Category Archives: About astrology

Ask Real Astrologers: Is It Safe To Walk Out the Front Door?

This week’s question comes from Moonlock in London, UK:

Hi, I’m new to this site (found it quite by accident). I like the way it fills the gap between sites that do astrological sound bites and long lengthy overviews … Right now I am experiencing the Mars into Scorpio transit as it crosses my Descendant, and as Mars is also semi-squaring transiting Saturn right now, which in turn is sesquiquadrate my Ascendant, I’m feeling a little concerned to even step out the front door! Any comment, please?

Libra ponders . . .
Neith’s response:

Hi, Moonlock. First, thank you for your kind words about Real Astrologers! As someone with lots of Libra and Scorpio myself, I can relate to your discomfort with this particular Mars transit. That said, Mars transits have the virtue of moving on fairly quickly, unlike some of the trans-personal planets.

With both your Sun sign and your Ascendant ruled by Venus, you probably prefer harmony and usually are pretty good at keeping things on a more or less even keel. You do have a Moon-Venus conjunction in Scorpio, so it’s true you are drawn to emotionally intense relationships. However, a trine between the rulers of your Sun and Moon (Venus and Mars) keeps the peace there.

This transit of Mars over your Descendant and your Moon-Venus, may cause you to feel emotionally sensitive and raw, especially in your one-on-one relationships, but once Mars moves past your Moon in the second week in November, things will smooth out once more. You have had Mars transit over your Sun and Mercury here recently and that’s always aggravating too.

Another more difficult transit for you, completed in August this year, was Saturn passing over your natal Pluto. Your Sun is semi-sextile Pluto natally, so this transit triggered that increasing awareness of security and identity issues. This is now in the past thankfully.

Moonlock, the longer I work with astrology the more I appreciate Bernadette Brady’s approach of keeping it simple. We can be our own worst enemies and create more stress for ourselves by not doing that. I know this from personal experience and that’s why I prefer to look at the broad strokes rather than every detail.

For now I recommend choosing your favorite form of stress reduction, perhaps a luxurious massage with scented oil and soft music playing in the background and allow the transit to slide into the background.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Happy birthday, Moonlock — albeit, a week belated.

There is no reason, astrologically speaking, that you should fear stepping out the front door! In fact, everything looks pretty good for you right now. As Neith noted, you recently experienced your Saturn-Pluto conjunction, which is happening right now for everyone born in the mid-1960s. For those like yourself born in the early ’60s, this troublesome transit is done, and you’re no longer being slammed from all sides.

I wouldn’t worry about Mars in your seventh house. This happens once every year and a half or so, and you’ve managed to live through it so far. That’s not to say that it’s easy or pleasant, but this isn’t a “sky’s falling on your head” transit.

If I had to guess what might be causing the irritation, I’d place my money on the square by transiting Mars to your natal Saturn. You would have started feeling this about a week ago, and it will be over in another week. Typically, a Mars-Saturn square can bring brushes with authority or just irritating circumstances with others. This is all the more true with Mars moving through your house of close relationships. Fear and anxiety can be part of this transit, too.

But, as Neith pointed out, Mars transits are over fairly quickly, and unless the transit itself is afflicted or there are complications in your chart, there’s rarely any lasting damage.

The last thing I might add is that Mercury is retrograde in Libra, sign of your natal Sun and Mercury, and this could be making you feel jumpy. That said, your natal Mercury is retrograde, and many of my clients with natal Mercury retrograde tell me that they actually fare better during retrograde periods.

In any case, I think you can relax!

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Full Moon in Aries, October 14, 2008

Full Moon in AriesFire sign inspiration and dynamic energy has been in short supply for quite awhile now, so the Full Moon at 21° 51′ Aries  on October 14 will inject some much-needed leavening into the atmosphere, if only temporarily.

To help us understand the tone this Full Moon will bring, I am going to lead off with the Sabian symbols for both the Moon and Sun, because they hold the key to how best to position ourselves during this lunation.

