Yearly Archives: 2011

Weekly Forecast August 15: Retrograde Mercury Conjunct Sun and Venus

Way to the top. © Dragoneye for Dreamstime.com

This should be a much quieter week – thank goddess, as we all need a break from last week’s violence.

I can’t add much to the discussion about the riots in England. Astrologers for many years have been predicting violent social upheaval as a function of the Uranus-Pluto square. The aspect isn’t exact until next year, but for most of this month, they track just a degree from each other, with Mars fanning the flames of unrest. As frightening as the riots were, they are an indication of more to come. If you want to know the details, I highly recommend an article by Nick Campion, reigning king of mundane astrology, in the August/September issue of The Mountain Astrologer. Every world leader ought to be reading this right now. Campion notes that France, Germany, China, the UK, the United States, and the EEC all have their Sun in cardinal degrees that will be directly contacted by Uranus and Pluto in conflict.

Mars continues to move through the degrees of the Capricorn-Cancer eclipse series, which began in July 2009 and ended on July 1, 2011. Because it coincided with the cardinal T-square and grand cross, the changes we normally go through during eclipses were all the more upsetting. As Mars goes through these degrees one by one, we may be asked to revisit particular events in the past two years. Below are the dates that Mars crosses eclipse degrees:

August 17 – 9 degrees Cancer, solar eclipse of July 1, 2011 (last in series)
August 18 – 10 degrees Cancer, lunar eclipse of Dec. 31, 2009
August 24 – 13 degrees Capricorn, solar eclipse of Jan. 4, 2011
August 26 – 15 Capricorn, lunar eclipse of July 7, 2009 (first in series)
September 2 – 19 Cancer, solar eclipse of July 11, 2010
September 11 – 25 Capricorn, solar eclipse of Jan. 15, 2010
September 18 – 29 Cancer, solar eclipse of July 22, 2009

This Thursday, just as he’s crossing the degrees of two eclipses, Mars makes a flowing sextile with Jupiter. I want you to pay particular attention mid-week to any events that reflect what was happening in your life around those two eclipse dates … and then note whether you are handling that situation much differently this time around.

I’ve begun noticing this effect, and it’s very interesting. Situations indeed are coming up that correspond to eclipse-related events, but I’m seeing increasing signs that something has shifted, allowing those of us who have been paying attention to choose a different response this time and thus achieve a different outcome. In other words, we’re beginning to understand how what we manifest changes when we align with our true purpose in life. This is where astrology is an indispensible tool.

(Find out more about your purpose and destiny in Soul Journey, my new karma report.)

Mercury’s retrograde phase is adding to the chaos and confusion, but it’s also helping us think back to these previous dates and, if necessary, revise our beliefs. This is a good week for it, with Mercury, Venus, and the Sun all conjunct on Tuesday. It’s an especially good time for soul-searching regarding relationships. So many of you have come to me with gut-wrenching partnership challenges. The next few weeks could bring you some stunning insights, not the least of which is how you’ve grown as a result of the trials of the past two years.

On Sunday, Venus makes an opposition with Neptune, one of the classic “rose-colored glasses” aspects. With Venus in Leo and Neptune retrograde in Aquarius, there could be issues with society’s idea of what constitutes beauty and sex appeal versus what we’re really here for. You can spend all the money you want on cars, clothes, makeup, and the right “toys,” but as the old song goes, it won’t buy you love. In fact, it’s hard for true love to survive in such a materialistic climate.

Venus gets more practical when she moves into Virgo later on Sunday, but she’s not really happy there, either. Nitpicking isn’t conducive for love, and I have yet to see a fashion ad featuring a model in sweats, no makeup, and unwashed hair cleaning up cat vomit. This is the woman who will be there for you when you’re sick and overloaded at work. She’s not into all the bling, but is genuine and sincere. Ironically, two of the sexiest women of all time, Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot, both have Venus in Virgo (they were born within a week of each other in 1934). Although the sixties images of them with the big hair and heavy eyeliner don’t match our idea of Venus in Virgo, earlier photos of them reveal women who were down-to-earth and real.

Speaking of goddesses, I’m hoping to post an article this week on Vesta . Like some of you, I’m fascinated, if not a bit obsessed. Maybe it’s because I’m about to have my Vesta return?

Wishing you a week of insight, courage, and lots of love,
Pat

True Love, the Complete Compatibility Report

This Mercury retrograde period is allowing me to slow down and catch up on some unfinished work on my website.

First on my list was writing a sample for my new romantic compatibility report, True Love. It took me a while to find a good celebrity couple – we’ve all had enough of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. After some research, I decided on Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, who truly are soul mates.

