Yearly Archives: 2011

Weekly Forecast June 13: Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius, Venus Trine Saturn

© Pat Paquette, 2011.

This week is dominated by the lunar eclipse at the Full Moon on Wednesday.

The eclipse in the middle of the week brings us to the halfway point between the inter-eclipse period of June 1 to July 1. It’s hard to predict what will happen at eclipses, except to note that they often bring sudden and unexpected change.

It seems to me, though, that we pretty much know the nature of the changes, if not the specifics. Also, the last eclipse in a series tends to mark the wrapping up of an issue that has been the main focus of your life for the past couple of years. So, what I think we’re going to see between Wednesday’s Full Moon eclipse and the solar eclipse on July 1 is a new path coming into view, with a clear message that it leads to a very different place than where we’ve been for the past two years.

That said, eclipses aren’t a time to initiate new ventures or start a new relationship. We’re in a state of disorientation and adjustment. What feels right to you now may not seem like such a good idea in a few weeks. If an opportunity arises, go for it. But don’t try to force something to happen that isn’t unfolding naturally on its own.

Planetary aspects that occur at an eclipse provide us with additional information about how things might shake out. As I mentioned in my eclipse post, there’s a trine from Venus to Saturn, who has just turned direct – a powerful moment. The trine is exact on Saturday, so it will be in the dynamic applying stage at the Full Moon. Saturn is in Libra, the sign of relationships, and Venus rules Libra. So, Saturn is sending his structuring capacity to the planet of love. Commitment among equal partners is a theme here, and I sure hope it spreads.

Mars, unfortunately, is sitting on malefic fixed star Algol, and he’s in an irritating inconjunct with the Full Moon. The planet of war isn’t very strong in Taurus, which also is ruled by Venus. I see this theme playing out in the Weiner scandal. The congressman surely is going to find out that being in a committed relationship with a woman who by all accounts is extraordinary beats the pants off screwing around on the Internet. Men on this planet are learning that their power isn’t diminished by a powerful woman, and women are learning how not to give away their power to “save” the relationship.

Much of what goes on in relationships happens under the surface, and it’s hard to resolve differences if one or both people suppresses their true feelings. On Monday, Venus squares Chiron, signifying painful exchanges. Often this is what it takes to break through to higher ground – and there’s every indication that this is possible now. The inconjunct from Venus to Pluto on Tuesday suggests that sex may be a major source of resentment and will have to be addressed.

Mercury enters Cancer on Thursday and forms favorable aspects to Jupiter and Neptune on Friday. Here’s our chance to connect on a soul level by speaking from the heart about what we want and need. And be sure to listen to what your partner, friend, or family members say they need. You may have to compromise, but at least everything’s above board.

Over the weekend, Mercury forms a cardinal grand cross with Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto. Sunday is Father’s Day, and it’s probably not a good idea to get in a discussion with dad or anyone else about politics. As it is, someone else may confront you about an unresolved issue or a secret you thought no one knew. Fortunately – at least for the coming week – Venus remains the “out” via the trine with Saturn. Love may not conquer all, but it sure goes a long way. It doesn’t take an astrologer to tell you that.

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

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius, June 15

Rare eclipse of the midnight Sun, photographed in Tana, Norway. © Renate Westlien, 2011. See end of article for link to more spectacular images.

The second of three eclipses in barely a month, the lunar eclipse at the Full Moon on June 15 is primarily about coming to an understanding of what area of your life will go through a series of adjustments in the next two years.

You may know the answer to this question already, as we’re well into the new eclipse pair of Sagittarius and Gemini, which began dramatically at the solstice in December 2010. That does seem to be the case for me, although I’m holding my breath to see what transpires in the next couple of weeks.

Of course, the Full Moon also represents endings, and lunar eclipses can be read as a supercharged Full Moon. But the way I see it, the ending we’re about to experience is tied to the solar eclipse on July 1, which is the last in the outgoing series in Capricorn and Cancer and a sign that old business finally is wrapping up.

This Full Moon is more of a confirmation of the new path we’re on. One could argue that confirmation is an ending or conclusion, as you’ve now eliminated all other options. I’m reminded of the Eight of Swords in the Tarot. I used fear this card, until one day I realized that it represents the cutting away of all options but one. Making a decision indeed can be scary and can produce a nagging feeling that we made the wrong choice.

Making a choice and thereby eliminating all other options is a very Saturnine theme. Saturn gets a bad rap for being the planet of limitation and constraint, and it’s not wholly undeserved. However, we might view this function as one of Saturn’s gifts. Our material world is manifested from unseen energies in the cosmos. At the point when those energies coalesce into something, they are no longer available for anything else. Likewise, we don’t manifest anything in our lives by scattering our energy to the four winds. Attaining our desires requires focusing our energy – which often means cutting out activities, relationships, or situations that drain us.

In the chart for the New Moon eclipse on June 1, Saturn was at a favorable angle to the Sun and Moon, just as he was stationed and ready to return direct between the New and Full Moon. This tells me that whatever we’ve been pouring our energy into has a good chance of manifesting in the next three months and possibly in the next two weeks.