For the Full Moon it is, the gate to the garden of all fulfilled desires, with the keyword COSMIC OPTIMISM. Both luminaries are harmoniously aspected by Neptune in Aquarius, bringing a message of cooperation and inspiring the collective with a sense of community. With economic unrest making headlines around the globe, this is the best time to reach out to our fellow travelers with the recognition that we are all in this together and that it is through cooperation and understanding we can reduce the stress in our lives.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 21° 51′ Libra 51′ is, a child giving birds a drink at a fountain, with the keyword SOLICITUDE. The theme of finding anew a sense of childlike wonder or beginner’s mind is common in many cultures and belief systems as a key component for resolving difficulties from a fresh perspective. Often the secret is letting go of preconceived notions and ideas and cultivating a sense of innocent joy. Here again we can draw on Neptune’s gift of understanding that we are all part of the greater whole to ignite Libra’s desire for compromise and elegant equitable solutions.

On the Full Moon, Mercury in Libra is virtually at a standstill, preparing to go direct almost exactly 24 hours after the Full Moon. We gradually will see the unleashing of all that has been on hold for the past three weeks while Mercury was retrograde. Mercury is closely semi-sextile Mars in Scorpio, and this rather irritating aspect asks us to think before we speak to avoid causing hurt feelings when remaining silent will better serve us in the long run.

Another fly in the ointment is a square between Venus in Scorpio, Libra’s ruling planet, and Neptune in Aquarius. Here we can get caught up in unrealistic expectations, especially where our loved ones are concerned. Scorpio’s need to rehash all the details, important or not, could really spoil the mood too. Venus will move into Sagittarius on October 18, just four days after the Full Moon, and lighten things up considerably. Keep in mind the Libra principal of catching more flies with honey instead of vinegar to avoid sabotaging your relationships inadvertently.

There are two grand trines with asteroids in play:  one in air with the Sun, Neptune, and Pallas; and one in fire with the Moon, Juno, and Ceres. Pallas/Athena brings a clear sighted organizational ability to the table, and in Gemini she shines brightly. Pallas will happily discuss options for conflict resolution with wise Neptune and equitable Libra, and we could all use a dose of this in our lives. The fire sign trio brings together the enthusiastic innocence of the Aries Moon and the desire of Juno in Sagittarius to find a common belief system, while Ceres in Leo adds nurturance through creativity and joy. Both of these grand trines contribute to the dynamic of complements represented by the Full Moon, and if we consciously draw on the energies they represent, we can go far toward improving our relationships with others.

Yes, Saturn in Virgo is still trine Jupiter in Capricorn and moving to exactly oppose Uranus in Pisces on November 4. These two very different aspects present challenges to all of us, but if we keep in mind that earth and water are compatible elements, the path to resolution is possible. An attitude of acceptance and a willingness to do the work are needed here.

This Full Moon provides us with tools and concepts we can draw on in the days and weeks ahead to work with the challenges the Saturn-Uranus opposition heralds. We are definitely experiencing the final throes of Pluto’s march through Sagittarius now and getting some idea what his move into Capricorn will bring. As the Sabian symbols suggest, we can find our way to abundance through togetherness and cooperation while holding within ourselves the joy of solicitude for others. As always, practice kindness and forgiveness, starting with yourself and then extending it to others.

Libra is about balanceposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast October 6: Mercury Retrograde, Venus and Mars in Scorpio

The Hallucenogenic Toreador, by Salvador DaliWe’re in a holding pattern this week, with Mercury moving through the final stage of his retrograde phase, Mars well-established in his own sign of Scorpio, and no highly challenging aspects.

As the week begins, Mercury has a week and a half left to go in his three-week retrograde period. Some of you have written to say that you haven’t noticed any major effects of this Mercury retrograde, and I have to agree with you. I’ve seen a few minor glitches here and there, but no major mix-ups. I’ve even heard a couple of good stories, and my own experience has been mostly positive. A relationship with a co-worker began getting back on track after several weeks of discord.

Because Mercury is in Libra, the sign of relationships, I do believe it’s possible that this retrograde period has been good for revisiting old wounds and unresolved issues, especially as Mercury forms harmonious trines with Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius.