As with all of my new reports, True Love includes a brief, information-packed analysis by me, a custom chart, and several pages of computer-generated aspects. To my knowledge, there is nothing like this report anywhere else. You can find computer-generated compatibility reports on the Internet, of course – some of them are even free – but you don’t get the personal look by a professional astrologer to tie it all together. The other option is a personal reading, which costs far more and may not be in writing, which many of you prefer. I’m offering True Love at just $49.

Karmic connections are what almost everyone wants to know about these days, and you usually don’t find this information in computer-generated reports. Identifying karmic ties is one of my specialties. If this is your particular interest, you can let me know, and I’ll focus on that angle of your relationship. Here is an excerpt from my sample for Johnny and Vanessa:

Johnny, you and Vanessa clearly have a strong karmic connection and an unbreakable bond. There is no doubt in my mind that you are soul mates and that your relationship exists in other dimensions of time and space (commonly referred to as “past lives”).

The thing that immediately jumps out at me in your synastry chart is your double Moon-North Node conjunction; that is, your Moon is within a few degrees of Vanessa’s North Node in Capricorn, and her Moon is near your North Node in Cancer. This explains why, when you met, you felt instant recognition and a sense of knowing that this was The One.

If you’d like to know more about this interesting (not to mention gorgeous) couple, check out my sample report. The computer-generated part of the report is written by Gina Ronco and is one of the best compatibility reports out there. It’s unique in that it includes both your synastry and composite aspects.

I’m also offering a compatibility report for relationships that aren’t romantic. I’ll have that sample up in the next day or two, so check back, if that’s something you’re interested in. In addition, I’m tweaking the StarGuide report format to allow more space for my comments on where the New and Full Moon and current transits fall in your chart – “tweaking” being a good activity to do while Mercury is retrograde. I have a couple of other surprises in store, too.

I have noted that not everyone is experiencing the positive potentials in this Mercury retrograde period, especially given the transit of Mars over the T-square and eclipse degrees of the past two years. I don’t know about you, but I have that “life flashing before my eyes” feeling … and yet, it’s not entirely bad. Our lives really have changed, which is becoming more apparent as Mars moves through these critical degrees.

I’ll give you more of my thoughts on this in the upcoming weekly forecast.

In the meantime, wishing you much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast August 8: Mars Square Uranus, Opposite Pluto

I sure have felt the angriness floating around this past week. Have you?

With Mercury retrograde and Mars moving through the T-square degrees, rush hour traffic on Friday was hell. People were doing crazy things, cutting in front of each other without signaling, flipping each other off, and yelling obscenities out the window. A pedestrian who witnessed one of these maneuvers yelled out, “Idiots!” Seattle isn’t particularly known for road rage, so I can only imagine how it was in other locales, especially since many of you also are still suffering under intense heat waves.

The dreams are weird, too. Friends who normally don’t even remember their dreams are commenting on it. Mine have been schizophrenic, to say the least. For that, we can look to Mercury’s continuing opposition to Neptune, planet of sleep and dreams. The two make another exact contact on Monday, right after Mercury re-enters Leo on his retrograde path. If you can steal away for a vacation, do it now!

The rough sailing has already started, but the waves get higher on Tuesday, when Mars squares Uranus in Aries. This is an extremely volatile combination that calls to mind the scene from the 1976 film Network in which masses of people shout out their windows, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” If you don’t know what I’m referring to, check out the clip on YouTube. It’s eerily relevant for our current economic crisis and especially relevant this week.

The Mars-Uranus square is amplified by the Moon in early Capricorn, which squares Uranus, opposes Mars, conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn – all in less than 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the Moon is a fleeting influence, her journey through these degrees and contacts with the T-square planets provide a strong reminder of where we’ve been since last summer and how our lives changed as a result. It may not be all bad, but most of us likely will be unsettled in some way.

Peter Finch is 'mad as hell' in Network. © MGM.

On Wednesday and Thursday, depending on where you are, Mars opposes Pluto in the big standoff. Staying out of the crossfire may not be possible, but at least don’t go looking for trouble. It’s one thing to protest corruption and injustice, quite another to do so in an area where security forces are armed and waiting for any excuse to fire into the crowd.

The Moon enters Aquarius on Friday, and then we have the Full Moon on Saturday. The Full Moon typically brings results to projects or situations that began at the New Moon, but we’ll probably experience delays and possibly setbacks due to Mercury’s retrograde phase and the challenges represented by Mars in conflicting aspect. If you feel like you’re losing ground, hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. The New Moon on August 28 is brilliant, and the new territory indicated by the New Moon in Leo on July 30 will come into view as well. If you want to know where these lunations fall in your chart, you’ll find it your Starguide Monthly Forecast for August.

