Yearly Archives: 2012

Venus, Uranus, and the Inner Journey of Libra, Part I

White Buffalo Calf Woman, original artwork by Seattle artist Karen MacKenzie. See end of article for more info.

Libra season is upon us once again, bringing with it an opportunity for balance and harmony, multi-dimensionally.

The sign of Libra is associated with balance, harmony, relationship, ethics, beauty and law. These are all expressions of, and are connected through, the principle of harmonics which in itself is based upon the fundamental law of right relationship. Therein lies the secret to the deeper mysteries of Libra, and indeed, the mysteries of existence. The whole of existence depends upon right relationship. Science is only just beginning to realize how delicately balanced an eco-system is. A disruption in one tiny area can have devastating effects throughout the whole system. The balance depends upon right realtionship, which we recognize through our senses as harmony.

Following the journey of the Soul through the 12 signs of the zodiac, after the synthesis of spirit and matter in Virgo, the Light in Libra comes to rest. However it is not a peaceful rest, not yet. It is resting in the knowledge of what is to come. It is in Libra that the battleground becomes apparent, in readiness for the battle which must ensue in Scorpio. Esoterically it is said we do battle in two signs: Leo and Scorpio. In Leo we battle for our individuality; in Scorpio we battle for our soul. In Libra, we prepare by becoming more aware of the duality. We finally recognize the relationship between polarities. In our awareness of the separation between the opposites: self and other, yin and yang, personality and soul. In Libra we see what needs to be done, to restore right relationship and resolve the duality. The final resolution happens in Scorpio. What happens in Libra is an expansion of perception, awareness, and an important shift in consciousness.

Libra has three planetary rulers or “space-holders,” which are important for understanding the deeper mysteries of this important sign. Venus is the “ruler” at personality level, Uranus is the ruler at soul level, and Saturn is the ruler at hierarchical level. For the purposes of this article we are only looking at the personality and soul rulers, Venus and Uranus, since the hierarchical level is cosmic in nature and beyond our capacity for comprehension at our current level of consciousness. Having said that, we can see that having the “Lord of Karma,” Saturn, as ruler at this hierarchical level hints at the significance of Libra for the resolution of karma, the evolution of humanity, and humanity’s role in the karmic balancing of our Earth home and her ecosystem.

It is also worth noting that, esoterically, all three planetary “rulers” of Libra are considered to be sacred planets. Air signs are all about mastery of the mind, and cardinal energy is all about carving out new pathways, so as the cardinal air sign, we can only begin to imagine the deep significance of Libra’s sacred role in the evolution of consciousness.

Venus brings the energy of magnetic attraction. Initially this is animal magnetism, and at the personality level she awakens desire and passion within the individual, which lays the foundation for experiences of love. We see this Venusian influence expressed as sensuality at personality level in Taurus and as a pathway through higher mind to higher love at soul level in Gemini. Now in Libra, as a result of the preparation in Virgo, the individual is able to conceive of higher love and harmony at the personality level, bring this down to Earth (thanks to Virgo) and express this into the outer world through the personality. This is done through right relationship between self and other.

Harmony is our way of knowing when components within a system are in right relationship to one another. Think of an orchestra tuning up, before playing a symphony. During the tune-up, each instrument is just making its own sound with no regard for the other instruments. The result is just noise. We wouldn’t call it music, because it isn’t harmonious. When we hear music, harmony is present. There is “right” relationship between the notes. When each note is played in right relationship to the others, harmony is the result.

The whole field of ethics is dedicated to the study of “right” decision-making. How do we know when we have made a “right” decision? Right decisions are those which are in alignment with Divine Law. They lead to greater harmony because they are in right relationship with the whole of existence. Wrong decisions are those which are out of step, out of tune, and bring disharmony. There is a lack of regard for, or relationship with, the other components within the system. The Libra personality, often unfairly, has a reputation for being indecisive, yet we can see that it is actually the process of decision-making which concerns Libra greatly. It is important that Libra understands how to arrive at the “right” decision, so that we can increasingly move toward greater harmony.

In this context we can see that sometimes manmade laws can actually be disharmonious. So when we say Libra is associated with law, we are speaking of the Divine Laws of attraction, right relationship, harmony and natural law. These are not laws like man-made laws, but rather natural principles, like the law of gravity, which guide the whole of existence. Harmony itself is a natural, balancing, principle. In Esoteric Astrology, by Alice Bailey, the Tibetan explains that the sign of Libra is greatly concerned with the themes of law, sex, and money. Sex and money are more often associated with Scorpio in mundane astrology, yet it is actually through the sign of Libra where imbalances and abuses of power in these areas can be brought to balance, through right relationship.

In Part II, we’ll explore the role of Uranus in balancing through rebellion.

Ruth

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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.”

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About the artist: This oil painting, the seventh in the Empowered Feminine Zodiac series by Seattle artist Karen MacKenzie, envisions Libra as White Buffalo Calf Woman, who brought a message of peace to the Lakota people two centuries ago. For more information about the symbolism in this print and to view other works in her ongoing series, check out her website, Karen MacKenzie Art (her prints are very affordable).

Weekly Forecast October 1: Saturn Enters Scorpio

Washington Crossing the Delaware, by Emanuel Leutze, 1851.

Several shifts take place this week, with four planets changing signs and one stationing retrograde.

By far the biggest shift is Saturn’s entry into Scorpio, where he’ll remain until September 2015. He got within half a degree in February but then turned retrograde and spent another eight months in Libra. Now, after revisiting difficult relationship issues and feeling like we’ve gotten as far as we can, the floodgates of transformation are about to open. Life is going to look a lot different around this time next week.

