midlife crisis transits Archives - Astrology readings and writings by Lynn Hayes

Sunday inspiration: Crisis as turning point

It would be difficult to deny that humanity is in crisis at the moment. Apart from COVID-19 which threatens the health and economics of every nation on Earth, there is the climate change problem, wealth inequities and a 75% increase in homelessness since 2010, the acceleration of mass extinctions, and more.

The English word “crisis” comes from the Greek word “krisis” meaning decision. A crisis is a turning point: a crescendo or climax of a problem at which a decision must be made to turn the tide. According to Merriam Webster, a crisis is (a) the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever; (b) a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function; (c) an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is [needed]; (d) a situation that has reached a critical phase.

It is through crisis that evolution occurs. This is true for biological species, such as the frogs that mutate when the streams become polluted. We adapt to biological events that threaten our existence because we must. In our personal lives it often takes an emotional crisis before we embark on a personal journey to change ourselves and the patterns that brought us to that difficult place.

This idea from medicine that a crisis is a turning point for better or for worse, a decisive moment when the patient will either improve or die, sums up where we are at the moment on Planet Earth. Unfortunately, humans often tend to be more reactive than proactive. We put off the hard decisions til tomorrow so that we can have a momentary pleasure today, and we fail to plan […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2020-11-01T16:16:15-05:00November 1st, 2020|Ecology, Inspiration|2 Comments

“How do I find meaning and beauty in life?” A Pluto Square story

I came across this advice column in the New York Times a few weeks ago, asking deep and important questions:

I’m nearly 40 and I find myself at a crossroads that feels more like a dead end. I’ve spent much of my life and thought and income in pursuit of beauty in one form or another: design, fashion, the beauty or “wellness” industries. This is very much a professional hazard: My career in glossy magazines and advertising as a photo editor is all about making beautiful images of beautiful things that I’ve selected look even more beautiful. Often, when I think how much of my time I’ve devoted to my own appearance or to matters of aesthetics I cringe, though I’ve often been the person in any given room defending things like style and design from accusations of superficiality and frivolity.

Part of it might have to do with the fact that I feel alone in many ways and unsuccessful by most measures. I don’t own a home and no one needs me; I am nobody’s mother and now I am nobody’s child, as my parents are no longer living. My friends and peers have gone on to have families, to marry and stop working, or have moved to other parts of the country or even foreign countries.

I feel such futility, like I’ve squandered my own youth and beauty in the hall of mirrors that is our consumerist society. Am I simply being solipsistic here? Or is this what getting older is about, acknowledging one’s comedown to the brutal reality of life?

The age of 40 is, of course, when we approach the midlife crisis transits. For the people turning […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2022-10-17T11:04:40-04:00February 15th, 2020|Life|0 Comments

An astrological review of “The Happiness Curve”

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It can be somewhat frustrating to read articles about questions that are easily answered by astrology. Astrologers know that beginning at around age 40, we humans experience a series of planetary cycles that I like to call the “midlife crisis transits.” This series begins at age 37-40 with the Pluto Square (transiting Pluto forming a stressful square aspect to Pluto in the natal chart), and continuing at age 40-43 with the Uranus Opposition (transiting Uranus opposite Uranus in the natal chart) and the usually simultaneous Neptune Square where transiting Neptune forms a stressful square aspect to Neptune in the natal chart. This series begins with breakdowns and power struggles under Pluto, and continues with the restlessness and desire for change under Uranus combined with the confusion and self-delusion of Neptune. Then there is a break for a few years until the Chiron Return at age 50-52 which can be a culmination of life lessons and the emotional reactions to them.

A recent book by Jonathan Rauch called The Happiness Curve asks why life gets better after age 50:

He explains: “I was someone who was fortunate. I had good health and after my 20s, which were difficult because I came out as gay, I met one goal after another with more success than I’d ever expected.

“Yet around the time I turned 40 I noticed this strange feeling of restlessness and discontent. This continued to grow as I got into my 40s to the point where I was 45 and I won the most prestigious award in magazine journalism [a National Magazine award] and that gave me a great feeling of satisfaction with my life for approximately 10 days.

“All these feelings of discontent and […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T19:09:04-05:00March 9th, 2019|Planetary cycles|3 Comments

The astrology of the Brad and Angelina breakup

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt yesterday. Rumors have been flying for years in the celebrity press about his excessive drug usage, her rages, affairs on both sides but in public they appeared to present a united front leading many to express shock at the breakup.

The astrology of Brad and Angelina

When the two first made their relationship public I wrote:

Brad and Angelina are totally different astrologically – each offers the other what is lacking in their own chart. Brad Pitt is a Sagittarius and has Jupiter in Aries which conjoins Jupiter in Angelina’s chart, giving them a sense of opportunity and fortune when they are together. However, Brad has a stellium of planets in responsible earthy Capricorn which can feel heavy and burdensome and Angelina’s fire provides stimulation and excitement. All that earthy Capricorn helps to ground Angelina and gives her a sense of security that she lacks in her own chart. However, all of Angelina’s Aries planets square (conflict with) Brad’s Capricorn planets, creating an environment that is passionate and exciting but could ultimately be destructive. Mars represents our drive and desire and gives a clue to sexual compatibility. Angelina’s Mars is in Aries, which is all fire energy and no body–Brad’s Mars is in Capricorn which is all body and no fire. Their Mars are exactly square (conflict with) each other, which creates a very dynamic sexual attraction but doesn’t hold up over time without a great deal of effort and communication.

The saying “opposites attract” is true in astrology, but we often see that although opposites attract initially, it is difficult to sustain that attraction over time. Quite often […]

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By Lynn Hayes|2019-11-10T18:37:24-05:00September 21st, 2016|People|6 Comments