There’s a lot going on in the chart for this Full Moon eclipse – as you might expect with the Sun in Gemini. The first thing that jumps out at us is the continuing cardinal T-square, with Saturn and Uranus widely opposed and Pluto at the apex. As I’m always so fond of pointing out, the conflict represented by the T-square has an “out” in one of two ways, either through whatever is opposite the planet at the apex, or via trines and sextiles, which provide an open path for energy to flow.

Chart for Eclipse

Click on image to enlarge

There are two nice trines providing a means to channel the conflicting energies of the T-square into something positive. The first is between Saturn and Venus, indicating that fair, equitable relationships are attainable. I’ve communicated with many people who recently let go of relationships that no doubt involved strong karmic ties but that were painful, largely because they were one-sided.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that there are so many stories in the news about powerful men being called out on their behavior with women. We’re experiencing a planetary shift toward a unification of the divine feminine and masculine, whereby both command equal respect and reverence. The last Full Moon was conjunct Algol, the fixed star representing Medusa. I commented back then that perhaps a wave of divine feminine power would ride in on the Buddha’s love and enlightenment. At this Full Moon, Mars is conjunct Algol, triggering another round of the Divine Mother’s rage.

The other “out” is an applying trine between Jupiter and Pluto that peaks on July 7. With both power planets in earth signs, energy is available to us to make positive changes in our material circumstances.

The second striking thing about this chart is the strong trine from Mercury, ruler of this eclipse, and Neptune, which recently turned retrograde. In classical mythology, Mercury was the only god who could travel at will between the world of the living and the underworld, symbolic of the conscious and unconscious. Neptune, especially when retrograde, represents other dimensions of time and space and what some call past lives (I prefer “other lives”). I urge you to continue monitoring your dreams and also to keep notes during the day for flashes of insight. Just remember that Mercury is the trickster, and among Neptune’s attributes are illusion and deception. Not everything that comes to you will be true, but it will be the starting-off point for investigation of higher Truth.

The last important thing I see in this chart is the mutable T-square formed by the Sun and Moon with Ceres at the apex. While Mercury was the only god who could travel at will between worlds, Ceres was the only deity to force Pluto to make an exception of his no-return policy for her daughter, Proserpina (Greek Persephone). As we work toward a cherished goal, we often meet with “gatekeepers” in the form of tests, challenges, and obstacles. Many people must go through a “dark night of the soul,” which may feel like going to hell and back. In going through this process, we come into our true power, and only then are we able to fulfill our destiny.

I leave you with a link to some incredible images of the June 1 solar eclipse, which could be seen at midnight in northern Europe. Imagine an eclipse of the midnight sun …

Eclipse gallery on SpaceWeather.com

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast June 6: Venus Enters Gemini, Saturn Direct

© Pat Paquette, 2011.

We’re in that twilight zone between eclipses, where we don’t feel like we’re all here, but we don’t know where we are when we’re not.

Normally, the inter-eclipse period lasts a couple of weeks, but because this is a rare six-eclipse year, it’s going to be with us for another month. We had a similar extended inter-eclipse period from July 7 to August 6, 2009, which also was a six-eclipse year. Maybe you remember it. Events happen very fast during this time, and you can be taken completely by surprise. If you know where these eclipses fall in your chart, you at least have an idea of what area of your life will be affected. (See link below for an article on this topic.)

I certainly remember that month. Unexpected events during that period determined the direction of my life for the following two years. That series, like the current pattern, consisted of two eclipses in a new sign pair, followed by one last eclipse in the outgoing sign pair. This tells me that one chapter of our lives is coming to an end as a new one begins, with a small overlap. One set of circumstances, while ending, leads into something new.

The profound sense of uneasiness we feel is compounded by shifting planetary energies. Jupiter just entered Taurus, while Venus, ruler of Taurus, enters Gemini on Thursday. Chiron turns retrograde on Wednesday, and Saturn turns direct on Sunday. It’s little wonder that we don’t know whether we’re coming or going.

Overall, life has been moving along briskly since the June 1 eclipse, but the pace will pick up still more once Venus enters Gemini and Mercury takes over as the dominant planetary energy. Communications come fast and furious, and if you blink, you’ll miss something. We may be coming and going so fast that our sense of time is blurred even more.

Neptune is officially retrograde but remains at 0 degrees Pisces for another two months. Combined with the eclipse cycle, Neptune’s station in the sign without boundaries has manifested for me as unusually vivid dreams and a skewed perception of time. I’ve experienced several instances in the past ten days in which my thoughts were a minute or so ahead of “reality.” I’ve heard reports of people having a hard time staying in the present, along with headaches that last for several days.

Physical circumstances begin to shift after Saturn turns direct on Sunday, although you may get news as early as Tuesday, when Mercury makes an easy flowing trine to the planet of time and structure. Saturn represents manifestation on the physical plane, which is very much related to his role as Lord of Time.

Venus squares Neptune on Friday. If you’re in the United States, there’s a good chance you’ll be sleeping during this contact, so be sure to keep your dream journal by the bed. Among the messages we receive may be communications from someone from past or future lifetimes. This portal into other dimensions remains open through the weekend. In just over four hours on Sunday, the Sun conjoins Mercury in Gemini, Venus sextiles Uranus, and Saturn returns direct.