Now, there is something really exciting happening this week. NASA’s Dawn mission is scheduled to go into orbit around Vesta, one of the so-called “asteroid goddesses.” Photos already are streaming back of Vesta’s pockmarked surface.

What can we read into a spacecraft called Dawn orbiting an asteroid named after a Roman goddess? It’s no accident that Vesta, like Ceres before her, has entered the collective consciousness – or, I should say, re-entered, as both goddesses were revered in various forms in ancient times and then forgotten, swallowed by time. As usual, we can turn to mythology for possible clues about the greater significance in this event.

The planets are named after Roman deities, most of which were adapted from the Greeks. Vesta, goddess of hearth and home, was highly revered. Her symbol was an eternal flame, which was kept burning in the holiest ground of ancient Rome and in every home. Among other things, it was a reminder that community is extended family. As it turns out, Vesta currently is in Aquarius, the sign of community and the “family of man.” If nothing else, the global debt crisis is hammering home the reality that we’re all connected, and in the most personal way.

Vesta’s Greek counterpart, Hestia, was one of the 12 Olympians, the most important of the gods and goddesses in ancient Greece. She was the first child of Cronus (Roman Saturn) and Rhea, who were Titans – the elder gods. Cronus, who himself had led the overthrow of the first generation of Titans, ate his children to prevent them from doing the same to him. However, Rhea plotted to save Zeus, who in turn instigated the overthrow of the Titans and forced Cronus to spit out his older siblings. As the eldest, Hestia was the first to be swallowed and the last to be disgorged; thus, she was said to be both the oldest and the youngest of the new race of gods that replaced the old cosmic order.

The War of the Titans lasted 10 years and ended the Golden Age, a period of peace and abundance, when manmade law was unnecessary because everyone lived in their integrity. This notion of a celestial war didn’t originate with the Greeks but also can be found in older cultures. There’s even a version in the Christian Bible. Likewise, the story of an earthly paradise is found in many ancient traditions.

I’ve often mentioned a planetary energy shift, which is just another way of describing this war. It’s common to believe that our ancient ancestors were superstitious, because they believed in gods, demons, and other human-like entities. However, I see their belief system as an ingenious way of putting a human face on disembodied energies, taking them out of the abstract so they could be understood by the human mind.

In that vein, Hestia represents initiating fire or spirit, an attribute astrologers assign to Aries, the first of the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The cardinal T-square, which at times has formed into a grand cross, was the astrological configuration that led to predictions that great change would occur from 2010 to 2012, with political upheaval continuing into 2015, as indicated by the long-term square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. It’s no accident, then, that we’re visiting Vesta in the midst of this cardinal buildup.

Dawn will spend a year observing Vesta and then will head toward Ceres, with a scheduled arrival date of 2015. The Greek counterpart of Ceres was Demeter, Hestia’s sister, who also was among the Olympians. I’ve written a lot about Ceres, who came back into the collective awareness when she was “promoted” to dwarf planet in 2006.

At the very least, the mission to find out more about celestial objects named after goddesses tells us that the planetary energy shift is restoring the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Of course, this isn’t news, but just confirms what many of us have felt intuitively for several years.

As an addendum, I’d like to mention Juno, NASA’s new mission to Jupiter. Juno was launched into space last Friday, August 5, and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in July 2016. In Roman mythology, Juno was Jupiter’s wife and queen of the gods. Asteroid Juno currently is at 4 degrees Libra, directly opposite Uranus, which means that she is intimately involved in this week’s cardinal configuration.

How’s that for synchronicity?

I leave you with this awe-inspiring full rotation of Vesta, courtesy NASA/JPL.

Wishing you all an abundance of love and courage,
Pat

Leo-Aquarius: Power, Purpose and the Path of Self-Realization, Part II

There is a Real Self and a false self, and it is Leo’s job to discover which is which. The false self is the ego. It is a social construction formed by the various masks we wear, whereas the Real Self is our true spiritual nature, which can only be experienced and not spoken about. Once we have discovered the reality of our authentic Self for ourselves, our power and purpose becomes clear.

… like a sudden clash of thunder. Suddenly you are together, suddenly you have a direction, suddenly you know where your gold is. ~ OSHO

Ironically, to arrive at this realization of authentic Self, Leo needs the group awareness of his polar opposite, Aquarius. The humanitarian group consciousness of Aquarius recognizes the whole of humanity as a single living entity, a connectedness that is comprised of unique fully-realized individuals.

