Monthly Archives: December 2008

Weekly Forecast December 29: Saturn Retrograde, Venus Enters Pisces

Ancient Sentinels, by Ellen HillDespite the revelries to welcome in the New Year, this week could feel unusually somber, with Saturn’s turn retrograde on Wednesday.

As I wrote in last week’s forecast, the opposition of Saturn and Uranus has been unequal so far, as the stabilizing energies of Saturn have been reinforced by Jupiter in Capricorn, the sign that Saturn rules, and the chaotic, unpredictable nature of Uranus has been kept in check. Saturn’s turn retrograde will weaken this stabilizing force, just as Jupiter is about to enter Aquarius, the sign ruled by Uranus. Once that happens, we are in for some turbulent astro-weather.

I am not writing this to frighten you, but just to give you a heads up that you may have unexpected circumstances to deal with. Actually, if you’ve been paying attention, events probably won’t surprise you too much, as you’ve seen the handwriting on the wall. If you weren’t paying attention or intentionally ignored the signs, then you could be thrown for a loop. How this will manifest in your life depends on where the Saturn-Uranus opposition is positioned in your natal chart.

The Moon in Pisces on Friday conjoins Uranus and opposes Saturn, so you may feel a blip in this ongoing situation, whatever it may be. The Moon goes through Pisces once a month and Virgo once a month, so these little reminders may continue to happen every couple of weeks.

On the plus side this week, Mercury enters Aquarius on Thursday and Venus enters Pisces on Saturday. Both planets will be in the sign of their exaltation, and this should bode well for communications between friends, siblings, and romantic partners. Even if a key relationship in your life is breaking up or going through some other kind of disorienting or disruptive change, you should be able to talk about it and view each other with compassion. Forgiveness, both of yourself and others, is possible, and a little goes a long way.

Wishing you much love and courage in the new year…

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Ancient Sentinels, by Ellen Hill, whom many of you know as Tseka. To see more of Ellen’s phenomenal work, including her new line of talisman jewelry, visit her site, Tseka – One Dance.

Saturday Archives: Jesus and the Age of Pisces

Night of Peace, by William BlakeAs we continue to celebrate the Christmas season in much of the world, I thought this would be a good time to revisit the origins and astrological significance of this Christian holiday.

Believe it or not, this is one of the most searched-for posts on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles. The original post ran on December 18, 2005.

Much love to all in this holiday season …

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus and the Age of Pisces

For many people around the world, the winter holiday is Christmas and the birthday of Jesus.

The year of his alleged birth was very close to the beginning of the Age of Pisces. That alone is noteworthy, but there are plenty of other startling coincidences, such as early Christians’ use of the image of the fish to identify themselves. If you’d like to know more, here is an excellent article by Ray Grasse, who has written a book about the Age of Aquarius.

Whether you believe Jesus really existed or was just a symbolic figure, this is as good a time as any to look back on the Age of Pisces. What did it replace? What was its promise? What have been its primary manifestations?

The Age of Aries was ending just as the Roman Empire had extended to its farthest reaches. Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war, and it was Rome’s military innovations that allowed it to conquer lands on three continents. Rome invented the idea of a trained military unit that attacked and fought as one, with a pre-planned strategy. That might sound like a no-brainer, but until the Romans came up with the idea, warfare was more like schoolyard gangs beating up on each other.

Jesus lived in an outpost of the Roman Empire, and according to some historians, he was a rebel (if George Bush had been the emperor of Rome, he’d have called Jesus a terrorist, but that’s another story for another time). Yet his message was of peace, compassion, and oneness with God – all concepts that astrologers strongly associate with Pisces. Indeed, these are the best attributes of Pisces.

So how did a message of peace and compassion get turned into the Crusades, in which “infidels” were killed in the name of God? Or into the war in Iraq, in which “terrorists” or “insurgents” are being killed in the name of democracy or oil or eradication of WMDs or whatever?

The answer lies in the flip side of Pisces, which is fear and blind faith. As the Age of Pisces draws to an end, the worst traits of the sign are coming to the fore in a way that we no longer can ignore.

I went to a Unitarian service this morning during which the visiting minister admonished everyone to remember our divinity, to turn toward what’s beautiful and good, and away from what’s ugly and bad. Well, in my mind, therein lies the problem. In deciding that certain behaviors are “bad” and “ugly,” to be feared and hated, we renounce an essential part of ourselves. When society as a whole represses behaviors or thoughts, they emerge in overt, physical form. The more repressed, the more in our faces they get.