Just before Saturn enters Scorpio on Friday, Mercury and Saturn conjoin in the final degree of Libra. I have a feeling something will click for a lot of us at that point – like, “Oh, OK, now I get it.” What was all the waiting, returning, and soul-searching for? Since Libra is the sign of diplomacy, this may also apply to international relations, although we likely won’t be privy to whatever “enlightenment” our governments may gain. With both Mercury and Saturn in Scorpio, the likelihood increases that wheeling and dealing will go on behind closed doors. For now. I expect the cover will be blown eventually. I also think that whatever comes to light is going to spark public outrage, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Saturn and Pluto will be in mutual reception for the duration of Saturn in Scorpio. Mutual reception occurs when each of two planets is in the sign ruled by the other. The last time Saturn and Pluto were in mutual reception was at the end of 1776. The colonies already had declared their independence from the British Empire and were at war. Within a few weeks of Saturn’s entry into Scorpio, Washington crossed the Delaware, and Thomas Paine wrote the famous words, “These are the times that try men’s souls … Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.”

Like the painting of Washington crossing the Delaware (stupidly standing in an overloaded boat), history is romanticized, and anyone today who takes up arms against tyranny is a “terrorist.” Well, then, I guess we’re going to see a lot more terrorism in the next three years, perhaps with renewed support for the Second Amendment. Combined with the Uranus-Pluto square, we can count on there being more bloodshed. Further, the combination of Scorpio and Capricorn strongly suggests economic conflict and scarcity of resources. Regardless of who’s elected in November, the 99 percent is going to see more belt-tightening.

It’s interesting to note the current fascination with the 1960s, which is when this Uranus-Pluto cycle began. The energy definitely is seeping into the collective. An article in the The Guardian today contemplates when the 1960s “officially” began and cites the revolution in music started by the Beatles. And whether or not they’re aware of the astrological correlations, writers in the media are making the connection between the turbulent 60s and the new wave of turmoil. You don’t need to be an astrologer to see that more upheaval is imminent.

Ray Merriman has an interesting prediction in his column this week about how these volatile astrological energies could affect the presidential elections in the United States. He mentions the possibility of a war in the Middle East, too.

As this week begins, we’re still in the wake of the Full Moon in Aries. I’ve been watching the news headlines, and so far the only story that really jumps out at me as a possible correlation to the Full Moon involves the austerity riots in Spain. Riots in bankrupt European countries have been going on for some time, but what’s particularly disturbing about this situation is the violent manner in which the police responded. We’re not out of the woods yet with this Full Moon. I normally don’t get too freaked out by astrological predictions, but I will admit that I’m on edge this week. I’m hoping it’s just a false alarm.

On Wednesday, Venus enters Virgo, the sign of her fall, and immediately opposes Neptune. Please let’s try to keep in mind the service-oriented side of Virgo, the friend who listens and offers help, not criticism about what you could have/should have done and how you brought it all on yourself. Fantasies can run both ways: putting someone on a pedestal is as deluded as believing they’re Satan. Be especially kind on Sunday, when Venus opposes Chiron. If you truly want to help someone, try to put yourself in his or her shoes before you open your mouth.

Jupiter turns retrograde on Thursday at 16 degrees Gemini. He’ll return to 6 degrees Gemini before returning direct in late January. Retrogrades of Jupiter on the whole aren’t too troublesome; it’s just that we don’t get the benefit of his expansiveness. The exception may be while Mercury is retrograde next month. Even retrograde, Jupiter in Gemini could amplify glitches related to retrograde Mercury. Also, if you’ve got Jupiter transiting a personal planet or chart angle, you may experience a reversal of luck or, at least, a delay in the payoff. If you don’t know where Jupiter is transiting your chart, there’s still time to order your StarGuide Fall forecast.

On Friday, Mercury and Saturn conjoin, then both enter Scorpio and form a grand trine with Neptune in Pisces and Ceres in Cancer. Dreams can come true, but it won’t happen by sitting in a lotus position and visualizing world peace. You have to get out there, roll up your sleeves, and get dirt under your fingernails. You might have to do other things you consider beneath you, too. Just keep your eye on the prize.

Mars leaves Scorpio on Saturday and enters adventurous Sagittarius, where his first order of business is to square Neptune. For an idea of how this might manifest, we may need to think all the way back to the first week of November 2011, when Mars opposed Neptune. Because of his retrograde cycle earlier this year, it took Mars all this time to arrive at the final square. This is not an optimistic transit, and we may feel a certain sense of hopelessness. Goddess knows, we’d be justified, but Sagittarius is the can-do pioneer that carries on in the face of adversity. Seek a reality check, and if you know you’re headed in the right direction, then push through the doubt. The bigger danger with Mars-Neptune is some form of deceit – in this case, likely due to a huge exaggeration. The presidential debates will be over by then, but there’s no time limit on the whoppers. My advice is to take care what you believe and in whom you put your trust.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast September 24: Venus Square Mars, Full Moon in Aries

Shadows of a fallen empire. © Claudio Balducelli for Dreamstime.com

This week is all about the build-up to the Full Moon on Saturday (Sunday if you’re in Europe). There’s no question that it’s worrisome, if not a little scary.

At 7 degrees Aries, the Moon is in a very close conjunction with Uranus. Yeah, OK, he’s the “Awakener,” and maybe the big surprise is that we’ll all wake up with lotus flowers springing out of our third eye. However, Uranus is still in a close square with Pluto – which means that the Full Moon itself is square Pluto, and that’s why astrologers are looking at this one with some concern. What we have is a cardinal T-square (very easy to see in the chart, below), not too different from the one we experienced over the summer of 2010. And, actually, we might get some idea of what to expect with this Full Moon by looking back to that time.

The correlations of the Uranus-Pluto square are plain to see, and astrologers actually did foresee the coming social upheaval and government backlash. No one was able to predict exactly how or where, but the proverbial handwriting was on the wall for those who could read the language of the sky. My read is that we’ve barely seen the beginning. The protest and rebellion is going to get worse, and that means the backlash will get worse, too.

This past week, police in riot gear were waiting for the Occupy protesters on Wall Street. According to some reports, there were so many cops that they were blocking traffic. Protesters who never left the sidewalk were arrested, handcuffed, and thrown in jail. Their offense? Blocking traffic. The authorities know that people are getting restless, and they’re ready. This is just one manifestation of the Uranus-Pluto square, but it’s definitely one of the most visible.

