Monthly Archives: February 2010

New Moon in Aquarius, February 13-14, 2010

If there ever was a time to check our expectations and assumptions about love and romance at the door, the New Moon on February 13 is it (February 14 in the Eastern Hemisphere).

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon, at 25°17′ Aquarius, is “a garage man testing a car’s battery with a hydrometer.” This image is very descriptive of what we need to do to find our way through the pitfalls of our expectations of others and how we think our beloved should behave on Valentine’s Day. Is it so hard to simply tell our sweeties what would please us the most?

By communicating our wishes, we can reduce the possibilities of a breakdown considerably due to a dead battery in the romance department. For example, my husband knows I can’t eat chocolate anymore but that I do love flowers, and I know he appreciates a nice card and a homemade Valentine’s gift.

The stellium of the Sun, Moon, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius closely semi-sextile Uranus in Pisces puts a strong emphasis on all matters related to Aquarius, the eleventh house, the collective, and thinking outside the box. Allies, associates, peer group, and our favorite charities and organizations are the focus now.

This also is a wonderful time to search for original solutions to existing problems or puzzles, and perhaps we will see some innovative ideas emerge in the near future to resolve issues facing us as a whole. That said, don’t forget to double-check your facts before launching your grand crusade for the betterment of humanity, because it is easy to overlook the practicalities under Neptune’s influence.

On the Full Moon at the end of January, Venus and Mars were opposing each other aligned with the Sun and Moon. This time around, Venus has moved into Pisces inconjunct Mars in Leo, and both planets receive extra attention as the apex of two different Yods. Suggesting that there are plenty of pitfalls on the path to true love is an understatement.

Keep in mind that Saturn in Libra is still squaring Pluto in Capricorn. Saturn is sextile Mars with Pluto sextile Venus, creating little to no wiggle room when it comes to commitments. The Saturn-Mars sextile is the base of the Yod, with Venus conjunct Jupiter in Pisces at the apex. Pluto sextile Venus and Jupiter is the base of a second Yod, with Mars retrograde in Leo at the apex. I could go over this in greater astrological detail, but the essence is this: Pre-nuptial agreements will come with the engagement ring, conservative marriage vows will be back with an emphasis on respect, honor and fidelity, and being less than honest in any way will be dealt with ruthlessly – all of this played out against the candle-lit, rose-colored background created by Venus and Jupiter closely conjunct in romance-loving Pisces.

Mercury in Aquarius opposes Mars in Leo and has a role to play, too, because it falls midway between Pluto and Venus. Having Mercury as the release point of a Yod (the point directly opposite the apex) in this case suggests that the best way to handle disagreements and conflict is through very carefully worded communications. Cool, rational Aquarius will help up to a certain point, but since both Leo and Aquarius are fixed signs, if no compromise can be found, it may be wiser to wait and give all parties a chance to cool down.

My suggestions for making this a New Moon Valentine’s Day one to remember happily is to take time to talk over your plans with your sweetheart and listen closely to what they have to tell you. Listening with love, your complete attention and willingness to compromise is recommended for a happy ending.

For those who do not enjoy Valentine’s Day and prefer to ignore it altogether, this New Moon is also an excellent time to launch new projects, especially those benefiting humanity as a whole. Just apply all the above to working with friends and colleagues!

Good luck, and remember always to be kind to those who cross your path.

posted by Diane . . .

Weekly Forecast February 8: New Moon in Aquarius, Venus Enters Pisces

All of the ingredients for a romantic Valentine's Day. Photo by Pat Paquette.

It’s Valentine’s Day next Sunday, and what a show the cosmos has in store for us. This week could be positively transformational.

However, it’s clear that we’re going to have to work for it, and there will be challenges and tests. Romantic partnerships in particular will be affected, and if you’ve been waiting to move up to the next level or to heal deep-seated issues between you and your partner, this promises to be a memorable week for love.

The week begins with a romantic conjunction of Venus and Neptune. Astrologers usually describe this as the “rose-colored glasses” aspect, and there is some risk of idealizing your partner. Well, why not? We delude ourselves about so many things when it comes to our loved ones, what’s wrong with a brief fantasy of perfection? Still, the point here is to love your partner, human failings and all. I’ll come back to this in a minute.

