Monthly Archives: September 2010

Half a Million and Counting!

Young stellar object in Carina, a constellation in the southern sky. Image courtesy NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team.

My Wednesday post has evolved into a sort of random, free-for-all article on any topic that happens to be on my mind. What’s on my mind today is that RealAstrologers has just surpassed 500,000 page views.

Half a million page views … wow. It’s an honor, and yet it’s also humbling. Although I don’t have a boss standing over me cracking the whip to meet deadlines, I know you all are out there, waiting for the next post. With this many readers, I feel a responsibility, and it’s one I take very seriously. I promise, though, never to start referring to you as my “Little Monsters.”

The steadily growing readership means I can expand the site and offer new features – an appropriate activity with Jupiter and Uranus conjunct. Stay tuned for some exciting changes, including a complete site redesign. Thanks to your generous donations, I’ve been able to start working with a web designer to upgrade the look and functionality of RealAstrologers. So don’t be startled if some weird stuff pops onto your screen in the next few weeks while the site is under reconstruction. We’re going to try to do it with a minimum of downtime, but it means you may see an occasional mess.

By the way, if you haven’t made a donation yet, won’t you please take a minute to click on the button in the sidebar to your right? It doesn’t have to be a lot. All of your donations make it possible to keep RealAstrologers fresh and growing. And, once again, I wish to acknowledge those who already have made donations. I have felt truly blessed by your generosity.

Here’s aiming at a million and beyond…

Pat

Weekly Forecast September 27: Sun Conjunct Saturn, Venus Conjunct Mars

Statue of Justice, Brazilian Supreme Court. Photo by Roberto Jayme for REUTERS, 2009.

This week holds lots of potential for moving forward with our projects, thanks to a helpful conjunction of the Sun and Saturn.

Although the cardinal T-square has mostly dissipated, we continue to feel its effects. There does seem to be a big difference, though, now that the planets aren’t in such tightly conflicting aspects with one another. It feels like something has released. I felt it very strongly a couple of days after last week’s Full Moon, which stimulated the degrees of the T-square at its peak in early August. Energies that were blocked back then are flowing now.

Monday may get off to a slow start, but by Tuesday we’ll be cranked up and ready to roll. Thursday is a power day, when the Sun catches up with Saturn at 7 degrees Libra. This is just far enough past the early degrees of the cardinal signs, where the T-square peaked, to create an outlet for movement. As I mentioned last week, I don’t think it’s going to be a sudden power surge, but rather a natural, easy flow. You might feel an urge to look around, wondering who or what is going to get in your way this time, surprised to find out that you’re free to go.

The Sun-Saturn conjunction often is interpreted as having negative effects such as run-ins with authorities. If nothing else, it’s seen as the stern parent, saying “no” to whatever it is you want to do. I don’t see it that way. My take on this conjunction – especially since Saturn is exalted in Libra – is that if you work hard toward your goals and don’t give in to fear of failure (even if that’s all you experienced all summer), you can get the results that have eluded you.

Now, some people told me they had no problem at all getting “results” over the summer. To the contrary, they felt as though they were on a treadmill, forced to run faster and faster just to keep up with everything that was happening in their lives. If that sounds like you, then this week still should hold positive developments, possibly because you finally see the finish line and some rewards for hanging in there.

Just before the Sun and Saturn meet, the Moon moves through the early degrees of cardinal Cancer and forms a brief T-square. It’s not as powerful as the configuration at last week’s Full Moon, but nevertheless, it’s another potential time marker for seeing the seeds planted during the summer start to materialize and grow.

On Friday and Saturday, Mercury in the last degrees of Virgo opposes Jupiter and Uranus and squares Ceres. Although Jupiter and Uranus are retrograde, their close conjunction continues to suggest sudden opportunities and innovative solutions. Mercury is the “thought planet,” so keep a notebook handy to write down any great ideas that come to you toward the end of the week. One word of caution, though: All of the ideas you come up with may not be viable. Don’t act on impulse. Take note of what comes up for careful consideration in a day or two. The T-square between Mercury, Jupiter, and Ceres also could manifest as negotiating with powerful forces to get back something that belongs to you.