The Full Moon amplifies these energies. As I mentioned in last week’s forecast, the Uranus-Pluto square is a long-term aspect, and so we don’t necessarily see immediately events on the days when the square is exact, as it was last week. However, outbursts can occur when the movement of another planet acts as a trigger. Often, the trigger is Mars – planet of action – and there will be a Mars-Pluto conjunction on November 27, the day after Mercury returns direct. Astrologers are eyeing the U.S. presidential election, which occurs the day Mercury turns retrograde. We can expect irregularity in polling – possibly something similar to the 2000 race in which former Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush won the election. If something like that were to happen in 2012, there could be rioting in the streets or worse.

Click on image to enlarge

In the meantime, we have this Full Moon, which falls on the Uranus side of the Uranus-Pluto square. With Uranus retrograde, we can expect to see a lot of repressed anger released, and explosively. There’s also an urge to be free of oppressive conditions … or just to be free of whatever. If you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot of anger right now, and people are looking to blame anyone they can for it.

Now, despite my concern, I do believe this Full Moon could bring some positive developments, relatively speaking. In the second half of 2010, many of us suddenly switched gears and took a new direction, one more in line with who we are and what we’re here to accomplish. The “right path” nonetheless has been a bumpy road – hardly surprising, since we’re pioneering new territory. We’re making progress, but I don’t know of anyone who’s been having an easy time of it.

I can’t help thinking about the former Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. This is someone with predominantly cardinal energy in her chart. Her husband, Prince William, has both Sun and Moon in early Cancer. Their wedding spectacle took place during a cardinal T-square. She married into royalty and may be the queen of England some day, but last week, she had to suffer the indignation of topless photos splashed all over the tabloids. On top of that, many are blaming her for being stupid enough to remove her bikini top outside. Several clients have asked me how the Uranus-Pluto square might affect them personally. There’s an example, albeit with the caveat that we don’t know where Uranus and Pluto are transiting Kate’s chart, because her birth time is unknown. We do know where it’s falling in William’s chart, though. This can’t be easy for him, either.

Another possibility with the Full Moon is an environmental disaster or “earth event,” such as an earthquake, violent electrical storms, volcanic eruption, etc. I’ve never been good at predicting weather events through astrology, but I see the build-up of tectonic pressure as something akin to repressed emotions. The Earth needs her release, too. Interestingly, the “out” for this T-square is the early degrees of Cancer, and Ceres enters Cancer this week. Although her position is wide to the T-square, her presence likely will be felt. Astrologers are still working to understand the role of Ceres in personal and mundane astrology, but there does appear to be a strong correlation between Ceres and the environment, especially as it pertains to the food chain.

Another theme as this Full Moon is the wrap-up of relationship issues and the degree to which we will commit to working through challenges. With Saturn in the final degree of Libra, the relationship sign, we’re finally gaining some clarity. This week, Venus and Mars form a square (exact on Thursday), highlighting issues of sex and control. Issues may come to a head at the Full Moon, although I think it’s more likely that we’ll continue to waffle until after Saturn enters Scorpio on October 5.

Just as a reminder, my StarGuide Fall forecast is available and can help you determine where these aspects are falling in your chart. I’m happy to say that everyone who ordered before September 22 received their forecast in time for the new season. I’ve still got a backlog of other reports and have a longer-than-usual turnaround time (about a week), so if you order now, I probably won’t be able to get your report to you by September 29. But there’s a lot of other information in the forecast, including my interpretation of the eclipses coming up in November.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast September 17: Uranus Square Pluto, Sun Enters Libra

Pluto in Capricorn, 1776. Not far from where the Occupy Wall Street Movement was launched in 2011, protesters in 1776 responded to the Declaration of Independence by pulling down the statue of King George III. Painting by Johannes Adam Simon Oertel, c. 1859.

The pressure continues to mount this week as Uranus forms another square to Pluto – this time, right as the former planet comes out of his annual five-month retrograde.

This is a long-term aspect that will continue into 2015, so I don’t expect that we’re going to see sudden explosions and violence when the square is exact on Wednesday. Outer planetary cycles don’t work that way. Indeed, we’re already seeing possible manifestations, including the assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi and the Chicago teacher’s strike. It’s worth noting that the Occupy movement is planning demonstrations on Wall Street this week to commemorate its first anniversary. Police already have made arrests, and it’s a safe bet that cops in riot gear – the quintessential image of Pluto in Capricorn – will be at the ready.

All of the above notwithstanding, we may see sudden “outbursts” of Uranus-Pluto energy on days when another aspect triggers an event – sort of like a dry field waiting for one errant driver to toss a cigarette out the window at just the right moment in just the right wind conditions. For astrologers and serious astrology students, there’s a valuable opportunity to learn how these aspects correlate to events – a study known as “mundane astrology.”

As it so happens, Mercury in Libra opposes Uranus and squares Pluto on Thursday, which means that we’ll have a temporary cardinal T-square. You’ll remember the T-square from the summer of 2010, when it dominated the astrological charts. Mercury in Libra represents justice (at least in theory), balanced thinking, and diplomacy, but the Messenger is up against two warring heavyweights, and his voice is likely to be drowned out by inflammatory rhetoric. Put another way, the tension is too great to be eased by soothing words and promises. There’s something visceral going on with Uranus in Aries conflicting with Pluto in Capricorn. Repressed anger can’t be talked out, especially when it has been accumulating for centuries.

The Sun enters Libra on Saturday, which is the fall equinox (spring in the Southern Hemisphere). Next week’s Full Moon will be in a close T-square with Uranus and Pluto. If there is to be any immediate fallout, I would expect it to happen within a few days of the Full Moon on September 29. Incidentally, this is a potentially challenging Full Moon for everyone. If you haven’t already done so, you may want to order your StarGuide Fall forecast. I’ve been getting a lot of orders for this report, so my turnaround time is now a week to ten days on new report orders. I’ve posted a notice on the order page indicating that I’ll give priority to Fall forecast orders, but there’s still a possibility that I won’t be able to get it to you before the September 22. Those of you who have ordered Starguide but still haven’t received it will get it before Friday.