On Monday, the Sun conjoins retrograde Mercury, and both bodies square Jupiter in Capricorn. If you don’t like the way a certain relationship is going, this is a great opportunity to make some real changes. Depending on where Mercury is transiting your chart, you may also have a window of opportunity to change some other part of your life. With Mercury and the Sun in an intellectual air sign and Jupiter in a practical earth sign, thinking through how you’d like things to be different is a good start. Visualization exercises and affirmations will work well with this planetary configuration.

The effects of this triple aspect will continue into Tuesday as the Moon in Capricorn squares Mercury and the Sun and conjoins Jupiter. We manifest much more effectively when we back our thoughts with emotion. Put another way, when there’s a real need, the energy we send out into the Universe is much more powerful.

Matters also start getting complicated, though, with Venus in Scorpio squaring Chiron on Tuesday and Neptune on Saturday. We can’t be truly intimate with another person if we don’t express our hurts and fears. Often we’re afraid to do this, either because it exposes our vulnerability or makes us appear less desirable. Or we may be afraid that the other person will be angry, perhaps even angry enough to leave us. Withholding information from an intimate partner or someone else close to you is a means of manipulation and control, and while you may get what you want in the short term, this will harm your relationship over time. If nothing else, be ruthlessly honest with yourself about your motives.

As she makes these difficult aspects with Chiron and Neptune, Venus also sextiles Saturn early in the week. This is good energy for solidifying your committed relationships, provided you are willing to do the work. In financial matters, this positive Venus-Saturn contact can help you make progress, even with Mercury retrograde.

The Moon in Aquarius conjoins Chiron on Thursday and Neptune on Friday, triggering the Mercury-Sun aspect earlier in the week. Also on Thursday and Friday, Venus forms a happy trine to unpredictable Uranus. Typically the surprises that arrive under this aspect are happy ones. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready for some of that!

Overall, we’ll get a bit of a breather this week, so take advantage while you can. Next week is the Full Moon in Aries, the day before Mercury turns direct, and I’m betting that a lot of pent-up energy will be released at that time. Neith will have more on this in a day or two.

Love and blessings,

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image:  The Hallucinogenic Toreador, by Salvador Dalí, 1968-1970. Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida. I chose this image because it so nicely represents the confused, complicated energies of Venus this week. However, on a deeper level, this painting contains symbolism for suddenly seeing the whole, a psychological phenomenon called “emergence” in Gestalt theory.

Saturday Archives: The Natal Chart in Synastry, Part 1 – Pluto

Judgement - Pluto from Celestial DeckIn honor of Mars entering his home sign of Scorpio, I selected this post on how Pluto in our natal charts affects our ability to relate to others.

Because I keep referring to our natal charts as the starting point of what to consider first when looking at compatibility with others, I thought I would do some posts looking at how the outer planets impact how we relate to others. So I’m going to start with the furthest out, Pluto, and work in towards the Sun . . .

I have touched on Pluto in synastry but there is always more where he is concerned. Pluto is all about the depths of our beings and it can take a lifetime to explore all his mysteries. When looking at a natal chart to get a sense of how the individual will react/respond in relationships, Pluto aspects can offer significant clues. In fact, the two books I read and reviewed here this past year, “The Hades Moon” and “Healing Pluto Problems”, contain a lot of very sound information on the Pluto effect in natal charts. So I will hit some of the high points in this post and suggest both books as resources for further exploration.

Pluto aspecting the Sun, especially by conjunction, square and opposition, points to a tendency to obsess when it comes to relationships. This is an individual who often draws other Plutonians or Scorpios to themselves, and just as often scares the holy crap out of those who are not interested in wading through the darker side of their natures. Often a Pluto transit to the Sun will help this person work their way down to the reasons behind their obsessive behaviors. This is a painful process but can do wonders for freeing us from the worst of our obsessions, making it a lot easier to form good relationships with others.

When the Moon is in aspect to Pluto, the emotional issues are often a source of angst. I suggest reading “The Hades Moon” as a primer on dealing with issues stemming from Moon/Pluto aspects. One of the difficulties with Moon/Pluto aspects is the nature of the Moon herself. She describes our intuitive, unconscious behaviors and feeling nature; and often forgiveness of self and acceptance of what we may view as “bad” is imperative to begin the healing process. The rewards for taking the plunge and healing our emotional wounds can be finding a way to self-respect and better relationships.

