Yearly Archives: 2012

Weekly Forecast February 13: Sun and Mercury Enter Pisces

Walking into the land of Pisces. © Petar Neychev for Dreamstime.com

Well, so much for returning to some semblance of sanity.

Due to my heavy academic schedule, I’ve had to cut way back on consultations and reports, and I don’t have a lot of time for the weekly forecasts, either. Talk about Mars retrograde in the tenth house! Rushed to write last week’s forecast, I overlooked all of the inconjuncts – Thursday’s inconjunct from Mercury to retrograde Mars was especially jarring – all happening as Saturn was stationed retrograde. That explains a lot, and it also gives me hope that the wildly fluctuating energies of the past couple of weeks will even out this week, helping us regain some order in our lives. It sure would be nice to go an entire week without another computer crash!

We also make a big shift from Aquarius to Pisces this week. Aquarian energy is like an unstable electrical current, while Pisces is more like the constant motion of the sea. On Monday, Mercury enters Pisces, followed by the Sun on Sunday. Neptune, Chiron, and Pallas already are in the early degrees of the Fishes, so by this time next week, we should all be feeling a lot more Zen.

Before moving into Pisces, Mercury makes a trine to Saturn. With both planets in intellectual air signs, tasks that require concentration and heavy thinking should go well. I have a couple of projects on my plate that fit that description and will appreciate all the help I can get! I recommend taking advantage of this aspect first thing Monday morning, because the vibe will be gone once Mercury changes signs on Monday evening.

With Mercury in Pisces, we’ll have access to the collective conscious and everything beyond. Deep insights are possible; the difficulty is in trying to explain it to anyone. Words fail. Do keep a journal and pen by your bed to record your dreams. I expect that some of us will have some real whoppers Monday night and into the wee hours of Tuesday. If that happens for you, please leave a comment and tell us about it.

On Tuesday, Jupiter in Taurus sextiles Chiron in Pisces, with the Moon in Jupiter’s sign of Sagittarius. Healing can take place, and it can happen big. In some cases, we stay wounded and stuck due to our beliefs about ourselves. The key to healing old wounds – be they physical or emotional, from this life or another incarnation – is not in trying to fix them or make them go away, but in accepting them as a unique part of who we are. The root word of “heal” is to make whole, and it’s Jupiter’s nature to expand the scope of our understanding so that what we have thought of as disparate parts or even polar opposites become parts of a greater whole.

Sometimes, all we need to see the bigger picture is one important detail that has been missing. We can find it when Mercury conjoins Chiron and sextiles Jupiter within a couple of hours on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Venus squares Pluto on Wednesday, one of the not-so-nice aspects of the week. I read this aspect in a couple of different ways. The conventional approach is that Venus in Aries can be selfish and impulsive, while Pluto in Capricorn demands that everyone toe the corporate line. So, for example, if you’re in the middle of a key project at work, don’t even think about asking for a day off because your best friend from high school blew into town unexpectedly and you want to spend the day together. Friday’s Capricorn Moon keeps this dynamic alive through the end of the week. Do your best to keep your nose to the grindstone.

However, I see another possibility here (at least one; I’m sure there are many others). Ceres, planet of environmental consciousness and embodiment of Mother Earth, is also in Aries and makes an exact square with Pluto on Tuesday. That means Venus and Ceres are in close conjunction when they square the symbol of corporate authority. Watch the news headlines for stories of women of all ages standing up to multinational interests backed by governments and military might. Or, it may be Earth herself who fights back in some way. Ceres and Pluto go back a long way. In mythology, she’s his mother-in-law and one of the few characters he knows better than to talk back to. If you’ll recall, Ceres and Pluto were closely conjunct in the chart for the BP Horizon explosion. Regardless of how much power they have, corporations are still bound by the laws of nature.

The Sun enters Pisces on Sunday and immediately conjoins Neptune. Finally we should be able to get some quality downtime. Stay home and watch your favorite film. Why not several, back-to-back? Meditation would be a good activity, too. Schedule a retreat if you can. If nothing else, go down for a delicious afternoon nap. Once again, keep that dream journal handy. Dreams take on significance now, and it’s time to make them come true.

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

Weekly Forecast February 6: Saturn Retrograde, Full Moon in Leo

Studying with Mercury in Aquarius. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

There was a lot of weirdness going on last week, and then the energy suddenly shifted on Friday. Did you notice? I attribute the shift to Neptune’s entry into Pisces and hope that life will return to some semblance of sanity, despite the craziness of Mars retrograde.

Neptune’s shift occurred at 2:03 p.m. EST on Friday. The final two days of Neptune in Aquarius were totally out of control – at least for me. My computer crashed again, and then my backup machine failed. I was without a computer for two critical days in my class work and am now nearly three weeks behind in my assignments. I had to post a notice on my order page that I’m not accepting new report orders or consultations until I’m caught up at school. From an astrologer’s point of view, all of these events are a perfect manifestation of Mars retrograde in Virgo in the tenth house: computer failure, work overload, behind in deadlines, etc.

It also seemed that people were bumping into each other more than usual, and there certainly was a spike on the anger/frustration scale. That said, I got a good reminder on Friday about the beneficial side of Mars anger. When you vent your anger properly, it’s like having a good cry. The explosion clears a lot of blockages and gets your energy flowing again – yet another great manifestation of Mars retrograde in Virgo.