The only other aspect of note this week is a sextile from Venus in Leo to retrograde Jupiter in Gemini. This could be helpful for finances, depending on where these two fall in your chart. Romance may get a little spark, too, but I wouldn’t expect major developments unless either of these planets is in a sensitive position in your chart.

Speaking of relationships, we’re in the final countdown of Saturn in Libra, which I wrote about in last week’s forecast. I didn’t mention, however, that as he approaches the first degree of Scorpio, Saturn forms an applying trine to Neptune in Pisces. These two have very different energies, but combined in a positive way can be a real tour-de-force. I expect we will have more “past-life” revelations, some of which may help us grow past the stuck places we’ve been and finally attain some peace of mind regarding difficult relationships. Compassion and sacrifice also play a role. Ask yourself what you’re willing to do for true love.

Love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast September 10: New Moon in Virgo, Mercury Enters Libra

The pathway up. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

Relationships are in the transformation stage, no doubt about it. We’ve seen it coming, as Saturn approaches the final degree of Libra and is finally ready to move on.

Many of us are going to be finally ready to move on, too. Like, final finally. We’ve been ready. We’ve tried. But something has held us back for one more lesson, one more bit of convincing, and one last hope that maybe we were missing something, the golden bit of light that will wake us up to what’s really going so that we can remain more comfortably in an uncomfortable place. After all, we’re told that we can’t change others, only ourselves. So many of us have been busily working at changing ourselves, like burning the candle at both ends into the wee hours preparing for the final exam.

Four stories came to me last week about difficult relationships, how they’d been ended once or twice already only to be resurrected for another go. Until the Full Moon in Pisces on August 31, they were all doing pretty well, in a place that was more compassionate, accepting, and serene. And all four people, within a few days last week, experienced an unexpected event with their partners that threw them for a loop. One of them, a woman who after a year of struggling finally came to grips with her partner’s Asperger’s, was on her way home from work and saw him going out to dinner with another woman.

I wrote in last week’s forecast that the Full Moon would continue to unfold right up to Friday. Did it ever, and how. Last Tuesday, I came across Michael Lutin’s article on the Full Moon in Pisces, and it suddenly all made sense. We’re heading into the final three degrees of Saturn in Libra. Right. Mikey commented that something drastic will take place. I assume he’s talking about Saturn’s entry in Scorpio, which will place him in mutual reception with Pluto. Those of us who have been up all night studying will go through the final exam and emerge ready to transform. I say “ready to transform” rather than “transformed,” because I believe the process will continue. Evolution doesn’t stop.

I know, it sounds kind of scary, but we’ve known for some time that this wasn’t going to be a period of snuggling into our comfort zones. We’re out of the nest, learning to fly. This is what it feels like.

I’m going to spend the rest of the forecast looking at Saturday’s New Moon in Virgo, which begins unfolding on Monday and will continue to be felt through the weekend. The bigger event, of course, is the Uranus-Pluto square, which will be exact on September 18, the same day Pluto turns direct. Uranus says, “Evolution isn’t fast enough. Mutate!”

Click on image to enlarge

This New Moon is ruled by Mercury, who conjoins the Sun on Monday and then swiftly moves through the end of Virgo to enter Libra on Sunday. In my world, Virgo is co-ruled by Ceres, who is moving through the end of Gemini – in a near perfect square with Mercury and the New Moon and a perfect trine with Saturn.

Mercury in his own sign of Virgo wants to pay attention to the details – who did what to whom, when, who owes whom money, and so forth. This is fine for professional relationships, and directly addressing details may be just the solution for moving through issues with co-workers and supervisors. If this is your situation, make sure you have all your ducks in a row and that your arguments are based on sound logic. There’s still room for compromise (especially the following week, with Mercury in Libra), but concessions will be made on logic, not feelings.

Ceres has a different agenda. Feelings count, and so does the physical and emotional well-being of everyone involved. There may be a pecking order, but if someone lower down the food chain has the goods, they stand on equal footing with the higher-ups. Her method of compromise is more like Libra: you get half, I get half. If your relationship is ending, this may be a practical matter, and it’s where I see the possibility of a split that, while not necessarily amicable, at least will be civil. I think this is also where we may be able to release some karma, especially if you’ve got ties with someone over several incarnations.

Interestingly, in the New Moon chart, Juno is on the lunar North Node at 29 degrees Scorpio. In Roman mythology, Juno was the wife of Jupiter, the king of the gods. The Greek equivalents are Zeus and Hera. Greek mythology unfortunately stripped Hera of her power by making her the angry and vengeful wife of a philanderer. Her actual history is much older (like Nemesis, about whom I wrote last week). The evolution of the goddess might as well be a story about how male and female energies became imbalanced in the world. We’re on the threshold of righting the balance. In the last degree of Scorpio, Juno is drawing upon all of her power before entering Sagittarius, the sign ruled by Jupiter.

Lastly, Venus trines Uranus (the aspect is exact on Thursday). Here’s the big surprise, an event that causes a mutation of thought that leads to a transformation in your external world. This event may concern love or money, two domains ruled by Venus. Because the trine is harmonious, I’m hopeful that this will be a happy surprise. Goddess knows we’ve had enough of the other kind.

Mikey suggested reading the Robert Frost poem, commonly referred to as “The Road Less Travelled.” The actual title is “The Road Not Taken.” Think about that for a minute. Frost was writing about one road, but the collective perception was the opposite. There’s a lot to contemplate in the few weeks left of Saturn in Libra. Come to think of it, this is a perfect poem for Libra. Who else could stand so long at a fork in the road, trying to decide which way to go?

