by DixieGent

Remember this, when the economy goes bad people have less money to spend. So they cut back spending on luxery goods and servies, such as a massage. That could explain it, in simple economic terms.

That was my point. I wish it were otherwise, but it isn't. When the economy gets this difficult, people who are not really serious about music stop lessons. Music lessons are not a necessity.

I can relate to the suspended animation thing though. Seems like my life for the past three weeks has been the exact same. Nothing really going on, really quite boring. Moving along through life, but getting no where.

Towards the end of May, Saturn was square Sun/Venus. The meaning of that is obvious. But why are things not happening right now, for astrological reasons?

If anything, I think what we are feeling now is related to last fall and earlier this spring…

[barbh]

Massage therapy is completely different from music lessons. I'm a registered therapist and for a very high percentage of my clients massage therapy is covered under their medical insurance, so they get all of it back within a couple of weeks. I'm similar to a physiotherapist in that regard. They are not out of pocket for long. I'm sure it has less to do with the recession, and more to do with all the planetary action I mentioned before. I've noticed this before in regards to my work, especially when Venus was retro. There may be a few who consider it an unnecessary luxury now, but not many, since they don't have to pay for it anyway. It's really a mindset too I believe. I've noticed that in merc retro people just don't seem to have a lot of time for a lot of things....cleaning up old stuff or some such. Venus combust...anything venus ruled just isn't quite as appealing. I'm sure Jupiter retro has a part in all this as well....well, obviously its part of the recession too, so more of a larger trend.
I'll report back as to how well things are going in mid-July when the planetary conditions have changed.
thanks
barb

[gaer]

Originally Posted by barbh

I know about the recession and higher prices...I was just asking about the astrological contributors on top of all that, merc retro and the combust planets. They have to be making it all worse. Just looking for a little bright ray of sunshine to look forward to when merc goes retro and venus leaves combustion july 9th!

b

The things you are mentioning should be very short-lived. The longest factor of what you mentioned would be Mercury Rx, but that started on May 26 and will not end until Jun 19.

Sun conjunct Merc and Venus are also things that come and go fairly quickly. It doesn't seem that those conjunctions would affect your business unless people book on very short notice. Merc Rx might be something you feel even more. Where do these planets fall in your chart (transits)?

For instance, do you have any planets close to 17 degrees? If so, what aspects are formed between the triple conjunction and your natal planets?

[barbh]

Venus went under the beams in early April, which is when it all started to become much more obvious. She then became combust in mid-May, and still is, and still will be until July. That's a three month influence. Venus in Gemini...now there's piano playing in a nutshell,....Venus in Gemini under the beams and combust would be the worst time for piano lessons....for obvious reasons.

barbh

[barbh]

Thanks for your reply DixieGent.

I can relate to the suspended animation thing though. Seems like my life for the past three weeks has been the exact same. Nothing really going on, really quite boring. Moving along through life, but getting no where.Today 12:04 PM

That's more of what I was looking for...it's not just me! It is quite a weird feeling.

barbh

[archergirl]

No, it definitely has something to do with planetary aspects (and planetary aspects affect the economy as well...). I am having an awful lot of trouble getting things to 'manifest': usually manifesting is quite easy for me. Maybe a little too easy, so this combust Mercury Rx slowdown is a valuable lesson. But yes, I personally feel a little bit...static, or lethargic, or something. I'm trying to take things not on *my* timetable, but allowing them to move according to some larger timetable I can't yet see...

AG

[DixieGent]

Astrologically, I have no idea. This is just becoming a hobby for me...so I can't really say. It's more the effect of being home for summer. More of an enviromental situation really. Still, I figure it fit the mood of the original post.

The work issues though are based economically. Nothing you can do about it.