On Wednesday, Mercury enters Aquarius, the sign of his exaltation. If you’ve felt like life is moving too fast, hang onto your seat, because it’s going to get even faster now. Inspiration and new ideas come streaming in at the speed of light.

Also on Wednesday, Mars forms an inconjunct with Jupiter, activating a Yod with Mars and Saturn at the base and Venus and Jupiter at the apex. This is an extremely rare formation and very interesting, because Mars and Saturn are the malefics — the bad guys in astrology — while Venus and Jupiter are considered the benefics. Moreover, both Mars and Saturn are retrograde, the only two planets currently in reverse.

The conjunction of Venus and Jupiter is said to be the luckiest combination in astrology, and this is even more true in Pisces, as Venus is exalted in the sign of the Fishes, and Jupiter is its co-ruler. This is our call to higher love and opening our hearts to receive wealth and abundance. However, the Yod formation suggests a block of some kind, a “hump” to get over before all those good things flow to us.

Mars sextile Saturn is good for setting immediate ego gratification aside to accomplish difficult tasks. Since both planets are retrograde, we can’t expect to move mountains, but to make steady progress, a little at a time, until the job is done. It’s also likely that projects we undertake at this time have something to do with the past — clearing accumulated clutter, eliminating toxins from our bodies, and confronting tasks we’ve put off for months, if not years.

That sounds all well and good, but when we concentrate too much on work, what needs to be done, and “reality,” we shut the magic out of our lives. This isn’t intentional; indeed, I’d say it’s a negative side effect of modern industrialized societies. In order to go to work day after day and to live in crowded cities, we have to shut our sensitive, intuitive side down. After years of doing so, many people become desensitized, and it’s as though their minds have gone to sleep. Higher love can’t exist in such conditions.

There’s another inconjunct this week, between Mars in Leo and Pluto in Capricorn. This is a heavy handed combination that subjects the ego’s need for creative expression to oppressive authority. This suggests censorship to me and may be at the root of Google’s problem in China. The aspect peaks on Friday, and there will be a third and final round of it on April 10. Also on Friday, Mercury trines Saturn, a great aspect for finding a practical use for all those outlandish Aquarian ideas.

Mercury opposes Mars the following day, fueling arguments and creating breakdowns in communications. This seems like a small thing, but we need to be very careful with this one, given everything else that’s going on. Events this weekend could be overwhelming, and it won’t take much to get irritated with others. If you do get in an argument, hopefully it will be short-lived, as the New Moon is just a few hours later, and it holds much healing power.

At 25 degrees Aquarius, the New Moon will be tightly conjunct Neptune and Chiron. This is our cue to start anew by embracing our wounds. Earlier in the week, with Venus conjunct Neptune, we’re called upon to accept others, as they are. Now, we’re being called to accept and love ourselves. That’s more than just 80s Me-Decade psychobabble. Opening our hearts to love depends on it, and what better time is there to walk through the portal of love and healing than on Valentine’s Day?

Sunday’s aspect list is long, and I’ve covered most of it already. The one wildcard is Pluto. I just wrote of his inconjunct with Mars, but that means he’ll be sextile Venus and Jupiter, and that suggests an “out” of some kind. Maybe it’s about our true power as human beings, not just the illusion of power we get by sitting in the executive’s chair.

Wishing you nothing but true love,
Pat

Saturday Extra! Chasing Nibiru

Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal showing stars, planets, and signs of the zodiac. Note the Pleiades in the upper right corner.

Rossa’s question last week about the possibility of a brown dwarf in our solar system raised the subject of Nibiru, which, depending on whom you talk to, is the still-to-be-discovered Planet X, a planet on a doomsday collision course with Earth, or home to extraterrestrials.

In an attempt to discover how these stories started, I did a little digging and found some interesting facts about Nibiru, which is mentioned in ancient Sumerian astronomical texts. And therein lies the rub. The texts are confusing, and, of course, that leaves the door wide open to interpretation, some of them quite fanciful.