Mercury enters Libra on Sunday and, once again, we’ll have a passage over the degrees of the T-square. Since Mercury is mostly about thought and not action, this will be a time for looking at the new reality and figuring out how to keep up your momentum. If you began a new project or initiative, you may need to make some changes, but you can count on that for awhile. Whatever is new in your life is a work in progress.

Also on Sunday, Venus aligns with Mars at just under 13 degrees Scorpio. Venus-Mars aspects are supposed to be great for love and sex, but because of the conditions of this conjunction, I have a feeling it’s going to be about something else entirely. Not only is Venus in her detriment in Scorpio, but she’s stationing to turn retrograde in less than a week. That means she’s moving very slowly (from our perspective here on Earth), and Mars is the faster of the two, which usually is not the case.

Venus represents the divine feminine and what we most desire, and she’s at a serious disadvantage here. Last time they met, on August 20, it was in Libra – in other words, on her terms. This time, it’s on his, and male and female energies are going to be in a temporary state of imbalance. Passion and desire run high, and without some sense of fairness and equanimity, there’s a risk that some people may go after what they want without any consideration for how it might harm others or even involve consequences for themselves.

On another level, masculine aggression (which occurs in people of both genders) may be so raw and exposed that we finally have to deal with it. Mars in Scorpio holds tremendous power to create and transform, but without the love and wisdom represented by Venus, his power can become cold, calculating, and self-serving. Perhaps in some kind of logical pattern of the universe, Venus has decided to stand still for a bit and let Mars catch up with her.

Wishing you all much love, courage, and joy,
Pat

Recommended: Llewellyn’s 2011 Daily Planetary Guide

The list of books I couldn’t live without is a short one. At the top is Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide. Indeed, you might call it my secret weapon, and it can be yours, too.

Every year, usually in late summer, Llewellyn releases its Daily Planetary Guide for the following year. The 2011 edition is now available, and while it’s a bit early to order it if you’re just using it to track planetary aspects from day to day, it couldn’t hurt to get it now so that you’ll have it when the new year begins. You might even add it to your holiday wish list.

For me, it’s absolutely essential, as I rely on it to write my forecasts in advance. Do you think I go through the ephemerides and hand-calculate when each aspect will occur? Gracious, no! It’s all here in this book, which provides a daily rundown of all aspects between the Sun, Moon, eight planets, Ceres and Chiron. It also tells you when the planets change signs and when they go retrograde and direct – all extremely useful. Exact times are noted, for both the east and west coasts of the United States.

Before I write my forecasts, I go through the book and highlight the key aspects. That’s how I know what the week, month, or year is going to look like.

Sometimes I need the ephemeris, though, and that’s in the back of the book, in Universal Time, and it includes Juno, Pallas, and Vesta. There are additional features of the book that I don’t use at all, but they are quite helpful for the beginner. The first few pages contain a quick astrology lesson and explain things such as the void-of-course Moon.

I include all of the week’s most important aspects in my weekly forecasts, but if you have at least a beginner’s knowledge of astrology and would like to have a peek farther ahead, you’ll find this book invaluable. With some guidance and a little practice, you can learn how to use this calendar to create your own transit charts for the big events in 2011.

The Daily Planetary Guide doubles as my desk calendar and appointment book, and I carry it with me whenever I leave town. I truly would be lost without it.

I created a link in the left sidebar in case you’d like to order it from Amazon, which offers it at a great discount. I predict that you’ll get hooked on it, too!

Pat

Llewellyn’s 2011 Daily Planetary Guide
208 pages
ISBN: 978-0738711287
July 2010/Llewellyn Publications
US$12.99

Ask Real Astrologers: What Do Empty Houses Mean?

For this week’s question, I’m answering a comment left by Alina on my weekly forecast for September 13:

Could you please explain the effect of empty houses in a chart – for instance, house 2 and house 7.

Alina, this is a great question and one I get often, especially from those just beginning to study astrology.

Since you’re asking about the second house, which rules earned income, and the seventh house, which rules marriage and long-term partnerships, I assume that you’re concerned that an empty second or seventh house could mean that you’ll never have any money and won’t ever find a suitable mate. This is very definitely not the case – at least not because of those empty houses in your chart.