By Saturday, the energy had totally changed. My take on this is that outer planets in the last degree of a sign, poised to enter a new one, send out an intense vibe that contains all the lessons of that planet/sign pair. And since Neptune was in Aquarius, which is ruled by Uranus, and Uranus is in Aries, which is ruled by Mars, the intensity of Neptune in the last degree of Aquarius was channeled through Mars, the planet of anger, action, and conflict.

What was even more interesting, though, is that once Neptune moved into Pisces, the release of anger and frustration cleared the way for a tremendous creative flow. Real magic can happen in rare moments like these. On Saturday, I had an 18-hour film shoot. First of all, I was surprised that I was able to work from 6 a.m. to midnight with few breaks. Secondly, I was amazed by how smoothly the project went. Disagreements were easily managed, and the discussions that arose over artistic differences improved the project. That is Mars energy at its best! Of course, Neptune rules film, so we might also have gotten the first sip of “pure” Neptune in Pisces.

So now let’s turn to this week, which has the potential to be quite dramatic. Tuesday is weighty, with the Full Moon in Leo just as Saturn turns retrograde in the last degree of Libra and Venus moves through the final degree of Pisces. Relationships definitely are a key theme this week, and what transpires may shock and surprise.

Saturn has been in the final degree of Libra since the middle of January, and he’ll remain there until the first week of March. With Saturn in Libra, we’ve been learning lessons about love and commitment, about how to relate to each other fairly and to make compromises that everyone can live with. As Saturn approached the end of Libra, we began closing the books and preparing for finals. What more do we have to learn?

Apparently, a lot …

It’s one thing to learn lessons, but quite another to apply them. And you may find that you end up testing out what you’ve learned with someone other than who you’ve been with up to this point. That’s especially true if you learned your lessons the hard way, through a relationship that was painful but that helped you grow and evolve. Still, I don’t discount the possibility that you will go back for another lesson with the same person.

I can’t help but wonder if one of the big lessons will have to do with anger. I say this, because Venus is about to enter Aries, with Mars retrograde. It is not uncommon for couples to grow apart due to unresolved conflict. There are lots of reasons people prefer to “go along to get along” instead of hashing out the real issues. This strategy may work in a professional environment, but in an intimate relationship, stifled anger not only can destroy the relationship, but it can make the partners physically sick.

On Thursday, Venus conjoins Uranus in Aries, a pair favoring surprises in love and finances. I expect there will be a lot of impulsiveness, which could backfire – either that, or you may have to wait several weeks to see the results of an “instant” attraction. One thing is for sure, though: whatever occurs will be unusual and possibly groundbreaking.

I have more I’d like to write, but I’m depleted from too much work and not enough sleep, and I’m coming down with a cold, so I’ll stop here and hope it’s enough food for thought for you until next week.

Until then, wishing you much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Aquarius-Leo: The Flow of Love and the Flowering of Human Consciousness, Part II

Stars being born in the Orion Nebula. Composite of images from the Hubble Space Telescope, by C.R. O’Dell of Rice University and NASA/ESA.

The Soul Journey through Aquarius mirrors the unfoldment of human consciousness at this current point of our evolution as we enter the Aquarian Age. Over a period of time, roughly spanning the next 140 years, the whole of humanity will undergo a rite of passage akin to the Soul’s journey through Aquarius. As we shift from unconscious reacting to our external environment (impulsiveness in Aries), we pass through self awareness (in Leo) and eventually become conscious co-creators of our reality, powerful masters of our own energy flow in Aquarius.

How many of us are consciously able to choose a specific emotional energy wavelength – for example, love or appreciation – and then consciously flow that energy for a prolonged period of time without any interruption or distraction? The ability to become a continuous outpouring of love and life without interruption from our “monkey mind” is the hallmark of the fully integrated Aquarian Soul.

There are some key distinctions which will help us to understand the progression from the lower Aquarian vibration to the higher Aquarian octaves. As we collectively journey through the Age of Aquarius, these shifts in consciousness are some of the signposts we may see along the way:

Indifference to Compassion

The urge to be of service to the group can lead the Aquarian personality to adopt an aloof air of indifference, for fear of being subsumed by the needs of others. This indifference becomes transformed into detached compassion and true equanimity in the fully integrated Aquarian Soul as deep empathy and the importance of each individual within the group is recognized.

From Powerlessness to Empowerment

In spite of an urge to serve, the Aquarian personality often feels powerless in the face of all the problems in the world and can often be found in political activist groups, protesting the perceived enemy. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul has built up powerful spiritual energies over many lifetimes, which radiate from him like the Sun, transforming all around him. He combines this with a capacity to direct the flow of this energy wherever it is needed. He knows it is not what he says or does that matters as much as his presence and how he is flowing his energy. This is Christ Consciousness.

From “Us and Them” to We (there is no separation)

The Aquarian personality has a tendency to divide and separate. There is still polarity and a tendency to view the world in categories: this type of thing and/or that type of person, supporting one group over another, or taking sides with one group against another. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul has realized true equanimity – that there is only one humanity, there is no separation, we are all connected, have equal needs, and we all matter. There is no Aquarius versus Leo; it is all one energy, on a continuum.

