Author Archives: Pat

About Pat

Co-Founder and Chief Visionary of RealAstrologers

Weekly Forecast April 8: New Moon in Aries, Pluto Retrograde

Budding. © Pat Paquette, 2013.

Back in the mid-90s, a friend of mine was becoming an aunt for the second time at the birth of her brother’s baby. An image is ingrained in my memory of the baby lying on the countertop in my friend’s kitchen.

It’s a strange image. On one hand, I cringe when I think about the baby lying so open and vulnerable, not wrapped in a blanket, not being held, more or less “on display” for the entertainment of others. On the other hand, it was eerily fascinating to watch the baby’s slow movements, to be in an empathic link with a being suddenly transported from one environment to a completely different one, like an alien suddenly forced to breathe air instead of water and to feel physical sensations so confusing that its little heart might race in fear and panic and give out before it had scarcely drawn its first breath.

There is a certain violence in being born, and once it’s over, it takes a while to recuperate and adjust to the new reality. Many of us have been going through a slow and painful transformation, not unlike physical birth. It’s painful, violent, scary and, at times, confusing. I sometimes wonder whether lack of immediate conscious awareness is a built-in survival mechanism in human babies.

Being able to sleep temporarily while we transform certainly is a merciful gift. Otherwise, the pain can be unbearable. The “sleep” part happened in February and March with the build-up of planets in Pisces. That’s over now, and it’s time to wake up. Even with the current planetary lineup in action-oriented Aries, you may need additional time to stretch and adjust – not easy, because events do seem to be happening at an accelerated pace, and not all of them are positive. At the same time, you may still be feeling raw, open, vulnerable, and not very fast on your feet. Of course, it depends on the quality of your experience, and how events are manifesting for you depends on where the planets are transiting your natal chart.*

This week’s New Moon in Aries is almost like the “real” equinox. The first day of spring (apologies to my readers south of the equator) is a powerful symbol of rebirth, but then right away, we had a Full Moon in Libra, which is more about endings. At this week’s New Moon, we have the Sun, Moon, and three planets in Aries. Mercury is still finishing up his tour through sleepy Pisces, but he enters Aries this Saturday. If you’ve experienced difficulty focusing, you should get some relief soon.

Click on image to enlarge

The New Moon is on Wednesday, in close conjunction with Mars and fairly close to Venus. The so-called “love planets” conjoined early this morning (Sunday) and remain in alignment throughout this week. The Sun and Moon, Mars and Venus all so close to each other is a signature for soul mates. If you’ve just met someone or are in a budding relationship, pay very close attention to what happens this week. Likewise, if you’re in a relationship that you know isn’t right for you, do your best to suspend judgment and just observe. Watch for synchronicities, and listen to your intuition.

The big undercurrent to this New Moon is the approaching square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. The aspect isn’t exact until May 25, but it is making itself felt, especially in world events, which may take an even darker turn with Pluto’s station retrograde on Friday. Planets are especially powerful when they are stationed. Pluto is named for the Roman god of the underworld, a shadowy figure that reminds us all of our shadow side.

Pluto and Saturn remain in a fairly close sextile and in mutual reception, a marker for fast destruction of what isn’t working. At the New Moon, Uranus is in a near-exact inconjunct (technically called a quincunx) with Saturn, so this puts Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn all in an edgy relationship that suggests rebellion and counter-rebellion, ineffectual efforts to bring necessary change by conventional means, and general chaos. There is no way to preserve the system we have, and that probably applies to your personal life as well. Hanging onto the familiar and comfortable is getting more and more impossible.

After this New Moon, we’ll be heading into a long eclipse period, starting with a Full Moon lunar eclipse on April 25 and ending with another lunar eclipse on May 25. Between the two, on May 9, is a solar eclipse in Taurus. You may not feel “ready” to head into more turbulence – I know I don’t – but we’re going to have to do the best we can. Aries has a reputation for being independent and somewhat selfish, but the Ram is also fearless. We’re not going to have the luxury of long, careful thought in order to avoid mistakes, but will have to jump into the unknown and “just do it.”

Wishing you all infinite love and courage,
Pat

* It’s not to late to order your StarGuide Spring forecast. If you order right away, I should be able to get it to you before Wednesday. In each report, I give you some ideas about how the New and Full Moon might manifest for you personally.

Aries Rising: The Aries Soul

Aries. From the Empowered Feminine Zodiac series by Karen MacKenzie. © 2012.

If you’ve been enjoying Ruth’s articles on Esoteric Astrology, you may have been sad that her series on soul rulers ended with Pisces last month. Well, you’ll be delighted to know that she’s back with a new series, on the Rising signs – starting with (what else?) Rising Aries. I always learn so much from her articles and know that you will, too. ~pq

On March 20, the Sun entered Aries, marking the beginning of a new zodiac year. In many traditions this also marks the first day of spring (or autumn in the southern hemisphere). It is a time of new beginnings, new growth: a time of creation. What better time to begin a new series exploring the contrasts between the personality and soul expressions of each sign, beginning with the inspirational, innovative and impulsive sign of Aries?

Your soul is indicated by your Rising sign (Ascendant). This is the sign that was rising on the horizon at the time of your birth and, as such, is considered by soul-centered astrologers* to be the most important sign in astrology, precisely because it indicates your soul’s path, purpose and expression. If you have Aries Rising, you could say that you are an “Aries Soul.” Simply put, if you have Aries Rising, you are here to express the highest spiritual purpose of Aries, to the degree that you can, in this lifetime.

[callout]The soul is the reality lying behind the persona, the mask of the soul. It is the soul or higher self that comes first, as does the Rising sign. The Rising sign, the soul and the soul’s purpose are therefore one and the same. ~ Errol Weiner, Transpersonal Astrology[/callout]

Whether you will experience and actualize the full spiritual potential of your Ascendant or not depends upon your level of consciousness. If you are spiritually asleep, you will naturally experience the qualities of your Ascendant as an inherent part of your personality. As you awaken to your spiritual purpose, you will feel a quickening, experiencing the subtle stirrings of your soul’s calling, through your Ascendant. The Ascendant bridges the worlds between sleep and awakening.

[callout]This physical awakening experience is directly related to the fact that the Rising sign is the central factor connected to spiritual awakening. We incarnate into a new life, we awake each morning into a new life; and we are born again into a new life when we awake to spiritual purpose in our lives. ~ Errol Weiner, Transpersonal Astrology[/callout]

If we think of the octaves of the musical scale, we can get an idea about the lower and higher vibrations of each sign. The lower octaves are fear-based and come from externaly imposed ideas about how we ought to be, while the higher octaves are love-based and arise purely from within our own heart. This is an important key, not only to understanding the lower and higher expressions of each sign, but for knowing how to shift from lower to higher expressions. The shift is from fear to love, but this is meaningless until we experience the shift in perspective that comes from navigating the octaves on the spiritual spectrum. When you come from a place of love within, you will naturally express the highest octaves of your soul sign.