This higher realization of group awareness is very distinct from the tribalism of lower mass-consciousness, which is divisive in its attempt to separate humanity into tribes and nations. Tribalism is where the personality-centered Leo gets caught; in playing the role of the chief or the pauper, he is still adhering to a manmade view that has been imposed upon the existing reality and on him. It is “false.” His struggle is in trying to make that work.

The realization that the Human Spirit really is “as one” ignites the Leo Soul with a renewed sense of power and purpose. The inner fire burns brightly. You rise above the limited view of societal expectations and recognize your inner truth as a unique individual with an important role to play. The higher purpose of Leo is the expression of Divine Will, rather than egoic will.

[quote cite=”Martha Graham”]There is a reality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.[/quote]

Whereas the personality-focused Leo erroneously thinks they are important because of what they do (and/or how the society rewards that), the fully Soul-integrated Leo knows their true value lies in who they are, their Being. It is your Heart-Light that is really important.

According to Alice Bailey,¹ the Soul “does battle” in two signs, Leo and Scorpio. The first battle in Leo is the battle to individuate. After the Soul’s journey through mass consciousness in Cancer, Leo asks, “What about Me?” The sense of “Me” as an individual arises, and it is time to battle for one’s individuality.

To win this battle, the Lion must walk alone, free from the masses. This is a necessary step in the evolution of human consciousness, for it allows us to break free from the herd to rise above the delusions of tribal and mob consciousness. Only through your unique inner journey can you realize the true importance of your Self.

This doesn’t mean leaving the group, for how is it possible to leave something you are inherently part of? It means not allowing your sense of Self to be defined by society, but rather acknowledging the sovereignty of your inner Self and Divine Law. In the highest group awareness of Aquarius, Leo is able to blossom in his unique creative expression. From there he recognizes the true meaning of individual, as one Being indivisible from the whole.

[quote cite=”William Shakespeare”]All the World’s a stage, and all the Men and Women merely players.[/quote]

This whole world really is a stage for the unfoldment of Divine Purpose. With this realization, you bring the magnificence of your essence into any role you choose, for the benefit of all humanity. The spiritual path of Leo rises above identification with the lower self, so your life becomes a creative expression of Divine Will.

This is “right use” of ego: freely and consciously participating in roles for the expression of Divine Will and Purpose. You know your Self to be an expression of Love in action, and you are not identified with the action. Dropping all that is false and keeping your attention on that which is real, you fulfill your role with Divine Grace and Purpose.

Pinocchio was a real boy after all, because he had Love, and that is real. The enlightened Leo shows us that we are all so much more important than the roles we play, yet play them we do . . . for the show must go on, for the good of the whole. As long as we realize they are only roles, we can fulfill our purpose here on Earth with all the grace, dignity and courage of a Lion.

Will you continue to be a puppet who dances to another’s tune? Or will you set off on your own search for a star … and discover that star is really you?

Ruth

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Footnotes:

1. The Twelve Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Perspective, by Alice Bailey.

[hr]

Ruth Hadikin – Soul Astrologer

To get your personal Soul Sign/Life Purpose Report (FREE with a consultation), contact Ruth via her website. You can also request a FREE mp3 download, “The Energetics of Soul Astrology.”

Weekly Forecast August 1: Mercury Retrograde, Mars Enters Cancer

Waiting in line. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

As if the dog days of August aren’t hot enough, astrological aspects in the first three weeks of the month add to the frustration and irritation.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday and will stay in “reverse” until August 26. If you’ve got a teaching position or some other job that allows you take this month off, I strongly encourage you to get out of town and go on a nice, long vacation. That is one of the things Mercury retrograde is good for, especially in fun-loving Leo, where he’ll spend most of his retrograde phase.

If you have to stay at your desk or shop and slog away, be prepared for tasks to take longer and possibly require revision. The exception is editing, which is another activity that can be more efficient during Mercury retrograde. Transiting Mercury’s position in your chart indicates what areas of your life will be most affected this time around. If you’d like more information, I recommend my StarGuide Monthly Forecast for August. Not only will it tell you where Mercury is retrograde in your chart, but you’ll get an idea of how the Full Moon and New Moon will affect you.

You’ll also know where Mars is transiting your chart, which may turn out to be even more significant, as he’ll trigger cardinal T-square and grand cross points. You may know what those are already, since they’ve been active for more than a year.