Before we can reclaim our divinity – and our power as divine beings – we must own our dark side. We are all capable of being selfish, greedy, petty, resentful, narrow-minded, self-indulgent, stubborn, and limited. And most of us live in fear of something, and the antidote to this fear is blind faith, whether in a supreme being, a political leader, a religious or political ideology, a scientific theory – whatever. To live with uncertainty, to be in a constant state of “I don’t know,” is more than most human beings are willing or able to handle.

As the Age of Pisces dwindles, our beliefs are falling away. Lately, this is happening with mind-numbing speed. As a result, we are entering a period of intense confusion. Nothing makes sense. The behaviors and reactions of people, governments – even nature – are inexplicable. Chaos reigns.

Eventually, when the dust settles, we will enter a new age of peace and stability. But we’ve got a way to go yet. . .

Image: Night of Peace, watercolor illustration for Milton’s On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity, by William Blake, 1809.

Ask Real Astrologers: I’m New to This, What’s It All Mean?

This week’s question comes from Susan in Ontario, Canada:

I had my birth chart done and am totally new at this. I was reading that Uranus is opposed to Saturn until 2010. What does it mean, that serious decisions I have coming up could/will affect me for years? My Moon is in Pisces. I knew long before that something was going to happen in 2012. I specifically married on the Winter Solstice, 2003, to a man I believe I knew from my Egyptian past life. His Moon is in Aquarius.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Well, Susan, that’s a load! We don’t have enough space here for me to answer all your questions thoroughly, but I’ll try to give you a brief big picture.

First of all, “getting your chart done” for a lot of people means having an astrologer interpret their birth chart. I don’t find this particularly useful. In my readings, I do transit charts — in other words, I look at where the planets are today in relation to their positions in your birth chart, and that way I can determine what forces are most influencing your life. Your first question, about how the Saturn-Uranus opposition will affect you, is a transit question.

In September 2009, Saturn and Uranus will form an exact opposition at 25 degrees Virgo and Pisces, which forms a conflicting square to your Ascendant at 25 degrees Sagittarius and your Descendant at 25 degrees Gemini. I believe you will see some big changes in your life at this time, and they could extend to your marriage, although this is not necessarily a bad thing. Neith has some things to add to this in her response, so I won’t go into more detail here.

As for what might happen in 2012, I don’t see anything unusual in your chart. Pluto will be well into your first house, suggesting a slow transformation over time. But that has started already, so this is not news. By then, Neptune will be out of Aquarius (but not yet conjunct your Pisces Moon), and the current emphasis on Aquarius will be long gone, as will the effects of the mutual reception between Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, and Neptune, ruler of Pisces. I’m betting that you two are feeling this, probably by being in unusual psychic link.

If you want to know more, I strongly recommend a transit reading, and you might also want to consider having a compatibility reading for you and your husband. Not only will this tell you more about your relationship’s strengths, weaknesses, and karmic connections, but a skilled astrologer will be able to identify time periods when significant connections between you may be activated.

By the way, I share your Moon in Pisces and can tell you that this is a quite psychic placement of the Moon that puts you in touch with “higher” forces. The only difficulty is that your imagination can get the better of you, but with some training and discipline, this can be a powerful tool to give you an edge in life.

Thanks for writing, Susan, and best wishes for the coming year.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Yes, Susan, the Saturn-Uranus opposition definitely will impact your chart next year! The next exact pass on February 5, 2009, will find Saturn exactly conjunct your natal Jupiter in Virgo, likely causing you to slow down and make any necessary changes one step at a time. Since Jupiter rules your Sagittarius Ascendant and is located in the ninth house where Sagittarius rules, this is a significant transit all right.

The other factor with this transit is that, while Saturn is conjoining your Jupiter, it will be moving closer to an exact square with your Ascendant. By the next exact Saturn-Uranus opposition on September 15, 2009, the square to your Ascendant will be much tighter and therefore have more impact. I suggest you prepare to feel frustrated more often than not and to feel like your style will be severely cramped over the coming months. However, in the end if you step up and do what needs doing as gracefully as possible, you will be much further ahead.

Saturn can be very helpful in bringing discipline and determination to aid you on your path, but with Uranus opposing your Jupiter at the same time making you very restless, this is going to be a challenging period for you. What Uranus will bring to the table is many new insights and unconventional ideas and solutions. You may be presented with an opportunity to study in a unique environment. If so, go for it!