Each soul sign is here to learn and develop in specific ways, in this lifetime. We are here to grow into what we may become: our full potential as a spiritual being. Just as an infant who is learning to speak isn’t learning a lesson as such, but is rather unfolding his natural potential, so it is the same with our soul work. Likewise our soul work shows up naturally, as major themes throughout our lives, calling us to awaken, live, and rise to the highest octaves of our soul sign.

The Rising sign is the powerhouse – the central electromagnetic centre of one’s life (chart) and this energy begins to be released when one awakens. ~ Errol Weiner, Transpersonal Astrology

At soul level, Aries is a sign of higher mind and plays a vital role in the development of the antakharana, or “Rainbow Bridge” between higher and lower mind. This is why Aries is associated with the brow, forehead, and eyes, and is symbolized by the horns of the Ram. It is commonly believed that the eyes are the windows of the soul, and it is through the eyes that we can glimpse higher mind, or soul. This is why Aries is also highly intuitive, and the type of intuition associated with Aries is that of direct knowing. Once one can attune to the subtle spiritual energy at soul level, wisdom reveals itself fully and completely without having to go through the lower mental process of thought, which is relatively slow. So this Arian type of intuition is an immediate direct knowing that is beyond thought.

To be aware of knowledge at this level, one must cultivate awareness, through direct perception of the full spectrum of energy, from the grossest energetic movement to the finest spiritual subtle ripples. Yet at personality level Aries can be anything but subtle and may even develop a reputation for being direct to the point of bluntness, self-absorption, and oblivion to the needs of those around them. In fact, this is all normal and is part and parcel of what Aries is learning at this stage of soul development.

As the first sign of the zodiac Aries is, in many ways, the “baby” of the zodiac. There can be an innocence and naïveté around Aries, with an expectation that life events should just be easy and somehow simpler than they often turn out to be in practice. It’s as if they have no experience of life which, in a sense, is true at soul level. In Esoteric Astrology, the Tibetan describes the soul in Aries as a “point of light in the mind of God,” and this simple phrase can tell us much about the soul experience in Aries. Remember Aries is a sign of the mind, so Aries comes filled with excitement, ideas, inspiration, and enthusiasm for the journey. The whole blueprint for the journey ahead is mapped out in his (or her) mind, and Aries brings the drive and the impetus to get started. It’s like that stage of a vacation or trip where you know where you are going and why, and the day has finally arrived. The time is now! You are full of enthusiasm, brimming over with excitement, and you take your first eager steps down the road.

That is the energy of Aries. Nothing has happened yet to dampen your enthusiasm. You haven’t hit any obstacles or glitches, and because you can’t even foresee that there could possibly be any, you haven’t planned or prepared for them. Because you have never walked this path before, you can’t possibly imagine what could happen, which also means you have very few coping skills. Arians are great people to have around at the beginning of a project, because their innate inspiration and childlike enthusiasm can really put a light under the fire, ignite the project and get it started. But if you leave Aries managing the dull, day-to-day problems that will inevitably arise, you will soon see his feathers droop and his light go out, like an eagle caught in a rainstorm pathetically sitting dripping in a tree waiting to dry out before he can majestically soar again.

Often Aries has the initial idea or impulse and lacks the next step. He can also be childlike in his expectation that his ideas should just instantly manifest into reality, with no further effort on his part. It’s as though the idea of cake should be enough in itself. “I just thought of it, so where’s my cake?” Like a small child he seems oblivious to the reality of what resources, skill and effort may be required to create cake. Associated with this is Aries’ tendency to just put out ideas and expect others to pick up the ball. There is an important balance needed whereby Aries tends to his own creative projects (the “seeds” of his inspiration) long enough for them to manifest and become established, before he hands them over too quickly to others. This way Aries learns to add skill to his amazing vision.

Aries is a sign of vision, courage, boldness, leadership and drive. Imagine the military commander who can see a way forward through the forest. He isn’t personally going to cut down the trees! He’ll order someone else to do that because he is keeping his eye on the horizon, on the vision, and his concern is on driving through, pushing ahead, reaching that goal. Also, in his narrow focus, he may have given little thought with regard to the wider implications of cutting down trees and what that could mean in the long term. So we can see that Aries can also sometimes have a tendency towards blinkered vision: being preoccupied with only his own immediate issues and not considering the wider implications of his actions on others and his environment.

Aries is not a loner, he is a leader, and a leader needs someone to lead. That is why Aries is the sign of the Ram. A Ram needs a flock, and wherever Aries goes, people follow. Because of his innate intuition and inspired and inspiring vision, people are naturally drawn to Aries. His confidence and vision are magnetic, and people naturally want to follow. So this brings Aries a vital lesson in responsibility. As much as he would like to be a free individual, Aries is part of the flock, and wherever he goes others follow. So he needs to carefully review his motives, raise his sights, and ensure that he is leading his flock onto the highest path and not the lowest.

When Aries awakens spiritually and listens to his highest calling, he is an inspiring spiritual leader, guiding others with his altruistic vision towards the highest goals of all: self-realization, spiritual awakening and enlightenment. If he is sleeping (in a spiritual sense) he may be mis-leading people, taking actions and decisions that are either selfish impulses from his own ego, or simply leading others from ignorance, through being too caught up in a materially-driven, selfish and destructive society.

The soul work of Aries, which show up as major themes throughout life, may relate to these areas:

• Cultivating self-awareness: awareness of both your own energy field and the effects and impact of your energy and actions on those around you. This will also awaken awareness of your spiritual energy.
• Taming your mind: evaluating the billions of ideas that pass through your mind and learning to exercise judgment about which ones to pursue.
• Focus, effort and tenacity: sticking with your creative projects and ideas long enough to birth them into reality, and applying the necessary personal effort to make it happen.
• Expand your mind. Look deep within to see where your own worldview may be limited, and limiting you. You are on a fantastic journey from lower to higher mind!
• Through meditation, become familiar with the Rainbow Bridge from lower to higher mind, so you can distinguish between an “impulse to act” that arises from lower mind, and one arising from higher, Divine Mind.
[callout]The Ascendant is directly concerned with the purpose and the plan, and the more one is prepared to attune to and co-operate with the higher self the more one can unfold and manifest the energies of the Rising sign and thus fulfil one’s purpose. ~ Errol Weiner, Transpersonal Astrology[/callout]
If you have Aries Rising, you are here to ignite and inspire others with an infusion of Divine ideas, sacred fire, and spiritual energy so they may realize their own spiritual potential. Before you can do this, you must cultivate self-awareness and realize your spiritual potential, so you can skillfully navigate the full spectrum of the Rainbow Bridge at will: accessing the highest realms of consciousness that are currently humanly possible, and living your life as the true spiritual “Rainbow Warrior” that you are.