Mars is cranky enough in Cancer without the conflicting aspects to Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. I suspect we’re going to see a lot of events in the headlines based on anger, paranoia, and an excessive need to protect loved ones and personal property, although that’s more likely to occur next week and the week after.

Other aspects this week reinforce conflict, but there are a couple of mitigating influences that hopefully will help keep the peace, at least for now. Taking the week chronologically:

Venus forms a trine with Uranus on Monday (late Sunday night on the West Coast of the United States). Unexpected opportunities come up for love, money, and a good time – again, depending on where these two are transiting your chart. Just keep in mind that sudden developments may be temporary. The Sun’s square with Jupiter could lead to inflated expectations about how big the opportunities are or what they mean in the long run – in other words, don’t start planning your wedding just because the cute guy down the hall asked you out. The Moon is in Virgo on Monday and conjoins stationed Mercury, so I think we can avoid getting carried away, and we might even come up with some good ideas for how to take advantage of new opportunities toward the end of the month.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday, but we’ve been experiencing the effects since late last week. I woke up on Thursday to news reports that I-5 South out of Seattle was completely blocked due to an overturned semi-truck that spilled its load of fuel all over the roadway. The driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Mercury was in an applying opposition to Neptune, which rules petroleum. Both Mercury and Neptune play a role in sleep.

On Wednesday, Mars enters Cancer, with the Moon entering Libra less than an hour later and immediately forming a square with Mars and crossing the cardinal T-square points. Minor irritations throughout the day provide hints about what’s to come, so keep your antennae up. Mars also trines Neptune, who retrogrades back into Aquarius on Thursday. More extreme weather may occur, although it would be hard to pin it to astrological phenomenon.

Speaking of weather and stars, did you know that the term “dog days” has its roots in the night sky? In ancient times, the hottest days of the summer coincided with the rising and setting of Sirius with the Sun. Sirius, also called the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky and one of the stars forming the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog). The Romans believed that the earth received heat from Sirius, which appeared even brighter in those times due to lack of city lights and air pollution. (Thanks to James Weythman for the link on Wilstar.com.)

Continuing with our week, Venus squares Jupiter on Friday, fueling a tendency toward pie-in-the-sky dreams and overindulgence. Then, I’m not against going overboard with food, drink, sex, or the substance of your choice once in a while, especially if it relieves unbearable tension. Invite your co-workers to happy hour after work on Friday and have some fun. Just be sure to agree in advance who’s going to pay, and make sure you have a calculator.

Friday through Sunday, the Sun and Venus form a happy sextile to Saturn in Libra. Love and commitment can progress, despite Mercury’s retrograde motion. Again, just be clear in your communications. If you have to, repeat your words back to each other three or four times so that you’re sure you understand. Otherwise, intentions could be badly misinterpreted, leading to embarrassment or worse.

Next week is tough, so have fun while you can and take time to make some backup plans, to the extent possible.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Leo-Aquarius: Power, Purpose and the Path of Self-Realization, Part I

Back when Ruth began her Soul Astrology series on RealAstrologers, she started with Aquarius and its opposite sign, Leo. With this installment, she looks at the same sign pair, but from Leo’s perspective. ~ Pat

Hi diddly-dee, an actors life for me …

Thus sang Honest John, the Fox and his accomplice, the Cat, in Disney’s movie as Pinocchio sets off on his epic journey to become a real boy. As the Soul continues its journey through the twelve zodiac signs, the story of Pinocchio is symbolic of the Soul’s experience in Leo and the higher purpose of Leo: the search for the Real Self.

The sign of Leo is associated with acting, drama, theater, creativity, children, warmth, humor, the heart, generosity, play, parties, entertainment, performing, kings, queens, royalty, nobility and … ego. Leo is commonly associated with ego more than any other sign of the zodiac, and that is understandable, given the circumstances of Leo’s journey. Understanding ego is key to understanding the deeper spiritual significance of Leo.

Fire signs are about Mastery of Action, and fixed signs are all about stability, so we look to Leo, the fixed fire sign, to bring stability in action. Your Leo friend is nothing if not reliable; integrity and loyalty are among their highest values. If a Leo has got your back, you know you’re covered. Welcome to the noble and regal sign of Leo.

The brightest star in the constellation of Leo is Regulus,¹ known to the ancients as the ruler, regulator or lawgiver, and the Heart of the Lion. The Leo Soul understands the deepest mysteries of the human heart, the significance of Universal Law, the important role that humanity plays as a “pacemaker” in the heart of our Solar System and, more importantly, that Divine Law is very different from manmade law. The fully-integrated Leo rules through heart-centered leadership and their ability to be a regulator of Divine Law: right expression of Divine Will and Purpose.