From Emotional Coolness to Emotional Intelligence
Because of his preoccupation with mental processing, the Aquarian personality can sometimes be emotionally immature, and often presents as a scientist or boffin who is intellectually brilliant yet emotionally insecure, detached and socially inept. In contrast, the fully integrated Aquarian Soul is highly spiritually and emotionally intelligent, utilizing all his senses including empathy, warmth, self-awareness and intuition to discern where and how he may next be of selfless service.

Aquarius is depicted as a man holding an inverted vase.
The man inverts the vase and out of it come two streams of water,
the river of life and the river of love,
and those two words, life and love,
are the two words that embody the technique of the Aquarian age;
not form, not mind, but life and love.
-Alice Bailey1

The fully integrated Aquarian Soul is the World Server: an individual expression of Christ Consciousness in service, pouring forth the dual waters of love and life for thirsty humanity.”2 But before he can reach such spiritual heights, the Aquarian personality has a long way to go, and his journey takes him within, where he discovers the unpredictable terrain of his own heart by accessing the energy of his polar opposite, Leo.

This is a tricky path. Another ego trap for the Aquarian personality (and there are many!) is in believing he is already “there,” already enlightened. Because he quickly grasps concepts mentally, he believes there is nothing more for him to do in terms of his own spiritual journey. He may make the common mistake of thinking he has “got it,” when in fact he has yet to realize the concept within his own experience and integrate it into his physical being.

The powerful energies of love and life that flow through the fully integrated Aquarian Soul have accumulated over many lifetimes spent transforming fear and negative thought patterns, while cultivating life-force energy, unconditional love and compassion. The Buddha used the analogy of untying knots to explain our spiritual process. As we re-trace our steps on our inner journey home, we undo all the knots of our own pain and suffering. This experiential learning is first grasped mentally, synthesized emotionally, then fully integrated physically. We cannot skip over it or bypass this pathway.

Aquarius can’t leap to the end result without having walked the path in Capricorn (although he may want to!). It is interesting that Saturn, the task master and Lord of Karma, is the personality ruler of Capricorn and also the old ruler of Aquarius. No Zodiac sign stands in isolation, and it is important for Aquarius more than any to remember this important point. Each sign unfolds one into the other, and Aquarius needs to remember the important lessons learned in Capricorn if he is to fully flower into Christ Consciousness.

Only by going deep within will Aquarius discover powerful energies within himself, that he has the power to bring under his conscious control:

[In Aquarius] Hercules had to aid in the cleansing of the world by the right direction of the forces of life through it. You appreciate that we are entering into the Aquarian age where materialism, as we know it, will have completely died out at the close
and when the whole life will be interpreted in terms of energies.
We are dealing entirely with forces…
You are dealing with energies and you are mis- using energies.
Watch yourself and begin to work in the world of forces within yourself.”
– Alice Bailey1

There are deeper mysteries hidden in Aquarius that we cannot yet begin to comprehend. Many of these will be revealed to us as we progress through the Age of Aquarius, expanding our perception and inner awareness. In the Labors of Hercules: An Astrological Perspective, Hercules’ eleventh labor is a metaphor for the Soul’s journey through Aquarius.1 After completing his task successfully, not only was his work not recognised, but the King accused Hercules of trickery and refused to pay him! This is an important key to understanding the heightened stage of consciousness and advanced skill that is demonstrated by the Aquarian Soul.

At this level the flow of love and life continues as a steady stream, not for personal reward, payment or recognition (these are concerns of the ego, which would be a distraction from our Soul work). If the flow of love and life was dependent upon praise, which then never came, these vital energies would wane. This is an important point.

This point is illustrated in the story of a Tibetan monk who was imprisoned and tortured for many years by Chinese Soldiers.2. When asked if he was ever afraid, his reply was yes: he was afraid he would lose compassion. He knew that his ability to continue flowing benevolent energy was what mattered most, irrespective of the attitude and behavior of those around him and the external circumstances. It is the same point that Jesus Christ was making when he taught about “turning the other cheek.”

The Sun continues to shine whether we remember to appreciate it or not. The Aquarian Soul is here to be of service to humanity for no other reason but that (in the words of his Leo counterpart) “the show must go on!” If you have Sun, Moon or Rising Sign in Aquarius, you are here to consciously flow your energy into the world in ways that make a positive difference.

You matter, Aquarius. Your energy is truly vital for the good of the whole, but you will never realize this by self-denial and using group activism as an excuse to avoid your inner path. Your own ego is a vital foundation for the flowering of your Soul. Adopt the courage of your opposite number, Leo. Look your own ego squarely in the eye, complete with all your deepest fears, failings, needs, and vulnerabilities, and be prepared to walk your inner path to the very end. This way you will discover your true magnificence: your inner light that is brighter than any Sun, and the beautiful energies of love and life may flow through you continuously without end, for the good of the whole.


Ruth

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Footnotes:

1. The Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Perspective, the wisdom of The Tibetan (Master DK) as channelled through Alice Bailey.
2. Garchen Rinpoche tells his story in the movie The Yogis of Tibet.

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 January 30: Neptune Enters Pisces

Jonah, from Michelangelo's painting on the Sistine Chapel.

In a recent class, we discussed the symbolism of being in the belly of the whale – one of many metaphors to help us understand this week’s shift of Neptune into Pisces.

The most famous example, of course, is the biblical story of Jonah, who tried to escape his destiny by sailing in the opposite direction. He literally was forced to turn around when a huge storm threatened his boat and he was thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a whale, where he spent three days and three nights in meditation before being vomited out unharmed but wholly transformed. The experience set him straight, and thereafter he followed his destiny as a prophet.