What fascinated me most was the description of Nibiru as a crossing point or gateway. This suggests that Nibiru was not an actual body, but a location in space or perhaps some kind of a time marker. Even when Sumerian astronomers refer to Nibiru as “Marduk’s star,” they simply may be noting the location of one of the five known planets (Marduk was a god in the Sumerian mythology and probably linked with one of the planets and perhaps a constellation, just as we associate Jupiter and Sagittarius).

Part of the problem, as I see it, is that the Sumerians often wrote in poetic language filled with symbolism, not necessarily to be taken literally. Further, Sumerian language scholars tend not to be well-versed in astrology and don’t understand what they’re reading. They can translate the words, but the resulting text makes no sense.

I would love to see a detailed study of these texts performed by someone skilled both in astrology and ancient Sumerian languages. If there is no one on the planet with that skill set, then a collaboration would be the next-best solution. But that is highly unlikely, as academics are among the first people to dismiss astrology as superstitious pseudoscience.

Think of the knowledge we’re missing because of this prejudice.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is My First House Sun in Retreat?

This week’s question comes from Geraldine in London, England:

In my chart, the Sun is almost exactly conjunct the Ascendant. As this is such a close conjunction, I was wondering what this means, with the Sun just nosing into the first house, but am I really more of a 12th house person, with the Moon is in Pisces. Coincidentally, where I live is called the Retreat (it’s the name of the estate actually).

Diane’s response:

Geraldine, your Sun in Libra is definitely belongs to your first house, not the twelfth. If you feel like a twelfth house person, I believe you are correct in looking at your sensitive Moon in Pisces.

Even though your Moon is in the fifth house, it is linked to the twelfth house in two ways: first, the inconjunct aspect between your Moon and Neptune located there; and second, Pisces rules the twelfth house.

The inconjunct is a rather difficult aspect, linking signs with little common ground. In your case, it is Neptune in airy Libra aspecting the Moon in watery Pisces. While there is often mutual respect between Libra and Pisces, Libra prefers an intellectual approach drawing on the best available data, while Pisces is fond of intuitive leaps and can be hazy when it comes to facts.

The Moon-Neptune inconjunct may bless you with creativity but at the same time makes you especially sensitive to confrontation of any kind. Hence it makes sense you prefer to live apart from the hustle and bustle of the mainstream. May I say, as one who has Moon conjunct Neptune in Libra, I completely understand? I have a profound aversion to yelling matches and emotional drama.

A second look at your twelfth shows you have an out-of-sign conjunction of Mercury in Virgo and Neptune in Libra located there. Mercury in the twelfth often receives information through dreams and in the moments between going to sleep and upon waking. Do you record your dreams? I would guess having your Mercury in Virgo would give you a better than usual ability to recall them.

Thanks for a good question, Geraldine, and enjoy your days in the Retreat!

Pat’s response:

Geraldine, your Sun should be considered in the first house, no question, but I know how you feel. I, too, have a first house Sun with Moon in Pisces, and I have a sensitivity to surroundings and people that makes it easier for me to be in retreat (love that symbolism!).

However, there is one important way in which your chart and mine differ. Your Moon is the “handle” of a basket, all alone on one side of the chart with all of your other planets almost entirely within one third of the chart wheel. This gives the Moon a much greater influence than it otherwise would have, so it’s hardly surprising that you feel this part of yourself more strongly.

That said, people with Sun on the Ascendant really do wish to be seen, and they often project a strong public persona, even if it’s not how they feel deep inside. I would bet that others see you quite differently than you perceive yourself. And I would encourage you to put yourself out there, even though you may feel like blending into the background at times. That’s the same advice I give myself, by the way.

Thanks for the great question, and all the best to you.

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Exploring Ceres and Vesta

Artist's concept of the Dawn spacecraft orbiting Ceres. Credit: McREL

While preparing this week’s forecast, I noted that the Sun sextiles Ceres on Sunday. I will admit to you that I have no idea what this means.

