Category Archives: About astrology

Weekly Forecast December 22: New Moon in Capricorn Conjunct Mars and Pluto

Winter, by Maxfield Parrish Happy Solstice!

Here in the frozen North — and I do mean frozen — the longest night of the year is upon us. From now on, the days will begin to lengthen, and we know that the warmth and light of the sun will return, dark and dismal as it is now. It is no accident that the fathers of the Christian church made this ancient pagan holiday the birthday of Jesus, whom they called the Light of the World. Jesus more likely was born in the spring, not on Christmas, but no matter.

Where I live, the winters typically are pretty mild. If we get snow at all, it melts within a day or two. But we’re under a foot of snow, and everything is at a standstill — appropriate for the Solstice, which means sun at a standstill. I walked home from work last night, trudging up the unplowed hill with my bag over my shoulder, much like the hunter in this Maxfield Parrish painting trudging through the snowy woods.

Saturn-ruled Capricorn trudges on, doing what must be done. We’ll experience a lot of this theme over the next few years with Pluto in Capricorn, especially the year after next, when he’ll be squared by Saturn and Uranus. At that point, we will have to switch our focus from amassing wealth to meeting basic needs. Already, the economic downturn is causing many people to stop and think about what they really need and what they can do without. The answer to that question is, “a lot.”

Speaking from experience, I can assure you that we don’t realize how wasteful we’ve been until we begin living more frugally, and while that’s a scary prospect for many in privileged Western societies, I can also tell you that it’s exactly what many people need to wake up spiritually, to be enlightened or “come into the light.” Let me add, for those who haven’t heard me say it before, that “spiritual” is not a moral position to aspire to, but a way of seeing the invisible energies that flow through the Universe. They exist, they are real, and they impact our lives. There is nothing with wrong with wanting stuff, but too much emphasis on the material limits the vision.

With that long introduction, let’s talk about this week.

Although the Sun conjoins Pluto on Monday, most of the activity doesn’t happen until Friday and Saturday, with the entry of Mars in Capricorn and the New Moon at 6 degrees Cap, not far from Mars and Pluto, which conjoin on Sunday. Mercury and Jupiter also are in Capricorn, although in later degrees. Still, this is a lot of Capricorn, so we are going to get a full frontal view of what this sign is all about. Government, business, military, and authority in general all fall under the auspices of the Sea Goat.

In our personal lives, authority usually is represented by parents and employers. Saturn will be stationed about to go retrograde at the New Moon, so I expect that we will spend the next several months revisiting these issues. Neith will have more on the New Moon on Tuesday, so be sure to check back.

The ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition will be active this week on many levels. Watch for developments on Wednesday, when Mercury forms a favorable sextile to Uranus, and on Friday, when Mercury trines Saturn. If you don’t know yet how this major aspect is impacting your life, you’ll get clues this week.

While all of this high-powered business is going on, Venus quietly conjoins Chiron on Tuesday and Neptune on Saturday. Although most people need a crisis or a series of crises to awaken, that a-ha moment tends not to come when we’re under the gun, but when we’re in a relaxed “in-between” space.

We can wish for world peace all we want, but it won’t happen until the prerequisite is met, and that is the awakening of the collective mind. That is my deepest hope and wish for this holiday season.

Holiday love and blessings to all…

Pat

Image: Winter, by Maxfield Parrish.

Saturday Extra: Living With Saturn Opposing Uranus

Bridging Earth & Water On November 4, Saturn opposed Uranus at 18 degrees Virgo and Pisces, the first of four oppositions that will take place in these signs over the next 18 months. The next one will occur on February 5, 2009, at 20 degrees, followed by a third pass on September 15, 2009, at 24 degrees, and the last one on April 26, 2010, at 28 degrees – clearly a mandate on working with the Virgo-Pisces axis.

Bernadette Brady refers to this aspect as “the Structure vs. the Surprise” and I sure agree with her. Uranus is always good at throwing a curve ball or two our way, and Saturn cringes every time. However, we can’t live under the bed for the next couple of years waiting for the sky to fall, no matter how much some of us would like to, but we can help each other understand what’s happening.

One thing about oppositions is that they take place in complementary signs, unlike squares or inconjuncts. Virgo and Pisces may mumble about the other a lot, but they do have a sneaking admiration for each others’ strong points. Virgo often wishes they had Pisces’s knack for going with the flow, and Pisces people would love to have Virgo’s organizational skills at their fingertips. In other words, the possibilities for meeting each other halfway and for compromises are greatly increased.

