Uranus

Where is Uranus in my birth chart?:

Uranus is known in astrology as the "Awakener," since its aspects and transits bring sudden changes and shocks. It rules Aquarius, the quirky innovator, and sometimes these upheavals are a necessary break from restrictions in favor of a more liberated path.

A generational planet:

Uranus stays in a sign for about 7 years, and while there makes a similar impression on all those born during that period. On the collective level, it influences the cultural pulse of a given time period.

What happens during an Uranus transit?:

When Uranus makes a transit to to any planet in your birth chart, that planet gets whooped upside the head. You're in for some cosmic surprises. Sometimes it's liberating, and other times you're thrown into utter chaos. If you've coasted along with a mild discontent, Uranus' visit amps it up to the next level. For example, perhaps you've been miserable in your job. Uranus comes along and you get fired — you might be shocked, but now you've got the chance to change course.

What is the Uranus opposition?:

The Uranus opposition occurs somewhere around the age of 40, when transiting Uranus opposes your own natal Uranus. Also known as the mid-life crisis, this is when people suddenly cast off the shackles that keep them from fulfilling their destiny. You might get the courage to leave a stagnant relationship, or to suddenly follow a long-buried dream.

A Revolutionary Discovery:

An amateur astronomer named William Herscel first spied Uranus through his homemade telescope on March 13, 1781. It was considered an accidental discovery in this Englishman's backyard, which is fitting for the planet of quirky innovation. Astro-historians often point out the revolutions underway at this time in France and America, and the busting free of old structures of power.

Keywords:

sudden turns, rebellion, independence, invention, surprises, liberation, disruption, awakening.

The meaning of Uranus in astrology:

Uranus plays an important role as the provocateur, the bringer of the cosmic wake-up call for both individuals and the collective as a whole. Just when we relax into our comfortable, stable lives, Uranus disrupts the scene. It can be through an event that happens to us, or self-initiated acts spurned on by a desire for change.

The influence of Uranus on a generation is revealed through innovations, break-through, shifts in perception, etc. When Pluto and Uranus were conjunct in Scorpio during the sixties, there were surprise events that shocked the world, along with social upheaval due to changing perceptions. I'm thinking of the sudden loss of leaders through assassination, but also a desire of the so-called hippie generation to break free and live in a more liberated way.

On a personal level, Uranus can factor in when there are intense aspects to natal planets. If you've got Sun square Uranus in the birth chart, for example, constant upheaval as you pursue your goals leads you to be flexible and go with the flow. Many insights come from looking at the house in which your Uranus falls. A 7th House (Relationships, Partnerships) Uranus can mean sudden changes that involve other people.

The gift of Uranus is to set us free when we've become too rigid or structured. While it's influence is disruptive, and accidents are associated with this planet, a crisis tends to sharpen the focus, make you feel more alive. Uranus can remind you of what you really want, not what you've been conditioned to think you want.

Uranus rules Aquarius and those with a heavy influence in their chart are born to shake things up, be the revolutionaries. John Lennon with his Moon in Aquarius and Yoko Ono, Aquarius Sun, put their desire for social change into action with the many songs, bed-ins and marches for peace. Some say Aquarians, and by association, Uranus, is 50 years ahead of its time. As the "Divine Awakener," perhaps Uranus' surprises are part of the cosmic orchestration designed with a future vision in mind.