Many astrologers use the asteroids named for goddesses — Ceres, Vesta, Juno, and Pallas — in their consultation work with clients. For me, the jury is still out. I have never been satisfied with the explanations of their function, either in birth charts or transit readings. Since 2006, when the International Astronomical Union declared Ceres a “dwarf planet,” the same status they gave Pluto, I’ve been in quiet observation mode.

I’ve made a case for Ceres as the modern ruler of Virgo. The mythology fits. But a planet’s function in astrology also is based on its physical characteristics. For example, Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and it appears that he may protect the inner planets to some degree. In astrology, Jupiter rules the “big picture” and represents expansion. His presence in certain areas of the chart by transit can indicate where we’re being protected.

NASA’s Dawn Mission, which was launched in September 2007, is scheduled to fly by Vesta in 2010 and 2011, and it will reach Ceres in 2015. Researchers hope to understand more about how the solar system was formed by exploring these protoplanets. I’m excited by this news and believe that the information beamed back from the Dawn spacecraft will change our concept of how astrologers can use the asteroid goddesses to interpret personal charts and the charts for world events. With the Dawn Mission, awareness of these bodies will permeate the collective mind, and as that happens, our understanding of their function in astrology will continue to evolve.

Pat

Weekly Forecast February 1: Jupiter Inconjunct Saturn, Sextile Pluto

This week is the Celtic cross-quarter day of Imbolc. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are noticeably longer, trees are budding, and there are early signs of spring.

It’s been a hard winter for many, and so the return of the light is a welcome relief. We’ll get a bit of a breather this week, too, with the Moon in Libra on Tuesday and Wednesday. One of her first contacts is with Saturn and Pluto, which some of you may feel as a brief period of melancholy or alienation, but it won’t last long, and it’s also a chance to reflect on committed relationships, an ongoing theme with Saturn in the sign of balanced give-and-take. And once that’s over, the Moon trines the Sun and Venus in Aquarius, a nice aspect for seizing the moment and enjoying a small surprise.

On Friday, Jupiter forms an inconjunct with Saturn. Inconjuncts are inherently uncomfortable, and something that happens later this week could make you squirm. Just remember that discomfort doesn’t always have a “real” external source. Sometimes it’s our beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world at large that get us in trouble and hold us back.

Speaking of beliefs, it’s generally accepted in astrology that Jupiter is the Santa Claus of the solar system and that Saturn is the party pooper. Diane has written a lot about her experience with Jupiter as an amplifier, for better or for worse, and she appreciates the discipline embodied in Saturn.

We could argue that it’s Saturn who’s actually the Santa Claus. Saturn is the lord of time and the material universe and therefore has a role in everything that manifests into our lives. Saturn was revered by the Romans as a harvest deity, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Moerover, there are connections between the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia and customs associated with Christmas, including the exchange of gifts.

This is a good week to examine the process of how we can turn thoughts into reality. On Saturday, Jupiter sextiles Pluto, an aspect that contains powerful potential for wealth and abundance. For some of you, the result could be material, while others may feel it on an emotional level. Maybe you’ll experience both. I’ve often found that intense feelings attract people and material things into my life.

Also on Saturday, Mercury sextiles Uranus. The Messenger leaves the post-retrograde shadow period on Thursday, so he’ll be free to meet the planet of innovation and surprises in a new frame of mind. If the ideas seem to come in rapid-fire succession, grab a notebook or write on the back of an envelope — whatever you’ve got handy. Something you couldn’t get to work properly during the winter holidays should go smoothly now. This is especially true for electronic gadgets and anything to do with computers or the Internet. I’ve finally got the fan problem in my laptop resolved and will take another crack at video content soon. I’m also working on a short post on Nibiru (thanks again to Rossa for posing the question).

On Sunday, Venus conjoins Chiron and Neptune (next Monday in most parts of the world), paving the way for the New Moon on February 13. We’re approaching another extraordinary gateway for healing energies to enter our energy field, individually and collectively. I’m feeling it in positive ways and hope you are, too.

Much love and many blessings,
Pat

Image: God of Ice. It’s clearly not spring yet in St. Petersburg, Russia. I’d love to know who this figure is, but it sure looks like Saturn or Neptune. Photo by Dmitry Lovetsky for The Associated Press.

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