If you’re sensitive to these energies, you no doubt have started experiencing some time-space disorientation. It may get stronger in the next few weeks. If you feel like you’re coming unglued, do whatever you normally do to stay grounded. For me, it’s sticking close to home and eating something substantial, like meat. Chocolate, unfortunately, just makes it worse. Life is so unfair.

Next week we enter the second phase of the eclipses, with a total lunar eclipse in Sagittarius on June 15. I’m working on a new service list, which I’ll announce within the next couple of weeks (if you’re on my wait list, you’ll receive a personal note), but will try to take some time out to write separate posts on the next two eclipses.

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

Related Posts:
What Determines How an Eclipse Affects Us?
(Please note that I’ve temporarily discontinued the weekly Q&A column.)
More About Eclipses

Gemini-Sagittarius: The Sacred Marriage of Love and Wisdom, Part II

Gemini, from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, c. 1410. Although the "twins" in the constellation of Gemini represent two brothers in classical mythology, other traditions depict them as twin flames, male and female.

At Soul level, Gemini is ruled by Venus, a sacred planet (according to Esoteric Astrology).

Venus’ higher octave awakens us to truth, beauty, harmony and the highest unconditional love. The Gemini Soul is here to unite the head and the heart, creating a bridge to Higher Mind and Higher Love.1

The fully integrated Gemini resolves polarity at every level.2 All opposites merge in Gemini: self-others, personality-soul; Higher Self-lower self; mind-heart, etc. This happens through a deep understanding of energetic relationships. Through Mercurial connection to Higher Mind, consciousness, and Venus, Gemini governs the Breath of Life, the movement of Spirit in Form. This awakens us to conscious relationship on all levels.

The Gemini personality, lacking the wisdom to comprehend the complexity of these relationships, has a tendency to become scattered, distracted by an array of duality. The deep, truth-seeking focus of Sagittarius is needed for Gemini to find (and stay on) the path leading to its higher Soul purpose:

To teach Right Human Relations, between
self and others, personality and soul, anima and animus,
higher mind and lower mind.3

In its exploration of energetic relationships, Esoteric Astrology discusses the subject of the Seven Rays.3 Earth is on the evolutionary path of the second ray of Love-Wisdom, otherwise known as the “path of love. In Buddhism, the ultimate wisdom is the “wisdom realizing emptiness” and is written in a text called “The Heart Sutra.” The ultimate wisdom is therefore considered to be “heart” wisdom or “Love-Wisdom.” Thus the spiritual path of Gemini-Sagittarius is inherently linked to the spiritual evolution of the Earth and of human consciousness.4

The spiritual path of Gemini-Sagittarius is the path of heart-wisdom leading to the realization of ultimate truth. It is the spiritual path of realizing Love-Wisdom through the revelation of truth. However, where Sagittarius is seeking truth, Gemini is asking, “What is truth?” To fully understand Gemini’s Soul Path, we need to understand the concept of “two truths.”

The “two truths” refer to conventional truth, as we experience it in our everyday, and the ultimate truth of reality. This can be explained by a paradox, I’m sitting on a chair. The chair does not exist. Both statements are “true.” Conventionally, the chair exists. We can see it. Yet on the atomic level, there is nothing. There is certainly no chair and indeed there is more space than there is solidness at that level. So it is also completely true to say that the chair really does not exist.

Because of a deep realization of the relationship between energies and an ability to experience many dimensions of Being, the Gemini Soul realizes that all “conventional” truth is relative and depends upon both our perspective and our capacity for perception.

The integrated Gemini teaches others through the creation of wonderful “stories,” weaving thought, information and ideas into magnificent concepts – “mental structures” that point towards ultimate truth – and by creating new systems of thought, or sciences.5

Our problems arise when we confuse those mental concepts with ultimate truth. As soon as we put truth into words, it is no longer truth, but merely one expression of it – which reduces it to the level of conventional truth. It is not, in ultimate reality, a chair just because we label it as such.

[quote cite=”Lin Yutang”]He who talks about truth injures it thereby;
He who tries to prove it thereby maims and distorts it;
He who gives it a label and a school of thought kills it;
And He who declares himself a believer buries it.[/quote]

 When we start believing our own stories, it confines us to a narrow and limited experience of Spiritual Truth. This is the ego-trap of Gemini: over-identification with thinking, and the mistaken belief that we are what we think. If we believe the philosopher Descartes who said, “I think, therefore I am,” then who are you when you are not thinking? The integrated Gemini is aware of many multi-dimensional aspects of our Selves as Spiritual Beings, way beyond thinking.

If you have Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in Gemini, the challenge for you is to experience your Self beyond your thoughts. There is literally more to you than what you think! This world is very distracting for a Gemini, and it is all too easy for you to get lost in trivia, missing the magnificence of your inner being. With the sustained focus of Sagittarius, you are capable of travelling beyond your thoughts into multiple inner dimensions to the very depths of your Soul.