Regardless of which road you take, it’s going to be bumpy for the next several weeks. To help you on your way, I just set up the StarGuide Fall forecast, which is now available. I’ve taken some pre-orders already, so if you order now, expect it to take 3-4 days for delivery. I also highly recommend that if you want your report by the first day of fall (September 22) that you order this week. This is my most popular report, and I’m always swamped at the beginning of the new season.

Wishing you all much love and courage on your journey,
Pat

When You Can’t Do It Anymore … Repost of Michael Lutin’s Where’s the Moon

It’s not often that I send you to another site for a forecast (with the exception of Ray Merriman, whose financial updates are priceless) but I just had to repost this insight from Michael Lutin! I’ve sensed the energy of Saturn in the final degrees of Libra, but Mikey has it summed up better than I ever could. I know that many of you will be able to relate. For me, it was one of those “OMFG” moments.

Michael Lutin’s Where’s the Moon

Just what are you supposed to do when you know you just can’t do it anymore? When you’ve run out steam. You’ve done your level best. You’ve given all you’ve got. You did the commitment as far as any human being should be asked to do. You know it’s got to change. It’s just got to. It’s just got to. But it seems like it’s taking forever. Don’t be in such a hurry. This one will be drastic. Doesn’t it seem like everything is going in slow motion?

The Full Moon on Chiron has turned a harsh spotlight on all your deepest fantasies. If you can embrace them proudly, you will be free of anxiety. The problem with Chiron, however, is that if you feel shame for the feelings and fantasies you have, it’s the shame that causes you to push people away, feel alone and alienated and shrink away from intimacy. That is when relationships suffer.

So much soul-searching going on right now. All relationships, business and personal, are being put under the microscope and evaluated. In order to deepen and grow stronger and not shrivel up wither away, you have to surrender your innocence, and be completely and totally honest about what you want and need on the most primitive level. You have to reveal yourself, but even scarier,
you have to hear what the other person is really into. Relationships survive when both parties can surrender up the truth of their most primitive desires, and not freak out to hear somebody else’s.

Nobody knows what the next step is. They just know there has to be one.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT YOU CAN TAKE

Gee! IT’S GETTING LATE … The last three degrees of this transit of Saturn will give you a a chance to finish what you started and accept the consequences of the commitments you made …

READ THE REST at www.michaellutin.com. Read it NOW!

Weekly Forecast September 3: Mars Sextile Pluto, Venus enters Leo

Angels with a vengeance. Double-teaming goddesses Themis and Nemesis work to keep the world free of scumbags. Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, 1806.

In many ways, this week continues themes of last Friday’s Full Moon in Pisces. So even though the normal period of influence for the Full Moon is plus or minus three days, events continue to unfold through the last quarter Moon on September 8.

Due to his recent retrograde, Mercury is following the Sun until the two conjoin next week. In the meantime, the Messenger is revisiting the aspects in the Full Moon chart between the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto. Whereas the Sun’s aspects may have been related to new developments in your life, the same aspects with Mercury correspond to working out the details. Put another way, a deal isn’t done until the contract is signed and the check is in hand. Mars aspects the same set of planets on Monday, and then Mercury and Mars from a sextile on Wednesday.

I don’t think you’d find it useful for me to break these aspects down individually, since they all tie in together and act in synergy. And while it’s hard to say precisely how a multiple-planet configuration such as this will manifest, I do see some major themes.

Underlying the entire set of aspects is the Uranus-Pluto square. Uranus represents revolution, while Pluto represents evolution. Put them together, and you have chaos preceding a new order. Mars in Scorpio adds activating energy into the mix, while Mercury represents insight into the process and the emergence of new information and ideas, as if out of thin air.

We are indeed asking the “big questions” right now, as Pip noted in her second comment to last week’s forecast. How much is “fate,” and how much control do we have over the direction of our lives individually and as the collective human species on earth? These are questions that philosophers have been asking for millennia.

A couple of days ago, I decided to look at the lesser asteroids in my chart. I knew I had Hygeia at a critical point and that there was likely some significance to this placement, especially since I wrote about the mythological Hygeia in my long article on Ophiuchus that appeared in the December/January issue of The Mountain Astrologer. My astrology software has a listing of nearly 50 additional asteroids, few of which I’ve heard of and none of which I’ve ever worked with in a chart. In addition to Hygeia, I discovered that I have Nemesis within a degree of my lunar North Node, which itself is very close to the Ascendant.

Most people know the word “nemesis” and consider it to be a very bad thing. The few astrological references to Nemesis indeed consider it to be a bad omen of sorts. I don’t buy it. First, we haven’t had even remotely enough experience with any of these minor asteroids to start making proclamations of their significance in a chart. Second, the use of minor asteroids isn’t itself a technique that has been put to the test and validated. From what I’ve seen, most of the astrological work has been intuitive free-associating, and not with any standard interpretation of what these bodies represent. That alone is grounds for caution. That said, having one of the “scary” asteroids on the North Node was a bit disconcerting, so I set out to learn more about Nemesis.

Nemesis is commonly called the goddess of retribution or revenge. According to some of the Greek philosophers, she stepped in to check excessive pride, undeserved happiness, and unearned good fortune. Clearly, this was an attempt by the ancients to explain fate. Put in modern terms, why do bad things happen to good people, and vice versa?

Digging a little deeper, we find that Nemesis actually was the remnant of a much older goddess – older than Zeus and the Olympians – who dates back into prehistoric times (remember, history began when writing was invented around 3,000 B.C.), when people first began asking the big questions. One of the biggest mysteries concerned fate. What was it? How did it work? Could you escape it? The concept of fate was assigned to a goddess, who was neither good nor bad. She just apportioned lots.

When I did a search for Nemesis, I discovered that she often was paired with Themis, a goddess representing divine law – the natural order of things. When someone disturbed the natural order, thereby creating an imbalance, Nemesis restored the equilibrium. I suppose that if you were on the receiving end of such an action, you might consider it negative (ask Bernie Madoff). And to anyone else, it would have appeared as divine retribution for arrogance.