I’ve had several clients ask me about this, especially in terms of relationships. Typically, they’re having trouble getting into a relationship and wonder if they’re doomed to being single forever because there are no planets in their seventh house. The other one I get a lot is whether an empty fifth house means the client will never have children.

Think about this logically. If you have an empty fourth house, does that mean you’ll never have a place to live? If your first house is empty, does it mean you’ll have no personality? If you look at it the other way, does a full seventh house guarantee you’ll get married and live happily ever after? The answers are no, no, and no.

A natal chart must be viewed as a whole, with an analysis of house rulers and patterns in the chart. There might be indications in a chart of difficulty with close relationships, poor financial judgment, finding a career late in life, and so forth. But these things aren’t determined simply by looking at whether a house is empty.

Even with a pattern in the chart of, say, all the money houses empty, I might conclude that money wasn’t your focus in this lifetime. It doesn’t mean you won’t have any and in fact could be quite the contrary. You might have so much of it that it simply isn’t a burning issue. Again, the chart needs to be read as a whole. This is one reason why a reading with a professional astrology is vastly superior to computer-generated charts … and why a professional reading costs a lot more. It takes time for the astrologer to do an in-depth analysis.

I hope that answers your question and puts your mind at ease.

In closing, I’d like to request that anyone with a question for this column submit it via the Ask Real Astrologers form. It helps me keep track of all the questions I get and also ensures that I have all of the information I need from you in order to give you the best possible answer. I decided to take Alina’s question this week, because it is one that I get so often from clients that I thought it would be helpful for others. But please, if you would, use the form.

Thanks so much. And thank you, Alina, for writing!

Pat

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact me, or I won’t get your question. I do read all of your questions, although I am sorry that I can’t answer them all. If you need immediate guidance or in-depth advice, please contact me for a private consultation. THANKS!

Light and Darkness in Balance

Sleeping Beauty, by Maxfield Parrish, 1912.

The Sun’s entry into Libra this evening marks the fall equinox, when light and darkness are in perfect balance.

In our high-tech society, we tend to take these cycles of nature for granted, but our ancestors were acutely aware of the disappearance and return of the light. Many of our best-loved myths, legends, and fairy tales grew out of this planetary phenomenon, although it may not be readily apparent.

One that comes immediately to mind is the Descent of Inanna, who ventures into the underworld to visit her sister, a goddess deprived of sunlight who is depressed, miserable, and in constant pain. If you or anyone you love suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, you might well imagine how this myth came about. In fact, ancient Sumerian texts mention light deprivation and its affect on the libido. Pretty astonishing, don’t you think?

Another tale that comes to mind is the Sleeping Beauty. There are many interpretations of the meaning of this tale. Some see sexual symbolism in the virgin who pricks her finger on a spindle and goes to sleep for 100 years. According to some traditions, the tale represents spirit “sleeping” inside of matter. That spirit, or love, is awakened by a kiss from the prince. In esoteric terms, spirit is light, matter is darkness, and the quest for reunifying them is eternal.

For cultures where seasonal changes aren’t so extreme, the cycle of light and darkness is more easily seen in the phases of the Moon. As it so happens, this year we have both the equinox and the Full Moon with just a few hours of one another.

As I mentioned in my weekly forecast, the Sun in Libra and Moon in Aries will retrace the degrees of the cardinal T-square, which peaked in August. This, too, will lead us to a better understanding of time and our place in the universe.

Just some food for thought as we head into a new season.

Happy Equinox!
Pat

Weekly Forecast September 20: Sun in Libra, Full Moon in Aries

This year’s cardinal T-square is mostly done, thank goddess, but I’ve been keeping my eye on this week as one exception.

Thanks to Thursday’s Full Moon, for a brief period, we’ll revisit the cardinal T-square, which peaked in early August. I wrote a complete interpretation in my Saturday post, reviewing how this Full Moon mirrors the T-square but also holds the potential to take us beyond the limitations we faced over the summer.

In addition to the Full Moon, the big news this week is the Sun’s entry into Libra, marking the official beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun will cross the degrees of the T-square, but one of the biggest obstacles in that earlier configuration, Saturn, has moved far enough away to be less of a constraint. Sun in Libra suggests moderation, so I don’t think we’ll get a power surge but rather the easy movement forward that occurs when you let your foot off the brake.