Ruth

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Footnote
* For a deeper exploration of the importance of the Ascendant in spiritual awakening, see Shapter 6, “The Rising Sign and Its Deeper Significance,” in Transpersonal Astrology, by Errol Weiner.

[hr_small]

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 first in the Empowered Feminine Zodiac series by Seattle artist Karen MacKenzie, features Aries as a warrior of peace as new life bursts forth in Spring. 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 April 1: Venus Conjunct Mars in Aries

Mars Jumps Venus, by Hendrik de Clerck. Methinks ol’ Hendrik did use a male model for Venus. Not even Serena Williams has biceps like that.

This week is about sex, sex, and more sex, and it will be fast and hot, with Venus and Mars in conjunctio in the fire sign of Aries.

Venus and Mars are fresh from encounters with the Sun and Uranus, the latter being particularly kinky. Aries is, after all, the sign of the ram, and it rules the head.

The tension builds toward a climax overnight Saturday, so we can expect a lot of hot dates this coming weekend – especially in Weare, New Hampshire, where the conjunction will be exactly opposite the Midheaven. With Venus and Mars in fast, impulsive Aries, most encounters are likely to be one-night stands. Unfortunately, Aries has a reputation for not finishing what he starts – all the more likely, since there will be a lot of alcohol involved, thanks to the Moon’s conjunction with Neptune in Pisces a few hours earlier. Pisces is legendary for its capacity for imbibing. Where do you think the phrase “drinks like a fish” came from?

Fortunately, Venus in Aries is self-sufficient and knows how to take care of herself.

That’s really the only aspect of any consequence this week. Otherwise, we have a sextile between the Sun in Aries and Jupiter in Gemini on Monday. A sextile is an easy going aspect with no strings attached. In classical mythology, the Roman Jupiter and his Greek counterpart, Zeus, were incorrigible philanderers. Gemini is fickle, as we might expect from the sign of duality. I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly reminded of a campaign joke that was going around when Nixon ran for re-election. For the benefit of those who weren’t born yet, it went, “Don’t change dicks in the middle of a screw, vote for Nixon in ’72.”

The best jokes have a kernel of truth. People were feeling screwed back then, and nothing much has changed, except perhaps that with Pluto in Capricorn, the screw is bigger and harder – sort of like an S&M date gone bad. Meanwhile, North Korea is about to jump South Korea, and everyone has their missiles out of their pants, waving them in the air. Although nuclear weapons and alcohol generally aren’t a good mix, maybe too much alcohol wouldn’t be a bad thing in this case. To quote a famous line from Shakespeare, “It provokes the desire but it takes away the performance.”

Happy April Fool’s Day … sort of.

Wishing you all much love and courage in the coming week (which, while not necessarily all about sex, promises to be another wild and crazy ride).
Pat

Weekly Forecast March 25: Full Moon in Libra

Swinging Bridge near Oark, Arkansas. © Gretchen Friedrich, 2013.

Swinging Bridge near Oark, Ark. © Gretchen Friedrich, 2013.

We’re heading into a wild and crazy week, with an active Full Moon that triggers volatile planetary energies set in motion in the summer of 2010.

You remember that one, right? The infamous cardinal T-square that marked new directions and the start of turbulent journeys for so many of us, myself included. Now, before you get your panties in a twist, let me say right off that I don’t think we’re going to have a repeat of those events. In fact, I think there’s a good possibility that we might make rapid advances that seemed far away and nearly impossible back then – the operative word being rapid.

It’s the old “feast or famine” metaphor. Events may occur that aren’t crises in themselves, but when piled together, are more than we can deal with, or at least, deal with and stay sane. My best advice is to take a lot of deep breaths and keep going. It’s OK to be afraid. Just don’t let fear stop you.

I should also say that there’s a good possibility the most noticeable manifestations of this Full Moon will be on a collective level rather than an individual level. We’re already seeing some of it. Ray Merriman has a great column this week talking about global finances and the crisis in Cyprus. As he points out, these developments most certainly correlate to the cardinal T-square and, more precisely, to the square between Uranus and Pluto, which will continue for another three years.

Individually, it’s more likely that you’ll experience a sudden jump in activity related to the houses where the Full Moon is located in your chart. If you don’t know how you read your own chart, I spell out possible scenarios for you in my StarGuide monthly and seasonal forecasts. If you order right away (like now), there is a chance I might be able to get your report to you by Wednesday. As usual, I have a backlog of 2-3 days, so please keep that in mind. I do each of these reports by hand and have to cast transit charts for you for each New and Full Moon.

Click on image to enlarge

Speaking of which, let’s have a look. As you can see, the Sun and Venus are in conjunction by exact degree opposite the Moon, with Mars and Uranus only a few degrees away. All five bodies are in a square with Pluto – Mars by exact degree. I’d plan to be hiding under my bed if it weren’t for the sextiles and trines (the blues lines) providing outlets for the this highly charged energy. Imagine, if you will, a raging torrent hurdling through a canyon, about to slam into a dam. With no outlet, the force of all that water hitting the dam would smash it to bits. But what if, right before the dam, there are a bunch of little canyons leading off in various directions? And what if some of those pathways led to areas much in need of water? Further, what if you had a boat just sitting there on dry ground, waiting for the water to rise so that you could sail out to sea? I think you get my drift…

The only scary part is that we don’t have a lot of control here but can only go with the flow and hope that the work we’ve done over the past three years has put us in a position to benefit from this powerful energy surge. That said, even though we’re in the wake of the Full Moon already, I think there’s still time to get your boat in working order and point it in the right direction, if it isn’t already.