During Gemini season (May 21-June 21), the energy of Gemini is available to all of us. It is our annual opportunity to connect with the wisdom of our hearts. Will you use the extensive power of Gemini to divide or unite? To build walls or bridges? Will you scratch beneath the surface, discover worlds within worlds, and realize the deepest truths of your Soul and the ultimate relationship of Love-Wisdom? It all depends upon your ability to choose where you place your attention and maintain your focus.


Ruth

[hr_small]

Footnotes:
1. Read more about the unique Gemini-Venus relationship and its vital significance for 2012 in Ruth’s article, Venus 2012: The Apocalypse and the Power of Love. 
2. A fully integrated Gemini would be a future human who already has full Soul/personality fusion.
3. Esoteric Astrology. The teachings of Djwhal Khul (Master DK) as channelled through Alice Bailey.
4. In Esoteric Astrology, the Earth is the Soul Ruler of Sagittarius and the Hierarchical ruler of Gemini. This shows the importance of the Earth for individuals under these signs and the importance of the Divine Intelligence of Gemini-Sagittarius, in the evolutionary process on Earth.
5. Alice Bailey, author of Esoteric Astrology, had Sun in Gemini, as does this author!

[hr]

Ruth Hadikin, Soul Astrologer

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 May 30: New Moon Eclipse in Gemini, Jupiter Enters Taurus

Bend in the road, Colorado National Monument. © Jim Parkin for Dreamstime.com.

This is a pivotal week, with a solar eclipse at the New Moon, Mercury and Jupiter changing signs, and Neptune turning retrograde in otherworldly Pisces.

In my New Moon post, I wrote about the fixed star Porrima and its symbolism of turning a corner. Many of us have spent months preparing to leave something or someone behind, without knowing why or where it would lead. Once we go around the bend, the past will fade into the distance in our rearview mirror, and the road ahead will be clearly visible.

Monday and Tuesday are heavy like the air before a thunderstorm. The conjunction of the Moon with Mars and Venus accentuates physical relationships, not just with romantic partners but also with money and possessions. When we know we need to let something go but keep putting off the inevitable, it weighs us down. And even when we do let go, for a while we feel the loss as a heaviness in our hearts.

The Sun and Moon in Gemini both trine Saturn on Wednesday before the eclipse, when the Moon will pass between the Sun and Earth. Since I’ve already written a long post on this event, I won’t elaborate here but simply will repeat my view that this eclipse signals an acceleration of new patterns manifesting in our lives. You’ve laid the groundwork already, so all you need to do now is pay attention, keep your hands on the wheel, and steer a little to the left or right to stay on the road.

The day after the eclipse, Mercury enters his own sign of Gemini, and suddenly the sky no longer belongs to Venus. The Sun and Moon now deposit to Mercury, except for the two days this week when the Moon is in her own sign of Cancer. There will be a noticeable pickup in communications and life in general. Those of you who can type 80 words a minute (not me) will fare very well. It’s also a good time for negotiating business deals.

Mercury squares Neptune on Friday, just minutes before Neptune turns retrograde. I don’t need to tell you to keep your antennae up, because they will be virtually buzzing with information. The problem with this configuration is that some of the messages you receive will be confusing and perhaps not even true. Be sure to keep your dream journal by the bed; dreams are a major source of inspiration and enlightenment. On Saturday, Mercury aspects electric Uranus, sparking still more ideas that seem to come “out of nowhere.”

The biggest news this week is Jupiter’s entry into Taurus on Saturday. The last time Jupiter was in Taurus was in 2000, when there was a dramatic build-up of planetary energies in the sign of the Bull. For a few hours on May 3 of that year, seven of ten planets were in Taurus. Astrologers at the time were predicting all sorts of dire earth events that never came to pass, although it was noted that ripples might be felt for 20 years.

The first thing that comes to mind with Jupiter in Taurus is banking and finance. Ray Merriman, my go-to guy for financial forecasting, sees a multi-year bear market on the way. One would think that the planet of expansion in the sign of the Bull would be a sign of growth in global financial markets, but Ray has crunched the numbers and points to historical data that show otherwise.

Next week, Saturn turns direct, and many of us will see still more progress. Finally, we seem to be getting somewhere.

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

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Gemini, June 1

© Pat Paquette, 2011.

The New Moon on Wednesday, June 1, is the first of three eclipses that occur one right after another in June and July. Changes happen very fast now.

At 11 degrees Gemini, this New Moon is ruled by normally speedy Mercury, who’s not so speedy in slow and deliberate Taurus. Nevertheless, eclipses tend to bring abrupt change, usually too fast for comfort. It looks to me like many of these changes will be positive, but there will be hurdles to jump, too.

Although there’s going to be a shift in the next few days, as of this New Moon, Venus still dominates the sky. All of the planets deposit to her except Neptune, who is way out there in a world of his own as he stations retrograde. Perhaps that’s why so many of us have been feeling spacey and “not all here” for the past week or so. I’ll have more on these shifting energies in my weekly forecast.

The most compelling thing I see about this New Moon is that new patterns are visibly manifesting on the planet and in our lives, and this process will accelerate in the next six weeks.