[gaer]

Originally Posted by barbh

Venus went under the beams in early April, which is when it all started to become much more obvious. She then became combust in mid-May, and still is, and still will be until July. That's a three month influence. Venus in Gemini...now there's piano playing in a nutshell,....Venus in Gemini under the beams and combust would be the worst time for piano lessons....for obvious reasons.

barbh

I'm not exactly sure how you time it. There are many different theories as to orbs for measuring such things. I had a steady increase during April and May, which were particularly good months for me this year. Last fall was absolutely horrible, the worst fall I've had in decades. Literally.

In addition, this is always a slack time of year for me. Summer has started. Things are STILL nowhere as bad as they were last fall. But I'm only one person.

What I would say is much more unusual is the particularly close relationship of the Sun/Mer/Ve, all at the same time. Such a close conjunction of all three planets is not at all frequent.

Regardless, I fully agree that things are very slow right now, in a way that I can't define. Apathy seems to be very strong now. Forums are slow, people are contributing very little, interest in many things seems to be very low.

[Jilly]

If I may add, I personally feel that this has been one weird year...like it never started properly, and now it is Summer :38: :38: it is like it got here without going through all the seasons before it. I personally shall be mighty glad to see the end of it, I have had a longing for Christmas all year, which is very very odd for me as I can take it or leave it.

Re the econonomy, don't know about the States, but here £2 is normal for a loaf of bread now, a decent quality loaf. Now that just is not right, bread is a staple.

Perhaps I should do what I have felt like doing for a few weeks now to cheer myself up....go dancing through a field of crops, can't be the yellow fields as the smell even being near them makes my face sting. Just have to wait on the wheat crop and then wave my arms about, dancing and singing to my little hearts content:34: :34:

[gaer]

Originally Posted by Jilly

If I may add, I personally feel that this has been one weird year...like it never started properly, and now it is Summer :38: :38: it is like it got here without going through all the seasons before it. I personally shall be mighty glad to see the end of it, I have had a longing for Christmas all year, which is very very odd for me as I can take it or leave it.

Re the econonomy, don't know about the States, but here £2 is normal for a loaf of bread now, a decent quality loaf. Now that just is not right, bread is a staple.

Perhaps I should do what I have felt like doing for a few weeks now to cheer myself up....go dancing through a field of crops, can't be the yellow fields as the smell even being near them makes my face sting. Just have to wait on the wheat crop and then wave my arms about, dancing and singing to my little hearts content:34: :34:

It's been a hard year for me and everyone I know, and I'd certainly go back to the Mars Rx in the last part of 2007 to start looking at why.

Yes, the reasons for a bad economy in the US in obvious, isn't it? But I don't hear great news from people in other countries either…

Gaer

[Jilly]

What do the more experienced astrologers amongst us think is at the back of it or is it just the Mercury thing?

One thing I noticed was a comment about last year, that most people would have lost someone. I thought that was a shame and no more than that, until I heard in April that a friend had died just prior to Christmas and I did not know. Someone else I know had a traumatic split with someone.

[gaer]

Originally Posted by Jilly

What do the more experienced astrologers amongst us think is at the back of it or is it just the Mercury thing?

One thing I noticed was a comment about last year, that most people would have lost someone. I thought that was a shame and no more than that, until I heard in April that a friend had died just prior to Christmas and I did not know. Someone else I know had a traumatic split with someone.

Many things could explain a short-lived feeling of getting nowhere, and several ideas have already been given. My point is that the frustration has been going on a long time for most of us.

And why, for instance, are people in the US suddenly making public things that have been kept hidden in the US?

There is Scott McClellan's book, which appeared very late in May, the 28t, and things have building up steam since then.

And how strange that Richard Clark's book appeared a day earlier.

It's as if everything has been falling apart even more than before in the past year or so, and people who didn't think things were really bad (because they had their eyes closed) may be waking up.

[smilingsteph]

I find massage to be very beneficial to my health and well-being....It is of medical neccessity for me to get them....I think that people would continue to get massages if medically necessary and pay for medications, and see their MD's

[tsquare]

I have noticed things to be really slow as welll....I can't keep up with much of what I can normally accomplish...been feeling lethargic, and now is not a good time for that but I am under a spell it seems.