I am inclined to believe the sporadic disruptions will be followed by repair and rebuilding, just as I have experienced in my own life. And, as in our case, the end results will be better than the previous structures. Many times Uranus transits force us to deal with something we’ve consistently put off, too. The first opposition found Saturn and Uranus in harmonious aspect to Jupiter in Capricorn, and that encouraged us to accept the fact that rebuilding is a process. Uranus can create chaos in a matter of moments, but it takes Saturn’s willingness to do the work to create order once more.

As always, be prepared to practice forgiving yourself and others, because this series of oppositions is bound to bring moments of uncertainty and doubt as part of the process.

posted by Neith . . .

Image: A bridge is a good symbol for working with oppositions. This lovely Japanese Moon bridge brings earth and water into harmony.

Ask Real Astrologers: Is This a Karmic Relationship?

This week’s question comes from Donna in Columbus, OH:

I have a question about one of the strangest relationships I have ever experienced. This is definitely a relationship where a strong romantic attraction exists, but honestly, it seems there is more to it. I knew the moment I met this man I already knew him, and told him so. Which, shockingly, he did not dispute or think I was completely insane!

Anyway, this man has his South Mode conjunct to both my Sun and Venus. I know there is a lot to look at with relationship charts, but could you just describe a little of what this placement could indicate? We see each other only a few times a year but our relationship seems to deepen even when we are not present in each other’s lives daily.

Libra ponders . . . Neith’s response:

Donna, the feedback I’ve received from others with aspects to the Moon’s Nodes in synastry particularly by conjunction supports what you are saying about what’s happening in this relationship.

Any time the Sun or Venus are active in synastry, the effect is generally on the positive side, because these two planets embody warmth and affection, and since it is your Sun and Venus, you are the person bringing these qualities to the relationship. The South Node represents ways of thinking and being we are most familiar with, and if you believe in reincarnation, then it’s what we bring into this life from past ones. This conjunction is all about pure comfort for both of you, so it is no surprise you enjoy spending time together.

A possible downside here comes about if the South Node person is not particularly conscious and drains the vitality of the Sun-Venus person. In a way it is a good thing you only see each other a few times a year because then you reap the benefits of this aspect bringing about a “no harm, no foul” situation.

Keep in mind if you do decide it’s important to be together more, to have an experienced astrologer give you feedback using both synastry and composite charts, provided you both have good birth times.

Enjoy for now!

Pat’s response:

Donna, you don’t say how close Venus and the Sun are to your friend’s South Node. In general, planets have to be within a degree or two of a lunar node to have much of an effect, unless there are other things going in the chart that provide more clues about possible karmic connections.

I do agree with Neith that there is something karmic going on here. I don’t believe in past lives, per se, but I believe that the energies we bring into this life do have relationships with energies that other people bring into their lives, and we attract or repel these accordingly. As Neith said, Venus and the Sun attract and in general are positive.

That said, I do know of one married couple in which the woman’s Venus and North Node are on the man’s Sun and South Node, and while they have a very comfortable and apparently easy relationship, there isn’t a lot of passion, and they appear to have a sort of unspoken contract to keep each other from delving too deeply into who they really are. In other words, they reinforce each other’s laziness about doing the work necessary to wake up and live to their fullest potential.

This strange relationship you are experiencing may simply be a reminder that we all have kindred spirits who come and go out of our lives, and that may be all there is to it. If not — if this is meant to be something more — it will develop when the time is right. Often, that timing happens when a chart point you have in common is triggered by a conjunction from an outer planet.

Good luck!

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Astrology Poll: What’s Your Favorite Winter Holiday?

The Sun enters Capricorn on Sunday, the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Online Surveys & Market Research

While many cultures and religions around the world have different feast days throughout the year, the solstices are celebrated just about everywhere in one form or another. In Christian-dominated countries, most people celebrate Christmas, perhaps forgetting that it had its origins in a much older tradition that revolved around the four cardinal points of the zodiac.

We would love to know how our astrologically inclined readers celebrate the winter holidays. If you live in a foreign country and aren’t as proficient in English as you would like to be, don’t let that stop you from leaving a comment! Help enlighten us all as we celebrate the return to the light.

Love and peace to all.

Pat & Neith

Weekly Forecast December 15: Mars Square Saturn, Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice, by Danilo Pivato As the week begins, we are still in the wake of last Friday’s heavily charged Full Moon. The tension has eased off a little, but there’s still a sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Mars continues to stir up conflict as he squares Saturn on Monday and then crosses the degree of the Full Moon at 21 Sagittarius. Even powerful aspects such as the Saturn-Uranus opposition or an eclipse can pass unnoticed until the energy is triggered by another transit. Trigger-happy Mars often fulfills that role, so do be prepared for shakeups through Wednesday.

Of course, not all conflict is bad. Often it’s exactly what we need to wake us up and move us out of our comfort zone so that we can find our edge. That is where growth takes place, and Sagittarius is all about growth and expansion. On Tuesday, Mars sextiles Neptune, which is uniquely situated in a position indicating a window of opportunity to heal deep wounds. If you can bear some temporary discomfort and possibly even pain, the breakthroughs could be breathtaking.

The Moon in Virgo on Thursday also may prod and provoke as she opposes Uranus, conjoins Saturn, and squares Mars. Again, there won’t be anything new here, just another possible episode in an unfolding story.

Sunday is the Solstice, when the Sun enters Capricorn. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Midwinter, a holiday that goes back to times as ancient as humanity itself. For many people, this is a psychic gateway and opening on new beginnings. Indeed, new beginnings in our life often have their seeds in our darkest hours.

Much love and holiday blessings to all…

Pat

Image: This phenomenal image is a composite taken by Italian photographer Danilo Pivato on the Winter Solstice in 2005 overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in Santa Severa, Italy. For more of Danilo’s astronomy images, check out his fabulous website, Beyond the Moon. Copyright 2005, Danilo Pivato.

Saturday Extra: RealAstrologers, a Truly Global Community

Sagittarius is winding down, but the Sun and Mars (the “ego” planets) are still in the sign of the Archer, so I thought this would be a good time to do a little bragging.

As of today, RealAstrologers.com has readers in all 50 states of the United States plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and in 112 countries on six continents! I don’t believe this is any accident. Neith and I have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Chiron all conjoined in Sagittarius on the Ascendant in our composite chart, Sagittarius being the sign most associated with traveling, foreign contacts, and growth through exposure to other cultures. And while we’ve been in existence for only nine months, today will we will surpass 100,000 page views!

I’ve been keeping a list of where our page views are coming from. Here’s just a small sample:

Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bosnia/Herzegovina
Botswana
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Hong Kong
Iceland
Moldova, Republic of
Palestinian Territory, Occupied Bethlehem
Slovakia
Slovenia

I confess that I’ve had to consult a map a couple of times to know where some of these countries are, and I also had to look up the difference between Slovenia and Slovakia, but that’s how we learn — learning being one of the keywords for Sagittarius.

As we head into the winter holiday season and solstice — be it winter or summer where you live — Neith and I send our love, gratitude and best wishes to our readers all over the world!

Ask Real Astrologers: How Can I Use This Heavy Pluto Transit?

This week’s question comes from Crystal:

Early in 2009, Pluto in the 8th house will oppose my Sun in the 2nd and square my Moon in the 11th. What areas of my life will be affected? And, how what is the best way to use this period positively?

Pat’s response:

Crystal, if you gave us the correct birth information, then Pluto already is in your eighth house and opposite your Sun, and you should know at this point how things are playing out. Remember, Pluto entered Capricorn in January 2008 and remained there for a few months until he went retrograde and slipped back into Sagittarius. He re-entered Capricorn on November 27. So you are in the midst of this powerful transit.

A Sun-Moon square often indicates internal conflicts, and with your Cancer Sun and Aries Moon, my guess is that you run into trouble trying to take care of others as a way of getting what you want and need, and then perhaps become resentful when that doesn’t work. You do not need to apologize for your needs or to try to keep them hidden. Being direct is good, and then you need to let others decide how to respond, whether to give you what you want or not. If they don’t, attempting to manipulate them will only backfire and make you feel worse. I’m not saying that you do this; it’s just a tendency I see with this configuration in your chart.

Pluto is “at home” in the eighth house, since this is the area of the chart he rules. I suspect that you already are going through a personal transformation and will continue to do so as Pluto transits your natal Sun and Moon. The square to your Moon may be especially difficult, as emotionally challenging circumstances may arise in order to help you grow and evolve consciousness. Also remember, with Pluto transits, the point is to learn to relinquish control. So I’m not sure there is really a way you can use this transit; just be aware of its effects.

If it’s any consolation, a lot of us are going through trying emotional times right now as humanity moves toward a higher state of consciousness awareness. You are not alone.

Much love and courage to you.

Libra ponders . . . Neith’s response:

Crystal, there is no doubt this is an important transit for you and will teach you more than you want to know about how you really feel about your friends and family over the next few years.

As Pat noted Pluto entered Capricorn for the first time from mid-January to mid-June this year and you may have gotten hints as to what to expect. With your Sun on the cusp of your second house and Pluto transiting the cusp of your eighth house, your values and personal finances will be highlighted and if you have a 401k or other investments those will be up for review. The square to your eleventh house Moon could find the nature of your friendships and relationships with women in particular undergoing deep changes.

Pluto generally plays nice in your natal chart with an exact sextile to your Mercury giving you a willingness to dig a little deeper than most into the “why’s” of life. Having Pluto conjunct the cusp of your fourth house does suggest powerful family bonds or an occasionally contentious relationship with your family, a theme continued by your natal Sun-Moon square. Pluto’s transit will stir all these issues up too and allow you to deal with them for one and for all. Keep in mind Pluto transits last quite awhile and create lasting changes.

If there is one lesson Pluto teaches us by transit, Crystal, it is about learning to detach one’s self from a specific outcome. In fact the more energy we invest in events unfolding according to our wishes, the less likelihood of that happening. Pluto in Capricorn is beginning the process of teaching everyone about how to do more with less and you may be getting a jump start on finding out what that means to you personally.

Best of luck!

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Ask Our Readers: Crazy Enough For You?

As we approach the Full Moon on December 12, Sun and Mars in Sagittarius are triggering the opposition of Saturn and Uranus — all in mutable signs — creating lots of tension down here on planet Earth.

Because the Sun-Mars conjunction is in my first house, this celestial event is directly affecting my body. Last weekend my overstressed right wrist gave out and I’m wearing one of those ubiquitous carpal tunnel braces most of the time. Saturn is in my tenth house opposing Uranus in my fourth, and both are squaring the Sun-Mars in my first. Between attempting to keep up with my workload, which involves lots of time typing, knitting a sweater for the granddaughter for Xmas and still finding time to walk my dog (a very Sagittarius form of exercise according to Pat), something had to give!

Here’s hoping once we move past the Full Moon and the pressure backs off some, we’ll all be able to catch our collective breath. So how’s it going out there for the rest of you?

posted by Neith . . .

Full Moon in Gemini, December 12, 2008

Moonlight Night Winter by Maxfield Parrish The chart for the Full Moon on December 12 shows an incredible amount of energy and force contained at this moment in time by a grand cross formed in mutable signs with the Sun in Sagittarius, Moon in Gemini, Saturn in Virgo, and Uranus in Pisces, all around 21 degrees.

The key is to be aware that this is all potential energy, not actual, because we are dealing with a stable structure in the grand cross. Unlike a T-square, where the planet at the apex acts as the focal point and shows us the path of least resistance, a grand cross offers no clear outlet but forces consideration of all the avenues on each point. So if you feel like pressure is building and nothing seems to be happening, this is why. Having Mars conjunct the Sun in Sagittarius really does not help, because Sagittarius just naturally loves to be moving and Mars-Sun conjunctions are power generators plus.

However, the Moon in Gemini is always happy to discuss options, Saturn in Virgo is great for making sure all the bases are covered, and Uranus in Pisces is wonderful for thinking outside the box. Overall, this Full Moon offers an opportunity to put together a really great plan, or plans, as the case may be. Another factor to keep in mind is that Saturn is at a virtual standstill for most of December, preparing to station direct on December 31, and this is also putting a damper on initiating action despite the fact no planets are retrograde now. Yes, we may all be extremely frustrated for awhile, so use extra care not to take this out on your nearest and dearest.

As an indicator of things to come, Pluto conjoins Mercury in Capricorn in this chart, supporting all forms of research and digging deeply within to ferret out underlying issues in our lives. This conjunction is excellent for coming up with practical solutions and is also great for keeping us all grounded in reality, something we need help with right now. The waning trine of Jupiter in Capricorn to Saturn in Virgo can offer a modicum of support, but this effect is definitely fading.

There is a waxing conjunction between Venus in humanitarian Aquarius and the North Node in Aquarius that will be exact on December 17. While Venus is rather detached and cool in Aquarius, she still brings kindness and compassion to the table, making this a good time to promote good will to all and an awareness that we are truly citizens of the world and very much interconnected. This is a reminder to offer what support we can to our favorite charities and humanitarian causes, preferably in the form of time.

The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon at 22 Gemini is, dancing couples in a harvest festival, with a keyword GREGARIOUSNESS. This is a lovely symbol illustrating the need to take time for simple pleasures and recognition of our accomplishments as well as renewing our attunement with nature’s cycles and seasons. With the winter solstice almost upon us, this is a perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we wish to travel next.

For the Sun at 22 Sagittarius, the Sabian symbol is, a Chinese laundry, with the keyword SELF-CONTAINMENT. Sagittarius is the sign that most enjoys embracing the richness of diversity while respecting cultural differences. It is important to realize we can draw on those cultural differences as a means of support with no loss of appreciation for the surrounding groups.

As we all struggle with our personal frustrations and the demands of the holiday season, please remember to exercise the gift of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, a sense of humor. This is always a great time of year to cultivate one’s appreciation of the absurdity of life on this planet and laugh rather than cry. Remember to practice kindness, because it’s always preferable to avoid doing something in the first place that we’ll need to ask forgiveness for later!

**Please do read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, December 8, too. With the dynamics in the sky right now, additional perspective can only help.

posted by Neith . . .

Ask Real Astrologers: What the Heck Is Going On Up There?

This week’s question comes from Deanne in Gresham, OR:

Could you please tell me what the heck is going on in the firmament? I tripped and fell last week and broke my arm. It’s in a bad spot — way up near the shoulder joint — so I’m working closely with a physical therapist for the next six weeks until the bone is healed and real therapy can begin. Three weeks before I fell, my husband slipped on the golf course and ripped the patellar tendon completely from his knee cap. He had surgery a few weeks ago and is looking forward to at least four months of healing. On the bright side, we have to support each other in almost everything and are enjoying this strange relationship of mutual dependency. We get a lot of laughs putting on each other’s socks and tying shoes.

Libra ponders . . .
Neith’s response:

Wow! Talk about examples of how the Saturn-Uranus opposition can affect one’s life. Deanne, the trigger in your chart was most likely Saturn (skeletal structure) opposing Uranus (accidents) forming a T-square with your progressed Mars in Gemini in your first house.

This particular opposition represents the conflict between the urge to move quickly and the need for cautious action, and I’m sure there are lots of other people out there who are being thrown off balance and having accidents. Progressed Mars in Gemini is very much given to dashing about, and the Saturn-Uranus opposition put paid to that.

In your husband’s case, Saturn is transiting his first house, Uranus his seventh, and the pair of them is forming a T-square with his natal Uranus in his tenth house. Yup, Saturn really curtailed his ability to move about normally in the world at large and in his career. Uranus transiting his seventh can represent your unexpected injury and the need for the two of you to cooperate to do simple tasks.

One possible way to handle this opposition is creative (Uranus) restructuring (Saturn) of the way we manage those areas of our lives where this ongoing opposition falls, because we’ve got two more years of this opposition to work with. Good Luck!

Pat’s response:

Well, there is certainly more than one way to look at a chart, which is the whole point behind this column!

While I agree with Neith that the Saturn-Uranus opposition is wreaking havoc with many of us, I see the Scorpio-Taurus lunar cycle written all over this one, as well as the eclipse cycle in Aquarius and Leo.

Although the New Moon in Scorpio on October 28 and the Full Moon in Taurus-Scorpio on November 13 do not exactly correspond to the dates of your injuries, they are close enough, and these lunations were the midway point between important eclipses in August 2008 and January/February 2009. The reason I feel that these are driving factors in your situation is that you and your husband represent all four of the fixed signs. You are Taurus with Taurus Rising and Moon in Scorpio, while he is Aquarius with Leo Rising. This is a strongly fixed-sign relationship, and sometimes it takes crises to knock fixed-sign people out of old habits and into healthier ways of living and being.

You are so good-humored to see the absurdity and irony in the situation, but this is right-on astrologically. I have written a lot here and on my personal blog about this eclipse cycle and its unique opportunity for healing, including deep wounds stemming from an ancient separation between male and female. And here you are, joining together through remarkably similar injuries! I’m not sure I’d recommend this as the best means for healing a relationship, but whatever works!

Much love and courage to both of you, and keep us posted on your progress.

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