In my Full Moon post, I discussed the symbolism of Medusa, the scary monster who turned men to stone but who in reality was an ancient, wise goddess. With Venus “in charge” of this New Moon eclipse, feminine energy not only is rising, but we’re beginning to see it integrating with its polar opposite. Isn’t it interesting that we’re seeing so many powerful men being called to account for sexist and abusive behavior toward women? If that’s not an encounter with Medusa, I don’t know what is.

Gemini is, of course, the sign of polar opposites. At the Gemini New Moon, we assimilate new information we downloaded on Wesak – all the more so this year, with not one but three eclipses directly following the opening of a portal. The New Moon typically represents new beginnings, and an eclipse is like a supercharged New Moon. In Gemini, polarized opposites can be integrated into a greater whole.

What makes me particularly optimistic about this New Moon is its favorable angle to Saturn, who’s slowing down in preparation for returning direct on June 12. Although Saturn has a well-deserved reputation as the planet of tough lessons, he also rules the physical plane. Nothing could manifest without the structural foundations that Saturn represents. And while Saturn forms a difficult cardinal T-square with Pluto and Uranus, the trine from the New Moon represents an easy path for frustrated energies to flow.

At 10 degrees Libra, Saturn is stationed right on the fixed star of Porrima. It gets a little complicated here, because Porrima is in the constellation of Virgo. This discrepancy is due to precession, which I’ve explained in previous posts.

Porrima, at the Virgin’s waist, was named for a Roman goddess of prophecy who actually may have been two sisters, one who looked forward and one who looked back. In a case of “as above, so below,” it so happens that Porrima is a binary star – a fact that couldn’t have been known when the star was named. To Persian astronomers, this star was known as Zawiat al Awwa, which meant the “turn,” signifying the point where the line of stars in Virgo bends.

So, here we have Saturn at a particularly powerful stage of turning direct, in Libra, the sign of balanced relationships, conjunct a star that represents a turn in the road, where we can look both behind us and ahead.

I’d say something very interesting is about to manifest for many of us in the next six weeks. For those recently out of a relationship, you’ll be able to look back and see the situation for what it was and, at the same time, to look forward to what’s next.

In my previous post, I also mentioned Aldebaran, the “eye of the bull” and symbol of the third eye, which is associated with psychic powers and the ability to see into other dimensions. At the eclipse, the Sun and Moon are within two degrees of Aldebaran.

Ophiuchus also gets a foot in the door at this eclipse. The lunar North Node, which determines when and in what sign eclipses occur, is closely conjunct Imad, the star at the Serpent Bearer’s foot, which dips down across the ecliptic. Imad means “pillar” or “support.” Snakes represent wisdom and healing through higher consciousness, which requires that you’re grounded and on solid footing. The North Node also will be close to the Galactic Center, the source of radio waves that I believe convey intuitive knowledge to those with the sensitivity to hear.

I should mention that Mercury will be square Neptune at this New Moon, not a combination for clear and concise thinking. As you’re downloading all that new information, keep in mind that you won’t have very effective filters. Those of you who are exceptionally psychic may be so overwhelmed that you find it hard to function normally. Solitude and rest will help. It’s also likely that some false information and delusionary thinking will creep in. You won’t know which is which until a few days have passed, so don’t jump right into anything new without allowing time for processing.

I leave you with this image of Saturn conjunct Porrima, photographed by Astro Bob:
Spring’s newest ‘double-double’ star

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. Be sure to write your abundance check!

Gemini-Sagittarius: The Sacred Marriage of Love and Wisdom, Part I

Today’s post by Ruth looks at the signs of Gemini and Sagittarius – very timely, with upcoming eclipses in this sign pair. ~Pat

Gemini, from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, c. 1410. Although the "twins" in Gemini are named for two brothers in classical mythology, they often are depicted as twin flames, male and female.

“In the beginning was the Word …”

Gemini rules the breath, speech, languages, writing, communication, networks, and communion on all levels. Hidden within Gemini are the deepest mysteries of creation and destruction. The energy of Gemini both creates and dissolves polarities, in the Universal dance of Creation which was known to the Ancient Rishis of India as the “breathing in and out of Brahma.”

Welcome to one of the most complex and contradictory signs of the Zodiac.

Six core energies are symbolised by the Zodiac. However, because the human mind (ruled by Gemini) has a tendency to “polarise” (divide and separate into opposites), we experience these energies as 12 separate Zodiac signs, and thus we have the polarities. In the future, when human consciousness is evolved, it is said that the 12 signs will merge into six, and we will experience them as one energy pole – for example, Gemini-Sagittarius.*

Gemini has a vital role to play in the process of resolving these polarities in human consciousness. One mystery of Gemini – and there are many – is the resolution of polarities into Divine Union. Because of this unique function, Gemini is the only sign that has an esoteric connection with all the other signs of the Zodiac. Just like spinning an enormous web (or story), it is through Gemini that all will be woven together at the end.

Whatever sign you are, your Gemini friend will be able to relate with you on some level. Gemini has the ability to visit every sign in order to experience and understand the energies involved. Ultimately, it is in the sign of Gemini that we realize the multi-dimensional aspects of our whole being.