Joseph Campbell lists the belly of the whale as a stage in the hero’s journey in which the hero undergoes a symbolic death in order to be spiritually reborn. This stage typically happens near the beginning of the story, as the hero finally accepts that he must leave his familiar, comfortable world to fulfill his higher calling. In some versions of the ancient myth, the whale is a sea monster, sea serpent, or kraken. However, they all contain the common symbol of an underwater terror the hero must face before he can move forward on his spiritual journey. The deep water represents the unconscious – Neptune’s territory.

Many astrologers (myself included) have spoken of a coming leap in human consciousness. With Neptune in Pisces, there is the possibility of a collective descent into the belly of the whale – a scary place, to be sure. An example Campbell sometimes uses to illustrate his point is the scene in the original Star Wars film in which the heroes are trapped in a giant trash compactor. Lurking under the filthy water is a sea monster with tentacles.

As astrologers like to point out, Neptune has two sides. On one hand, it represents a fertile, unlimited imagination the source of which is divine inspiration. On the other, it is illusion and delusion, and on a grand scale. There can even be an overlap of the two – for example, when your imagination runs away with you to the point that you start worrying about huge, scary situations that don’t exist. It’s not hard to see how Neptune in Pisces might bring both sides of Neptune into physical manifestation.

When you think about it, it’s ironic that nowadays we have an entirely different view of whales, which we see as highly evolved beings who may be trying to communicate a message to us. That in itself represents a leap in consciousness. A few months ago, I was talking to a woman here on Vashon who founded a group called Whale Communicators, which is trying to spread the gospel of Granny, a wise old whale with a message for mankind. (Find out more at whalecommunicators.com).

Neptune enters Pisces on Friday and will remain in the sign of the Fishes for 13 years.

Venus, meanwhile, continues her journey through Pisces and opposes Mars on Wednesday. In Pisces, Venus represents higher love and compassion. There’s not enough of either in the world, and certainly not in our daily lives. Make this week count by taking every opportunity to put yourself in others’ shoes. That won’t be easy, with Mars retrograde in nitpicky Virgo. Before you judge, criticize, or condemn, consider what the other person is going through and give him a break. You might even find that you can turn a previously untenable situation around and get a better outcome.

That said, computers everywhere are continuing to act up. I got mine back from the shop late this week, but I had to spend hours reconfiguring my settings for printer, internet connections, and other functions, when I could least afford the extra time. School has been on fast-forward, the past month one big blur – a Neptunian fog, you might say. (To those who have been patiently waiting for reports, my apologies. I’m starting to work through the backlog and ask for your understanding for a bit longer.)

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

Aquarius-Leo: The Flow of Love and the Flowering of Human Consciousness, Part I

Stars being born in the Orion Nebula. Composite of images from the Hubble Space Telescope, by C.R. O'Dell of Rice University and NASA/ESA.

The sign of Aquarius is associated with humanitarianism, science, individuality, uniqueness, technology, the future, and groups. Gather a group of Aquarians together and the one thing that they will all have in common is their desire to be unique — to be different from each other and from everyone else.

Yet, somewhat ironically, the highest octave of Aquarius is group consciousness, and the highest purpose of the integrated Aquarian Soul is that of World Server. The secret to the future of humanity lies hidden deep within the mysteries of Aquarius, but before he can unlock them, Aquarius has to access the heart-centered energy of his opposite sign, Leo. Welcome to the mysterious and complex sign of the water carrier.

Aquarius is often commonly mistaken for a water sign because of its symbolism of the water carrier; the key here is in the word “carrier.” The key to the deeper secrets of Aquarius lies in his ability to be a vessel – a vehicle for the “dual waters” of Love and Life. Does this mean every Aquarian we meet continuously flows love and life? Not quite yet. It is Aquarius’s job to channel these vital life force energies for the good of the whole, to dedicate personal energy for the benefit of the collective. But, before he can do this, he must have a storehouse of spiritual energy and must become a Master at flowing it.

The single flame must light the other forty-nine1

We have tamed the mind in Sagittarius, then cultivated and focused our Soul-Light in Capricorn. As we continue our Soul’s Journey around the Zodiac, the mature Soul is ready to flow a steady stream of love and life in Aquarius. With the possible exception of Pisces, the Aquarian individual just might have the biggest challenge of all. It is as though the further we travel in our Soul Journey around the Zodiac, the bigger the gap between personality and Soul. To cross this great divide, Aquarius needs to have the courage of his opposite sign, Leo, to navigate the unfamiliar and unpredictable terrain of the human heart.

Air signs are all about mastery of the mind, and fixed energy is all about stability. So, as the fixed air sign, Aquarius brings structure and stability not only to our mental processes, but to the whole experience of our heart-mind. Only in the West do we think of heart and mind as separate — as if our mental processes were something distinct and separate from our heart and feelings. The true path of Aquarius depends upon fusion and stability in the use of heart-mind energy. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul knows that the way to flow the energy of love and life is through skilful use of the mind; that mental energy is not meant to be wasted as we currently do in petty conflicts or the pursuit of mental games to amuse the ego, but that our mind is meant to be a focused vehicle for the influx of spiritual energy.