The Sun’s Libra ingress occurs Wednesday at 11:09 p.m. on the East Coast of the United States. Of course, it will be Thursday already in the Eastern Hemisphere, where many of RealAstrologers’ faithful readers live.

Before entering Libra, the Sun in the final degrees of Virgo opposes Jupiter and Uranus, both of which are retrograde and back in Pisces for the rest of the year. Although they aren’t part of the cardinal T-square, they do form a tight T-square with the Sun and Moon on Thursday, and so their energies can’t be discounted. Also, I expect that the Sun will carry some of their loud, boisterous energy forward into the Full Moon, so we can expect to hear from these two. Wild storms – meteorological, political and emotional – are among the potential manifestations from Tuesday through Friday.

On Saturday, the Sun squares Pluto, newly direct in Capricorn and ready to flex his muscle. This is the most contentious aspect of the week and where I expect we’ll have to revisit old obstacles. There’s nothing to do during Pluto transits except to give up resistance. If you’re trying to hang onto something – a situation, a relationship, a belief – you may need to let it go. At the very least, you’ll need to change your approach. You probably already know where the problem area lies, as this really is just a repeat of issues you faced over the summer. This time, though, you may really need to give up and try something different.

Difficult Sun-Pluto transits also correspond to mechanical breakdowns. If you’ve been avoiding repairs, you may not be able to do so any longer.

Sunday could be emotionally charged, with the Moon in Taurus opposite Venus and Mars in Scorpio. It sounds great for certain indoor activities, but the resulting fireworks may be a little more intense than you bargained for. If you manage to access a deep place in your psyche where difficult emotions have been hidden or repressed, let them come up. The release may leave you feeling like a dishrag, but you’ll feel a lot better when Monday morning rolls around.

Wishing you all much love, courage, and the abundance of the season,
Pat

Image: The new crop of apples has arrived! © Barbara Helgason for Dreamstime.com.

Full Moon in Aries, September 23

Harvest Moon rising over the Cascades, Sept. 17, 2005. © David Haworth, http://www.stargazing.net

The Full Moon in Aries on September 23 revisits the cardinal T-square of 2010 and expresses its powerful potential to set sweeping changes in motion.

Normally, we look to the Full Moon as an outgrowth of whatever was begun at the New Moon, but I don’t see a lot of association here. This Full Moon, which traditionally is called the “Harvest Moon,” appears to be a sort of “early harvest” of the seeds planted during the cardinal T-square, or at least an indication of what the future harvest will look like.

Although the outer planets no longer are in a tight cardinal T-square, this Full Moon fills in the blanks, so to speak. So many people told me over the summer that they felt like they were on the verge of a breakthrough, but they kept bumping up against obstacles. This Full Moon on the dynamic first degree of Aries may be just what it takes to blast through those invisible walls.

The breakthroughs we sensed over the summer were real, but with the T-square blocking the energies symbolized by each of the other planets, we were stuck. Some of us, but not all, were able to find a way out via a personal planet or chart point opposite Pluto or during one of the soft transits (sextiles or trines) from the planets in the T-square. I alerted you to these windows in my weekly forecasts.

The Moon at 0°15′ Aries opposite the Sun at 0°15′ Libra repeats the degrees of the T-square at its peak in early August, both square Pluto. This Full Moon also is square the very powerful lunar eclipse in Capricorn on June 26, which was closely conjunct Pluto. The difference is that Pluto was retrograde back then, and he’s now in a powerful position of waking and returning direct.

The Full Moon on the Aries point reinforces the theme of new growth and emerging from darkness into light. However, since this is a Full Moon, and it’s the day after the equinox, this isn’t a time of birth, but of bringing what already has been born into full realization. It is a time of blooming into fullness, and that includes awakening consciousness on an individual and also broad, collective scale.

Jupiter and Uranus, which were in the first few degrees of Aries during the height of the T-square, are now retrograde and back in Pisces for the rest of the year. But they are still conjunct the Moon by just a few degrees and so are very active participants in this Full Moon. Even retrograde in Pisces, these two are big, loud, and rebellious, especially with Jupiter at his closest approach to the Earth in nearly 50 years. From Tea Party gains to powerful storms in the Atlantic, these two are making themselves felt (maybe all the hot air in Washington is keeping those storms offshore).