By the time the Divine Intelligence of Gemini has filtered through a human mind, it becomes one of the most complex, restless and difficult to handle energies of the Zodiac. You could be forgiven for thinking your Gemini friend has ADHD or is just crazy! As the mutable (changeable) air sign, the nature of Gemini is one of constant movement. Gemini has to touch everything and hold onto nothing. Freedom to move is essential.

Gemini is associated with the lungs, and we can use the analogy of breath to understand what is going on with Gemini. In breathing, there are two stages, breathing in and breathing out. This explains the two (apparent) sides of Gemini. Gemini has a need to first gather information – this is breathing in. Our Gemini friend may be very silent and contemplative during this stage. Information is being received and processed. Then comes the breathing out … hold onto your hat!

Depending upon the level of consciousness of our particular Gemini, this is where we may experience a profoundly inspired message or, at worst, simply gossip. Their innate compulsion to share information has no built-in quality control. The information you get seems to be whatever happens to be flitting through their head in any given moment. For this reason, Geminis have an unfair reputation for being empty-headed and superficial, yet this in itself shows a lack of understanding of the importance of Gemini.

To avoid being distracted by trivia, Gemini needs the determined focus and follow-through of its polar opposite, Sagittarius. Only then will you be able to sustain your inner journey and recognize your “twin self” – your Soul.

[callout]I recognize my other self and
in the waning of that self I grow and glow.*[/callout]

The Twins represent the dualistic aspects of Self: our personality and our Soul. In the myth of the two brothers, Castor and Pollux (which comprise the constellation of Gemini), Castor is mortal (personality) while Pollux is immortal (Soul). Another duality is that of “two minds,” the head and the heart.

At the personality level, Gemini is ruled by Mercury, which has an important role to play in the development of the antakharana (or Rainbow Bridge). This is the mysterious “bridge”’ between lower and Higher Mind, that develops once humanity has evolved to a certain point in consciousness, whereby we can fully live from Higher Mind.

At the level of our lower mind, it is the influence of Mercury that creates polarities, by focusing on our differences and creating the illusion of separation. At one stage of our development this is a necessary precursor to the process of individuation – development of the individual. If it were not for our ability to separate for example, we’d never cut the umbilical cord and stride out on our own, separate from our mothers!

Once we begin our inner journey toward Soul identification however, it is also the influence of Mercury which bridges the (illusory) gap, connects us with our Higher Self, and brings us home to wholeness. This dual role of division and reunion contributes to the seemingly contradictory nature of Gemini. But seen from a higher perspective, it is just one road; we travel out on the road and then we use the same road to travel back home.

In Part II, we will explore the role of Gemini’s esoteric ruler, Venus, in awakening the deeper mysteries of Gemini.


Ruth

[hr_small]

* Esoteric Astrology, the wisdom of Djwhal Khul (Master DK), channelled through Alice Bailey.

[hr]

Ruth Hadikin, Soul Astrologer
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 May 23: Venus Conjunct Mars

© EJWhite for Dreamstime.com

On Monday, Venus conjoins Mars, symbolic marriage of the divine feminine and masculine. True love is returning to the world, but we’ve still got some work cut out for us.

I’ve written a lot in these pages about the split between men and women, which goes back thousands of years. I see this split as our deepest wound, and the resulting imbalance between masculine and feminine energies on the planet as the underlying source of the cruelty and violence that humans perpetrate on each other, the animal kingdom, and the Earth herself.

And yet, I see signs everywhere that the balance is being restored. The world is changing as the collective and each of us as individuals heal our core wounds. Our healing process intensified under the recent conjunction of Chiron and Neptune, which is separating but active for another year or so. For many of us, healing has required reopening or at least revisiting deep wounds, many of which we carried with us into this lifetime. It has been an exhausting and painful (obviously) process that appears to be nearing completion.

For true love to stand a chance, both partners need to come into a relationship in wholeness. If you’re looking to fill in a missing piece of yourself, you’ll eventually run into serious problems when the other person fails to deliver. No one but you can find those lost pieces and bring them home.

It is possible to work on this within a relationship, and if your partner is on a similar track (it does happen), then you can grow together, and love grows, too. Indeed, being in a relationship can speed up your personal and spiritual growth considerably, because your “stuff” is usually right in your face. The irony is that resolving personal issues can be fatal to the relationship. That’s no doubt why so many couples have an unspoken pact that they will play their self-assigned roles and not rock the boat by growing and changing.

Monday’s Venus-Mars conjunction occurs in a favorable trine to Pluto and a jarring inconjunct (quincunx) to Saturn. This tells me a few things.

First, Pluto has been at the apex of a cardinal T-square with Saturn and Uranus since last year. This puts the planet of death, rebirth and transformation in the hot seat. Translated, that means we’ve been under tremendous pressure to change.

Trines provide an easy path for energy to flow, and so, this week, transformation comes via a romantic relationship (regardless of your sexual orientation). If you’ve recently extricated yourself from a difficult union, you may realize that, rather than feeling like you left a piece of yourself behind, you feel more whole and stronger than ever. You are now equipped to find a healthier and more fulfilling partnership.