And why, for instance, are people in the US suddenly making public things that have been kept hidden in the US?

Pluto into Cap mabie?

Also I see Pluto went retrograde on the 14th of June and back into Sag.
Not sure what to make of that yet.
From here http://www.astrodynamics.net/Article...-Capricorn.htm

Pluto will be enter Capricorn for the first time January 25, 2008 and will retrograde back into Sagittarius one final time on June 14. It will journey back into Capricorn on November 26, 2008 and remain there until January 21, 2024. For sixteen years, Pluto will engage in a process of breaking down and then rebuilding the structures on which we depend for a successful experience in the material world.

As far as manifesting, pluto into cap is going to rebuild structures and break them down..so whatever work one has been doing there...one may be having difficulity with now?

Venus and sun are opposite pluto retro right now.
I wonder what that would do.....

IT should be interesting to watch it go dirrect..there have been alot of things on the brew lately but not much hapening as far as the uncovery of data....I think when it goes dirrect again we will see a reboot of pluto in cap activity.
Merc is retro now as well...
I really have been having computer troubles lately, and have just given up..I am on a much slower machine and can not get things going, I fix one thing and up pops another problem..it is never ending it seems, and really slows me down....I have played around with just taking a break from posting all together, and removing myself from online activity..and have somewhat...I spend time on many differnt forums, many different somewhat related subjects...I can't keep up right now...
I think I will be spendig time doing laundry, cleaning my room out some....and getiting lots of sleep, I need some rest...I'm exausted lately, and i can feel a cold coming on.



Capricorn has been related to "the world" before..I read how the world tarot card can be related to capricorn just last night....it was intersting..
mabie there is something to this pluto retrograde..

As far as religion goes and structures..when pluto moved into cap I noticed and watched, a few religious groups get atacked, quite seriously, damage was done..their structures have been breaking down some over this period, one group had some serious problems with a coverup being uncovered, very recently back up and running a certain program that they had to shut down for some time, they could have ben or may be sued quite heavily over it..mabie..i am not sure what is going to happen with this, but will be watching it with interest....that is if I can, I'm so lazy now ...lately I have watched them strike back in a way, or have a slight renewal, and this specific group was haveing serious troubles concerning PR....they are being poked at quite heavily, and many of their secrets are being made known or have over the last..I don't have a time line, but it was this year it started moreso on a popualr level....looks like things won't get intresting with pluto again untill november.....but we may notice pluto in sag some more.

So pluto back into sag just recently may be something to keep an eye on..not fully sure why, but the last few days have been intersting for me..I have felt a shift..and as far as whitnessing suspended animation, I have seen others complain of this as well..not just here.
It is too bad pluto is moving back into sag right before the elections.
Then again I don't know what is really going to happen.

I don't want to turn this into a pluto in cap thread, there already is one..but I just noticed it yesturday when looking at my transits, and wasn't sure when it went retro.....it's only been three days...might make an intersting thread on it's own..but I'm too lazy right now to do that.(laugh) sorry.
Mabie someone else will feel like it, or think it worth doing.
I may be offline for some time here in the future........it depends on how I am feeling, and how things are going..I can't fully spot why I am so burnt right now, I can't escape this slumber....and I have much that I would like to do, alot of things i was seriously getting into.
As said, It's like everyhting went into suspension lately, and that is what caught my eye here....
There was a recent VOC moon, but I know nothing about them....so it is probaly a horable suggestion...
Anyway....take care for now all....
I hate the talks of recession lately...everyone i know is in a slight panic, and panics can make issues worse then what they are, but one could also argue that it was inatention that caused much of the troubles today with the economy....who knows, not I.
I may have to be looking for other work soon because the panic talks are getting to me as well....and i am litterally sitting right in the middle of an oil boom..wells are going up all arround me in the area I live..therea re jobs available, high wages for labor, I ahve a place to stay here, and houseing for the area because of the boom is skyrocketing, the boom looks to last for quite some time...I worked in the oil field befeore but hated it with a passion....I hate doing things just for the money...but if there are going to be troubles(I really hate doing things for the money)......I have some thinking to do and I don't feel now is a good time to be making decissions with sun opposite not only pluto but also opposite my natal neptune....