I don’t know that it would be all that helpful to discuss individual aspects in this chart, since there are so many of them and they are all interdependent. The important points are that Uranus and Pluto signify revolution and breakdown, and events around this Full Moon could feed into that process. The outlets feed into Saturn, Mercury, and Jupiter. Saturn is about structure, discipline, and commitment, essential ingredients for advancing our goals. Mercury in Pisces represents thinking intuitively and tapping into buried memories, perhaps even of other lifetimes. We’re in the post-retrograde shadow period, still working out issues that arose in early February, especially regarding communications and gadgets that connect us. Mercury remains in mutual reception with Jupiter in Gemini, great if you’re working on big writing or publishing projects. Pluto and Saturn form a Yod with Jupiter (the green dotted lines), but I’m ignoring it, not only because I’m on the fence regarding the significance of Yods, but because there are too many major aspects in this chart to either worry about a Yod or to be able to link it to any particular outcome. For that matter, it will be near impossible to link any aspect this week with a particular event, because there’s no way to isolate them.

Ray Merriman, incidentally, mentioned in his column that he’s got a two-way transit of Jupiter and the North Node, just as he’s reaching a pinnacle of his life’s work. So, you see, just because this Full Moon packs frightening power, it doesn’t automatically translate to a major catastrophe in your life.

I would love to hear from all of you about your experiences this week. You do have to register (unfortunately, it’s necessary to prevent abuse), but it’s fast and easy.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast March 18: Sun Enters Aries, Mars Conjunct Uranus

Pioneers. © Pat Paquette, 2013.

Mercury is direct, thank goddess. It wasn’t the worst Mercury retrograde ever, but it had (for me, at least) some ugly exchanges and creepy irritations. Sounds like Pisces.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Pisces. My Moon is in Pisces, and sometimes I forget that I’m not a Pisces. Last week someone told me I looked like one. Looks like a fish, swims like a fish, must be a fish?

The thing is, Pisces has two distinct sides. One is creative and imaginative. The other is deluded and paranoid. I don’t know anyone with strong Pisces energy in their chart who has all the “good” Pisces and none of the “bad.” In short, Pisces energy is complex and difficult to manage, as these past few weeks have shown. Ironically, last week seemed to be the worst, even though Mars moved out of Pisces and into his own sign of Aries – or perhaps because of it. To me – and I know this doesn’t make sense, but that’s how it came to me – it was as if all the pent-up anger and frustration of Mars in Pisces suddenly was released after Mars changed signs on Monday. On the road, in the supermarket, even in line for coffee, the energy was aggressive and agitated.

Mercury’s return direct today (March 17), will help, but we’ll feel a more significant shift on Wednesday, when the Sun enters Aries. Venus leaves Pisces on Thursday, and then we’ll be back to two planets in Pisces – three, if you count Chiron as a planet, which I don’t. And there will be four planets in Aries.

Aries is known for being selfish, brash and impulsive, but it’s also dynamic, direct, and pioneering. My favorite metaphor for Aries energy is the seed bursting out of its shell beneath the ground in spring and pushing its way upward toward the sun. Think of having all that weight on top of you, and you’re tiny and yet so determined that you can push through it all. It’s a difficult task requiring single-minded purpose and total disregard for anyone else in a struggle for survival. Who couldn’t use some of that strength? I know I could!

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That said, the Aries ingress chart suggests that the weirdness of the past week may be with us for a while longer and might color the entire year in world affairs. I say this, because Pisces is still strong in the chart, especially for Washington, where Pisces is rising and Venus is near the Ascendant. In the ingress chart cast for London, Pisces is on the Midheaven, with Cancer Rising and the Moon approaching the Ascendant. In the Washington chart, the Sun, Mars, and Uranus are in the first house. In the London chart, the three planets are in the tenth house.

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The optimist in me would like to interpret this split personality as a sign that we can pioneer new territory, with advanced technology and the will to use it to find solutions to the world’s problems, while placing a priority on helping the poor and dispossessed and acknowledging that scientific advancement without a simultaneous awakening in human consciousness will get us nowhere and perhaps even destroy us entirely. Of course, “human consciousness” is a squishy, Pisces sort of term. In the 17th century, rationalist thinkers believed that human consciousness was advanced through science and that superstitious beliefs such as astrology and the mystical aspects of religion would be follies of the ignorant and illiterate masses. Isn’t it ironic that this view persists four hundred years later and that science still thinks it has all the answers? I do think there’s hope, but I also think that science and spirituality (for lack of a better word) are going to make combative bedfellows. It’s anyone’s guess if they’ll kill each other before successfully mating.

Terribly sorry if this isn’t practical advice for the coming week, but in the true spirit of Pisces, I believe that our thoughts, behavior, and actions reverberate into the collective, and this seems as good a time as any for a friendly reminder. It’s time for a collective reboot as the Sun moves through the final degrees of the zodiac and begins a new solar year at the spring equinox.

The other big aspect this week is the conjunction of Mars and Uranus on Friday. It’s a tad scary, as this is an explosive planetary combination, and in a fire sign, too. Unfortunately, astrology isn’t much good as a predictive tool here, because we can only talk about potentials and probabilities, and events normally don’t occur at the moment of an exact alignment. When Mars is involved in an aspect, the period of influence can be a week or more. Then, I do recall one instance in which an explosion was nearly exact. Back in 2007, with Mars and Uranus conjunct to the exact degree in Pisces, a tanker truck carrying gasoline exploded near the Bay Bridge in Oakland and caused a portion of the freeway to melt. Astrologers consider Neptune, ruling plant of Pisces, as ruler of oil and gas. Jupiter, the traditional ruler of Pisces, was in conflicting aspect with Mars and Uranus by less than two degrees. Without the benefit of a chart for every tanker explosion that ever occurred, it’s hard to say whether this was just a coincidence, but you can guess my opinion on the matter.

Back to this week, we’ll just have to wait and see. I certainly would caution you against blurting out your thoughts without stopping to think first. The resulting explosion might not melt a freeway, but it could ruin your whole day.

For those of you interested in a forecast for spring, I finally completed the formatting for the StarGuide Spring 2013 forecast. Several people have ordered in advance, so if you want your report this week, don’t wait! this forecast includes interpretations for all three eclipses in April and May. I do look at each individual chart and make notations if I see any unusual aspects in your chart – for example, if an eclipse is conjunct your Sun or Moon.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast March 11: New Moon in Pisces, Mars Enters Aries

Over the edge. © Pat Paquette, 2013.

We’ve got a schizophrenic week ahead, with Mars entering his own sign of Aries right after the New Moon in Pisces and Mercury still retrograde in the foggy sign of the Fishes.

As of the New Moon on Monday, the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Chiron, and Neptune are all in Pisces. Mars, however, is at the final degree of Pisces, which, as the final degree of the zodiac, is called the “weeping degree.” It is where all things must end to clear the way for a new beginning, and it represents the point at which we see that hanging onto the past is no longer possible. Among its many qualities, Pisces is the sign of escapism and delusion. It’s only human to try to imagine that everything will continue along as it is, even when we know inside that change is inevitable. And change, by definition, is destabilizing.