Venus and Mars in aspect to Pluto can lead to “sticky fingers”. Pluto here makes it very, very hard to keep from holding on to the object of our desire so hard it destroys the relationship. Mars/Pluto aspects often give us hints as to what type of behaviors we sabotage potentially good relationships with, and Venus/Pluto aspects can be likened to a black hole of neediness. Again the solution lies within our selves . . . we need to find our way to reclaiming our power from the dark side and owning it without judgment. This is possible because I’ve done it . . . but only with help from Donna Cunningham’s tools for dealing with Pluto. Yes, I know, good Plutonian that I am, I keep recommending her books over and over. :-)

Pluto conjuncting the Ascendant or Descendant is obviously going to have an impact in how the person reacts/responds when relating to others on a one-to-one basis too. Pluto on the Ascendant (or Scorpio Rising) is the power player and often lays down the rules in a “my way or the highway” manner. Their partners are often the submissive sorts who don’t mind being bossed around. Having Pluto on the Descendant is the reverse of this – the partner drawn to this individual is the controlling type.

All of the above examples are drawn broadly and I would like to note that there are many people out there who use their Pluto aspects natally in a much less drastic fashion. If you are looking at your chart and seeing Pluto aspects, the best course of action is to start the process of acceptance and understanding. Giving our selves the time to allow healing to take place is important too. This all comes from personal experience in case you are wondering . . . I am a Plutonian and Pluto has transited ALL my personal planets and Ascendant by conjunction. And I’m still here to talk about it!

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Ask Real Astrologers: Is There Any Hope for Me?

 This week’s question comes from Michele in Los Angeles:

I was born on [date deleted for privacy]. Is this a significant date of someone who has a certain mission? My life has been filled with roadblocks and I am getting very tired. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Michele, with several planets in Leo, your Ascendant in Scorpio, and Mars in Taurus on the Descendant, you are a strong fixed-sign person. I am, too, and so I can sympathize with where you are right now.

The fixed signs – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius – can be difficult to work with, because they are stubborn and immovable. The flip side is that they are stable, reliable, and durable. We can carry burdens that would break others. Of course, that can mean we get a heavier load in life, too.

Leo and Aquarius are being impacted heavily right now due to a series of eclipses in these two signs that began this past February and will run until August 2009. To a lesser degree, Scorpio and Taurus also are being impacted (along with Scorpio and Taurus Rising). Since you are a Rising Scorpio, you are getting hit doubly hard. I don’t doubt that you are tired. I am, too! But hang in there, because you are being offered an opportunity to transform, grow, and evolve. Unfortunately, this never happens without a certain amount of pain.

Simultaneously with the eclipses, we are experiencing an opposition of Saturn and Uranus. These two patterns don’t seem to be related, but they are linked in an indirect way. I bring this up, because Saturn currently is moving through your tenth house of career and is transiting your lunar North Node in Virgo. The North Node often indicates our “mission” in life, so I feel fairly sure that you are about to find it.

Your challenge, as I see it, is that you have a lot of “self-oriented” Leo energy in your chart, while your North Node in Virgo indicates that your life’s work is about service to others. You will have to find a balance that allows you to fully express who you are while also serving humanity.

Astrology is a great tool for creating a roadmap. I strongly advise you to get a full reading to help you understand how you can channel your talents and creativity to fulfill your life’s purpose.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Libra ponders . . .
Neith’s response:

Michele, Neptune has a role in both your sense you have a mission and your tiredness and frustration both natally and by transit.

You have Neptune natally in Scorpio in the twelfth house of service square to your bright stellium in Leo of the Sun, Moon and Venus. This is an aspect that can bestow a certain amount of glamour to one and allows for others to project their expectations on you. If you have been unconsciously attempting to live up to those expectations it is no surprise you are weary. By the way, this particular aspect is frequently found in the charts of celebrities who make a living being someone other than themselves.