Enough about me(laugh)
Sorry,
back to thread
Cheers,
Tsquare

[Neptune Rising]

Originally Posted by tsquare

Anyway....take care for now all....

Your not going too are you T-square?!

Suspension: I'm not sure whether its Jupiter or Mercury retro, maybe Pluto retro will have some effect too. I'm also interested in the effects of Lilith conjunct Pluto at 1 degree Cappy in Jan 2009. Maybe the general feeling in society right now is the energetic result of all the news about recessions, 'credit crunch'. The term 'credit-crunch' never existed to me before this year and I'm not worried about it but I see everyone talking about its effects.

With these retrogrades, I've put a halt to the plans I've had and had to rethink them because some of them are not that realistic. I've found myself going back over plans I had a few years ago, picking them up and continuing with them. So I see this time as good to re-evaluate and improve on plans.

NR

[gaer]

Originally Posted by tsquare

Also I see Pluto went retrograde on the 14th of June and back into Sag.
Not sure what to make of that yet.

I think you meant that Pluto re-entered Sag on the 14th.

Pluto is Rx for about five months each year, always before and after opposition to the Sun.

This year it is Rx from April 1st to Sept. 7th.

Next year it is from April 4th to Sept. 10th.

But next year there will be no "retreat" back into Sag. in 2009.

I haven't participated in the Pluto in Cap thread, but I do think this might be a key point. In this year—in which Pluto has first entered into Cap but is not quite "there" yet—we might be feeling an acceleration in the breakup of old structures, as you mentioned, and this might be why the whole world is now being forced to realize that oil, in the future, really is going to run out.

Gaer

[AineB]

Yep, I too made a comment on my post about my SR coming up in a couple days how I was excited about things and then the last month has been a COMPLETE standstill!!! It has been sooooo incredibly frustrating!! I can't figure out what it is either because it's like it's only affecting certain people.. My Sag hubby could care less and always takes things as they come! I on the other hand feel like pulling my hair out, screaming at the top of my lungs, or maybe just getting back into some kickboxing to relieve some of this frustration!

[starlink]

Regardless, I fully agree that things are very slow right now, in a way that I can't define. Apathy seems to be very strong now. Forums are slow, people are contributing very little, interest in many things seems to be very low.

Hello Gaer! You could not have said it any better. I honestly dont know what the real reason is, but I have not felt so "slow" for yonks!! For me April was the worst month physically (I am Taurus as you know and that Venus first in Aries was not funny, then in Taurus I hoped for better things to happen. Forget it, stress, me eating to get the stress out of the way, so gaining kilo's I really can do without. Then Mercury went retro, lovely, it never hit me as much as this time and I am hearing this from others as well. I thought it was because he was in Taurus and therefore hitting me worse than usual. I had two bad falls, also something I hardly ever have, within a week!! I have so many little yakkee things to get out of the way these last couple of weeks, I hardly get to do any astrology, hence my major lack of participation. I just saw this thread today at 10.30 PM!!! My Venus is in my 5th house. Guess what, major trouble with my kids as well. Son bitten by a Tick and being afraid of getting Lime disease, he is now under heavy anti-biotics. My daughter is walking on her eyebrows right now, is totally burned out and needs extra pep-up talks. that takes lots of energy, let me tell you! Now finally I will get one week vacation guys! So again, I wont be in until after the 28th of June. I hope that Venus in Gemini will give me a great kick and maybe even brings me to do my exercises again.I hope for you that the piano lessons will pick up again and Barb, if you were living near me, I would definitively come for a massage!.
By for now! Cheers, Starlink

