Each planet has a cycle.  The cycle is the time it takes the planet to revolve around the sun.  Uranus, the planet of awakening, inspiration and sudden events has an 84-year cycle. 

Now remember that there are 12 signs of the zodiac.  If it takes Uranus 84 years to go through 12 signs that means it takes Uranus 7 years to go through each sign.  That means Uranus is traveling through one sign every 7 years in your horoscope and touching planets and areas of your life.  Every 7 years some aspect of your life will probably change suddenly.  It could be as simple as learning that you are allergic to milk and changing your dietary habits.  Or like the movie “The Seven Year Itch” you could decide to quit your job, divorce your partner, find a new lover and move to Bermuda.

The second option sounds more fun, but why do some people stop drinking milk and others disrupt their entire lives during a Uranus transit, I mean a 7-year itch?

The most important thing to remember about astrology is that we all have the same signs and the same planets in our charts.  Yes, we are all alike.  We are the same species and have the same needs and hunting ground.  What is different about each of us, what makes us unique, is the placement of those signs and planets.  We each have a unique view of the world, a view of one’s own.

How much Uranus awakens with sudden events depends on your level of “sleep” in certain areas of your life.  In Buddhism, there is the term “enlightenment.”  If we are to be “enlightened,” then that suggests we are in the dark.  We don’t need to awaken if we are not asleep.  Uranus will help you “enlighten” and “waken,” whether you care to or not.

Uranus is currently in the sign of Pisces, very soon moving to the sign of Aries.  Pisces is a water sign.  Anyone with Pisces strong in the chart will feel the effects of Uranus in whatever area of the chart Uranus happens to be passing through.  For the world as a whole, have you noticed the “sudden” water we are experiencing – tsunamis, floods and unusually high precipitation?  As Uranus moves into Aries, we may see sudden water change to sudden fire and explosion as Aries is a fire sign.  I would expect volcano activity to be more prevalent as well as explosions due to the buildup of unstable materials.  Maybe the current political “explosions” in the lands of oil (Middle East) are the first indication of where Uranus will be awakening the earth in the next 7 years.

Let’s look at Uranus in a personal chart, the chart of President Obama.  Using a birthday/time of 8/4/61 at 7:24 pm in Honolulu, Obama has a sun in Leo and moon in Gemini and an Aquarius rising.  Pluto is square moon, my personal “mark of a politician” indicator (see John Boehner, Mark of a Politician).  Neptune is square the Sun suggesting strong idealism that will not be subject to facts.

Are there areas where President Obama might be asleep?

Uranus has just moved into Obama’s second house, the house of “my money,” values and self-reliance.  Obama has Aries intercepted in that house, meaning the sign Pisces rules the cusp and the entire 30 degrees of Aries is captured in the second house.

Obama will be going through sudden, unexpected changes with his own money, property and other material goods.  The deeper level of “my money” is values.  Obama may find his values changing from Piscean compassion to Aries self-determination.  I get the impression of someone putting their foot down on a dependent monetary situation that has gone on for too long.

Obama is lucky in that Uranus in Aries will aspect positively his Sun (trine) and moon (sextile).  The awakenings won’t be harsh as the changes will involve aspects of his life that he has consciously wanted to change. When that occurs in a chart, the 7-year itch is a 7-year influx of energy and excitement.

Uranus will be squaring Obama’s natal Venus in Cancer.  This suggests his changes will cause conflict in the family.  He will be seen as seeking his personal goals over family goals.  He will see it as making others more self-reliant.

Uranus’ 7-year cycle can be an “itch” or an “inspiration,” depending on how you manifest the planets/signs in your own chart.  Uranus rules electricity.  If electricity hits the roof of your house, your house will be okay if you have something that conducts the sudden charge.  If you do not, the house will be damaged.  That, to me, explains how to handle Uranus.  Make sure you can conduct and release the energies of your life or they will suddenly erupt when Uranus strikes its bolt in that area of your chart.