Themis and Nemesis were two sides of divine justice, and the Greeks also saw Themis as an oracle who could predict the future. According to some myths, Themis was Zeus’s wife before Hera. It’s not hard to understand how this story came about; it gave legitimacy to the Father God (that is what “Zeus” means). Zeus, ever the philanderer, also was said to have raped Nemesis. The child of the union was Helen of Troy. Talk about revenge!

I’m fascinated by how human thought over the millennia shaped and distorted fundamental truths. Once writing was invented, the distortions literally became “written in stone,” to the point that humanity has lost touch with natural law. Understanding natural law is a prerequisite to any meaningful discussion of fate and free will.

Now, here comes the really interesting part. After looking up the asteroids in my own chart, I did an asteroid chart for Friday’s Full Moon in Pisces. Asteroid Nemesis was at 12 degrees Sagittarius (conjunct my natal Saturn), directly opposite asteroid Themis at 11 degrees Gemini! Jupiter was at 14 Gemini. It’s hard not to jump to a conclusion that the minor asteroids just might have some significance in astrological analysis. It’s certainly something I’ll be looking at from now on.

Back to this week, the configuration of Mercury, Mars, and the outer planets also includes Chiron, who currently is sitting at about 7 degrees Pisces, putting him in a close sextile with Pluto. My take on this is that the breakdowns and breakthroughs occurring under the Uranus-Pluto square also have a healing element to them. Healing in and of itself can trigger major changes in one’s life. As you heal old wounds, your energy changes, which in turn may attract different kinds of people and experiences in to your life.

Also this week, Venus squares Saturn on Monday and then enters Leo on Thursday. On Friday, the Sun squares Jupiter, followed by a Mercury-Jupiter square on Saturday.

The most recent contact between Venus and Saturn was barely a month ago, when they formed a trine on July 31. In general, trines are easier than squares. The conventional interpretation of a Venus-Saturn square is a lack of connection, feelings of loneliness and isolation, or difficult commitments. Some or all of that could be true this week, but with Saturn still in Venus-ruled Libra, “difficult” may be relative, and it’s not “impossible.” If you run up against an inability to get through to someone or to make the connection you’re looking for, try not to be dismayed. This really is transitory.

Venus in Leo is the party girl with golden hair and loads of bling. She needs to be seen, and she thrives on compliments and positive strokes. Her first order of business is a quincunx on Friday with Neptune, her Higher Self. Friday dates may go awry when selfish desires get in the way of compassion and understanding. You’ll fare best if you can fight the urge for instant gratification.

The Sun-Jupiter square, with Mercury and Jupiter in a square the next day, could turn out to be quite helpful, as these energies can work well together even in a square, which we normally consider as conflict. This is a strong aspect for getting a lot of work done – indeed, for moving mountains. The pitfalls are biting off more than you can chew and getting bogged down in details. Here is one instance where free will definitely can come into play. Do your best to stay on task, and resist getting in a pissing contest. Arguing over details is a risk, especially if you’re negotiating a contract. It will help if you know in advance what you’re willing to compromise on and what’s non-negotiable.

I’ll be working this week on the StarGuide Fall 2012 forecasts and will post a notice when they’re available. I also owe some of you reports and follow-up e-mails. Rest assured that I haven’t forgotten you.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Mercury, the Moon, and The Inner Journey of Virgo, Part II

Zemnya, original artwork by Seattle artist Karen MacKenzie. See end of article for more info.

In Buddhist teaching, the highest perfection is said to be the perfection of wisdom.

There is an ancient Buddhist scripture called the “Holy Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom” (often just called “The Heart Sutra” for short). This scripture tells of a conversation between the historical Buddha and one of his heart disciples, Sariputra. In this scripture the Buddha says to Sariputra:

Form is emptiness, emptiness is form
Emptiness does not differ from form,
and form does not differ from emptiness.
~ The Heart Sutra

This speaks to the deepest mysteries of Virgo, and it is important to understand what is really meant by “emptiness” in this context. It doesn’t mean “nothing,” but rather refers to space, which is “empty” of physical forms but filled with spirit, filled with love – filled with all that we value, yet cannot see or touch. It speaks to the synthesis of spirit and form that happens in Virgo.

In Esoteric Astrology, the Tibetan refers to the Moon as the “Mother of All Forms.” In certain Buddhist traditions, reference is made to the “mother void” and the “son awareness.” This is referring to the karmic cycle through which physical forms arise from the “void” (or space), then awareness (of self) arises through form, and then divine awareness (soul) returns to the void (space) through synthesis, after the dissolution of form. Esoterically this is described as the synthesis of father (spirit) and mother (form) which gives rise to the birth of the child (Christ consciousness). At a higher level, the unified mother-father is simply referred to as mother. The deeper mysteries of this divine process lie within the Virgo-Pisces cycle of arising, awareness, synthesis and then resolution. This is how the deeper mystery of Virgo, symbolized by mother (spirit/form) and child (awareness), leads to the expansion of divine love.

After the Moon has done her earlier work in Cancer, creating the conditions for us to transform negative emotions into positive altruistic states such as compassion, she returns in Virgo to teach us how to flow the subtle physical energies of compassion through the subtle channels that have been created by Mercury. Again, this is a two-way street that speaks to the highest purpose of Virgo. Through the channels created by Mercury and under the conditions created by the Moon, we experience a greater expansion of divinity into physical form and come one step closer to experience our soul – that droplet of divinity which resides within each of us.

Likewise, as a result of the expansion of the human heart and a greater flow of human compassion, there is a greater experience of human potential within the divine. Heaven travels to earth, and earth meets heaven. Interestingly, the ruler of Virgo at the hierarchical level is the expansive, magnifying planet Jupiter. So we can see that the expansion of love on many levels and throughout many realms is deeply connected with the highest soul purpose of Virgo.

