Unfortunately, a lot of misguided information is going around regarding this event, so I wanted to clear a few things up. First, ignore any of the other names it’s being called. They’re just made up and have nothing to do with the actual astrological/astronomical event. The correct name is a Grand Sextile because each point in the pattern is 60 degrees from the planet on either side. In astrology, a 60 degree relationship or aspect between two planets is called a sextile.

Second, you don’t have to be in water or standing on your head or holding hands with a large group of people or dancing in a circle, etc. when it happens. Technically, you don’t have to do anything. The planets move all by themselves. J However, to make the best personal use of the aspect and to help direct the energy it’s bringing into the world, I would suggest that you spend some time that day in quiet reflection, meditation, prayer, etc.

From an astrological perspective, this Grand Sextile is bringing in tremendous potential for creativity, healing, positive change and harmony, but unless we do something with the energy it’s like the person who has tremendous talent for art but ignores it. Below I’ll explain just a little (a full examination would take many pages) of what this Grand Sextile means so you can figure out what parts of it you want to work with, but I strongly suggest you start by examining your life. What’s working? What do you want to change? Then consider how you can work with the energies of the Grand Sextile to make those changes. The final step, of course, is to take action.

I’m actually discouraging people from attending the big so-called "Harmonic Concordance" events on Nov. 8 because the more I study this pattern, the more convinced I am that we have to contemplate it individually to make best use of it in our lives. That’s not to say it can’t be used for global change. Of course it can, but global change starts with one person or a small group of people taking action and then things snowball from there. Usually when you try to start something with a large group of people from the beginning, no matter how well intentioned those people are, the process often gets bogged down by procedure, differing agendas, etc. The big gatherings for these type of events are no different.

So I suggest that either you alone or with a small group of friends spend some time to really work on what you’d like to change in your life (you can include what you’d like to change in your community, the country, etc. as well). Maybe make lists of 5 or 10 or 20 things that are working in your life and a list of what isn’t. If you like, do a short meditation or prayer for guidance. Then make a list of what changes you can make to address the things you don’t like. Discuss your lists with your friends. Maybe meditate or pray some more. Discuss if there are any ways to support each other through the changes you want to make. If some of you have similar goals, work on them together. It’s much easier to get specific and really make practical use of this Grand Sextile by working this way then with 25, 50, 100 or more people, and this way the changes are more likely to last.

For instance, do you give and give and give without ever taking care of yourself? And then wonder why you’re sick every winter? If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else. It’s not selfish; it’s common sense. You’ll save time in the long run by setting aside a certain amount of time every week for activities that restore your energy (exercising, taking a relaxing bath, meditating, etc.) then to get run down and be out sick for days and fall even further behind in work, which stresses you out more and continues the cycle. The less stressed you are, the better you can deal with everyone in your life. Happy, calm people spread joy; stressed-out people add stress everywhere.

Consider if you really "walk your talk." I know a lot of people who complain about big companies and how they’re wiping out independent, local businesses but then never shop at the local stores even when they have the opportunity. Make your actions match your beliefs. Do you complain about politics and government but don’t vote? Get active, study the candidates (the Internet makes it easy) and vote. (Of course, the bigger the election the more you have to use discernment to figure out what’s true versus what is unfounded verbal attacks, but there are Web sites that debunk lies, too.) Or get involved yourself. Carolyn McCarthy was a housewife until she got mad because her Congressman wouldn’t address the issues she cared about. Lots of politicians, successful businessmen, etc. got their start because they didn’t like how something was working and they wanted to change it.

Do you love to paint, write, quilt, play an instrument, etc. but rarely do it? Then consider starting again. Doing creative activities we love is another way to restore our energy, beat stress and just be more healthy, balanced people. It also sets a great example for the children in your life.

Consider volunteering with a charity or organization you admire. If you don’t have time, make even a small donation. Every bit helps. I’m also a firm believer in prayer, so if you can’t contribute money or time, consider contributing spiritually. I say quick prayers for friends and/or world events while cleaning, driving, folding laundry, etc. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or elaborate action; just your intention for change for the greatest good and highest joy of all.

The point is to consider the energies the Grand Sextile is bringing in and then take real, positive action in accordance with them. That’s how we can heal ourselves and the world.

A full, thorough discussion would take many pages but here are some highlights in fairly plain English. The Grand Sextiles is made of six planets sextiling each other, which sets up an easy flow of energy. Three planets also create a Grand Trine [Triangle] in water signs and the other three do the same in earth signs. Water signs represent emotional, intuitive and spiritual energy and earth signs can take that energy and make it practical. That’s why I focused above on ideas to take tangible action.

The sun is in Scorpio, which brings in the energy of transformation and rebirth, especially in regard to our identity and how we use our will. Mars is about how we take action and in Pisces it represents action rooted in our ideals and done for the greatest good. It’s the spiritual warrior, not the bully. Saturn is about boundaries and structures, especially those that enable us to create our dreams. In Cancer it’s about doing that in a balanced, nurturing way and bringing caring and compassion to the structures and organizations in our lives. That’s the first trine.

The second involves Jupiter in Virgo, which is about paying attention to the details of our belief systems and expanding opportunities to be of service. It’s also about optimism, enthusiasm and making wise choices to further our goals. The moon represents our emotions and our intuition so in Taurus it’s about expressing our emotions in a healthy, grounded way and making practical use of the information we receive intuitively. It’s also about balancing our emotional and physical needs. Chiron is the asteroid most used by astrologers, and it represents the "wounded teacher" inside us, which means the part of us that has suffered but from that suffering we gained strength to help others. In Capricorn it’s about how to take our prior experiences and use them to create something new and better through patient, consistent action.

There are several other significant configurations in the Grand Sextile that add energy and power to it, such as three Kites, three Mystic Rectangles and three oppositions, but I don’t want to overwhelm or bore you. I do, however, want to mention the full moon/lunar eclipse in Taurus happening at the exact same time. An eclipse brings in tremendous energy for change, though the change usually unfolds over a period of months. So that’s lending power to the Grand Sextile but also adds to the fact that this is not an instantaneous event. Just as the energies will play out over a period of time, we must continue to act on our beliefs as well.

Also, earlier that day Uranus goes direct in Aquarius. Uranus is the planet that rules change and since June 6 its energies have been directed toward internal change. Now it shifts to help create change in the outer world. The day a planet goes retrograde or direct is an especially powerful day for that planet so Uranus is sort of "super-charged." Uranus rules Aquarius, which is the humanitarian of the Zodiac so the energy is there for global change, but Uranus and Aquarius are both closely associated with the individual and being unique so change will happen best by taking action in ways that are meaningful to us personally. From that, people of like minds will naturally gravitate to each other and things will snowball. It won’t work as easily if you try to get hundreds, thousands, etc. of people to all commit to the same idea from the beginning. It has to start with the individual taking action in a personal way.