That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is that Venus and Mars form a very close inconjunct with Saturn, which happens to be retrograde in Libra, the sign of relationships. Now, this is interesting, because Venus rules both Taurus and Libra. I read this as a sign that feminine energy, long suppressed and overpowered by the masculine, is making its weight felt. Mars is in his detriment in Taurus, and naturally, a lot of men aren’t happy that they’re losing the upper hand. I hope they will come to understand why balance makes them stronger, not weaker.

Anyway, the discordant angle to retrograde Saturn is a reminder that there is still a lot of work to do, and transforming may require that you grit your teeth and try to move through the obstacles to love. And for all that, you may find yourself in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. Pluto says we must transform, but choosing that path may lead to a breakup. It’s a tough choice, but most people I know who chose to detach from a lopsided relationship have had few regrets.

Mars and Venus are conjunct on Monday, with Venus inconjunct Saturn on Tuesday and Mars inconjunct on Wednesday. The Mars aspect is even more complicated in that Mars and the Moon in Pisces will create a Yod, with Saturn at the apex. Often it’s not what’s said that sabotages a relationship, but what isn’t said. It takes a lot of trust and courage to be completely honest with your partner about how you feel.

On a completely different note, the Sun in Gemini sextiles Uranus on Wednesday. Watch the news headlines for surprising developments, probably of a positive nature. Now that would be news!

The following day, the Sun squares Chiron and then on Saturday forms an inconjunct with Pluto, bringing the theme of the week full circle. As hard as we try to serve the cause of True Love, as willing as we are to confront our own demons, we are fighting stubborn, deeply ingrained patterns that have existed for millennia. But just remember, it’s that last grain of sand that brings the scales in balance.

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

Weekly Forecast May 16: Full Moon in Scorpio, Sun Enters Gemini

© Snizhanna for Dreamstime.com

This week is the festival of Wesak, honoring the birth, death, and enlightenment of the Buddha. A portal is opening.

Wesak takes place at the Scorpio Full Moon, with the Sun in Taurus. There is some confusion about this, as Eastern religions use sidereal astrology, which means that Wesak sometimes is in June, by which time the Sun in our Western tropical zodiac has advanced to Gemini. This year, they happen to coincide; in our tropical system, the Full Moon occurs at 26°13 Scorpio, while in sidereal astrology, it falls at 2°12 Scorpio.

To help understand the connection between Taurus, Buddha, and Wesak, I suggest Ruth’s excellent article, from the perspective of soul astrology. “The highest vibration of Taurus is about revelation, illumination and enlightenment,” she writes. “It is a very mysterious sign, associated with the opening of the third eye.”

The third eye, located between the eyebrows, is our center of higher consciousness, the ability to “see” into the energetic realms. When it gets activated, we’re said to be enlightened.

Ruth also notes the connection between Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, and the third eye. One of the four Royal Stars of Persia, Aldebaran is known as the “eye of the bull.” In ancient mystery schools, it was known as the “Eye of Illumination.”

Death, rebirth and transformation are Scorpio keywords. Substitute “enlightenment” for transformation, and you understand the theme of this Full Moon. Humanity is evolving toward higher consciousness and enlightenment. More and more of us are aware of our soul’s purpose, and we’re trying to find a way to align ourselves with it.

At Wesak, a portal opens for light to enter the world. The more of us who are aware of it and who actively call upon the forces of enlightenment, the more the world will get – and not a moment too soon.

The Full Moon at 26 degrees Scorpio ironically falls with the Sun conjunct Algol, considered the most malefic star in the sky. Algol is associated with Medusa, the snake-headed woman in Greek mythology who turned men to stone if they looked at her. The symbolism and psychology of this myth is complex and speaks a lot to the cosmic split between divine masculine and feminine energies. In ancient times, snakes were a sign of wisdom, a direct connection with the unseen energies of the universe, and they were associated with women until patriarchal religions took over. Since then, the energy on the planet has been completely unbalanced.

The snake symbolizes our connection to source energy – what some might call the Mind of God. Have you ever noticed that some Scorpios seem to have unlimited energy? It’s as though they’re plugged directly into a cosmic battery. And most of them don’t even realize it, because the connection is deeply integrated. They operate on “instinct” and often don’t even have to think about what they’re going to do next. This power can be scary, and it’s one of the reasons Scorpio is feared and reviled.

Could the Full Moon conjunct Algol signal a rebirth of the ancient, wise goddess? Will her vibration be part of the light stream that enters the world?

The Moon reaches peak fullness on Tuesday at 7:09 a.m. EDT on the East Coast of the United States. If you’re on the West Coast and don’t want to get up at 4:09 a.m. to participate in the Wesak invocation, you can set a bowl of water outside and drink it in the morning. Just be sure to cover it. As far as I know, ingesting bugs and bird poop is not a path to enlightenment.

In the Full Moon chart, the Sun and Moon are in a wide, out-of-sign square with Neptune at 0 degrees Pisces. The Sun and Jupiter are in a tight semi-sextile, which means the Moon and Jupiter are inconjunct. We’ll need to make sure we’re not too busy or too preoccupied with acquiring material possessions to stop for an hour or so, quiet our minds, and tune into the stream of light. So many people don’t know what they really want anymore, especially in a world with a glut of consumer goods and a dearth of information about how to be truly happy.