Virgo stands for the “womb of time’ wherein God’s plan (the mystery and the secret of the ages) is slowly matured and – with pain and discomfort and through struggle and conflict – brought into manifestation at the appointed time.
~ The Tibetan, Esoteric Astrology

The Moon is a bit of an anomaly, an enigma, in astrology. Technically, she isn’t really a planet at all (for moons are not planets). Indeed H.P. Blavatsky (author of the earlier esoteric works The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled), Alice Bailey (channel for The Tibetan, Author of Esoteric Astrology), and mystic Vera Stanley Alder all agree that the Moon is “dead,” having no life force or vitality of her own. Yet the magnetic pull of the Moon affects the Earth’s tides and likewise the emotions of humanity. So here we have the esoteric symbology of the Moon, something that is dead and connected to the past, yet is still tugging at us. The Moon symbolizes those aspects of our past that are no longer useful or beneficial for our spiritual progress, yet we collectively and individually (in our personal natal chart) haven’t released them yet.

The Moon thus creates conditions of human experience that are womb-like in the sense of being deep, dark, and quiet. In Virgo, she creates the conditions for “the valley of deep experience wherein secrets are discovered and eventually ‘brought to light’; [Virgo] is the place of slow, gentle and yet powerful crisis and periodic developments which take place in the dark and yet which lead to light.” (The Tibetan, Esoteric Astrology)

Esoterically, the Moon veils Vulcan (according to Esoteric Astrology, Vulcan is a hidden planet), and Vulcan is known as the blacksmith of the gods. In the alchemical fiery furnace of Vulcan, physical forms are transformed like molten lead into gold. It is this alchemical action of Vulcan that conditions the physical form to be more receptive to light and thus enables the synthesis of spirit and matter in Virgo.

The Moon/Vulcan conditions the form, while Mercury lays down a connective network of light on all levels. With this dual action of Mercury and the Moon/Vulcan, the physical human form becomes a pure and suitable vehicle for light and the subsequent birth of Christ consciousness.

This time of year, under the influence of Virgo, we all have an opportunity to deeply contemplate our life and ensure we are fully aligned with our divine purpose or vocation. If you have Sun, Moon or Rising Sign in Virgo, it is important that you be aware of your physical energy and stay grounded. You are here to radiate love into the world.

Ruth

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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.”

About the artist: This oil painting, the sixth in the Empowered Feminine Zodiac series by Seattle artist Karen MacKenzie, features the Lithuanian harvest goddess Zemnya as the representation of Virgo. She is dressed in traditional Lithuanian embroidered clothing. For more information about the symbolism in this print and to view other works in her ongoing series, check out her website, Karen MacKenzie Art (her prints are very affordable).

Mercury, the Moon, and The Inner Journey of Virgo, Part I

Zemnya, original artwork by Seattle artist Karen MacKenzie. See end of article for more info.

Virgo season is upon us once again, bringing with it the opportunity to focus on our true vocation, or divine purpose. Virgo is associated with purity, purification, health, healing, well-being, the Virgin Mother, mother and child, the physical human form, and divinity in form.

It is no accident that it is harvest time in the Northern Hemisphere, as Virgo is also associated with the harvesting, or results, of what was sown. This is the time of year that we realize the practical reality of reaping what we sow, and if we don’t like what we see, it gives us an opportunity to prepare the ground to plant a different crop next year.

It is the Soul purpose of Virgo to purify and prepare our physical form so that it is more receptive to light and becomes a suitable vehicle for the cultivation and gestation of the Christ consciousness that will be born in Capricorn. Whether we have planets in Virgo or not, at this time of year it is an ideal time for each of us to contemplate our divine purpose and check whether we are fully aligned with our true purpose.

Following the journey of the soul through the 12 signs of the zodiac, after the completion of the individuation process in Leo, the individual now prepares for service by ensuring that the physical vehicle is ready to receive the light. Virgo has two planetary “space-holders” (rulers) that create the conditions necessary for this crucial stage of our soul’s development: Mercury and the Moon. We explored Mercury’s role in Gemini and the Moon’s role in Cancer, and here in Virgo, both planets create different conditions, because Virgo is an Earth sign, so they are more practically and tangibly conditioning the physical form rather than feeling and thought.

Mercury creates connections and pathways for communication, or communion. Esoterically, Mercury creates the ultimate pathway to connect us with higher mind, the antahkarana or “rainbow bridge.” Although we are strictly speaking in terms of energy and energetic pathways, it is helpful to think of the analogy of mercury as liquid metal. Imagine the speed and fluidity of liquid metal as it creates tiny sparkling rivulets, then streams and then rivers, spreading and branching out wherever needed to create pathways of light.

At one end of the bridge Mercury connects with the light of the divine; at the other end of the bridge Mercury is sending roots down into physical form, enlivening and stimulating the growth of neural pathways – nature’s own communication network for consciousness – so that conscious awareness can travel deeper into physical form. This is a two-way communication. Through the activity of Mercury, consciousness “communes” with form, and form becomes awakened, aware of consciousness. As a result, somatic awareness (the felt-sense in our body) deepens in Virgo, and the fully integrated Virgo soul can feel when they are flowing pure Love through their physical work and/or actions. Using your nervous system as a medium for communion, Mercury sensitizes you to spirit, awakening you to subtler and subtler levels of energy and consciousness.

Whereas in Gemini there is still duality, a perceived separation between form and spirit, between the divine and the personality, Virgo is a sign of synthesis. So in Virgo, the action of Mercury prepares the physical form to receive. The connections made by Mercury prepare for the synthesis of spirit and form, so that ultimately there is no separation. Spirit is form and form is spirit.

This is not an easy stage of our developmental process. Part of the process involves cognitive stimulation, the stimulation of thoughts and cognitive processing, and it is this side-effect of Mercury that leads some people with Sun, Moon or Virgo Rising to feel edgy, anxious, or worry to excess. If you are experiencing this, it is because you need to ground this Mercurial energy, and that is easier said than done. Having said that, it is part of your divine purpose as a Virgo to be a kind of cosmic lightening conductor! Do whatever you need to do to connect with your heart center. It can be yoga, Reiki, or even gardening, but do whatever you need to do to feel the physical flow of energy through your heart center radiating throughout your body and down to earth. Once you have done that, your energy will become grounded into the physical, rather than having too much energy in your head!