[gaer]

Originally Posted by starlink

Hello Gaer! You could not have said it any better. I honestly dont know what the real reason is, but I have not felt so "slow" for yonks!! For me April was the worst month physically (I am Taurus as you know and that Venus first in Aries was not funny, then in Taurus I hoped for better things to happen. Forget it, stress, me eating to get the stress out of the way, so gaining kilo's I really can do without. Then Mercury went retro, lovely, it never hit me as much as this time and I am hearing this from others as well. I thought it was because he was in Taurus and therefore hitting me worse than usual. I had two bad falls, also something I hardly ever have, within a week!! I have so many little yakkee things to get out of the way these last couple of weeks, I hardly get to do any astrology, hence my major lack of participation. I just saw this thread today at 10.30 PM!!! My Venus is in my 5th house. Guess what, major trouble with my kids as well. Son bitten by a Tick and being afraid of getting Lime disease, he is now under heavy anti-biotics. My daughter is walking on her eyebrows right now, is totally burned out and needs extra pep-up talks. that takes lots of energy, let me tell you! Now finally I will get one week vacation guys! So again, I wont be in until after the 28th of June. I hope that Venus in Gemini will give me a great kick and maybe even brings me to do my exercises again.I hope for you that the piano lessons will pick up again and Barb, if you were living near me, I would definitively come for a massage!.
By for now! Cheers, Starlink

Well, Starlink, you probably won't even read this, because you'll be gone.

You know that this has been a difficult time for me, and you know why. I'm not yet ready to talk about it. But I do feel that it has been a difficult period for the majority of people, and I hope your luck turns!

Originally Posted by AineB

Yep, I too made a comment on my post about my SR coming up in a couple days how I was excited about things and then the last month has been a COMPLETE standstill!!! It has been sooooo incredibly frustrating!! I can't figure out what it is either because it's like it's only affecting certain people.. My Sag hubby could care less and always takes things as they come! I on the other hand feel like pulling my hair out, screaming at the top of my lungs, or maybe just getting back into some kickboxing to relieve some of this frustration!

No matter how bad "the skies" are for the majority of us, transits hit some charts fairly well, and those people sort of float through things. Other people are pounded, as we saw not long ago with the Pluto/Mars opposition that hit THREE times in 2007 and 2008.

Such oppositions form T-squares and grand crosses in some charts, while in others the natal planets form sextiles and trines to the that transiting opposition. The same thing is going on right now.

People with natal planets close to 0 Aries, 0 Libra, 0 Cappy and 0 Cancer are going to feel the Pluto opposition strongest.

We are days away from a dead-on opposition of Mars and Neptune, and that is going to be especially hard for people with 24 Aqu, 24 Leo, 24 Taurus and 24 Scorpio.

At least that's how I look at it, in general, and I think the longer a transit lasts, the more likely it is to affect humanity as a whole in really big ways.

[blueheron]

I think the astrological answer isn't going to be found with the inner planets. The larger picture is much bigger than Merc Retro. People are in limbo because they're sort of paralyzed by all the govt lies, 911 conspiracy possibilities, Bush (that'll bring anyone down,) and the dreadful state of things in the world.

I'm feeling it too... very difficult.

[gaer]

Originally Posted by blueheron

I think the astrological answer isn't going to be found with the inner planets. The larger picture is much bigger than Merc Retro.

Absolutely.

What's happening is far bigger than problems in the US, although the US still has enough influence to cause some very big ripples around the world. It's bigger than what happened in the last year. There are huge changes going on, a lot to do with waking up and facing some hard facts, paying the piper…

The rise in the price of oil alone is signaling an end to an era. I think finally people are going to have to face the fact that we can either find new ways to produce energy or we are *******. Then there is global warming, which until very recently groups of powerful people have tried to deny is happening. And on and on and on.

I think all this is reflected in this forum and in others. People are writing less. They are pulling back. It's not a good time for communication because there is so much fear of the future.