For the better part of the past year, transiting Neptune in your third house has been either squaring your Ascendant exactly or the ruler of your Ascendant, Mars. Neptune transits are most noticeable when they are exact by degree, other than that they fade into the background. The transit to your natal Mars also exacerbates your natal Uranus-Mars square, usually a source of energy for you but Neptune can act like as a conduit draining the energy away. The first pass of the this transit is over with two more coming next year, one in late January – early February and the final pass in October-November 2009. These will be periods when you need to take extra care of your health and get plenty of rest.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is let go of all preconceived ideas because those often prevent us from moving forward. If you do not already practice yoga, tai chi or some other form of meditative movement for calming the mind and allowing peace to enter, I highly recommend doing so.

Take time for yourself in a nurturing environment and remember to breathe!  Best of luck to you, Michele.

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Synastry of John and Cindy McCain

John & Cindy McCain With Sun signs in Virgo and Taurus, John and Cindy McCain are an earth duo. They share an appreciation for the here-and-now reality of the physical world and a generally conservative approach to life.

Although Sun signs are not necessarily that important in synastry, two people with Sun signs in the same element generally tend to understand one another. Moreover, John’s Moon is in Capricorn, the third earth sign, and Cindy’s Moon may be in Capricorn, too, depending on what time she was born. As with the other political couples I’ve written about, missing birth data makes it tough to achieve a 100-percent precise reading.

The one air element in their synastry, appropriately, is a trine between John’s Mercury in Libra and Cindy’s Mercury in Gemini – invaluable for communications. Since they have a Saturn-Mercury intra-aspect, with John’s Saturn squaring Cindy’s Mercury and her Saturn semi-sextile his Mercury, he can come across as rather authoritarian on occasion, causing her to step back and close down. Without the benefit of the harmonious trine between their Mercury signs, it would be more difficult to open the door to understanding.

They do have good chemistry, with his Leo Mars sextile her Gemini Venus and her Mars in Capricorn trine his Venus in Virgo. John’s natal Mars is square Uranus and trine Jupiter, giving him impulse control issues, so Cindy’s ability to respond to his needs with understanding has no doubt been very good for their relationship.

Because of their 18-year age difference, they both have the North Node in Capricorn, South Node in Cancer. The synastry aspects to the lunar nodes show a deep connection, with her Venus-Jupiter in Gemini forming an out-of-sign conjunction with his South Node in Cancer. This aspect may show how her wealth allows them to live comfortably with several homes around the country. Her Mars conjoins his North Node in Capricorn, providing active support for his need to serve his country and its traditions.

Chiron is another active element in their synastry, with her Venus conjunct his Chiron in Gemini and his Moon conjunct her Chiron in Capricorn. The question here is whether these two sympathetic personal planets have provided a comfort level allowing for the healing of old wounds. Chiron often shows us where we feel most insecure, and John has a square between natal Chiron and Venus, reflecting doubts about being loveable. Cindy’s Chiron is closely trine her Sun, suggesting that she experienced positive reinforcement of her self-esteem growing up, thus making it likely she has been able to help John sort through his issues in this area.

They both have Juno in Leo, with Cindy’s Pluto in Leo closely conjoining them. Their idea of an ideal marriage and household is thus very similar, and this particular aspect has no doubt stood them in good stead with all the entertaining in support of John’s political career over the years. With Pluto adding his two cents, discussions about jealously and possessive behaviors had to have played a role behind the scenes.

With the strong Capricorn element in both charts and their favorable synastry aspects in general, it is easy to understand how they are both drawn to politics and serving their country in very traditional ways. They both share a desire to live within a conventional framework, and it has obviously worked for them as a couple, because John and Cindy were married for 29 years as of April.

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Verified Birth Data: John McCain 29 August 1936, Cocosolo, Panama; Cindy McCain 20 May 1954, Chicago, IL

Weekly Forecast September 29: New Moon in Libra, Mars enters Scorpio

BUSTED!We’ll feel a major energy shift this week as Mars enters his own sign of Scorpio. Relationships continue to be our focus, but there are twists and complications.

That’s not until Friday, though, so I’m getting ahead of myself. The week begins with the New Moon in Libra, which Neith wrote about at length in a post last week. By the way, her lunation posts are drawing record numbers of page views for us, and we are now read in all 50 states and nearly 100 countries around the world!