Saturn, meanwhile, has advanced to nearly 7 degrees Libra and makes a wide conjunction with the Sun. A lot can be accomplished, particularly in the sphere of relationships. With Saturn separating from the tight square to Pluto, we no longer have powerful forces working against each other, and this is another reason for my optimism that we can start achieving the progress we just couldn’t manage to pull off a couple of months ago.

At 26 degrees Sagittarius, Ceres is in a tight square with Jupiter and Uranus as she moves toward alignment with the Galactic Center and conjunction with Pluto. Ceres, symbol of the cycles in nature, was a major influence in the chart for the BP Horizon disaster. Fittingly, the news headlines talk of the well’s permanent death. But, as with the fateful meeting between Demeter and Hades (Greek counterparts to Ceres and Pluto), the implications will be with us for a very long time.

Ceres also makes a tight trine to Neptune and Chiron, reinforcing the theme of collective healing. Understanding that life experiences come in cycles is one way to feel whole and connected, even when we’re surrounded by darkness, chaos, and confusion.

Mercury, Venus, and Mars are in a wide, separating aspect, and they aren’t major influences in this chart. It’s important to note, though, that Venus is slowing down as she gets closer to retrograde on October 8. She’ll conjoin Mars right before that.

Lastly, I’d like to mention that this is the first of two full moons in Aries this year. After the New Moon in Libra on October 7, we will be back in the cycle of the New Moon in a sign followed by the Full Moon in the opposite sign. The next Full Moon in Aries falls on October 22, the day before the Sun enters Scorpio. It will have a very different feel to it than this one, so stay tuned for a complete report next month.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Moon at 0°15′ Aries is, A woman rises out of water, a seal rises and embraces her. The keyword is REALIZATION. As the first degree of Aries, this is a powerful symbol of the soul emerging from the primordial state of non-existence, or what we might call the “unmanifest.”

According to Marc Edmond Jones, who channeled the Sabian symbols in the early 1920s, this symbol is about “feminine receptivity calling up a more masculine or personal and self-seeking initiative.” Put to positive use, this energy allows us to see life as a field of unlimited experiences we can use to our advantage at any time. Closing yourself to this realization may result in failure to find your true purpose in life, because the ego-self stays stuck in its obsessions.

For the Sun at 0°15′ Libra, the Sabian Symbol is a butterfly made perfect by a dart through it, with the keyword ARTICULATION. Whereas the first degree of Aries is about the soul emerging out of the unmanifest, the first degree of Libra is about emerging consciousness. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate symbol for our time! This symbol is about seeing beyond the material world and living fully, completely, from the heart and soul.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

** From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmond Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in the early 1920s. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

Ask Real Astrologers: How Do Pluto Transits Affect Children?

This week’s question comes from “Concerned Mom” in Laguna Niguel, Calif.:

My 11-year-old son has a 5 [degree] Cappy Moon and has been so stressed for some time, very emotional and bad dreams sometimes. I think Pluto is hitting it and all the action this past summer. I don’t know that much about astrology but was wondering a couple things. How long would this tension exist for him – gosh, he’s just a kid, and Pluto moves so slow. And how can I make it easier for him? Watch for transits, or ???

P.S. I love your blog!

Yes, Mom, Pluto has been hitting your boy’s Moon hard, and that has got to be tough for such a young person. Pluto on the Moon is hard enough for adults – just ask Al Gore – so it has to be almost unbearable for a poor kid.

Actually, I’ve already done a post on this transit and usually I don’t repeat a topic. But your question gives me the opportunity to point out that children often feel astrological transits more acutely than adults do, since they tend to be far more sensitive. For children, the cardinal T-square could manifest exactly as you describe. It’s so fortunate that you understand enough about astrology to know that it could be impacting your son’s behavior. I can only imagine how many kids might have been put on Ritalin this summer for their behavioral “problems.”

Because Pluto has been at the apex of the T-square, that means your son also has a square from Saturn to his Moon and from Jupiter and Uranus to his Moon. Difficult transits from Saturn to the Moon can indicate periods of depression, while Uranus-Moon transits often manifest as nervous anxiety. Your son also has cardinal signs on all four chart angles, and his chart ruler is the Moon. He must feel like an electrical wire during a power surge.