Once mutable air sign Gemini dissolves old, outmoded heart-mind patterns that are no longer working, cardinal air sign Libra restores right relationship between thought and feeling, thus bringing coherent harmony. Then it is the job of fixed air sign Aquarius to stabilize heart-mind patterns, building etheric structures and neural pathways for the transmission of vital energies as we enter the “New Age” of Aquarius.

These are indeed challenging energies to master, and it is why Aquarius has the often unfair reputation of being aloof, emotionally cool, detached and distant, for the first thing the Aquarian personality has to master is the use of mental energy. With his brilliant and innovative laser-like mind combined with the mental dexterity of a brain surgeon, Aquarius has a tendency to divide and separate.

The ability to label all incoming information and place it into categories earns Aquarius the distinction of scientist, and many distinguished medical doctors are born under this sign, because it allows them to marry their humanitarian ideals with a love of science. Unfortunately, it can also make our Aquarian friend the ultimate materialist, reducing the value of everything to that which can be seen, observed, studied, researched, dissected, … and labelled!

One of the ego traps for Aquarius lies in believing his own labels. Such divisions may help us when communicating and learning, but we would be wise to remember they have no basis in reality. Nature has only one season: the eternal NOW. It is the human mind that divides it into spring, summer, autumn and winter, purely for descriptive purposes. Our Aquarian friends would be wise to remember this point.

The urge towards humanitarianism and the tendency to have their attention on group activities can also lead the Aquarian personality to miss the point of their own existence altogether: their own inner journey. The Aquarian personality can fall into the trap of busybody – telling others how they “should” be living their lives, keeping themselves focused on the group agenda, while overruling the needs of the individual and conveniently neglecting to attend to their own backyard, in terms of their personal and spiritual development. Before he can ignite others, Aquarius must first ensure his own flame is burning brightly.

Although Aquarius has a great love of and respect for individuality it is actually in his opposite sign of Leo that he finds the gift of “opportunity through individuality” and finally manages to experience this for himself.1 The Aquarian personality, in his desire to please and remain loyal to his group, may actually keep himself stuck in group conformity. He will access the highest octave of Aquarius (and thus master the powerful spiritual energies that he is here to channel) only when he allows himself to follow his heart, stand alone, and find his true individuality.

The undeveloped Aquarian upon the Mutable Cross manifests through a superficial self-awareness. This matures in Leo and becomes a deep seated self-consciousness and a profound interest in self and its need and wishes. As the interplay goes on between Leo and Aquarius (for they are polar opposites) there comes a deepening of all qualities and the superficialities disappear until – upon the reversed wheel – the intensive self-consciousness of Leo expands into the group awareness of Aquarius.
The individual becomes the universal.2

The group consciousness that is the highest octave of Aquarius is difficult to comprehend from our current level of consciousness. It is not misplaced loyalty to one’s own group or tribe, nor is it being swept along in mob consciousness. Rather, it is a higher perception that comes from inner connection to one’s own Higher Mind.

It is a true realization, firmly rooted in personal experience, that humanity is one being. This dual awareness of one’s own individuality, while at the same time being attuned to the larger group awareness of humanity, is the highest octave of Aquarius. The humanitarianism of Aquarius refers to a higher state of awareness not as an idealized philosophy but as a realization of spiritual truth rooted in personal experience.

Esoteric Astrology concerns itself primarily with the unfoldment of consciousness2
– Alice Bailey

At this level, specific attributes of Higher Mind begin to unfold: clairvoyance, clairaudience, omniscience and telepathy. It is a higher vibration, a higher frequency, than we can currently comprehend from this stage of our evolution. In Esoteric Astrology, Alice Bailey outlines six stages of consciousness:

Aries: subjective latent consciousness
Gemini: the consciousness of duality
Cancer: mass consciousness
Leo: individual self-consciousness
Libra: equilibrised consciousness, and
Aquarius: group consciousness2

When we see mass riots and mob consciousness, that is clearly the influence of mass consciousness in Cancer. There is a clear distinction between this and the group consciousness that we are talking about in Aquarius. There is still an “us and them” mentality in Cancer, whereas in Aquarius, all polarity has resolved, leaving only “us” as one humanity. The individual has broken away from the herd in Leo, cultivated equanimity for all living things in Libra, and (as a fully realized individual) becomes aware of his group mind in Aquarius. The fully integrated Aquarian Soul is no longer personality-driven, yet still has an individual spiritual identity that has integrated Christ Consciousness and is ready to be of service. The personality is now in full service to the Soul.


Ruth

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Footnotes:

1. The Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Perspective, the wisdom of The Tibetan (Master DK) as channelled through Alice Bailey.
2. Esoteric Astrology, the wisdom of The Tibetan (Master DK) as channelled through Alice Bailey.

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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 January 23: New Moon in Aquarius, Mars Retrograde

New Moon in Aquarius

© Dan Collier for Dreamstime.com

Pip said it all in her comment on last week’s post. Just about everyone I know started having major computer problems a couple of days ago — myself included.

The Internet connectivity on my computer stopped working at 1 a.m. Saturday. After nearly six hours on the phone with tech support reps in various parts of the world, I took it into a local repair shop, where it remains in a long queue. Why was I not surprised upon hearing that several other people had brought their computers in earlier on the same day? Fortunately, I have a backup, but it’s a poor old lemon that is tortured by the increasing demands for speed and memory of Internet use. I’m trying to be as nice to it as I can so that it will live until I get my regular machine back.