The New Moon typically represents new beginnings, but sometimes it can bring endings, too – again, in order to start with a clean slate. This is all the more possible with Mercury in “reverse,” but I have to remind you that we may not experience any significant movement until the following Monday, after Mercury is direct. Officially, he stations on March 17, but it can take a day or two for him to get moving again (what it looks like here on Earth). By then, Mars also will be approaching a conjunction with Uranus – an aspect that can be literally explosive, but that can translate to explosive change in our lives as well. Of course, if you’ve been looking for a change, the fast movement may be just what you’ve been waiting for, even though it could bring its own “upsets” in the sense that life can turn on its head. To get an idea of how this energy might manifest for you, look for where these planets are transiting your natal chart. If you need some help with that, I’m preparing the StarGuide Spring 2013 forecast (the start date is March 20, but you’ll get useful insight for Mars and Uranus in Aries). I still have some formatting to do, but you can pre-order anytime.

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The Sun and Moon don’t make any close aspects with other planets, but there are some additional aspects in the New Moon chart to consider. The Uranus-Pluto square is ever-present, setting the overall tone for this turbulent period in human history, much as we experienced in the mid-1960s. Society as a whole is in a breakdown phase, and whether you’re benefiting from these sweeping changes or being swept along on an uncontrollable tide, your personal life is impacted in some way. Perhaps you’ve sold your car and are using public transportation to reduce your carbon footprint, or you may have decided to switch to a diet that is more sustainable for the planet or healthcare products that are free of harmful ingredients. One of my best moves so far was to close my account when my bank got taken over by Chase and to switch to our local credit union. These may seem like small moves, but when millions of people do it, they become major trends with huge implications for human history.

Which brings me to the second aspect, which is the sextile between Saturn and Pluto, which also are in mutual reception. I wrote about this last week and don’t have a lot more to say, except that this positive contact represents a window of opportunity to demolish what isn’t working and rebuild more sustainable structures, be they in our personal lives or in society as a whole. Mercury and Saturn are trine, as well, which bodes well for new ideas – some of which may be old ideas that were thrown out as impractical but that, due to changing circumstances, deserve another look. Mercury also has been in an ongoing square and mutual reception with Jupiter. On one hand, this can signify getting lost in details to the detriment of the big picture, but with awareness, it can be used to coordinate the details and the big picture in a compelling way.

Jupiter and Uranus, meanwhile, remain in a sextile, and when Mars conjoins Uranus on March 22, he’ll also be in a sextile with Jupiter. Although it’s true that Jupiter can be a magnifier, with obvious implications for the explosive combination of Mars and Uranus, he also confers some benefits and even good luck. The actual outcome remains to be seen, of course.

So, this week may be fast or it may be slow, and “fast” may be spinning wheels or it may be a fast ending. Hang in there, because Mercury returns direct on Sunday, and next week will look a whole lot different. If by chance you do have an opportunity this week to hang out on the beach or in front of the TV, do it now! Rest up, because we’ll soon be heading into a period of dramatic action.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto andThe Inner Journey of Pisces, Part II

This is the inner mathematics, that the part of the whole is not smaller than the whole. That will be difficult to understand. The part of the whole is equal to the whole, because the whole cannot be divided into parts. Division is not possible. That’s why we call the real authentic being in you ‘individual.’ Individual means indivisible — that which cannot be divided. ~OSHO

When personality and soul fusion is complete, we are aware of ourselves as an individual and the ocean at one and the same time. It is then that Pluto, the great revealer, can step in at soul level bringing the conditions for the final transformation at soul level in Pisces. Esoterically it is said that the “final death” happens in Pisces. What could this mean, the final death? Possibly the end of Samsara. Samsara is the cycle of death and rebirth and many spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, teach that it is possible to become enlightened and finally be free of this cycle of continuous death and rebirth.

Here, at the final stage, Pisces stands for the death of the personality and the release of the soul from captivity and its return into the task of the world Savior. The great achievement is finished and the final death is undergone. ~ The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

We first experience Pluto’s influence in Scorpio at personality level. Pluto is a deep and mysterious planet, which was only discovered on February 18th, 1930, and incorporated into astrology after that date. In Esoteric Astrology, the Tibetan Master explains that until mankind has the consciousness to respond to the subtle influences of planets, they remain undiscovered, and such was the case with Pluto. Pluto was discovered and is now included in modern astrology, precisely because humanity now has the consciousness to perceive and respond appropriately to his subtle spiritual influence.

Towards the end of the evolutionary process the disciple begins to respond consciously to the fourth indirect influence – that of Pluto, producing the death of the hindering factors and of all that prevents synthesis.” ~ The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology.

Mythologically, Pluto is interesting. His journey begins in duality in Greek mythology as Hades, Lord of the Underworld, and Plouton, the giver of wealth, before myth finally unites him as Pluto. He is said to hold custodianship over all that lies beneath the surface of the Earth, which includes graves and all of the Earth’s riches: the fertility of the soil and the wealth of her gems. The story of Pluto hints that there is something at our core, a jewel, an inner light, which is carried over beyond death. In Esoteric Astrology, the Tibetan Master states that “Pluto or death never destroys the consciousness aspect.”

While Neptune sensitizes us to receive ever-increasing vibrations of spirit in physical form, Pluto reduces our attachment to physical form and brings us to the light. In this way we begin to more closely identify with our inner light, or soul – that which continues beyond death. While Pluto brings the cycle of life to an end, Neptune ensures we carry with us as much illumination as possible.

The concept of returning to the light as an individual, enlightened being seems fundamental to the whole purpose of physical incarnation. Buddhist scripture speaks of attaining the rainbow body or “body of light,” wherein we return to the ocean of consciousness from whence we came, but with our individuality intact. We return to the light, yet are not lost in that light.

I leave the Father’s home and turning back, I save. ~ The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

The combined effects of Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto in Pisces support us in embodying and identifying with the divine light at the core of our being. As a result of our adventure into physical incarnation which began in Aries, we return to the “Father’s house” fully laden with the riches of experience, within an individual soul.

If you have Sun, Moon and especially Rising Sign in Pisces, you are here to walk your individual path while holding the awareness that, at one and the same time, you are the ocean. This awareness will strengthen the power of your heart and allow the world savior (the essence of universal love) to flow freely into the world through you.

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.”

Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto andThe Inner Journey of Pisces, Part I

Pisces Season is upon us once again, bringing with it an opportunity to check in where we are up to on the vast continuum of human experience ranging from glamour, illusion and delusion right up to enlightenment and universal love! Pisces brings us full circle, not only with the completion of one zodiac year, but in this current series of exploring the personality and soul rulers of each sign.