As we saw in my previous article on Cancer, the Moon rules physical form. So it makes sense that once Mercury has created the pathways, the Moon would step into a higher role in holding the space and ensuring the conditions are ripe for spirit to be fully imbued into physical form. The sign of Virgo is associated with perfection. This leads the Virgo personality to misguidedly seek perfection in the outer world, where the Virgo soul seeks perfection of the inner world.

In Part II, we’ll go deeper into Virgo’s connection to the Moon – the “Mother of All Forms.”

Ruth

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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 27: Full Moon in Pisces, North Node Enters Scorpio

Where did August go? I’m reminded of the bumper sticker I saw long ago (or maybe it wasn’t): Time flies, whether you’re having fun or not.

I find myself wondering how children are experiencing time right now. I have a feeling it may be different than the adult concept of time. For us, opening up to an expanded view of time and space is harder. Not only have we been conditioned to view time a certain way, but we have to grow new neural pathways in our brains.

There are lots of theories out there on how to do this. Personally, my experience is that certain activities promote the growth of new neural pathways, including learning a musical instrument and studying the Tarot. During my interview with Laura Nalbandian for The New Astrologers, she told me that she believes learning astrology is another way to do it. I have to agree. Maybe that’s why readers of RealAstrologers are such a smart bunch.

Speaking of The New Astrologers, I worked with three different templates this week to create a new website. The first was a free WordPress theme, just to get something online. But you really have to have the bells and whistles these days to make an impression, so I bought a theme I thought would work, only to discover that basic functions were supposed to have been built in required additional programming. Maybe if I’d waited until Mercury goes into Virgo this week, I wouldn’t have blinked. But he’s been in Leo, so I was a little more demanding and bought a lovely new theme with a flashy full-screen video homepage. The site is still a work in progress, but let me know what you think and whether you like it better than last week’s version.

In other news this week, I finally got time to see my doctor, who says I’m suffering from adrenal fatigue – hardly a surprise, she said, given that I’ve been doing the work of three people with almost no rest. Moreover, she told me that everyone who comes to see her right now is completely stressed out. It’s not an easy time for the human species, and the stress isn’t going to be alleviated anytime soon, not with Uranus and Pluto in a conflicting square through 2015. The doctor’s advice was to prop myself up the best I can and get through this period, keeping in mind that the more I try to do in a depleted state, the longer it’s going to take to recover. I mention this not for sympathy, but because I suspect many of you are in a similar state.

Click on image to enlarge

Looking at this week, Friday is the Full Moon in Pisces, with the Sun and Moon in close positive aspect with Pluto. This also means the Sun and Uranus are inconjunct. This is a classic “breakdown to breakthrough” configuration. If you’re frustrated with a particular situation, person, or relationship, rather than trying to force your own will on everyone and make things go the way you think they should, step back and see how a change might actually be to your advantage. With a better grasp of the underlying source of the issue, you will have more power to advance your own cause – although with the usual caveat that when Pluto is involved in an aspect, attempts at power and control for selfish reasons will backfire big-time. Before you can take full advantage of Pluto’s power, you need to know the difference between selfishness and enlightened self-interest, and you need to be honest about your motivation.

The Sun and Moon also are in positive aspect to Mars in Scorpio. Before Pluto was discovered in 1930, Mars was considered the ruler of Scorpio, so there is reinforcement here not only for a breakdown and breakthrough, but the means for you to take action. The trick with Mars, of course, is that he’s the ego planet. When you put ego and power together, you have to be quite careful to make sure you’re acting for the “highest good” and not just to further your own selfish goals. I would add (as I often do) that you may need to stretch beyond your current beliefs, including your political and religious beliefs. This is going to be an increasing theme over the next three years.

The Moon also conjoins Chiron, which recently completed a conjunction of several years with Neptune. It’s becoming more evident to me that for some people, healing requires delving into what I call “other lives.” That’s why it’s so important that we learn to see into other dimensions. Many of the wounds we carry in our energy fields extend beyond this incarnation, and before we can heal, we need to understand what’s going on outside what we deem to be “reality.” This is the watery realm of Neptune and Pisces, along with the shadow world of Pluto and Scorpio. It can be scary territory, to be sure; it’s also what the age-old story of the journey to the underworld is all about.

Adding to the intensity and the theme of transformation, the lunar North Node leaves Sagittarius on Thursday and sits at 29 degrees Scorpio as of the Full Moon. The North Node will be in Scorpio until early 2014, covering much of the period of the Uranus-Pluto square. There’s a scientific theory that stress can cause genetic mutations almost immediately, as opposed to the long-term evolutionary process. When we think of Pluto and Scorpio, we usually think of a lengthy transformation process. But Uranus is all about sudden change. It’s not much of a stretch to imagine that the pressure we’re under now could indeed create genetic mutations. Of course, you never know what you’re going to get.

As of the Full Moon, Mercury is in late Leo, about to enter Virgo. If, like me, you’re working on a project involving programming or detail-oriented computer work of any kind, this is your chance to speed through lines of code. However, Mercury opposes Neptune on Saturday, which according to conventional interpretations is supposed to be a day of confusion and aversion to detailed work. This could go either way. On one hand, you might find that you get into a zone and can write until the wee hours without realizing you’ve been sitting in the chair all that time. On the other, it might be better to go to bed early on Saturday and keep your dream journal handy to see what comes up. For some people, dreams are the way to access those other dimensions I’ve been writing so much about. The trick – and there’s often one when Mercury is involved – to separate the bits of divine inspiration from the space junk. When we’re in unfamiliar territory, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s the product of an overly active imagination.

Wishing you all much love and courage – and some rest, too, if you can get it,
Pat