Does that mean that every Leo we meet nobly speaks in accord with Divine Law? Alas, no! Before Leo becomes truly regal, we must meet and transcend the actor – the Leo personality.

[headline h=”4″]Understanding Ego[/headline]

Deepak Chopra once described ego as “the mask we wear to meet the outside world.” Our ego is not who we really are, but an illusion created by our personality and character traits. It is a composite of all the learned behaviors, mannerisms, skills, customs, beliefs and values that we have accumulated in this and countless past lives.

The term “socialization” refers to the process by which we learn the values, norms and beliefs of the group or society to which we belong. It is a process of conditioning, and we internalize it to such a degree that we “become” it. Unwittingly, we get lost behind the masks we wear and in the roles we play, truly believing that is who we are. In this way our manmade society defines us, and we become typecast – a theatrical term for being identified with and lost in the role you are playing. As a result of this process, we each have an idea about who we are. This idea of our self is our ego.

[headline h=”4″]Noblesse Oblige[/headline]

Noblesse oblige is a French term originally used to describe the obligations of nobility. Figuratively speaking, this is the concept that one must act in a fashion that conforms to one’s position, and with the reputation that one has earned.” ²

In other words, now that society has given us an idea of who we are, there are obligations and duties that come as part of the role. Therein lies the ego-trap of Leo. Leo tends to become identified with the action: believing you are what you do. He becomes so lost in the many masks he has to wear, each with their own particular set of duties and responsibilities, that he loses sight of his true Self. A king is not free to do as he pleases; he is imprisoned in his role, bound by obligation and duty. This Lion is in a cage.

A very strong sense of duty, obligation and loyalty can imprison Leo in a pattern of continuously meeting manmade obligations that distract him from seeking out and discovering the inner truth of his Being. Unlike Pinocchio, many worldly Leos become so lost in the unending obligations of their roles that life passes them by until there is no time left for them to go on their own Great Adventure: the inner journey to their Real Self.

[headline h=”4″]Who Am I, Really?[/headline]

Whether your role is manager, CEO, unemployed, driver, fire officer, coach, pilot, teacher, actor, soldier, mother, father, friend, gang member, brother, sister, husband, wife, writer, editor, son, daughter, prisoner, homeless, junkie, dealer, addict, doctor, nurse, etc., sooner or later you will lose it – because roles are never permanent. They are not who you are.

Losing your role or position in society can bring a feeling of being insignificant, a sense that you have lost your “self” and don’t know who you are anymore. This existential neurosis, in which you question yourself and the purpose of your existence, is your wake-up call to set off like Pinocchio to search for that which is real within you. To discover who you really are when you are not in a role, you need the group consciousness of your opposite sign, Aquarius.

In Part Two, we see how Leo’s opposite sign Aquarius has the key to the cage – setting the Lion free by leading Leo to his inner truth, power and significance.

Ruth

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Footnotes:

1. An interesting article on Regulus, the “Lawgiver,” can be found at this link on SouledOut.org.

2. Dictionnaire de l’Académie française, quoted on Wikipedia .
[hr]

Ruth Hadikin – Soul Astrologer

To get your personal Soul Sign/Life Purpose Report (FREE with a consultation), contact Ruth via her website. You can also request a FREE mp3 download, “The Energetics of Soul Astrology.”

Weekly Forecast July 25: Mercury Enters Virgo, New Moon in Leo

As we head into the final week of July, it’s a good time to start preparing for August, a potentially difficult month.

Spend this week shoring up your alliances, wrapping up as much business as you can, and finding ways to put new projects on hold until the end of next month – and there will be new developments, with the New Moon in Leo on Saturday.

The August StarGuide Forecast is prepared, so now would be a good time to have a look at your personal transits for next month. You’ll also get my notes about where Mercury retrograde will fall in your chart, as well as the positions of the Full Moon on August 13 and the New Moon on August 28, which will be particularly significant, as it represents a big green light for whatever was stalled during Mercury’s retrograde phase.

Meanwhile, this week is a bit chaotic, with a “which way am I suppose to go” feel to it. To help make sense of it, I’m going to address the astrological aspects out of order.

On Wednesday, the Sun in Leo trines Uranus in Aries, and then Venus enters Leo on Thursday and trines Uranus on Sunday. These are the most positive energies of the week, and they’ll be active at the New Moon on Saturday. Leo rules the heart. Opening your heart without fear to let in new opportunities will yield results. This is especially true for love, but Venus also is associated with finances and other goodies. When we’re in a state of fear and mistrust, our hearts are closed. It’s like trying to receive a FedEx delivery without unlocking your door.