After the Full Moon, we begin the countdown to the eclipses. There will be three eclipses in June and July – two solar and one lunar. It’s also interesting to note that next year’s Wesak festival will fall on June 4, which coincides with an eclipse and the 2012 Venus transit.

Speaking of Venus, she rules this Full Moon. All of the planets except Neptune now deposit to her, whereas for the past several weeks, they’ve deposited to Mars. With Jupiter and Uranus in Mars-ruled Aries, there still will be some tension and conflict, but for the next few weeks at least, peaceful solutions may be found.

Here’s how the rest of the week shakes out:

Last week started out with a conjunction of Mercury and Venus in Aries. The two have been tracking very close to one another, and on Monday this week they conjoin again, but in Taurus. Then they both sextile Neptune in gentle Pisces. It’s a whole different atmosphere now. Word are kinder and softer, and we should be able to find some time to dream. Do watch your cash, though. If you make a large purchase, a few days from now you may wonder what you were thinking.

From Wednesday to Friday, Mars, Mercury and Venus form a sextile to Chiron in Pisces. Healing can happen on many levels. How many of us beat ourselves over the head for what essentially are wounds? Would you blame a child for falling and breaking his nose? Even if he did something stupid, you’d at least use the occasion to provide some gentle instruction about the consequences of bad judgment. Be just as kind with yourself and others as you’d be with that child.

Also on Friday, Mercury conjoins Mars, and the two trine Pluto. Rather than getting angry and giving someone a piece of your mind, you can use this influence to understand the source of the conflict. Venus trines Pluto on the following day. If you and a loved one had a “discussion,” now you can make up in a way that should leave you feeling much closer than ever. The loving feelings will continue to build as Venus and Mars move closer to conjunction on May 23.

The Sun leaves Taurus on Saturday and enters fast-paced Gemini. However, Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, is in Taurus, and so placid Venus continues to be the dominant influence. I am a bit concerned that peace may be confused with repression of emotions. In mundane terms, this could mean squelching valid complaints in order to reach an agreement. Repressing feelings and failing to address underlying causes of problems never works, as all of that negative energy eventually surfaces. And when it does, it’s usually with a vengeance.

The last major aspect of the week is a Sun-Neptune square. For some, this could manifest as the combined urge to accomplish many small tasks and the lack of energy and motivation. My advice is to rest while you can, because June and July may bring fast and furious change.

Wishing you all love and enlightenment,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Chiron in Pisces: The Healing Power of Self-Pity, Part II

In Part I of this article, Ruth discussed coming to terms with our suffering under Chiron in Pisces. In the second and final installment, she talks about how to get through the suffering to a place of healing. ~Pat

Chiron instructs young Achilles, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.

Another attribute of Chiron in Pisces is that we may find ourselves needing stronger boundaries than ever before. As our capacity for compassion increases, we will naturally attract needy people who want to tell us all their problems. If we don’t have firm boundaries in place, we can find ourselves quickly feeling drained while all those around us feel better. Don’t fall for the old Piscean trap of trying to fix everybody else. It’s not your job. It is each individual’s job to heal themselves.

Another reason why you will need strong boundaries is that you might feel a very strong urge to withdraw from people and spend more time in solitude. This is natural and vitally important, because it creates the time and space that you need in order to go within and listen to your inner voice.

When Chiron is in Pisces, it is important to avoid the temptation for escapism through alcohol, drugs, TV, movies, anything to distract us, make us go numb and avoid having to face the pain and suffering we are experiencing on the inside. This only puts off the inevitable and makes matters worse. When your inner self is crying for your attention and you ignore it, you are abandoning yourself. This adds to your sense of disconnectedness, isolation, and suffering.

What Chiron in Pisces is trying to show you is that when you take the time to be fully present with yourself, the sense of fear and isolation lessens. You can begin to touch that deeper, compassionate part inside you and actually feel nurtured by being with your own loving presence. If you have no experience of meditation and/or therapy, it might be time you took a spiritual teacher or hired a coach or counsellor. This Chiron transit invites you to give your inner world your highest and best attention.

Remember, in the Buddha’s lesson there were four noble truths. After the first truth of suffering comes the second truth, that suffering has causes; the third truth, that it can end; and the fourth truth, that there is a method, or way, to that end. That way is your inner journey, your own presence. You can find it by following a spiritual path, through personal development, or therapy. Any method that allows you to go deeper on your inner journey will eventually lead you there.

With practice, you may even learn to welcome self-pity when it comes knocking. If you are experiencing self-pity, think of it as a spiritual wake-up call. You are trying to get your attention. It is time to strengthen those boundaries and enjoy more solitude. Sitting with yourself, accepting, acknowledging and embracing the truth of your own pain and suffering, is not the number one choice of entertainment for a fun Saturday night, but you will find the experience nurturing and potentially very healing.


Ruth

[hr]

Ruth Hadikin, Soul Astrologer

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.”