Good fortune on your journey, Susan.

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New Moon in Capricorn, December 27

New Moon by Chuck RenThe New Moon on December 27 may be one of the most significant of 2008, because it conjoins Pluto as Pluto begins its 16-year journey through Capricorn, signaling the beginning of a new era.

The Sun, Moon, Mars, and Pluto are in early degrees of Capricorn with Mercury and Jupiter at the end of the sign, totaling six planets in Capricorn at this New Moon. Capricorn is an interesting sign. Even though it is associated with government, corporations, and the father of the family, it is feminine in polarity and the third earth sign. Saturn is the traditional ruler of Capricorn and the planet responsible for teaching us to respect boundaries and limitations and to follow through on our commitments. On this New Moon we are getting a clear message to grow up and accept responsibility for ourselves in all facets of our lives. It is time to be creative with what we have on hand.

The Pluto-Mars conjunction in Capricorn is powerful and implacable, and we need to be aware this is not a good time to stir up trouble, because the response may be far more than we bargained for. With Mars in Sagittarius, tempers flare quickly but cool quickly, too, but this is not the case in Capricorn. This Pluto-Mars conjunction can cause people to hold a grudge for a long, long time so the wiser course of action is to take the high road and behave with maturity.

The luminaries are also part of this stellium, underlining the importance of considering the needs of the collective rather than the individual. It is very possible we will be in for a dose of instant karma if we behave badly at this time.

Jupiter and Mercury are conjunct in Capricorn, and both are trine Saturn in Virgo, emphasizing a clear, concise, pragmatic approach to problem-solving. The more we stay with the “no frills” version of things, the easier time we will have right now. Jupiter will move into Aquarius on January 5, and the sense of constriction will start to ease some.

Venus is exactly conjunct Neptune in Aquarius in this chart, and compassion rather than passion is the order of the day. Unconditional love encourages us to embrace others, warts and all, and supports diversity within the collective – all necessary aspects of the maturation process this New Moon embodies.

The Sabian symbol for 7 Capricorn is, “A veiled prophet speaks, seized by the power of a god,” with the keyword MEDIATORSHIP. This message is appropriate for a New Moon conjunct Pluto, as we are in a time of new beginnings on many levels, and those glimpses we have of future possibilities can help us choose what we wish to manifest. However, it is important to stay open and avoid becoming attached to a certain outcome, because Pluto is the quintessential outer planet and is impersonal in the way it affects our lives.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, especially those latitudes where the nights are very long, it is easy to remember that this is time to reflect and review the past year in order to prepare for the new one. This New Moon practically demands that we turn our focus inward and take inventory. My own key phrase these days is, “Don’t get attached to an outcome,” because Pluto is on the field. It is also good to remember to be kind to yourself and others now and forgive, forgive, forgive.

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, December 22, too. With the dynamics in the sky right now, additional perspective can only help.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.

Image: New Moon, by Chuck Ren.

Weekly Forecast December 22: New Moon in Capricorn Conjunct Mars and Pluto

Winter, by Maxfield ParrishHappy Solstice!

Here in the frozen North — and I do mean frozen — the longest night of the year is upon us. From now on, the days will begin to lengthen, and we know that the warmth and light of the sun will return, dark and dismal as it is now. It is no accident that the fathers of the Christian church made this ancient pagan holiday the birthday of Jesus, whom they called the Light of the World. Jesus more likely was born in the spring, not on Christmas, but no matter.

Where I live, the winters typically are pretty mild. If we get snow at all, it melts within a day or two. But we’re under a foot of snow, and everything is at a standstill — appropriate for the Solstice, which means sun at a standstill. I walked home from work last night, trudging up the unplowed hill with my bag over my shoulder, much like the hunter in this Maxfield Parrish painting trudging through the snowy woods.

Saturn-ruled Capricorn trudges on, doing what must be done. We’ll experience a lot of this theme over the next few years with Pluto in Capricorn, especially the year after next, when he’ll be squared by Saturn and Uranus. At that point, we will have to switch our focus from amassing wealth to meeting basic needs. Already, the economic downturn is causing many people to stop and think about what they really need and what they can do without. The answer to that question is, “a lot.”