The big challenge this week is going to be cultivating courage and trust. You need only look at the latest news headlines to know that there is some very weird energy in the astro-sphere. Pinning down astrological markers is a tricky business, but I’d put my money on the close square between Uranus and Pluto. We’ve been talking about this for years, and while the first exact contact doesn’t occur until next June, the two planets are retrograde and tracking just over a degree from an exact square for the next few weeks. The most notable keywords for this aspect are “revolution” and “rebellion.” But with Pluto in Capricorn, revolutions will be met by powerful forces backing up the status quo. There is no question that the next three years are going to be tumultuous. Events to date are just a taste of what’s to come.

We also have two major inconjuncts on Thursday, which tend to irritate and grate on our nerves. The Sun’s inconjunct to Pluto on Thursday pits individual will against the master plan of authority. This could manifest as anything from a clash with your boss to new stand-offs in the global hotspots of revolutionary activity.

The inconjunct from Venus to Neptune is problematic for love relationships, all the more so with Mercury in opposition with Neptune the same day. Don’t be surprised if someone hears something you didn’t say and vice versa. Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde on August 2, but it will seem like it’s already “in reverse” by the end of this week. My standard advice applies: If you have a misunderstanding, forgive and forget, and don’t assume it’s the other person’s fault. Although you intend your words to have a certain meaning, the other person may interpret them entirely differently, and both can be valid. That’s the mischief of retrograde Mercury, the Trickster.

Not to forget Ceres, the largest of the asteroid goddesses turns retrograde at 0 degrees Aries on Tuesday. What I see as most significant in this shift is that she won’t add her weight to the Uranus-Pluto square until next January and February. When that happens, we might see widespread protests over environmental issues or, worse, food shortages.

Saturday’s New Moon incorporates all of the week’s aspects, so everything I’ve written above applies to the next two weeks in general. This New Moon is the first in nearly three months that isn’t an eclipse, and it takes us into new territory beyond the issues we’ve been dealing with over the past two years. Those of you who ordered your StarGuide forecast for July or for the entire summer know exactly where this New Moon will land in your chart and what sorts of new developments you might experience. (The StarGuide Summer 2011 Forecast is still on sale and runs through September 23.)

Remember, Mars also enters Cancer next week – the day after Mercury turns retrograde – so this is the last week of relative calm (emphasis on relative) in which we can tie up loose ends. After that, it’s anybody’s guess what we’ll be dealing with.

Wishing you a strong and open heart,
Pat

Weekly Forecast July 18: Sun Enters Leo, Mars Conjunct South Node

Grand finale. The Strawberry Festival parade ends with performers from dance and drumming classes taught by Rhythm Joy of Vashon. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

We should all get a breather this week, with the Sun moving into light-hearted Leo and, more importantly, no heavy outer planet transits to deal with. But that “other shoe about to drop” feeling just won’t go away.

Actually, I’d say there are quite a few shoes dangling in the power lines overhead, and a good wind could blow one of them down at any moment. Action planet Mars likely will supply the gust, so I jotted down a few dates to watch.

The Mars force often is the trigger to activate degrees that have been sensitized by a recent eclipse or major aspect. If you’ve already experienced a big change or significant event tied to these aspects, then it’s not likely you’ll get a sudden surprise when Mars crosses these degrees. The Mars trigger is more important for those who haven’t yet had the closure or “grand finale” of the Capricorn-Cancer eclipse series.

In Gemini, Mars is cruising through the territory of the new series of eclipses that began on the solstice in December 2010. The eclipses on June 1 and June 15 were in this series, which is marking a departure for many people, a new path to follow. Mars activated the June 1 eclipse a couple of weeks ago and crosses the lunar eclipse point on July 26.

This week, he conjoins the lunar South Node, which will be direct at the time of conjunction. The lunar nodes normally move retrograde. The periods when they are direct seem to provide access to dimensions beyond the human perception of time. For some, this can manifest as glimpses of the future or distant past, or meetings with people from other incarnations.

The bigger impact will occur August 2-3, when Mercury turns retrograde and Mars enters Cancer. The first three weeks of August are potentially explosive, individually and collectively. That’s why I suggest resting and having fun now, while things “up there” are processing in the background. The Sun enters Leo on Friday, just in time for an enjoyable weekend.

Even before he enters Cancer, Mars will start activating last summer’s T-square and at the same time form a grand cross with Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. Although Saturn is in a fairly wide square at this point, Mars will “carry forward” the energies of the other planets, and in the famous words of baseball great Yogi Berra, it will be “déjà vu all over again.”

