It would seem we all have that intensity in our lives that is dealt with on a daily basis. On a given day, we all have our own personal fires to put out, and most of the time, it isn’t until the end of the day we realize what great firemen we are.

When we recall all of the squares and oppositions we had to deal with in a day, not to mention those nasty inconjuncts (sometime called quincunx), sesquisquare, semisquares and even a indifferent conjunction, its no wonder we need a drink…or a nap.

I woke up today and had a headache starting and growing in intensity by 9a. I left the house to go for a coffee and bagel and to relax and read. I took a magazine on retirement, so as to release me from the astrology, racing, moving and hockey pressures that could work against my need to ‘chill’.

As I looked at this magazine, I read about all the people over 50 who were more than marginally successful in the world and what they were doing. This article was void of rocket scientists, web designers, and any real ‘techies’, but did have stories on people who had ideas and pursued them, and not only got a little better off at the bank, but made a mark in the world, whether it was in art, disease management, or clothing design and marketing. Not earth shattering news, but interesting and successful, nonetheless. My headache was heading in the other direction as I relaxed and realized there was more to life than analyzing the Columbia, or why George Reeves was killed or just who in the hell I could count on in the NHL for a winning bet tonight. There were people out there who probably don’t get many headaches anymore, because they figured out a way to be themselves and give the rest of the world part of what they knew. Amazing when you stop and think how easy it is to be successful when you get a plan and follow it to the end!

After I left this establishment, I drove a couple miles and parked my car, buttoned my coat and went for a walk. I love being around older houses, in quiet areas, and watching nature and people in homey settings. The weather was not warm, I had my jacket buttoned one short of the top and I had on just a baseball style cap and warm gloves. There wasn’t much of a wind, but the wintry breeze did have me tug at the bill of my hat occasionally. Ten minutes into my walk, I came across a cemetery.

I decided to walk thru and watch some workers put then finishing touches on a hole for a new ‘resident’. Many of the graves reflected the thoughtfulness of friends, relatives and loved ones who had left Christmas decorations. The thoughtfulness seemed so hollow, nearly a month after Christmas and these people had yet to come and remove the trees, Santa likenesses and dead flowers.

I walked by the fresh grave of a ‘father’ who was just a few years older than me. I know I am getting old, but when you see many graves here with men buried nearly the same age as I am, it makes you think even more about ‘living on borrowed time’. Not all of us will live to worry about Medicare or being put in a ‘home’. Some of us might not live to see next winter. Many there were buried in 2002. I wonder just how many on New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31^st of 2001, knew they wouldn’t see another New Year’s Eve?

The bright Aquarian Sun made it so easy to read the stones as I walked the paved road around the cemetery. That daily intensity that I normally encounter, was no longer bothering me. It's funny how a place like a cemetery can take you so 'far' form your own life. The headstones I read made me wonder about some of these ‘people’ I came across. What were the reasons behind their deaths? Were they ill? Was it an accident? How did their loved ones deal with their deaths? Some of the graves were in an area of the cemetery where standing water covered the ground at the grave. If the water table were that high often, were these people’s remains ‘floating’ or actually submerged in their coffins? Sorry, my watery Scorpio Ascendant got carried away with me!!

Some of the people there had been born in the mid 1800’s and died before the turn of the LAST century, yet there stones looked as if they had been laid last year. I stood and looked around at these older graves and wondered what the cemetery and area around them looked like when they were being ‘laid to eternal rest’?

As I finished my swing thru the cemetery I realized the T Sun had reached it’s opposition to N Pluto. Personally, with Pluto's rulership of my Scorpion Ascendant, this aspect 'directed' me to a cemetery, which is as Scorpionic as can be! Today, in His (It’s) own way God (or the Universe) gave me the opportunity, thru my charts,  to realize the subtle differences (polarity or opposition) between Life (Sun) and death (Pluto). Life, as it is, and death, as we think it will be. And beyond. I had the chance to reflect on my own life and the uncertain future; not only my own but of friends and relatives. It is something I do at times, but the ‘opportunity’ to look at death in the face (personally, by being surrounded by the dead) today, certainly was thought provoking, profound and curious…unless you are an astrologer. Also this aspect will have you examine how everyday life can shed its light on your transformation or changes and help (make) you ‘see’ things clearer, better, if not ‘in a different light’.

Even earlier on in the day, I had to keep telling myself to let go of all the ‘impositions’ of having to prepare for retiring, getting ready to move, and actually move, not only myself but assist my ex-wife and best friend, and her son I their moving into my house (renting from me). Then there was the 1300-mile drive to my new residence with a car-full of close personal belongings (not wanting to put on a semi). All of this coming in the next two months. The INTENSITY (Sun opposite Pluto) had been reaching a crescendo for me, forcing numerous headaches and physical soreness. Today was the day I came to terms with it, and all thru the increased opportunity of the T Sun opposite N Pluto!