So there you have the essence of Mars stationing to go retrograde in Virgo. Circumstances should improve somewhat once he gets moving again, even in reverse. It beats being stopped entirely.

That said, there are several unknowns in this scenario. Uranus, which also is associated with electronics, Internet, and so forth, is currently in Aries, the sign ruled by Mars. In our lifetime, we haven’t experienced this pairing, and so we don’t know how they behave. Theoretically, they are two bad boys out to see what kind of mischief they can make. They’ll get a third gang member when Mercury enters Aquarius on Friday and contacts Uranus by sextile on Saturday. Uranus is said to be a higher octave of Mercury, so these two have a natural affinity, and together with Mars, they will make up an energy triangle. For those into the mechanics: Mercury in Aquarius deposits to Uranus, ruler of Aquarius; Uranus in Aries deposits to Mars, ruler of Arie; and Mars in Virgo deposits to Mercury, ruler of Virgo.

That’s the bad news. There’s also plenty of good news this week, so let’s turn to that now.

Chart for New Moon in Aquarius

Click on image to enlarge

Monday starts right off with the New Moon in forward-looking Aquarius, in a close sextile with Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius. Of course, he’s in Mars, and we just discussed the possible implications. Still, I’m optimistic. Although unexpected events are likely, I think they will be mostly positive, given that the sextile is a positive angle and quite dynamic.

The New Moon also makes a close contact with Jupiter, and while the angle is a square, normally indicating conflict, the Moon and Jupiter are compatible energies. “Conflict” is relative, and in this case it could simply mean a moral dilemma between your New Year’s resolution to lose weight and the double fudge caramel sundae staring at you from the special dessert menu. Or, you may find yourself feeling overly generous and making a promise you can’t keep. Mercury squares Jupiter on Saturday, which also can be a positive. The downside is that you may overlook important details, especially with Mars retrograde. If you have an important project on Saturday, plan ahead carefully, and have someone you trust go over your work. Also, make a mental note to be open to the ideas of others. Aquarius and Taurus are both fixed signs, given to stubbornness.

Two additional reasons for optimism are that this New Moon chart has a couple of hidden fairies. Ceres may function here as a sort of fairy godmother, in that Ceres and Uranus are in perfect conjunction. At his worst, Uranus stirs the pot and conjures up chaos, but there’s usually a reason for it, and that reason has to with changing what’s broken and not working. At his best, Uranus is the Magician and Awakener. Ceres, meanwhile, is the wise earth mother, dedicated to the health and well-being of life on the planet. It will be interesting to watch the news headlines for environmental developments this week.

Ceres also has a natural association with Virgo, so in a way, she may be a temporary “chaperone” for Uranus and company. That said, they might also do her service by shaking up humanity’s planetary life-support system. You might say that the human race has a dysfunctional relationship with its mother, and something needs to change radically to restore the balance.

The second fairy is Venus, who in Pisces is the Fairy Queen. Although Uranus and Mars are the tough guys in the leading roles, they are inextricably linked to the planet of love and desire, in the sign of compassion and the collective unconscious. Venus is said to be exalted in Pisces, where her love and desire nature are at their highest. It is a state of grace.

The final word is that whatever happens this week, no matter how strange, unexpected, or upsetting, try to understand how it fits into an intricate whole. How do these new and surprising developments carry you forward toward fulfilling your life’s highest purpose?

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

Weekly Forecast January 16: Sun Enters Aquarius

January snow. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

The Sun is the star of this week’s astrology show, entering a new sign and making several significant planetary aspects from Thursday onward.

This also is the last week of the entire year during which all of the planets are direct! As the old saying goes, make hay while the sun shines. Truly, this is a rare window of opportunity.

Personally, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon over the past few weeks. Thoughts are manifesting very fast. I have an image in my mind, and before I know it, it’s reality. These are not things I’ve intentionally imagined – in other words, I’m not imagining sitting in a bathtub full of hundred-dollar bills, and suddenly there I am. The one consistent factor is that the thoughts that manifested had considerable concentration and emotion behind them. For example …

On Wednesday I was in my morning acting class, when I suddenly noticed that the instructor was wearing a ring that looked like the one I lost four months ago. The ring was one of a kind, handmade with a turquoise stone set in silver. I’d found it in a junk shop and was very attached to it. During my first week of classes, I lost it – likely after taking it off to wash my hands. I checked the lost-and-found departments in every location where I might have left it. Nothing.

The day after Thanksgiving, I was in a friend’s gift shop and found a new ring, silver with an odd-shaped green tourmaline stone. What happened while I was buying it is another whole story of a miraculous manifestation, but I’ll leave that for another time.

I was wearing the tourmaline ring in class on Wednesday when I noticed the turquoise ring on the instructor’s hand. I thought perhaps she’d found it, turned it in, and when no one claimed it, was allowed to keep it. For the rest of the class, I couldn’t concentrate on our exercises, because I was obsessed with trying to get a better look at her ring. She kept putting her hands in her pockets and otherwise covering it up. I never did manage to see it up close and figured I was crazy to think it was the one I’d lost.

We had a lunch break of about an hour, then an afternoon writing class. I made a quick run to the restroom, and when I went to wash my hands, realized my tourmaline ring was gone! Since losing the first ring, I’ve been so mindful. Obviously, I’d had a lapse in that mindfulness. I asked the instructor if I could run over to the other building to check the restroom. The ring wasn’t there. I almost started crying. There was open office upstairs, so I asked the receptionist where I could find the lost-and-found department. She asked if I was looking for a ring. I was elated! But it had been taken to another room. When I got there, it was locked. I knocked loudly. The security guard who answered was crabby but she had my ring and couldn’t help smiling when she saw how sincerely grateful I was.