Speaking from experience, I can assure you that we don’t realize how wasteful we’ve been until we begin living more frugally, and while that’s a scary prospect for many in privileged Western societies, I can also tell you that it’s exactly what many people need to wake up spiritually, to be enlightened or “come into the light.” Let me add, for those who haven’t heard me say it before, that “spiritual” is not a moral position to aspire to, but a way of seeing the invisible energies that flow through the Universe. They exist, they are real, and they impact our lives. There is nothing with wrong with wanting stuff, but too much emphasis on the material limits the vision.

With that long introduction, let’s talk about this week.

Although the Sun conjoins Pluto on Monday, most of the activity doesn’t happen until Friday and Saturday, with the entry of Mars in Capricorn and the New Moon at 6 degrees Cap, not far from Mars and Pluto, which conjoin on Sunday. Mercury and Jupiter also are in Capricorn, although in later degrees. Still, this is a lot of Capricorn, so we are going to get a full frontal view of what this sign is all about. Government, business, military, and authority in general all fall under the auspices of the Sea Goat.

In our personal lives, authority usually is represented by parents and employers. Saturn will be stationed about to go retrograde at the New Moon, so I expect that we will spend the next several months revisiting these issues. Neith will have more on the New Moon on Tuesday, so be sure to check back.

The ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition will be active this week on many levels. Watch for developments on Wednesday, when Mercury forms a favorable sextile to Uranus, and on Friday, when Mercury trines Saturn. If you don’t know yet how this major aspect is impacting your life, you’ll get clues this week.

While all of this high-powered business is going on, Venus quietly conjoins Chiron on Tuesday and Neptune on Saturday. Although most people need a crisis or a series of crises to awaken, that a-ha moment tends not to come when we’re under the gun, but when we’re in a relaxed “in-between” space.

We can wish for world peace all we want, but it won’t happen until the prerequisite is met, and that is the awakening of the collective mind. That is my deepest hope and wish for this holiday season.

Holiday love and blessings to all…

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Winter, by Maxfield Parrish.

Saturday Extra: Living With Saturn Opposing Uranus

Bridging Earth & WaterOn November 4, Saturn opposed Uranus at 18 degrees Virgo and Pisces, the first of four oppositions that will take place in these signs over the next 18 months. The next one will occur on February 5, 2009, at 20 degrees, followed by a third pass on September 15, 2009, at 24 degrees, and the last one on April 26, 2010, at 28 degrees – clearly a mandate on working with the Virgo-Pisces axis.

Bernadette Brady refers to this aspect as “the Structure vs. the Surprise” and I sure agree with her. Uranus is always good at throwing a curve ball or two our way, and Saturn cringes every time. However, we can’t live under the bed for the next couple of years waiting for the sky to fall, no matter how much some of us would like to, but we can help each other understand what’s happening.

One thing about oppositions is that they take place in complementary signs, unlike squares or inconjuncts. Virgo and Pisces may mumble about the other a lot, but they do have a sneaking admiration for each others’ strong points. Virgo often wishes they had Pisces’s knack for going with the flow, and Pisces people would love to have Virgo’s organizational skills at their fingertips. In other words, the possibilities for meeting each other halfway and for compromises are greatly increased.

I am inclined to believe the sporadic disruptions will be followed by repair and rebuilding, just as I have experienced in my own life. And, as in our case, the end results will be better than the previous structures. Many times Uranus transits force us to deal with something we’ve consistently put off, too. The first opposition found Saturn and Uranus in harmonious aspect to Jupiter in Capricorn, and that encouraged us to accept the fact that rebuilding is a process. Uranus can create chaos in a matter of moments, but it takes Saturn’s willingness to do the work to create order once more.

As always, be prepared to practice forgiving yourself and others, because this series of oppositions is bound to bring moments of uncertainty and doubt as part of the process.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Image: A bridge is a good symbol for working with oppositions. This lovely Japanese Moon bridge  brings earth and water into harmony.

Ask Real Astrologers: Is This a Karmic Relationship?

This week’s question comes from Donna in Columbus, OH:

I have a question about one of the strangest relationships I have ever experienced. This is definitely a relationship where a strong romantic attraction exists, but honestly, it seems there is more to it. I knew the moment I met this man I already knew him, and told him so. Which, shockingly, he did not dispute or think I was completely insane!

Anyway, this man has his South Mode conjunct to both my Sun and Venus. I know there is a lot to look at with relationship charts, but could you just describe a little of what this placement could indicate? We see each other only a few times a year but our relationship seems to deepen even when we are not present in each other’s lives daily.

Libra ponders . . . Neith’s response:

Donna, the feedback I’ve received from others with aspects to the Moon’s Nodes in synastry particularly by conjunction supports what you are saying about what’s happening in this relationship.

Any time the Sun or Venus are active in synastry, the effect is generally on the positive side, because these two planets embody warmth and affection, and since it is your Sun and Venus, you are the person bringing these qualities to the relationship. The South Node represents ways of thinking and being we are most familiar with, and if you believe in reincarnation, then it’s what we bring into this life from past ones. This conjunction is all about pure comfort for both of you, so it is no surprise you enjoy spending time together.

A possible downside here comes about if the South Node person is not particularly conscious and drains the vitality of the Sun-Venus person. In a way it is a good thing you only see each other a few times a year because then you reap the benefits of this aspect bringing about a “no harm, no foul” situation.

Keep in mind if you do decide it’s important to be together more, to have an experienced astrologer give you feedback using both synastry and composite charts, provided you both have good birth times.

Enjoy for now!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Donna, you don’t say how close Venus and the Sun are to your friend’s South Node. In general, planets have to be within a degree or two of a lunar node to have much of an effect, unless there are other things going in the chart that provide more clues about possible karmic connections.

I do agree with Neith that there is something karmic going on here. I don’t believe in past lives, per se, but I believe that the energies we bring into this life do have relationships with energies that other people bring into their lives, and we attract or repel these accordingly. As Neith said, Venus and the Sun attract and in general are positive.

That said, I do know of one married couple in which the woman’s Venus and North Node are on the man’s Sun and South Node, and while they have a very comfortable and apparently easy relationship, there isn’t a lot of passion, and they appear to have a sort of unspoken contract to keep each other from delving too deeply into who they really are. In other words, they reinforce each other’s laziness about doing the work necessary to wake up and live to their fullest potential.

This strange relationship you are experiencing may simply be a reminder that we all have kindred spirits who come and go out of our lives, and that may be all there is to it. If not — if this is meant to be something more — it will develop when the time is right. Often, that timing happens when a chart point you have in common is triggered by a conjunction from an outer planet.

Good luck!

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Astrology Poll: What’s Your Favorite Winter Holiday?

The Sun enters Capricorn on Sunday, the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Online Surveys & Market Research

While many cultures and religions around the world have different feast days throughout the year, the solstices are celebrated just about everywhere in one form or another. In Christian-dominated countries, most people celebrate Christmas, perhaps forgetting that it had its origins in a much older tradition that revolved around the four cardinal points of the zodiac.

We would love to know how our astrologically inclined readers celebrate the winter holidays. If you live in a foreign country and aren’t as proficient in English as you would like to be, don’t let that stop you from leaving a comment! Help enlighten us all as we celebrate the return to the light.

Love and peace to all.

Pat & Neith

Weekly Forecast December 15: Mars Square Saturn, Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice, by Danilo PivatoAs the week begins, we are still in the wake of last Friday’s heavily charged Full Moon. The tension has eased off a little, but there’s still a sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Mars continues to stir up conflict as he squares Saturn on Monday and then crosses the degree of the Full Moon at 21 Sagittarius. Even powerful aspects such as the Saturn-Uranus opposition or an eclipse can pass unnoticed until the energy is triggered by another transit. Trigger-happy Mars often fulfills that role, so do be prepared for shakeups through Wednesday.

Of course, not all conflict is bad. Often it’s exactly what we need to wake us up and move us out of our comfort zone so that we can find our edge. That is where growth takes place, and Sagittarius is all about growth and expansion. On Tuesday, Mars sextiles Neptune, which is uniquely situated in a position indicating a window of opportunity to heal deep wounds. If you can bear some temporary discomfort and possibly even pain, the breakthroughs could be breathtaking.

The Moon in Virgo on Thursday also may prod and provoke as she opposes Uranus, conjoins Saturn, and squares Mars. Again, there won’t be anything new here, just another possible episode in an unfolding story.

Sunday is the Solstice, when the Sun enters Capricorn. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Midwinter, a holiday that goes back to times as ancient as humanity itself. For many people, this is a psychic gateway and opening on new beginnings. Indeed, new beginnings in our life often have their seeds in our darkest hours.

Much love and holiday blessings to all…

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: This phenomenal image is a composite taken by Italian photographer Danilo Pivato on the Winter Solstice in 2005 overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in Santa Severa, Italy. For more of Danilo’s astronomy images, check out his fabulous website, Beyond the Moon. Copyright 2005, Danilo Pivato.