Throughout the past year, we have followed the soul’s journey through the twelve signs of the zodiac, where the soul began as “a point of light in the mind of God” in Aries, right through to the flowering of human consciousness in Aquarius, and finally arriving here at the sign of the world savior in Pisces. The “world savior” referred to here is the recognition of humanity’s true role in respect to our Mother Earth, when we have fully blossomed as a species and all our hearts beat as one as the “sacred heart” of humanity in Pisces.

In essence the World Savior is the incarnation of Love within each one of us. ~ Alan Oken

We have discussed how the planetary rulers are space-holders or custodians maintaining the necessary conditions for specific stages of development in the evolution of human consciousness, and three planets are important when we look to the human experience in Pisces. Jupiter and Neptune are custodians at personality level, while Pluto is the custodian at both soul and hierarchical level. This speaks to the transformative potential inherent in Pisces.

Last month, we saw how Jupiter’s role is one of expansion, fusion and synthesis, and since there is a degree of overlap between stages (and therefore signs) this process continues as the soul enters Pisces. Hence Pisces has two custodians at personality level. The expansive conditions of Jupiter create a greater capacity in us to perceive and respond to the subtler energies of Neptune. Neptune’s influence on human development began in Cancer at soul and hierarchical level, and by the time the soul has reached this stage of development in Pisces, the individual is now sensitive enough to receive Neptune’s energy at personality level.

You are not a drop in the ocean;
You are the ocean in a drop.
~ Rumi

For most people who are still on the mutable cross (see the Capricorn article in this series for a summary of consciousness described in terms of the three crosses), the experience with Neptune in Pisces can be one of being swept away by the ocean, going with the flow, and falling deeper into glamour, illusion and escapism. This is because they have not yet completed the individuation process, which begins in Leo and completes in Capricorn. The whole story of the incarnation process in astrological terms, from Aries up to this present point in Pisces, has been one of personal experience through individuation. Individuation is a vital stage in the evolution of consciousness, for without it, we cannot return to the ocean intact with the remembrance of our experience as a drop.

The purpose for involution is to allow Spirit to penetrate deeper into matter so that eventually all things of matter realize their spiritual Essence. ~ Alan Oken

Neptune’s job at personality level is to dissolve limiting physical and mental conditions that would impede the influx of spirit in physical matter in the form of universal love, so that we may once again remember the oceanic nature of our consciousness, the divine love within and experience this within the context of our individual physical incarnation. If the effects of Neptune are felt before we have successfully completed our individuation process, then we can experience problems with addictive and co-dependent behaviors as we will be challenged to set appropriate personal boundaries in our individual sphere of influence. Hence some of the pitfalls for Pisces at personality level.

The Fishes in Pisces are bound together, as we have seen,
and this is symbolic of the captivity of the soul in form,
prior to the experience upon the Fixed Cross. ~ The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

How we experience and respond to Neptune’s universal influence depends upon the degree of our own individual consciousness. If we are on the mutable cross, where we are still personality identified, we will experience Neptune’s energy as illusion and delusion, where we can become lost in the thick fog of mass consciousness. If we are on the fixed cross, we are beginning to awaken spiritually and we will experience Neptune as a planet of universal love. He shows us that our true nature is one of oceanic consciousness, that we are an aspect of divine love and that all separation is illusory, so we may begin to appreciate our underlying spiritual reality.

It might be helpful at this point to make a clear distinction between individuation and separation. Individuation and separation are not the same thing. The fingers on your hand are individual; they have the capacity to move independently of one another, and have individual experience. You may hurt one finger for example, while the others remain unharmed. They are not ever, at any point, separated from your hand. If they become separated, they die. Likewise, while it is vital and necessary for the evolution of human consciousness that we each have the capacity to move independently from one another and have our own individual experience we are never, at any time, separated from the whole body of humanity. At the level of consciousness, we are connected and we experience one another’s pain.

We’ll explore this idea in Part II, the last article in this year-long series, and we’ll also introduce Pluto as a soul ruler of Pisces.

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 March 4: Sun Conjunct Retrograde Mercury, Saturn Sextile Pluto

Image courtesy NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

It has been a strange week, with all this Pisces energy and Mercury retrograde. I’ve been doing some historical research – Pisces loves going back, as does Mercury retrograde – and have dug up some amazing information and startling synchronicities.

I sat down to write this week’s forecast with the intention of telling you about some of what I found and how it relates to current events. Then I got distracted by a column by Rob Brezsny, “everybody’s favorite astrologer,” ragging on astrologers who predict communications mix-ups, travel problems, and other irritations during Mercury retrograde. “It makes me sad when the sacred art of astrology is turned into just another excuse to be superstitious. Using half-baked horoscopy to justify self-fulfilling prophecies is astrology abuse in the extreme,” he writes. “Sorry to get so riled up … I truly love astrology’s power to enhance our willpower, and it bugs me when it’s ignorantly invoked to accomplish the very opposite.”

Judging by the comments on his post, his readers are grateful and relieved that they no longer have to take Mercury retrograde seriously. Even some professional astrologers thanked him for his brilliant insight. I have to admit that I’m puzzled, and the more I think about it, the more riled up I get. Maybe he didn’t intend to say what it sounds like he’s saying – after all, Mercury is retrograde, and I might have misunderstood. And perhaps his comments don’t apply to me, because I don’t advise my clients to put their lives on hold for three weeks, three times a year. Still, I have made statements of the nature he ridicules, and I absolutely stand by them. Observation over time tells me that Mercury retrograde periods are to be approached with some caution. I don’t consider this superstitious at all, and in fact I believe it’s the highest use of “the sacred art of astrology.”

As I see it, working with planetary energies is precisely the point. You might well ignore a forecast for violent thunderstorms and decide, “I want a picnic and I’m going to have it come hell or high water!” Undoubtedly, there are people who love being out in the elements, delighted with the freedom and adventure of soaked underwear and soggy sandwiches. It’s all in the attitude, right? Call me a stick in the mud, but if I knew a raging thunderstorm was on the way, I’d be bringing in firewood, taking a quick trip to the library, and making a pot of hot soup.