Some would say that the obvious lesson in this experience is that I should keep my ring on while washing my hands. However, I got quite a different message – especially given other similar events in the past few weeks. During class, I was intently focused on a lost ring. In less than an hour, that’s exactly what I had! Fortunately, it came back to me right away.

The second message I got right away was that if our thoughts are manifesting this quickly and perfectly right now, it might be a good idea during this all-planets-direct period to focus on what we really want and not waste a single second worrying about disasters that may or may not happen. Of course, you could say that this is reasonable statement in general, and you might be right. But that’s missing the point, which is that we have one more week to perform “magic.”

Several years ago, in an article about the Calendar of Coligny, I read a theory that the druids made special notations during periods when all the planets were direct. It’s not hard to imagine why they may have wanted this information.

Back to this week …

The Sun moves through the final degrees of Capricorn and squares Saturn on Thursday. Typically, this is an uncomfortable combination, and some of us are bound to have some run-ins with authority or clashes over who controls what. Nevertheless, with all planets direct, Saturn exalted in Libra, and the Sun in Saturn’s sign of Capricorn, what gets enforced could be fairness and balance. We may not like the rules, but can we honestly say that if there weren’t any, we’d always do right by others? Our own biases often prevent us from seeing that other people have the right to pursue goals that directly conflict with our own.

On Friday, the Sun enters Aquarius, the sign that bucks convention and thumbs its nose at the rules. On Saturday, the Sun forms a dynamic sextile with Uranus, modern ruler of Aquarius. This is an exciting combination, filled with promise of something new and different, out of the blue. If nothing else, be prepared for your Saturday night plans to change on a whim. On Sunday morning (late Saturday on the West Coast of the United States), the Sun squares Jupiter. Squares typically are troublesome, and the problem with this particular combination is that it denotes a certain amount of stubbornness and self-righteousness. However, there are some positives in this square – namely, that you can get a lot accomplished. I happen to like it for manifestation work.

Meanwhile, Venus and Pluto have a hot date on Friday. Your date could be hot, too, so if that’s not what you want, make sure you have an escape route planned. Otherwise, surrender to the moment.

Next week starts right out with the New Moon in Aquarius and Mars turning retrograde. Again, I can’t urge you enough to focus this week on the most difficult tasks on your plate. Taking care of business now will save you a lot of heartache later.

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

Weekly Forecast January 9: Full Moon in Cancer, Venus Enters Pisces

Venus in Pisces: dancer Anabel Veloso in a promotional photo for the 2009 Deje Flamenco production Nacidos del Mar. More info below.

We’re in an enchanted period in which all the planets are direct. It doesn’t happen very often and it won’t last, so make it your mission this week to move full-speed ahead toward what you most want in life.

I’m not saying that what you want is going to fall out of the sky into your lap, just because the planets are aligned. A good metaphor is having a strong tailwind on a long and perilous journey. We can cover a lot of ground in a short time, with minimal complications. Even if you have a serious affliction in your chart right now – for example, if Saturn is conjunct your natal Pluto – you will be surprised by how little resistance you meet.

Chances are, something important happened for you around the New Moon on Christmas Eve. Whatever it was, the Full Moon on Monday will bring resolution. Again, this doesn’t mean that everything is going to work out exactly as you want … or, to be more precise, the way you have been visualizing. A new element has been introduced into the situation, possibly a game-changer.

What does appear to be happening for my clients and just about everyone I know is that circumstances in their lives are linked to something that was going on in the summer of 2010, during the height of the cardinal T-square. The New Moon on Christmas Eve revisited critical degrees of that configuration. The difference now is Saturn and Jupiter no longer are squaring Pluto. Indeed, Jupiter is in a favorable sextile and will remain so for the rest of the winter season (summer for our friends Down Under). That’s another reason I’m so keen on these next couple of weeks.

The Full Moon also makes a favorable angle to Mars in Virgo. Mars is slowing down in preparation for turning retrograde on January 23. The closer we get to that date, the harder it’s going to be move forward with plans and projects, so it’s even more important that you not waste any time this week doing what needs to be done. A little effort will go a long way.

Chart for Full Moon in Cancer

Click on image to enlarge

Events related to the Full Moon continue to unfold throughout the week. On Thursday, the Sun forms an exact trine with Mars. This is not an impulsive combination, but a signal to make detailed plans in an organization manner. Once you do that, following through with action will be much easier. It’s sort of like writing a term paper. If you just start writing with no idea where you want to go, you end up with an overwhelming mess. However, if you make an outline and start filling in the details, the process is much easier and more effective.

The following day is Friday the 13th, which is not to be feared but celebrated. Far from being unlucky, 13 is a special number. Among other things, it’s the number of cycles in a lunar year. Friday is named for Freya, the Norse equivalent of Venus. As it turns out, planet Venus is busy on her day, making contacts with Saturn and Neptune before entering mystic Pisces, the sign of her exaltation – anything but unlucky!

The Venus-Saturn trine is perfect for making and renewing commitments, be they to another person, a career choice, lifelong goal, or a commitment to do something for yourself. Later in the day, Venus conjoins Neptune. Astrologers normally caution with this pair that we can lose a grip on reality. However, with Saturn in the picture, I think it’s far less likely. To the contrary, whatever commitments we enter into, we should be able to enter with eyes wide open. The conjunction with Neptune is the last aspect Venus makes before gliding into Neptune-ruled Pisces. This is Venus at her best, highest love. Compassion and understanding take the place of selfish needs and demands.

Once she’s in Pisces, the first contact Venus makes is a sextile with Jupiter in Taurus, the sign she rules. Love with no strings attached can move mountains.

In addition to all the activity centered on Venus, Mercury forms a conjunction with Pluto on Friday. Deep insights come to the surface. In world affairs, look for headlines about skeletons in the closet of government leaders and powerful corporations. Or maybe the remains of a body under the deep, blue sea …

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

P.S. If, like me, you’re curious about how this incredible photo of Anabel Veloso was shot, watch this video on YouTube.

Weekly Forecast January 2: Mercury Enters Capricorn

Astrologically speaking, this is a quiet week – perfect for easing back into your daily routine, be it work, school, or life in general. Still, something seems to have changed, perhaps due to a collective expectation that, somehow, 2012 is different.

It’s true that the past two years have been exceptional, and the astrological configuration that corresponded to dramatic events in 2010 and 2011 has dissolved. I’m talking about the cardinal T-square, of course, which reached its peak in July and August of 2010 and then repeated on and off through last spring. Many of us completely changed direction in our lives, and we’re still rocking in the wake of these events passing through.

Top news stories of 2011 ranged from toppled governments in the Middle East and a record earthquake that caused a nuclear meltdown, to courtroom drama, a gala royal wedding, and death of an entrepreneurial icon – all while unemployment scaled new heights and a popular protest movement was born. The unifying factor in all of these events was that everything that happened, happened big. It was not a year of incremental steps toward change, but wholesale revolution.

In looking forward to 2012, it’s helpful to examine two time periods in recent history with similar planetary alignments. First, there was a cardinal build-up in the early 1930s, the beginning of the Great Depression. The configuration began dissipating in 1932, but just like our current planetary alignment, one aspect of the T-square remained: the square between Uranus and Pluto.

The second period is the turbulent mid-60s, when Uranus and Pluto and were conjunct in Virgo. Although the conjunction was exact in 1965 and 1966, it wasn’t until 1968 that the revolution changed civilization as we know it. No aspect of society was untouched. The square that that occurs from 2012-2015 is the first major milestone and test of that conjunction.

Uranus is the planet of rebellion and sudden change, and in the impulsive sign of Aries, you can expect a lot of fire bombs being thrown by individuals fighting for freedom. Conversely, Pluto is the planet of ultimate power and control. In Capricorn, he represents the ruthless power of the empire – the Darth Vader of the zodiac. You don’t need to be an astrologer to do the math. The harder the protesters fight, the greater the backlash will be. And we haven’t even experienced the peak of the Uranus-Pluto square yet. That will start this year, on June 24, and continue through 2015.

Two other major astrological events occur in 2012, both of which we’ve already had a taste. First, Neptune re-enters Pisces after briefly dipping his foot in his own sign for a few months in 2011. Then he turned retrograde and went back into Aquarius. Once Neptune enters Pisces on February 3, he’ll remain there through 2026. If you’d like to know, I highly recommend an article in the current issue of The Mountain Astrologer. You can order a single copy for $7.

The second defining astrological event of 2012 is the Venus transit on June 5, the day after a lunar eclipse. I’ll write a lot more on this subject as the date approaches. Both Neptune in Pisces and the Venus transit hold the promise of a vibrational shift in human consciousness.

Not coincidentally, the biggest story for astrology in 2011 was the “revelation” of a 13th sign. I wrote a long piece about it for TMA, which is in the same edition with the article on Neptune in Pisces (so it’s a great buy). Although the story that flew around the world via social networks turned out to be flat-out wrong, there is strong symbolism in the collective desire to change the cosmic order. Our ancient ancestors saw sea changes in civilization as a clash between the gods themselves. Just as the old gods overthrew cosmic forces – bringing order out of chaos – their children challenged them. Now they, too, have become corrupt and rotten, and the next generation has sounded the cry for revolution.

As for this week, there are no major planetary aspects until Saturday, when Mercury in the final degrees of Sagittarius sextiles Saturn and Neptune. Now, this could end up producing a revolution of sorts, in that Mercury will be just past conjunction with the Galactic Center. We know little about this mysterious point in space, except that there appears to be a black hole there, and it emits powerful radio waves. Pay attention to unusual thoughts on Friday and Saturday. They may contain flashes of genius. Changing your thoughts can change your whole life.

On Sunday (late Saturday on the West Coast of the United States), Mercury enters studious Capricorn and makes contacts with Jupiter and Uranus, briefly reminding us of the changes we have been making and the work we have yet to do. The following day, January 9, is the Full Moon in Cancer. So for the rest of this week, we’re still processing the energy of the New Moon on Christmas Eve as we approach culmination and resolution. Good things are coming in, but you may have to change your perspective to see them as blessings.

Wishing you all much love, joy, and prosperity in 2012,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. I return to classes this week, so please keep in mind when you order reports and forecasts that it may take me 4-7 days to complete your order. Thank you for your patience and understanding.