Pluto went retrograde on April 6 exactly conjunct your son’s Moon, and then the T-square became more intense, until it reached peak power in early August. It has dissipated for the time being but will back next spring. In the meantime, Pluto has returned direct and will make one last pass over your son’s Moon in early January. You’re right – that’s an awful long time to be going through so much stress. The good news is that he’ll never have to deal with that again in his lifetime.

The Moon represents mother, and Rising Cancer needs the comforts of mother and home. I used to work with someone who had a Cancer daughter about your son’s age, and she had a bed full of stuffed animals that my colleague referred to as her “nest.” Every night at bedtime, she snuggled into her nest. Perhaps something like that would be comforting to your son. Extra attention from you and soothing reassurance would help, too. If he likes to draw or paint, that could help him express some of his feelings.

Keep in mind that the cardinal T-square is pushing us all to grow and evolve, and that applies to children as well as adults. Perhaps children are even more open to expanding their minds, as they are still forming what I call the “thought matrix.”

If the stress gets too much, though, I’d have to recommend professional help. Perhaps you could find a family counselor with some knowledge of astrology or, at least, a Jungian therapist who works with archetypes. Your little guy needs lots of extra support. Mom probably does, too.

Here’s a great big hug to both of you. Thanks for writing. I hope this helps.

Pat

Pluto Direct: Past Lives Coming to the Surface

I’ve never been a big believer in past lives – at least not the idea that we have a soul that remains intact and progresses through human time from incarnation to incarnation.

However, I do believe that our energetic body – our spiritual essence, if you will – has had experiences outside of linear time, and that could explain the phenomenon of feeling as though we’ve lived in another time and place. Never is this feeling more powerful than when we meet someone in this lifetime that we seem to have known before.

Pluto’s return direct at the apex of the cardinal T-square seems to have brought some of these meetings to a crisis, as several clients over the past month have asked for a Soul Mates Karma Report to help them understand their troubled relationship and, for some, disturbing obsession with a love interest. Until this past weekend, when Pluto was at a dead standstill, I didn’t put two and two together.

In almost all of the charts I did, the T-square was making very tight connections to the Moon, Venus, chart angles, or the lunar nodes in the natal chart of the client or the love interest. In some cases, it hit both of their charts very hard, mostly through transits of Saturn or Pluto. Boom – the relationship reaches a tipping point.

For “some reason” (these things are never a coincidence), I recalled a commentary on Pluto I read several years ago in David Pond’s book, Astrology & Relationships. It’s worth thinking about, with Pluto newly direct. I highly recommend the book, by the way, and have added it to my Amazon carousel on the left.

Another source of obsession that should be considered is past lives. Pluto connects us to people whom we have known in many ways in many lives. Past-life ties are confusing if they open you to hunger that cannot be met by the person in this life. It is as if your subconscious memory of who this person was for you in a previous life awakens the hunger for what the relationship offered you in the past. It is doomed to fail because that past relationship is dead, and you will not be able to mold your current relationship to fill this hunger.

This certainly has been the case for several of my clients, who specifically used the word “confused” or “confusing” in their initial message to me.

As I wrote in my Saturday Extra! post on Pluto and obsessions in relationships, spending more time thinking about the obsession rather than trying to put it out of your mind can put you on the path to healing and regeneration. That’s not to say it will be easy or pain-free. Indeed, you likely will have to confront your shadow side, which has to happen before the total regeneration symbolized by Pluto can take place, and for most people, that process is exceptionally hard and may require professional help.

It’s also interesting to note that I’ve received several e-mails from young people who were born in the late 80s, when Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all were in early Capricorn. Pluto is now transiting these degrees. The Pluto-Neptune conjunction can be a time of serious soul-searching, when you wonder whether your life is based on reality or illusion. Obviously, this can be a great awakening, and that awakening can open up the consciousness to the existence of experiences outside this lifetime. Meeting someone from another incarnation can be the trigger.

That said, it’s not just younger people who are having this experience. Many clients in their late 40s and early 50s are in similar circumstances.

This is definitely a trend to watch, so stay tuned…

Pat

Weekly Forecast September 13: Pluto Direct, Mars Enters Scorpio

Mercury is direct, and we’re ready to roll!

