Monthly Archives: January 2009

Saturday Extra: Two Messengers

Comet Hyakutake, 1996Mercury, the Messenger planet, returns direct tomorrow (late tonight on the West Coast of the United States) after three weeks in retrograde motion. For the next couple of days, don’t be surprised if communications come to a dead halt, traffic is jammed to a standstill, and stores are out of whatever you’re looking for.

This Mercury retrograde period has been curious, and it’s difficult even to pinpoint what it might have brought, as there are so many other planetary energies zinging around over our heads lately that they’re all jumbled together in a big astrological casserole.

Based on my own experience, it does appear that certain issues that have been building for weeks and even months have come to a head, and now we may have a chance to resolve them once and for all as Mercury returns direct and begins to gather speed next week. Communications with authority figures may play a heightened role, with Mercury in Capricorn. Once Mercury enters Aquarius, on February 14, we’ll start hearing more about the collective, individual rights, and grassroots efforts.

Meanwhile, there is another messenger in our neighborhood, Comet Lulin (thanks to Rossa and Tseka for alerting me to its presence). I’m still researching this entity to discover where it is from and what it might be trying to tell us. This will take me some time, as I’m incapacitated by the back injury I sustained the day after the solar eclipse on January 26. The latest is that I may have a herniated disc. So the long hours I used to spend surfing the ‘Net are prohibited for now.

An initial look at this comet’s unusual behavior suggests that chaos and disorder are part of its message. Lulin is literally going against the grain, in an orbit roughly tracking the path of the planets as we see it from Earth, only it is moving backwards. It was closest to the Sun on January 10, which is another clue for the message of comets, but it wasn’t visible with the naked eye at that time. We may get only a brief glimpse of it, as it approaches its closest point to Earth in late February. From that we can conclude that the forces it symbolizes aren’t obvious and need special vision to see. Lulin comes from deep space and apparently has not visited our inner solar system before, so we might conclude that the message is something new, totally outside of our ability to imagine.

Interestingly, this is all in keeping with the chaotic energy of the planets and eclipse cycle, which I’ve been writing about here and on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles.

I will have more as I am able to research. If any of you have links and relevant information, I would love for you to drop me a line.

Much love and courage…
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The “Great Comet” of 1996, Hyakutake. Photo by NASA.

Ask Real Astrologers: A Double Dose of Saturn and Uranus

This week’s question comes from Grace in North Carolina:

Saturn and Uranus are both in the first house at 29 degrees Sagittarius. What does this mean with the direct opposition occurring currently? It seems to be rather positive… just super pregnant with ideas.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Grace, from the looks of it, the ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition in Virgo and Pisces will be making itself felt in your chart and life for roughly the next year or so. The next exact pass on February 5, 2009, finds Saturn conjunct your Midheaven and Uranus on your Nadir, so welcome to the continuing struggle of balancing career and home demands.

Your Moon-Mars conjunction in your first house will serve as the apex of a T-square with the Saturn-Uranus opposition over the course of the summer until the third exact pass on September 19, 2009. Moon-Mars conjunctions are prone to volatility, and for Sagittarius, the thought is the deed, so my sense is the coming months are going to find you counting to ten frequently when Saturn blocks plans and Uranus disrupts them.

As for your natal Saturn-Uranus conjunction, that will be most affected by the fourth exact pass of the Saturn-Uranus opposition on April 26, 2010. This transit is part of the “coming of age” cycle for you and others in your peer group who also have Saturn and Uranus conjunct in Sagittarius. In a way, you are experiencing up close and personal what everyone on the planet has to handle: how to clear away and replace old ways of thinking and being without destroying the framework in the process.

For you, the challenges can come in the form of attempting to launch a career in a shrinking economy and job market. This may lead to moving to another location (Uranus on the Nadir) in order to land a job. Because the Saturn-Uranus opposition squares your first house planets, spending time working on how you present yourself to the world is going to be part of this process.

Good luck, and be prepared to exercise your patience right up to the limit!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Well, Grace, your chart is certainly buzzing with activity right now! Neith covered all of the basics, and I don’t have much to add.  Saturn and Uranus crossing key chart angles (Midheaven and IC) is going to be felt, more so than if they simply were in your tenth and fourth houses. I believe major changes are going to be triggered in the next few months, and likely along the lines Neith outlined.

All of that notwithstanding, I think the “pregnant with ideas” feeling is coming from Neptune conjoining your Sun. On the positive side, the Neptune-Sun conjunction can increase your creativity and connect you to higher realms of consciousness. Incidentally, not everyone experiences this transit in a lifetime, since Neptune’s orbit around the Sun is longer than the human lifespan.

The downside to this transit is that you may feel tired, and you could be prone to pie-in-the-sky schemes that will be counterproductive in the long run. Should you encounter anyone offering you a deal that seems too good to be true, be highly skeptical. If that person presses you for an immediate response, then step way back.

In general, we may well find that the Saturn-Uranus opposition ultimately helps us find solid, practical ways to be our more authentic selves. For you, this is even more true, given where this aspect is positioned in your chart.

There’s nothing Sagittarius likes better than a good, fast ride. You’re definitely going to get one, so hang on and enjoy it!

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Ask Our Readers: Fallout From the Eclipse To Report?

The New Moon eclipse at 6 degrees Aquarius is behind us now but like a stone dropped in a pond, the affects are starting to cause ripples for many of us. Where it fell in your chart and what, if any, natal planets and aspect patterns were triggered are places to start looking for results.

Keep in mind we are also juggling the incoming Saturn-Uranus opposition at 20 degrees Virgo-Pisces exact in about a week, so for some of us it’s been more of a cascade than a single event. The eclipse conjoined the cusp of my third house and the web cam I ordered arrived and immediately turned into a huge distraction. At the same time, I had to drop all that and follow my Aries spouse to town to get his pickup truck worked (another in a series of interruptions courtesy of having Uranus in Pisces in the fourth). Between needing to devote time to my astrology work and the challenge of attempting to do that working at home, I’m beginning to feel like a darn tennis ball being slammed from one side of the court to the other.

Pat, who had the eclipse take place in her first house, wrenched her back on her day job attempting to move something too heavy and awkward, so she is moving very gingerly right now.

Anyone else have a tale to tell about their trials and tribulations of juggling the eclipse and Saturn-Uranus? By the way, today and tomorrow the Moon is in Pisces and will conjoin Uranus and oppose Saturn, so expect more little surprises!

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast January 26: Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, Mercury Direct

Photo by Aaron Favila for the APAs you know from reading last week’s forecast and Neith’s New Moon report, this week starts right out on a high-energy note, with an annular eclipse of the Sun in close conjunction with Jupiter.

If you’ve got key planets and chart points in early Aquarius, you’re going to feel this event in ways that are hard to imagine right now. Other fixed-sign planets in your chart will be activated as well. Two weeks from now, there will be a Full Moon lunar eclipse in Leo. My experience is that the period between eclipses is always tumultuous. That is likely to be even more true right now, with Mercury coming out of retrograde mode between the solar and lunar eclipses.

For anyone who’s interested, I wrote a companion post on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles, about how I’m experiencing this weird, chaotic energy.
I’m an Aquarius with Aquarius Rising, so I’m being doubly smacked. Not all of you will be, and this is a great illustration of how planetary transits work. Each of us has an energy imprint that I liken to a radio frequency. When a transit is broadcasting to a certain frequency, those who are tuned in pick it up, and others don’t, or they pick it up faintly or just feel a bunch of static.

Just to liven things up a little more, retrograde Mercury conjoins Mars in Capricorn on Tuesday, increasing the risk of serious arguments. They may be due to misunderstandings, but it’s just as likely that they will emerge from unresolved issues. When we don’t confront problems head on, they pile up and eventually overwhelm us. Given Mercury’s retrograde motion, it’s not likely that reasoning is going to work too well. It may be best to just blow off steam, or let the other party do so, if necessary. Then wait a week or so, until Mercury returns direct, to see if you can find some common ground. By then, you may wonder what you were arguing about in the first place.

As always, remember my caveat: Otherwise intelligent people say and do stupid things while Mercury is retrograde. It’s probably not anyone’s fault, so let it go this time, forgive, and move on.