It’s hard for me to understand how an astrologer could argue that Mercury retrograde periods are innocuous to the point of being irrelevant, and that thinking otherwise will attract the very experiences you hope to avoid. In other words, if Mercury is retrograde and you get stuck in traffic, miss your flight, and as a result miss an important meeting, it’s a self-fulfilling prophesy created by your own superstition and fear of Mercury retrograde. I would say just the opposite. With a healthy respect for Mercury retrograde, you would make sure to give yourself lots of extra time to get to the airport, and if the meeting was that important – if your entire future depended on it – you might consider departing a day early and staying overnight. The mind does have incredible power, and it is possible to conjure up our worst fears. But it does not follow logically that if something bad happens, it must be because we unwittingly caused it through fear, erroneous thinking, or some other failing.

On one point we at least agree, and that’s the idea that events and circumstances we think of as “bad” can present opportunities, if we set aside our expectations and conditioning. In that regard, attitude is important, and our response to events can be more significant than the events themselves. But it’s a mistake to carry that logic to the extreme and argue that we have complete control via our minds. As the bumper sticker says, “Shit happens.” Indeed, the search for meaning in the face of unimaginable human tragedy gave rise to philosophy and religion, and astrology was born in part by the desire to avoid such tragedies. Tell someone whose entire village has just been wiped out by the plague that they’ve been blessed with a “growth opportunity.”

Now, this is a nice segue into my historical research, which centered on 17th century Europe. This was a critical period in human development, when science and metaphysics split, and anything that couldn’t be proven by “scientific method” was discarded as superstition. Astrology was one of the first casualties, and the attitudes of science today against astrology, religion, and other spiritual beliefs might as well be lifted right out of 17th century manuscripts. While Europe itself was in turmoil, with wars that radically shifted national boundaries and the center of political power, philosophers argued fundamental concepts of God, fate, the nature of the soul, and man’s place in a universe of which the earth was no longer the center. And here we are, 400 years later, embroiled in similar arguments. Science, it seems, has not lived up to its promise of providing all the answers to the meaning of life. It hasn’t even provided all the answers to questions about the material universe, let alone humanity’s place in it.

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Among the trends at the time, there were several popular uprisings against rulers in Europe and elsewhere, leading one Swedish diplomat to wonder “whether this can be explained by some general configuration of the stars in the sky.” He was more right than he possibly could have imagined. In 1648, when an uneasy treaty ended the devastating Thirty Year’s War, Uranus, Neptune, and the lunar South Node were in near exact opposition to Pluto, Saturn, Mars, and the North Node, with Jupiter in a close square. I’ve included the chart for a solar eclipse on the summer solstice in 1648 so you can see for yourself. Even without the benefit of the outer planets, which hadn’t been discovered yet, astrologers were so alarmed that they were predicting the end of the world. Of course, this didn’t help their professional status and might even have led to the “end of the world” for astrology. But they were onto something nonetheless, and now that we have the benefit of hindsight to analyze outer planetary cycles, we know that such an intense planetary configuration was bound to manifest as turbulence on earth. Incidentally, a wave of extremely cold weather began around the same time, which some climatologists later declared was part of a “Little Ice Age.” Coincidence?

One of the main reasons for assaulting astrology in the 17th century was the question of fate. The idea that our fate may lie in the stars went against science and the Church, and it still does. But fate and free will aren’t mutually exclusive. Using the example of retrograde Mercury, is it written in the stars that you’re going to lose your best friend and everything on your hard drive? Certainly not. But depending where Mercury is retrograde in your chart and what aspects he’s making with other planets, you may be at a higher risk for these outcomes. Free will enters the picture in that you have a choice to ignore the warning and take your chances, or to take reasonable precautions and hedge your bets. I can’t foresee everything in everyone’s individual charts, so I give you general guidelines in my weekly forecasts. You get more specific guidelines in my StarGuide seasonal and monthly reports.

The Sun and Mercury conjoin on Monday, so it’s quite possible we’ll get to make some additional observations. My read on this aspect is that it holds potential for being productive, especially if you’re writing songs, poetry, or fiction. This is also a signature for vivid dreams that could produce other kinds of inspiration. Keep your journal handy. Less than an hour later, Venus squares Jupiter, which can improve communications and good feelings considerably, especially if there is alcohol involved. Just take care not to overdo it.

The bigger news this week is the exact sextile between Saturn and Pluto, who also are in mutual reception; that is, Saturn is in Pluto-ruled Scorpio, and Pluto is in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, thereby magnifying the energies of each and making them greater than the sum of their parts. Saturn and Capricorn are about structure, discipline, and progressing toward a goal one step at a time. Pluto and Scorpio are about destruction, transformation, and unquenchable desire. Combined and in a favorable relationship, these two manifest as stunning breakdowns in order to rebuild more sustainable structures. This can apply to just about any area of life, although you’ll likely find it most operative in the areas of life ruled by the houses in your natal chart that Saturn and Pluto currently are transiting. This pair is even more significant in world affairs. My favorite example is the American Revolution, which is what happened the last time Saturn and Pluto were in mutual reception. There was definitely a whole lot of breaking down there. We’ve got another two years of this influence, and it’s likely that some radical shifts will happen in that time, since Pluto also is in an ongoing square with revolutionary Uranus through 2015.

On Wednesday, Mercury conjoins Venus, and throughout the week, they each conjoin Chiron, sextile Pluto, and trine Saturn. The involvement of Mercury and Venus bring the transformative power of Saturn and Pluto down to a personal level. Again, I expect that the more creative among you will find major inspiration this week, and the ideas that come to you should be useful. Pisces has a reputation for being a poet, a dreamer, and an escapist. With powerful aspects to Saturn and Pluto, dreams can become reality, and even escapist tendencies could produce something of lasting value.

For me, creativity is definitely highlighted, and Mercury’s retrograde, combined with an overflow of Pisces, seems to be carrying me on an enlightening journey back through time. But I’m finding that this time is best spent working in solitude, one of the key traits of Pisces. Where communications are particularly sensitive and vital to the success of a project, I’ve deferred further activity until the end of the month.

In celebration of Mercury, I leave you with a new NASA video created from images from the MESSENGER spacecraft, including the one above. Please note that this is not the actual color of Mercury. Still, it’s pretty darn cool.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast February 25: Full Moon in Virgo, Venus Enters Pisces

I woke up this morning laughing at a comical dream, courtesy retrograde Mercury. In the dream, the glyphs for Mercury and Mars were revolving around the Sun, which was shining over a field of golden wheat waving in a violent wind.

Now, skeptics would say this was just my psyche conjuring up an image, with my conscious mind fully aware that Mercury and Mars were about to conjoin at the Full Moon in Virgo. Maybe. But it’s not the first time I’ve had dreams with images symbolic of planetary movements. Planets often appear as characters in my dreams, and almost always when they’re in a major transit. I was, after all, born with Moon in Pisces, just a few hours before Neptune went retrograde. And right now, Pisces energy is raging across the sky like killer goldfish in Lake Tahoe (I’m not making this up).

Sure, I’m open to the possibility that there’s nothing magical about my nocturnal stage plays, but then I’d say it’s no great mystery that our psyches are in tune with planetary movements. In fact, that’s key to my belief about how astrology works.

“Belief” is a keyword for Pisces. I’ve often written about beliefs, about how they inform our world and also how hard it is to change them. Back in 2006, when I was writing for my blog The Pisces Chronicles, I took the opportunity of Mercury’s retrograde in Pisces to discuss how we’re shaped by our beliefs and, more importantly, how if we’re going to change the world, we need to start with our own belief system. I revisited that article a year later when Mercury went retrograde in Pisces again, and I figure it’s as good a time as any to give it a third go-round. There’s one big difference now, though, in that Saturn is in Scorpio, and as the planets move through Pisces, they each form a supportive trine with the planet of structure, in the sign of transformation. There’s no time like the present to examine our beliefs and assess whether they really are true.

Our political beliefs are among the biggest candidates for change. As many of you who followed The Pisces Chronicles know, I used to write a lot about politics and had quite a large following. I swore off political astrology after the 2008 election, in which so many people were sure that Barack Obama was the next savior of mankind. I was one of the few astrologers who weren’t falling all over themselves in adulation, and I made the mistake of predicting that Sarah Palin and John McCain had a chance of winning the election. Several readers believed I was endorsing the Republican ticket and felt within their rights to post flaming personal attacks. There are people in the world – bless their hearts – who thrive on stirring up angry debate, but I’m not one of them. I just do my thing, as sincerely and genuinely as I know how, and I figure if anyone doesn’t like it, that’s what the “delete” key is for.

Given that history, you can imagine my amusement upon receiving a huffy e-mail from a reader last week accusing me of being – gasp – a Democrat. Here’s the full text:

I love reading ur blog, but I don’t like that u put Romney in the same context as Osama Bin Laden. I realize he’s no genius, but I find ur reference offensive. It’s obvious from this comment & others in the past, what ur political leanings are.

I suppose that means I should post a correction putting Mitt in the same sentence with Einstein. Any objections?

Kidding aside, I’m fascinated that this reader had no problem with Romney in the same sentence with a convicted murderer, but not with a man whose villainy is accepted by millions as indisputable truth, even though he was never charged in connection with the 9/11 attacks, let alone convicted. I recall that as the news was breaking, the driver of the bus I was riding to work was on an angry tirade about how that bastard Yasser Arafat was going to pay for this. There was no question in her mind that it could have been anyone else. The Bush administration managed to convince millions of Americans that Saddam Hussein was to blame. Once Saddam was neatly disposed of, bin Laden’s alleged confessions conveniently surfaced in prerecorded videotapes. Bin Laden was assassinated – at least that’s what we’re supposed to believe – without benefit of a trial or conviction. One of the few things we do know for sure is that he came from a family of wealth and influence with close ties to the Saudi royal family and to the family of then-president George W. Bush. If conspiracy theories have flourished, it’s because so many facts are missing. Absent the truth, people will believe what they want. Politicians on both sides of the aisle know this, and they use it to their advantage.

I’m not sure that all this Pisces energy is going to help uncover any truth. But it could. It certainly could help focus attention on the human tendency to believe what we want to be the truth, rather than taking the time to examine facts with an open mind. Analyzing data is one of Virgo’s special talents, so Monday’s Full Moon could aid in separating the wheat from the chaff. Be prepared for tempers to flare, though. It’s not going to be an easy week, as you’ve probably recognized by now, given that we’re well into the period of influence of both the Full Moon and the Mercury-Mars conjunction.

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As you can see in the Full Moon chart, the Sun and Moon form a mutable T-square with Jupiter in Gemini. Mercury rules both Virgo and Gemini, so it’s quite possible that emerging facts could upset some hardened beliefs. This could be quite sudden, too, with Jupiter and Uranus in a tight sextile favoring explosive change. Now, Jupiter isn’t happy in Gemini, and a lot of random facts don’t add up to truth. But the empty side of the T-square falls in Sagittarius, which is the sign of Truth, with a capital “T.” At least to the extent that it can be known. Jupiter and Sagittarius are about the big picture. I found an interesting news article last week about the so-called “God particle” that nicely illustrates this concept. First off, we’re still not sure it’s been found. But if it has, and if physicists are right about it, it could tell us that we’re all doomed. We might well start calling it the OMG particle.

Ceres also is in Gemini and at the Full Moon is in a close square with retrograde Mercury. Astrologers are still collecting information to decide how we should treat transiting Ceres, but my intuitive reading of this aspect is that some of the facts coming to light this week could be embarrassing for factions trying to restrict women’s rights, degrade the environment, and harm the food supply. The New York Times Magazine’s cover article this week is an exposé on how the junk food industry abuses science to create addictive snacks (thanks to Peggy Petersen for the link).

Right after the Full Moon on Monday, Venus enters Pisces, the sign of her exaltation. She’ll conjoin Neptune on Thursday, which I hope will be a blissful antidote to Tuesday’s Mercury-Mars conjunction. The thing is, with both Mercury and Mars in Pisces, it’s possible that arguments will be indirect and passive-aggressive. It’s hard to talk through conflict when the other party won’t even tell you they’re upset. Then, it’s hard to talk though anything with Mercury retrograde. I was having a difficult time negotiating an important project last week, and my solution was to ask to defer further discussions until the end of March. Fortunately, I’ve got the luxury of time. You might not, and so if you’ve got a deal on the table, be as direct as you can and as clear as possible about what you want. Even then, I don’t recommend that you engage in discussions of any consequence on Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday might be better, and Friday holds some promise, too, with the Sun sextile Pluto and trine Saturn. Even with Mercury retrograde, this triumvirate can cut to the chase and produce a win-win situation. Again, the most productive exchanges will be those in which all parties are willing to open their minds and at least set their beliefs aside temporarily.

For more strategies to cope with Mercury retrograde, check out the latest video by Armand Diaz.

I’ve been way too busy in the past week to spend much couch time with my favorite BBC production, but the urge to escape and pull the covers over my head is coming on strong. Still, don’t let that deter you from sending a nice e-mail. I just received a lovely response from a new client who was elated that someone finally was able to help her understand the complicated cardinal grand cross in her chart. Truly, that makes the occasional flame worth it, and it’s why I do what I do.

Off to catch the end of the Academy Awards – oops, I mean the “Oscars.”

Wishing much love and courage to all,
Pat