I thought things would stay fairly quiet last week with both Mercury and Pluto sitting still. However, I underestimated the effects of Jupiter’s return to Pisces. Right on cue, there was an explosion in San Bruno, Calif., which apparently had been waiting for just such a trigger. I’ll discuss this more below. First, let’s have a look at this week’s aspects.

I emphatically don’t expect this week to be quiet, although Monday and Tuesday could be slow and frustrating. Often, the worst traffic jams, Internet delays, and communications snafus occur when Mercury is shifting phase. When the Messenger is stopped (that’s what it looks like from our perspective), everything he rules stops, too. You can plan ahead by leaving a few minutes early for your Monday morning commute and not expecting meetings to go as planned.

Pluto returns direct in early Capricorn on Tuesday, with Mars entering Scorpio later in the day. These two events could deliver a one-two punch. In modern astrology, Pluto rules Scorpio, and so the powerful thrust of Mars will add to Pluto’s return direct. Pluto, remember, has been at the apex of the cardinal T-square all summer, and he has been under plenty of pressure. When that kind of power is blocked and suddenly gets released, who knows what might happen? Powerful earth events would not be a big surprise.

Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio, so he’ll be in his own sign after languishing in Libra. Mars doesn’t really like to play nice, and when he’s forced to do so, he tends to take out his frustration in passive-aggressive ways. Enough of that! Mars in Scorpio has tremendous power, and he’s not afraid to show it. Wherever you have early Scorpio in your chart is where you will feel this transit the most.

Mars and Venus are together in Scorpio now, and they’ll meet for the second time this year in early October, right before Venus goes retrograde. When they met in Libra on August 20, many people I know began demanding more give and take in their relationships. That balance may tip again as the desire nature takes over rational considerations. This could be good or bad, but I strongly caution against making compromises that shouldn’t be made. In all things you do, maintain your integrity.

As the week progresses, situations that have been blocked or seemingly insurmountable over the past few weeks may move forward with a sudden start that could leave your head spinning. If you’ve been holding off on signing contracts or starting a new venture, now is your time to make a bold move!

On Wednesday, the Moon in Capricorn conjoins Pluto and then traces the degrees of the cardinal T-square. Even though its influence has temporarily subsided, Pluto stationed with the Moon in conjunction could unleash powerful emotions, at the very least, as we lurch forward.

Mars and Pluto formally align in a sextile on Saturday, so this is another day when we may experience a strong energy surge. As long as we’ve been waiting for a breakthrough, the force of this one may be intense. Unfortunately, that’s how it goes sometimes, so we’ll just have to ride out the turbulence. As I type these words, I’m reminded of the runaway train scene in The Fugitive, the 1993 thriller starring Harrison Ford.

Also on Saturday, Jupiter and Uranus conjoin in Pisces, the second pass of a three-part alignment. The first pass occurred on June 8 at 0 degrees Aries, forming a volatile end of the T-square. Then both planets went retrograde. They’ll meet this weekend at 28 degrees Pisces. This is a heavily charged degree, as it was where Saturn and Uranus opposed one another on April 26. You’ll recall that springs were popping all over the place back then. Among other things, that was about the time that BP’s oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.

With Jupiter and Uranus back in Pisces, any explosions that happen – literally or figuratively – will be bigger and noisier. Uranus also is back in mutual reception with Neptune in Aquarius, reinforcing themes of collective awakening and wild weather involving air and water.

Jennifer in Austin, Texas, left a comment yesterday asking me about Tropical Storm Hermine. It’s interesting to note that this weather system caused relatively few problems when it made landfall on Monday. It wasn’t until Wednesday that the flooding began to take a toll. Aside from Wednesday’s New Moon, Saturn crossed the degree of the June 26 lunar eclipse in Capricorn. And, of course, Jupiter was just hours from moving back into Pisces.

That said, it’s a tricky business associating earthly events with astrological alignments – especially these days, when the planets are in such a complicated configuration. It’s like saying that one gear causes the machine to move more than the others. And it makes predictions all the more difficult. At this point, we’re all making educated guesses. Some turn out to be amazingly right on, while others are just plain wrong.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat