Monday’s spectacular alignment of Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon was as much an astronomical phenomenon as an astrological one. That made us stop to think, how much do we as astrologers know or care about astronomy?
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Tell us what you think and please check out the wonderful image on this week’s forecast of Venus, Jupiter and the Moon.
Pat
Wow, can you believe it’s December already? I was in Macy’s last week, and the obnoxious Christmas music was blaring. Does that stuff really make people buy more? It just made me want to race out of the store.
As we approach the winter holiday season, there’s growing tension that is going to knock many of us off balance. The change we’ve been wanting may come all at once, at the least convenient and comfortable time. As the old saying goes, watch what you wish for …
This week begins on a quite lovely note, though, with a positive vibe through Wednesday, so take advantage while you can. Venus and Jupiter conjoined early this morning on the West Coast of the United States, and the Moon will conjoin them both later today. We had pea-soup fog here all day yesterday, but it looks like it’s going to stay clear today, so I’m hoping to be able to see the spectacular show this evening. This is such a rare wonder that even astronomers are talking about it. There’s a great article on Space.com, if you’d like to know more.
Astrologically, this is a wonderful occasion for visualizing what you most desire. Go ahead, write a letter to Santa. Seriously, isn’t that the earliest experience with visualization and manifestation that many of us have? A bit simplistic, but it worked a lot of the time, too!
The Moon spends most of Tuesday and Wednesday in upbeat Aquarius, and aside from the little twinges we might get when she conjoins Chiron, the general mood should be friendly and social.
The shift begins subtly on Thursday, when the Moon enters Pisces, and the tension starts to build early Friday when Mercury squares Uranus, which just turned direct last week. If he doesn’t bring swift and sudden news, the Winged Messenger at least will direct your attention to the handwriting on the wall.
We are well past the exact opposition of Saturn and Uranus, which won’t align again until early February. However, as I’ve noted before, we will feel this energy periodically as it is triggered by the lunar cycle and other planetary transits. With the Sun, Mercury, and Mars all in Sagittarius, we are moving toward a T-square in the mutable signs, which generally coincides with rapid change. With Uranus involved and the Moon amplifying its erratic energy, we can expect unpredictable events and upsets. Next week’s Full Moon is a going to be a whopper, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
The Sun and Mars conjoin on Friday at 14 degrees Sagittarius. This is a lot of firepower, and you can use it favorably to achieve certain goals, depending on where this conjunction falls in your chart. Still, even positive changes may require you to totally rearrange your life. Mutable signs are pretty good at this. Those of us with a lot of fixed energy in our charts face more of a challenge.
On Saturday, Mercury squares Saturn, with the Moon aspecting Uranus, Mercury, and Saturn. This is a day for heated arguments, so follow the advice that Neith always gives at the end of her lunation posts and try to be kind, no matter how angry you may be. There are ways of expressing your anger without deliberately inflicting wounds on others. As humanity progresses toward higher consciousness, we are becoming more and more aware that when we hurt others, we hurt ourselves.
Later on Saturday, Mercury forms a favorable sextile to Neptune in Aquarius, so if you’ve had a hurtful argument, this is your opportunity to patch things up right away and perhaps break through to higher ground. Sometimes we need to clear the air in order to get to the bottom of a problem.
On Sunday, Venus enters Aquarius, not a sexy sign for her to be in, but she’s friendly and outgoing — nice energy for the start of holiday party season.
Neith will have her Full Moon post up on Saturday or Sunday, so be sure to check back.
Much courage and love to all…
Pat
Image: This incredible photo was taken on December 1 by astronomer Martin Lewicki, who kindly granted permission for us to use it here. Martin is an educator at the Adelaide Planetarium in Austrialia and hosts a website called Astrolab, astronomy for astrologers. (Thanks to Rossa for the lead!)
The more I work with people on their synastry with another, the more I realize it all comes back to the natal chart and learning what Saturn has to teach us about loving and accepting ourselves as we are BEFORE we embark on a relationship with another human being.
Saturn has gotten a lot of bad press over the years yet he has been my saving grace more often than not when Neptune, Uranus or Pluto embroiled me in their fun and games. As an astrologer, I look to Saturn in the natal chart to show how the individual handles their responsibilities to others and themselves. In fact, if we don’t learn to be responsible to ourselves first, the chances of us being there for others is not too great.
As a person with a natal out-of-sign Sun/Saturn square, I grew up with one or the other of my parents (Saturn) keeping my nose to the grindstone. We had a small family farm and we all had lots of chores to do. In general people with Saturn in aspect to their Sun, no matter the nature of the aspect, are often given responsibilities at an early age and are pretty much going to be made to attend to them. The effect of a Sun/Saturn aspect on how we relate as adults is often dependant on other aspects to our Suns. If we have a Jupiter or Venus aspect to the Sun natally, we will tend to develop a more optimistic outlook, and be less likely to choose a “parent” for a partner. If not, it may take several Saturn cycles including the Saturn Return to help us realize how valuable we are.
The Moon in aspect to Saturn has a sobering effect on our emotions and habits. We are often like Moon in Capricorn, very cautious and aware of where we fit into our social group; and likely to be “old” when we are young and “young” as we age. With a natal Moon/Saturn sextile myself, I know this pattern well. Saturn can have a dampening effect on the Moon, making one lean towards choosing friends and lovers based on whether they are reliable rather than exciting. That is unless Uranus is also aspecting the Moon, then all bets are off!
Venus in aspect to Saturn?! I have one of those too. With Venus in Sagittarius in the 1st House, having Saturn trine to it probably keep me from doing too many wild and crazy things. However, it’s possible with Venus in aspect to Saturn to be so conventional and hedged about by the need to fit in; all the fun can be drained out of life. This aspect is the one most associated with undervaluing our feeling of being desirable. Here again if we are patient with Saturn’s lessons we can learn how to unfold our wings and transform our self-image. People with Venus/Saturn aspects are sometimes the ones who undertake a healthy diet and exercise program to very good effect – mostly because they stay with it long enough to see real results. We attract partners who appreciate someone who demonstrates reliability, not very romantic but good for lasting relationships with others.
When it comes to Mars/Saturn aspects natally, I have to go with what I’ve observed in others, like my sister who has Mars conjunct Saturn in Cancer. She can work longer and harder without letting up than anyone I know – except for others with Mars in close aspect to Saturn. This aspect can cause deep frustration of the need to act but at the same time it gives great endurance. Mars/Saturn aspects function similarly to Mars in Capricorn, one of the placements of Mars said to give one a steady sex drive but very controlled. This aspect suggests this individual is going to take their time before committing to a relationship but if they do, they’ll be around for the long haul. Sometimes Saturn can give Mars a fear of taking action and lead to a situation of complete impasse.
With an accurate birth time, we can also find out if Saturn is conjunct the Ascendant or Midheaven in the chart. Those with Saturn on the Ascendant tend to present a dour face to the world even if they are fun loving and sociable in privacy. If we wish to draw a partner more in tune with who we are at home, we need to keep in mind to show this self more often. Saturn on the Midheaven is an indicator of someone who is all business on the job even if they are a party animal away from the office. In both these cases, it usually pays to take the time (Saturn) to get to know them in different settings.
This is more or less the cliff notes version of how Saturn works natally. I highly recommend getting a hold of a copy of Liz Greene’s book, “Saturn: a new look at an old devil”. Almost every astrologer I’ve ever talked agrees this book is the definitive source of information on Saturn. My copy is well read because it’s a staple reference book in my astrology library.
posted by Neith . . .
This week’s question comes from Kim in Valparaiso, Indiana:
I am fascinated with astrology and look at my chart from time to time. What I would like to know, how does a house move show up in a person’s chart? My husband and I have had our home on the market for over a year. There are close to 50 homes for sale in our area alone. Still, I remain hopeful and positive and pray a lot. Any insight would be appreciated.
Pat’s response:
Kim, you are not alone in worrying about the economy and real estate. This is a growing concern for many people.
I’ve worked with several clients who wanted to know when the time would be right to sell their homes. Generally, we look for significant transits to the fourth and eighth houses, and sometimes the ninth. The fourth house concerns your physical home, while the eighth house is associated with real estate and financial issues such as mortgage loans, profit and loss from real estate transactions, and so forth. The ninth house is often involved for long-distance moves, such as relocating to a foreign country.
Astrology can be very precise, but I do believe there are other forces at work, too. In the case of one client, I did accurately predict a favorable selling period, and she had a lot of potential buyers come through during that time. However, she also was looking for a home to buy, and she had something very specific in mind. It wasn’t until she found that home (and only because she knew the agent, who told her about it before it went on the market), that everything else magically fell into place, and she got an acceptable offer on her house. There was no astrological correspondence to this event that I could tell.
As always, astrology is one of many tools we can use to help make better decisions.
Neith’s response:
Kim, I agree with Pat about the fourth and eighth houses being significant when selling a home for the same reasons; however transits to the Moon, ruler of the fourth, can also reflect the emotional stress of dealing the burdens of relocating one’s home base.
Speaking of rulers, the planets ruling the signs on your fourth and eighth house cusps as well as the Moon can be useful indicators. For instance, if Sagittarius is on the cusp of your fourth house then you may see some movement when Jupiter moves into Aquarius after the first of the year. Or transits to your natal Jupiter could signal change. Uranus transits in particular usually mark precipitous action of some kind.
My own sense is that we as a collective are holding our breath, waiting to see what Pluto in Capricorn will start to manifest as well as what Uranus moving forward brings. When the Sun moves into Aquarius along with Jupiter in January and the new administration takes office, then we stand a better chance of seeing home sales start to pick up again.
I wish you the best of luck with finding a buyer for your home. In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season.
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Pluto moves into Capricorn today and will slowly but surely start grinding down the old to make way for the new. Are we ready for this?
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Although Pluto changes signs, he’ll remain in the same area of the natal chart for most of us. For instance, Pluto moved into my second house a couple of years ago and will remain there for many years to come, so it is all about what I value and the continuing transformation of my attitudes and expectations about income, etc.
Anyone else already seeing Pluto at work in their charts?
posted by Neith . . .
I feel as though we’re in some sort of weird time warp, in suspended animation, waiting for something to happen but not knowing what.
Pluto is in the final minutes of Sagittarius and re-enters Capricorn on Wednesday. As he slips out of the sign of the Archer — not to return for another 230 years or so — we’re shifting out of one reality and into a new one. Neith and I have written a lot about this and will continue to update you, but be prepared for some major belt-tightening and contraction.
At the same time, Uranus is stationed, preparing to return direct less than an hour before the New Moon in Sagittarius on Thursday. The energy of Uranus is electric and erratic, and it produces swift and sudden change. This will be all the more true, as all of the planets will be direct once the Magician wakes up. There is evidence that our ancient ancestors tracked astrological movements and looked specifically for periods when no planets were retrograde to undertake important activities. To put it another way, all systems will be go, and we’ll be making up for lost time.
Because Uranus also is the planet of unpredictability, there’s a good chance that we’ll see a sudden turnaround in some area of our lives, both individually and collectively. The nature of this reversal will depend on where Uranus is transiting your chart. Rising Aquarius and Pisces will be especially affected by this shift. I am Rising Aquarius and will keep you posted about what’s happening for me. If anyone else experiences something like this, leave a comment and let us know.
Neith already has written a lovely report for the New Moon. As she noted, Venus will be in favorable aspect to both Uranus and Saturn, which were in exact opposition earlier this month. For Venus to be in contact with Uranus just as he’s waking is powerful. If you’ve been stuck in issues of love or financial well-being, this will provide the shove you need to get you out of a rut and into a new groove. Just be forewarned that these things often don’t happen in the most convenient or pleasant way. Watch for developments on Friday and Saturday.
Mercury and Mars conjoin on Friday as well, although we could see the manifestations of this volatile combination at the New Moon the day before. In Sagittarius, Mercury doesn’t hold anything back and will blurt out the goddess-honest truth without stopping to think of the effects. That said, Mars knows exactly what effect he’s going for, so if someone has been wanting to give you a piece of their mind, have your deflector shields up. If you’re on the giving rather than the receiving end, do stop to consider whether the person you’re aiming at deserves the barbs. Even if they do, don’t say anything deliberately hurtful.
I have a feeling we’ll be in a much different place a week from today, so stay tuned, and keep those cards and letters coming.
Much courage and love to all…
Pat
Image: Hanging Heart, a sculpture by U.S. artist Jeff Koons, on display earlier this year at the Chateau de Versailles, outside Paris. When I first saw this photo, I thought it was a painting, as it is so surreal. It nicely expresses the surreal energy of this week and especially how I feel in matters of the heart. Photo by Stephane de Sakutin for Agence France Press.
All you Archers out there will be thrilled to learn that this is a quintessential New Moon in Sagittarius. Not only are the Sun and Moon conjoined at 5°49′ Sagittarius, but Mercury and Mars are within a couple of degrees as well. Yes, it’s time to celebrate Sagittarius!
It is fair to say we will all be feeling this stellium wherever it falls in our charts, urging us to think big and maybe take a chance or two. Sagittarius is interested in exploring different ideas and drawing concepts from many different cultures to build something new and interesting. With the drive of Mars in Sagittarius coupled to Mercury’s free-wheeling thinking in Sagittarius, this is a great time to travel to far away places, even if it’s only from your armchair. It is also time to put the intense introspection of Scorpio behind us for awhile.
Jupiter, Sagittarius’s ruler, is still in Capricorn, but he is conjunct Venus, and both are sextile Uranus, who stations direct three hours before the New Moon. This is a lot of creative, expansive energy looking for an outlet, and we might as well take advantage of it while we can. Indeed, from this day until the end of December, all the planets will be direct. So check and see what you have put off, because forward thinking is what will be rewarded.
Another big shift taking place the day before the New Moon is Pluto’s move into Capricorn, where he will remain until 2023. We have discussed numerous possibilities about what this move will bring and will continue to do so as Pluto settles into his new sign. In this chart, Pluto is exactly trine Vesta in Taurus, underlining the awareness of Capricorn being a feminine, earth sign and serving as a reminder of the inherent power abiding in nature. The season of Capricorn in the northern latitudes is one in which all the action in the growing cycle takes place beneath the surface, awaiting release to burgeon forth during Taurus’s season of late spring.
For now, the opposition between Uranus in Pisces and Saturn in Virgo is separating and will continue to do so until Saturn goes retrograde at the end of December. I am quite happy to catch a breather from this opposition before the second pass is exact on February 5, 2009. Right now, Uranus forms a lovely sextile with Venus and Jupiter, with Saturn trine that pair – a great pattern for actualizing and manifesting your favorite creative projects.
The Sabian symbol for 6 Sagittarius is, a game of cricket, with the keywords GROUP SOLIDARITY. Fairness and cooperation are needed to achieve collective goals. The stellium in Sagittarius on this New Moon encourages sportsmanship and fair play while keeping in mind it’s the process, not the result, that is important. We have spent far too much time and energy as a collective on “winning” during the Pluto in Sagittarius years, and now that Pluto is in Capricorn, we can start working together steadily to achieve our goals.
Let’s all enjoy this exuberant New Moon and brace ourselves for a wild ride over the next month. Remember to take time to express your appreciation for friends and family and practice kindness to all.
posted by Neith . . .
Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.
This week’s question comes from Elizabeth in Minnesota:
I’m wondering what to expect from the Saturn/Uranus opposition in my 8th and 2nd houses, when Uranus is conjunct my natal Jupiter in the second. How might it all play out?
Neith’s response:
Elizabeth, you are wise to start focusing on this process now, because you are moving into a period of intense adjustment and reevaluation. As the Saturn-Uranus opposition continues to unfold until July 2010, it will trigger your nodal axis, with your Sun conjunct your North Node in Gemini and your Moon-North Node conjunction.
The interplay between your sixth house Sun and twelfth house Moon is underscored by Saturn in Virgo, ruler of the sixth house, and Uranus in Pisces, ruler of the twelfth house. Your routines, both health and job related, will affect your self esteem and your willingness to be open to frequent revision of plans is key to the process. It is also important to allow your natural optimism to lead the way and avoid as much as possible getting caught up in paying too much attention to the tiniest details.
When Uranus turns direct on November 27 it will square your Nodal axis exactly in late December and for most of January 2009 for the final time. This transit can bring people and situations into our lives to jump start our awareness. Thankfully your Gemini Sun and Sagittarius Moon both enjoy new ideas and concepts and embrace change with more enthusiasm than others.
If there is any particular theme to hold in your mind and heart it is to always go for the big picture, the inclusive philosophies that embrace many different ways of thinking and being. By the time 2010 rolls around you may have come up with a whole new way of generating income for yourself most likely through service to others in some capacity.
Hey, at least Pluto is done turning you inside out emotionally and you will not be bored – Gemini’s least favorite thing. Good luck and do your best to be kind to yourself and all those who cross your path.
Pat’s response:
Well, as usual, when I let Neith go first, she makes all the salient points! What I can add, though, is that I, too, have the Saturn-Uranus opposition in my second and eighth houses, and so I’ve thought a lot about what this might mean.
With the U.S. economy in dire straits, we all want some security. I was a freelance writer, editor, and consultant for years, but being without health insurance and facing the feast-or-famine aspect of self-employment is wearing on me. This past May, I decided to take a day job, and this could turn into an opportunity for job security with great benefits, too. This is the Saturn side of the equation, and especially Saturn in Virgo, which is thinking about all the practical necessities. To get even more Virgo about it, I’m in a service career for the first time in my life rather than an intellectual desk job.
However, I expect the Uranus side to rebel sooner or later — likely sooner, as he comes out of retrograde next week, and then I think we’re going to see some rapid change. Uranus doesn’t like being put in a box, and in Pisces he wants to exercise creativity. In your second this house, this means earning a living through your creative, innovative side (as Neith noted, you likely will find a new way to generate income).
So you can see how these energies are opposed: one wants security, while the other wants freedom to create. I am hoping to find a way to integrate the two, and I wish the same for you, Elizabeth.
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When the Sun joins Mars in Sagittarius on Friday, many of us will heave a collective sigh of relief to be leaving the angst and intensity of Scorpio behind for another cycle.
Don’t get me wrong, I am quite comfortable with Scorpio, but there is something about this particular shift in energy that says it is time to lighten up and enjoy life a little more. It could have something to do with my first-house Venus in Sagittarius, who always sparkles this time of year. Or maybe it’s because one of my favorite U.S. holidays is coming up here, Thanksgiving, which happens to be the Sagittarius holiday (Christmas falls under the aegis of Capricorn). The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by a mix of peoples from the Old World and the New coming together to share food, friendship, and an all-around good time, in true Sagittarius fashion.
Pat and I have Sagittarius Rising in our composite chart, and I’ve noticed that many of our readers have the Sun or Ascendant in the sign of the Archer. We’d love to know how you experience your Sagittarius side. Anyone else with planets and chart angles in Sag, please chime in!
posted by Neith . . .
Well, I certainly can tell that Mars is in Sagittarius! The traffic picked up this weekend, I burned a bunch of food, and people weren’t shy about expressing their anger.
Unlike Mars in Scorpio, which tends to seethe silently, Mars in Sagittarius tells you exactly what he thinks. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the god of extremes who throws a volcanic temper tantrum, gets it out of his system, orders a round for the entire house, and insists that everyone drink and be merry.
Mars rules motors and moving parts, while Sagittarius rules vehicles. Put that together, and you’ve got a lot of people on the go in planes, trains, and automobiles. But Sagittarius also is the hunter and lover of the great, wild outdoors (thus my image for this week). They seem incongruous, but then, as I mentioned above, this is a sign of extremes.
Sagittarius is definitely the theme this week, with Mars as the advance party for the Sun’s entry in the sign of the archer on Friday and Mercury’s arrival on Saturday. This is the start of the winter holiday season in much of the world, too, although I have to tell you that it sickens me to see all the Christmas displays in the stores so early. I know that’s their way of dealing with a sinking economy, but still…
On a day-by-day basis, here’s how the week stacks up:
On Monday, Mercury in Scorpio squares Neptune in Aquarius. It may be time for a reality check, but don’t assume that means your bubble is burst. Sometimes we don’t give enough credence to our dreams, since society in general tends to discourage this. And while I’m a big proponent of staring truth directly in the face, I also know that there are times when fantasy and imagination can be survival mechanisms. As with many things, the key is awareness. As long as you know you’re doing it, it’s probably OK.
Tuesday through Thursday are fairly quiet, except for any activity that might be stirred up by Mars in fast-moving Sagittarius. Friday is the big day, when the Moon in Virgo activates the ongoing Saturn-Uranus opposition, Jupiter trines Saturn, and the Sun changes signs.
The Moon is just one activator that will keep the Saturn-Uranus opposition in flux even though the first exact pass is behind us. Neith and I both have written a lot on this topic, and you probably know by now how this aspect is playing out in your life. Jupiter’s trine to Saturn provides an opportunity to take steps toward making real changes in your life. Uranus is stationed, about to go direct next week. Once that happens, change will come swiftly and may feel out of control. Having some long-range goals in mind will help you make on-the-spot decisions, if necessary, and will provide grounding.
We all should feel some lightening up once the Sun and Mercury enter Sagittarius, so plan something fun this weekend. That said, Mercury is in his detriment in Sagittarius, mostly because he tends to blurt out the truth without thinking. This is definitely not the time to ask, “Honey, do I look fat in these jeans?”
Love and blessings,
Pat
Image: Thy Templed Hills, by Maxfield Parrish, 1936.
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