I do know some people who have completed a cycle and are starting a new one. For me, the new path is that I’m now officially registered to go back to school this fall for film and video production. It’s a rigorous two-year program, so I won’t have as much time and energy to devote to RealAstrologers or individual consultations. If you’ve been thinking about a reading, I strongly encourage you to schedule it in the next two months. Once classes start, I’ll keep you updated about my availability.

However, as I’ve pointed out in previous posts, many of us (myself included) have faced multiple issues over the past two years, and not all of them are wrapped up. This is partly due to the nature of the T-square and grand cross; they affect several houses in your chart. Moreover, others you’re involved with have their own transits, and what’s happening between you may be part of their big picture rather than yours. If they haven’t completed the cycle, then it’s not complete for you, either. Mars crosses the degree of the July 1 eclipse – the last in the Capricorn-Cancer series – on August 17, which is another potential “wrap-up” date.

Appropriately, Berra also is credited with the saying, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Wishing you all the love and courage of Leo,

Pat

Full Moon and Strawberries

We’re past the Capricorn Full Moon now, and many of you will be settling up old business and ready to move on. The next few days could be tough, but I’m holding out for closure and a lighter load.

Part of my new direction is getting involved in Vashon Intuitive Arts, our new metaphysical center. I’ll be doing readings there this weekend for the Strawberry Festival, our annual fête du village in honor of times past when the island was the place to go strawberry picking in the Seattle area.

Now, I know that not many of you live in the Puget Sound region. RealAstrologers has readers in 133 countries on six continents, and only a few are local. Nevertheless, I wanted to let you all know that I am available for walk-ins this weekend. If you have friends in Seattle who are contemplating a reading, send them on over for a day of strawberry shortcake, art, jewelry, green resources and other info, and a fun parade on Saturday featuring our famous shopping cart drill team and platoon of standard poodles (don’t ask, I just live here).

The Moon is in Aquarius this weekend, making it a great couple of days for fun community activities. No matter where you are, I hope you have time to get out and get involved. We’ve all been through so much stress and heartache lately that we need it.

Diving headfirst into strawberries and whipped cream doesn’t sound too bad, either.

Weekly Forecast July 11: Full Moon in Capricorn

The eclipses are behind us, but there are issues left to resolve.

It almost feels like a Hollywood film script with an ending that is dragged out deliberately in order to keep the suspension going as long as possible, but irritates instead. I can hear all the muttering in the audience: “Could we please just get on with it?

For some of us, the credits are about to roll. For others, it will take a bit longer, and there may be a sequel. As usual, it depends on where all of this is happening in your chart.

Those of you who ordered your StarGuide forecast* are aware that the Full Moon this Friday is a potentially a big date for wrapping up. Although it’s not an eclipse, it is near the degree of a total eclipse of the Sun in January 2010. You likely know by now what your main challenge has been over the past two years. If you don’t, it’s probably because you’ve been hit on several sides at once or because your life and the lives of loved ones with different sets of circumstances were comingled. For a clue about what might come full circle at this Full Moon, think back to January 2010, and you’ll have an idea of what to expect.

If the “big finish” doesn’t happen in the next week to 10 days, there are a couple more dates coming up, with Mars passing over the eclipse degrees. Last Wednesday, he crossed the degree of the June 1 eclipse. That one, as you may recall, was about new beginnings. He’ll reach the degree of the July 1 eclipse in Cancer on August 17. Yes, I hear the muttering. . .

So overall, I don’t see anything new emerging at Friday’s Full Moon. Like me, you’ll probably consider this to be good news.

As for the rest of the week, we start out on Monday at a fast pace, with the Moon in Sagittarius and an energetic sextile from Mercury in Leo to Mars in Gemini. Communications can be swift and direct. Keep your contacts light and entertaining. Even heavy subjects are best approached with humor.

On Wednesday, Venus and Saturn form a square. Normally this is a difficult aspect, but I don’t think we’ll feel the usual “nobody loves me” effect, as Saturn is in Libra, the sign Venus rules. A good friend of mine reminded me yesterday about how hard relationships are. Keeping true love alive takes constant vigilance and requires that we continually examine our own feelings, motives, and internal programming. But both people have to be committed, or it won’t matter how hard you work. Saturn in Libra represents an equal and balanced commitment.

After Friday’s Full Moon, we’ll get a break for a week or so. It will be a welcome relief.

Wishing you all hearts full of love and courage,

Pat

* The StarGuide Summer 2011 Forecast is now on sale at 20 percent off!