Later on Tuesday, the Moon enters Pisces, where she’ll conjoin Uranus and oppose Saturn on Thursday. As the opposition between Saturn and Uranus creeps closer to exact, lunar transits may act as a trigger to set off events manifesting out of these energies. Just have your antennae up on Thursday and take note of any unusual situations.

Mercury goes direct on Sunday (Saturday night on the West Coast of the United States and points west). Typically, everything stops up while Mercury is stationed, so don’t expect to see any sudden effects. That will start happening next week as the Messenger gains speed. Have your seat belts fastened and hang on!

Much love and courage to all!
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: This incredible photo of the eclipse was taken at Manila, Philippines, by Aaron Favila for The Associated Press.

Saturday Archives: Saturn in Synastry . . . Neith’s Take

folk's wedding in 1944Pulling a post on Saturn in synastry from the archives for Saturday (Saturn’s Day) seems like a good idea. It is also important to remember Saturn aspects in synastry can provide the foundation for a lasting relationship . . . not such a bad guy after all?

A friend requested my take on how Saturn works in synastry between the charts, and as a true Libra Sun person with a life-long fascination with how relationships work, how could I say no?

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of reading relating to synastry, and I’ve looked at a lot of different relationships plus my own — especially my own!  When it comes to Saturn, I still favor Steven Arroyo’s work in this area.  He is a fellow Libra and has done extensive astrological relationship counseling over the years.  Another favorite, Liz Greene, has what I consider The Book on Saturn:  Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil.  Between these two astrologers and my own experiences, Saturn in synastry is simply not the bad guy that traditional astrologers have made him out to be.

This is not to say there aren’t synastry aspects with Saturn that are not tough to deal with; there are.  Saturn forming squares and inconjuncts to the Moon and Venus in particular can be difficult to resolve.  However, conjunctions and oppositions, as well as squares, show up with great frequency in chart comparisons of couples that have been together — and happily — for many years.  One of the key factors may be that most of the time there has been some kind of formal documentation of the relationship, such as marriage, wills, etc.  Saturn likes it very much when both partners sign on the dotted line and announce to the community that they are a couple.

Conjunctions, trines, sextiles, and oppositions between Saturn and the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ascendant, and Descendant are all aspects that can indicate a durable relationship.  Saturn acts as a stabilizing element and helps ground the relationship in time and space.  When the synastry has loads of Jupiter and Uranus intra-aspects for fun and freedom, I like to see a good solid Saturn aspect to provide some balance.  If I don’t see one or two, then it’s likely that the relationship will burn brightly, and then both partners will move on.

My SO’s Saturn is conjunct my Moon-Neptune, which falls in his seventh House — a classic aspect for the long run.  Traditional astrology says I will experience this as oppressive and run into lots of resistance to the natural expression of my emotional nature.  I will own up to some of that, but after 17 years of being essentially happy and comfortable together, my overriding experience has been one where I find him emotionally dependable, and this creates a feeling of security for me.  OK, I have Taurus on the cusp of my seventh house, so I like a partner who others may find boring, but that’s the beauty of astrology: we can determine what type of partner best suits us.

While we love to look chart comparisons, I feel I must reiterate — one more time — that chart comparisons start with the individual!  And if as an individual you are not yet in a place to be a good partner, please acknowledge that to yourself if no one else.  My Libra side tells me the willingness to compromise is a very important aspect of being a good partner.  To make healthy compromises, we need to know exactly what is and what is not negotiable.  This goes right to the heart of being a good partner . . .

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

Image: This is the wedding photo of my Libra mom & Cancer dad . . . they were married just a week shy of 63 yrs when she died March 2007. One of the reasons I believe in the possibility of lasting reasonably happy relationships!

Ask Real Astrologers: A Second Look at Pluto on Venus

Last week, Tarja from Finland posed a question about Pluto approaching her natal Venus, and we answered based on a chart with Libra Rising. Well, we used the wrong chart, so we’re going to take her question again this week, using the right chart. Happy Mercury retrograde!

Here is Tarja’s original question. Our revised answers are below:

I have been reading a lot about meeting someone and that when it usually happens both have the same sort of planet situation. So if my Pluto is conjunct Venus will his be as well, or what does it mean? And can one see that in one’s own chart?Also everywhere the Pluto on Venus is said to be very strong (like a big bang, unavoidable) but usually nothing happens to me, so how sure it is that anything will happen at all?Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

First I would like to apologize, Tarja, for not getting your chart right before . . . classic example of Mercury Rx overload. You do indeed have Scorpio Rising and Libra on the Midheaven, making Mars your chart ruler along with Pluto. Your natal Mars is in Pisces and with Neptune conjunct the Ascendant in Scorpio, learning to effectively assert yourself is very important, because Neptune’s influence can create confusion and a lack of clarity about how you take action.

I have been thinking about the effects of Pluto’s transit to your Venus, too. It is easy to lose sight of the fact Pluto provides a much needed service – that of clearing away the dead and dying parts of ourselves to make way for positive change. A Pluto-Venus transit can teach us to value ourselves, increasing our self-esteem and the capacity to love both ourselves and others. That Pluto is currently transiting your second house just underlines the need to reconsider what is truly of value to you.

Your Sun and Moon are both in the detached, air sign of Aquarius – very different from your intense water sign Scorpio Rising. If you wish people to see who you feel you truly are, you will need to make an extra effort to present your authentic self to the world. Find someone you feel comfortable with and trust to help you learn how others see you and how to modify your outward behavior to reflect your true self.

Take advantage of Jupiter in Aquarius transiting your Aquarius planets to initiate positive change in your life and how you see yourself. In fact, you have Jupiter and the North Node conjunct your Sun in your Solar Return chart for this coming year, a perfect combination for realizing your gifts and talents. Best of luck and many blessings to you, Tarja! [Note: Neith and Pat both do Solar Return charts.]

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Hi again, Tarja!

The general information I gave you last week about astrological markers for first meetings remains true, as does what I told you about the Pluto-Venus transits and the timing of it for you.

That you are a Rising Scorpio and not a Rising Libra does change things somewhat, though. As a Rising Libra, you have Venus as your chart ruler, whereas Rising Scorpio gives you more intensity, and this definitely is at odds with your Aquarius Sun and Moon, which are much cooler-headed and prefer to stay more detached. This also may explain why you don’t feel the full effects of certain transits.

When two major components of a natal chart are so opposed, we often have difficulty integrating these two sides of ourselves. I can say this from personal experience, as I have an Aquarius Sun and Ascendant, with a Pisces Moon. It took me many years to own that poor Pisces Moon, and when I finally did, it took roughly three years to figure out what to do with her! Perhaps you are experiencing something similar with your competing Aquarius and Scorpio energies. If so, a Pluto-Venus transit that helped you claim your sexuality would greatly contribute to your personal growth, and I think this would be more important than meeting a particular someone.

That said, we typically learn these lessons through relationships, so you may well meet someone who will trigger an intense and obsessive reaction in you, and this may cause a secondary reaction of guilt and shame. It’s’ easier said than done, but try not to judge yourself. Rather, use the experience to understand yourself better, and you will be very surprised by the results.

Thanks again for your great question. Your solar return is coming right up here, too, so happy birthday!

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New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, January 25-26

The New Moon solar eclipse on January 26 (January 25 on the West Coast of the United States and points west) is the first of 2009 and has an impressive lineup in Aquarius, drawing our attention to the qualities and agendas of this forward-looking sign.

Aquarius is noted for being able to think outside the box, and we will be reminded of this in no uncertain terms, not only because there are six bodies in Aquarius but because this lunation has the extra punch an eclipse brings with it.

The asteroid Juno moved into Aquarius on January 22, heralding a shift in the way we will perceive our structured partnerships such as marriage. This may be the time when we begin to redefine the concept of marriage to be more inclusive than exclusive. Juno conjoins Jupiter in Aquarius, where the Big Guy is happy to put his considerable weight behind increasing awareness of all humanitarian issues for a change. In Roman mythology, Jupiter was king of the gods, and Juno was his wife. With the waxing conjunction of Juno to Jupiter from now until around Valentine’s Day, stepping out on one’s spouse would not be a good idea . . . Juno came up with some very creative ways to punish her philandering husband!

The theme of change is very powerful on this New Moon, and while many of us pay lip service to enjoying new ideas and ways of thinking and being, the reality can be quite uncomfortable initially. If Uranus is active in your natal chart by conjunction, sextile, or trine, you are more likely to embrace the new, but if the aspects are squares or oppositions, the resistance can be fierce. Often those with tense aspects have lives that are periodically turned upside down by outside forces and consequently hunger for a peaceful status quo.

The North Node in Aquarius is also part of the stellium with the Sun and Moon and signals the need to broaden our perspective and think globally instead of nationally. The Sun will conjunct the North Node on January 28, the peak of this cycle. The internet, a very Aquarian network, has made it possible for people like Pat and me to reach out to others all around the world; and we are just one small website among an ever-increasing number. Humanity is less isolated than ever before, and we increasingly need to set aside seeing our differences and focus on how much we are alike. What type of world do we want to live in? What ideals do we want to see promoted?

Neptune is still traveling with Chiron, reminding us that the path to true and lasting healing is through recognition and forgiveness of old wounds. If we cradle our grievances to our breasts, nurturing our feelings of anger and resentment, we will simply not be able to forge a better life for ourselves. Neptune offers sympathy and compassion and will help us dissolve and wash away our pain, but only if we actively participate in the process.

Uranus and Venus are conjunct in Pisces, both opposing Saturn in Virgo, and the next exact opposition of Saturn and Uranus is drawing closer. For now, we have the gift of Venus as part of this aspect pattern, suggesting that kindness and being agreeable are better tools for conflict resolution than aggression and denial. Conversely, the Mercury-Mars conjunction in Capricorn tells us that taking a firm, decisive, practical approach to problem-solving will help us. Because the conjunction in Pisces is sextile the Capricorn conjunction, we can blend these energies easily with Saturn in Virgo’s common-sense way of doing business and find our way into the future.

While Pluto is refraining from an active role in this lunation, I’m sure if you have personal planets or angles in the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) from 2 to 5 degrees, you are keenly aware of him. Keep in mind that if you feel like you are being pulled under by this transit, letting go will let you bob back to the surface. There is a very good possibility that what you were holding onto so tightly is unnecessary anyway.

As always, the Sabian symbol is an amazing fit. For 7 Aquarius, it is “a child is seen being born out of an egg” with the keywords EMERGENCE OF GLOBAL MAN. Being free of the inertia of humankind’s past, a transmutation of something entirely new is coming onto the world stage. When we move away from our history, we have an opportunity to see ourselves with new eyes and can choose which facets of ourselves we wish to polish for display.

It is especially important to remember to be kind to one another in times of great change because uncertainty creates stress. Mercury is still retrograde, and it is easy to misspeak right now, so let’s do ourselves a favor and practice thinking before speaking. OK?!

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, January 19, too. She has more pertinent information on both the eclipse and the next exact Saturn-Uranus opposition.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

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

Weekly Forecast January 19: Sun Enters Aquarius, Mercury Retrograde

Water Cube in BeijingThis is going to be a big week for many of us and the beginning of a journey over the next several weeks that will lead us to some surprising places. Do expect some turbulence, though. For some of us, there could be quite a lot of it.

As major aspects play out this week, we’re moving closer to the second pass of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, which is exact on February 5, and this tug-of-war remains an active force in all of our lives. We want to change; we know we need it and that it will be good for us. But humans don’t give up the status quo easily. We are wired to stay on familiar ground, even if we’re not getting everything we need there. Forging ahead into unexplored territory is scary and takes a supreme act of will.

Or, more often than not, it takes a crisis or event out of the blue over which we have no control to drag us kicking and screaming.

That is likely to happen in the days and weeks ahead, with two eclipses that are bound to bring sweeping changes. If you have key planets or chart points in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius), you will feel these eclipses more than others.

I have to tell you, I am on pins and needles, with Sun and Ascendant both in Aquarius, opposite a fixed T-square. And being an astrologer doesn’t help. Aquarius and its ruler, Uranus, are so unpredictable and full of surprises that there’s no point in even trying to guess what might happen. Besides, planetary energies are so complex and intertwined right now that it’s too much for a lowly human brain to try to figure out the nearly unlimited ways they could manifest. For me, it likely will have something to do with my income or love life, but that’s an awfully broad statement.

On a day-to-day basis, here’s how our week stacks up:

On Monday, the Sun enters Aquarius, fueling the forces of change and favoring the collective. This happens just as a new president takes office in the United States — not that this is unusual; Inauguration Day always takes place with the Sun in Aquarius, and since the event is traditionally scheduled for noon, the Ascendant will always be Taurus. It is interesting to note, however, that our new leader is a Rising Aquarius, and he is evoking the words and spirit of another Aquarius, Abraham Lincoln, as he prepares to take office.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on Tuesday and then retrogrades back into Capricorn. We may experience a flurry of new ideas, only to take a step back and dismiss these flashes of inspiration as impractical, not doable, etc. Or it may be a case of cold feet. These are mixed messages we’re sending to ourselves, but the good news is that it will help you refine your concept of who you are and what you want.

On Thursday, Mars forms a harmonious sextile to Uranus, which forms an exact conjunction with Venus later in the day. Mars and Venus are both in the signs of their exaltation, so the energy they feed into the planet of change is going to be powerful, and I’m betting that we will get something we’ve needed desperately, whether it’s material object or one of those great intangibles. Start thinking now about what you need and visual that need met. If you regularly do manifestation meditations, you know that it’s best to concentrate on the need and not on the specific outcome. There are many ways to have a need met, so stay open to receiving in a way you can’t even imagine right now.

The Sun conjoins Jupiter on Friday, adding still more fuel to creative change. Ancient astrologers considered Jupiter a lucky influence, and my experience is that he usually is. However, the caveat is that you have to do something to get the most out of this energy. It will not deliver the goods to you on a silver platter. And yes, sometimes Jupiter acts as an amplifier, bringing too much of a good thing. Looking at the chart for this aspect, though, I think it reflects a largely positive influence.

On Saturday, Mars is trine Saturn and Venus is in opposition. Part of the difficulty making changes is that we need to leave people and places behind. When we love those people, it’s that much harder. But sometimes we resist leaving even when these attachments are not all that good for us. If you are in such a situation or relationship, be prepared for a disruption, and keep in mind that it will be better for you in the long run.

The Moon conjoins Mercury on Sunday right before entering Aquarius, and we’re well in the wake of the solar eclipse by this time. Eclipse-related events can take place a few days before or after the eclipse and sometimes are delayed by weeks or a few months. With Mercury retrograde, it’s possible we may have to wait until the Full Moon to see any real action, but given what else is going on in the sky this week, that traditional interpretation may get blown to bits. The eclipse takes place just before midnight Sunday here on the West Coast of the United States, but it will be Monday by then in most places in the world. As usual, Neith will have a full report. I can’t wait to read her interpretation, and I’m sure you can’t, either, so stay tuned!

Wishing you much love and courage…
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The National Aquatics Center in Beijing, also known as the Water Cube. Although Aquarius is an air sign, I thought this was a fitting image because of the futuristic look of the building and also because Uranus, planetary ruler of Aquarius, currently is in Pisces. Photo by Frederic J. Brown for Agence France-Presse.

Saturday Extra: Observations on Retrograde Mercury

Tiepolo's Mercury Appearing to AeneasMercury went retrograde a week ago, and while many of us didn’t experience any effects right away, now that he’s gaining momentum on his reverse course, a few springs are starting to pop.

We can start with the bizarre airplane accident in New York on Thursday, which apparently was the result of a collision with a flock of birds right after take-off. Air travel is ruled by Aquarius, the sign in which Mercury currently is retrograde. It was interesting that the jet went down in water. Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, currently is in Pisces. Jupiter, meanwhile, is also in Aquarius, with Mercury only a few degrees away. Jupiter typically is a lucky influence, and it was nothing short of a miracle that there were no fatal injuries.

Yesterday, my ferry was 15 minutes late leaving the dock because the captain missed the boat! He had to catch the next one, which wasn’t scheduled to dock at Vashon and had to make an emergency stop to deliver him. Of course, that meant all the boats on our route were behind schedule for the rest of the day.

U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama is making his way to Washington for his inauguration on Tuesday, and while I haven’t read about any delays or incidents on his historic train trip, his first days in office will be spent cleaning up big messes left by the previous administration. For that matter, retrograde Mercury in the inauguration chart suggests that he may spend his entire term in office that way. Mercury retrograde actually should help him in this regard, as retrograde periods are great for research, review, and revision.

Mercury is retrograde in my first house and will cross back over my Ascendant twice. The events I’m experiencing are a bit too personal to recount here, but one of them involves a grievance before a labor union, and unions are ruled by Aquarius. A couple of old friends also resurfaced after months of silence. Aquarius is the sign of friendship.

On Tuesday, right after the inauguration, Mercury retrogrades back into Capricorn. This may temporarily tip the balance back in the favor of authoritarian rule, or it could frustrate those forces even more, as Saturn, Capricorn’s ruling planet, also is retrograde. By this time, the Sun will have entered Aquarius, and we’ll be only days away from a solar eclipse. I think it’s safe to say that many unpredictable events and surprises are in the works.

I’ll have more on the eclipse in my weekly forecast on Monday. Until then, much love and many blessings…
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mercury Appearing to Aeneas, by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1696-1770.

Ask Real Astrologers: Will Pluto on Venus Improve My Love Life?

Our question this week comes from Tarja in Finland:

I have been reading a lot about meeting someone and that when it usually happens both have the same sort of planet situation. So if my Pluto is conjunct Venus will his be as well, or what does it mean? And can one see that in one’s own chart?Also everywhere the Pluto on Venus is said to be very strong (like a big bang, unavoidable) but usually nothing happens to me, so how sure it is that anything will happen at all?

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Tarja, with Libra rising in your chart, gentle Venus plays a larger role than she usually does. You have Venus in Capricorn natally square to Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn, inclining you to be cautious and somewhat conventional about love. At the same time, your Venus forms an out-of-sign square with very unconventional Uranus creating the potential for an inner conflict between desiring a committed relationship and needing your freedom of movement.

Pluto-Venus synastry aspects do create the potential for a deep, powerful connection, but with your Sun and Moon in Aquarius and Libra rising, an all-consuming love affair may not be for you. Moon in Aquarius in particular is often detached and quirky when it comes to love. Yes, Libra rising does incline a person to enjoy having a partner, but here again, the sharing is less about emotions and more intellectual in nature.

Pluto will be conjoining your Venus by transit starting the first week of March, lasting all of April and into the second week of May, so you will have plenty of time to get acquainted with the effects. If you meet someone during this time, you could end up obsessing about them endlessly! Another effect is learning what has lasting value to you and a willingness to discard what does not. This may be a case of being careful what you wish for!

Best of luck to you and remember to always be as honest with yourself as possible!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

This is a great question, Tarja!

There are almost always astrological markers for the first meeting between two people who eventually become involved in a meaningful relationship, whether that union lasts for one night or a whole lifetime. These markers have a wide range and generally indicate the type of relationship as well. For example, a Venus-Uranus transit in one person’s chart might indicate a head-over-heels reaction that burns out just as quickly. The indicators are not always present in both people’s charts. Powerful indicators in one chart alone are enough to trigger a meeting. That said, it often happens that the meeting takes place or the two people “click” when a transiting planet crosses a shared degree in their charts, either a key planet or a chart point, including the Vertex.

Pluto-Venus transits are usually about sex. If a relationship does come into your life at this time, physical love likely will be the focus, and as Neith writes above, it likely will have an obsessive quality to it. Intense passion can be extremely uncomfortable for many people, and I agree with Neith that it may throw you initially. It likely will be a learning experience for you more than anything else.

Note, however, that Pluto will not be in exact conjunction with your natal Venus until next year. He gets very close this March but then turns retrograde and backs off. In 2010, you’ll have three passes of Pluto on your natal Venus between January and November. Perhaps events in your love life this spring will reflect this “almost,” and that could be a learning experience, too. I couldn’t agree more with Neith that looking into your heart and being honest about what you really want and need would be enormously helpful to you at this time.

Many blessings to you on your search for love, and thanks again for writing!

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