The Moon remains in Libra on Tuesday and conjoins Mercury and Mars and trines Neptune. Mercury just turned retrograde and either is wreaking havoc with your relationships or allowing you to go back and review where you took a wrong turn — not that these two effects are mutually exclusive. Sometimes we need to be forced to deal with issues we’d rather avoid. Put another way, the more deeply you’re in denial, the harsher the wakeup call. But if you’ve been hoping for an opportunity for a healing heart-to-heart talk, you can have it now. Embrace all that comes your way, and make a special effort not to avoid necessary confrontation. Used properly, conflict leads to growth.

On Thursday (Friday in the Eastern Hemisphere), Mars sextiles Pluto. Modern astrologers use Pluto as the ruler of Scorpio, but Mars remains Scorpio’s co-ruler. When these two are in a favorable relationship, their combined energies are available to help us shift out of thought and behavior patterns that may be keeping us stuck. Mars will carry this powerful Plutonian charge with him as he enters Scorpio at 9:34 p.m. Friday on the West Coast of the United States.

Since mid-August, the Warrior has been in Libra, where he is decidedly less warlike but stripped of his vital energy. Until last week, Venus also was in Libra, one of the two signs she rules. These symbols of divine masculine and feminine conjoined on September 11 in her sign, giving the upper hand to feminine qualities of diplomacy and compromise. He went along, but he may have whined about it, or perhaps he expressed his displeasure through passive-aggressive means such as little digs or inner rebellion.

Well, now the tables are turned. He is at his best, while she is not. Mars in Scorpio knows what he wants, and he knows how to get it. It is not through cajoling or gentle persuasion, but through targeted action. If he meets with resistance, he will resort to whatever means necessary. Some of those means might not be very nice, but they will be effective.

Venus in Scorpio knows what she wants, too, or at least she thinks she does. She may obsess endlessly on it and use underhanded means such as manipulation and subtle lies. Then, once she gets it, she may not want it anymore.

So what does all of this mean for you?

You may notice after Friday that you are tired of endless negotiating and putting up with less than you want and deserve. If you’re not getting what you want in a relationship, a job, or some other situation, be honest and open, and be firm. Demands and threats won’t work. You’ll need to put your money where your mouth is.

At every step of the way, examine your motives, especially if others are standing in your way. Do you really want what you think you want? Are you engaging in a hidden struggle for power and control? Or are you perhaps standing in your own way by controlling a part of you that needs to be expressed and heard? Are you telling yourself you need to be nice, when a tougher stance may be more appropriate?

If you do need to discuss a relationship, Saturday’s trine between Mercury and Chiron will help you discuss hurt feelings. Don’t expect any immediate resolution. Just be content to get the issues out in the open.

Sunday’s Venus-Jupiter sextile brings some relief in the way of a little self-indulgence. Remember, a little will go a long way, so there’s no need to go overboard and leave yourself with the equivalent of a hangover on Monday.

Hang in there.

Love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mars and Venus Surprised by Apollo, by Hendrick de Clerck (1570-1629). I concede that there’s a certain cheesiness to this image, and you have to wonder whether the artist used a female model for Venus. But several artists from this era painted this theme, which for some reason was very popular at the time.

Ask Real Astrologers: Good Time to Publish

 This week we have a question from Deb in New York:

I am a Libra with a Leo moon and Sagittarius rising (gotta love that Sagittarian energy) who has been working on many a creative endeavor for a while now, mostly in the fields of writing and art. 

I’d like to know of an ideal time to publish a novel, either in late-2008 or early-2009.  Somehow, I keep “feeling” February, but I could have something finished as early as December.

Any help is greatly appreciated.  I’ve never had an astrological concern addressed before.  Thank you!

Libra ponders . . .
Neith’s response:

Hi Deb! Yes, with Sagittarius rising it is no surprise writing is one of your interests and since your natal Jupiter, Sagittarius’s ruler, is found in your ninth house conjunct your North Node you are probably a natural. Saturn in Virgo in the ninth gives you the necessary 90% perspiration to go with the 10% inspiration much needed for a writer. Perseverance counts for a lot in that field.

December of this year actually looks to be the better time period because you will have a Mars-Mercury conjunction in Sagittarius conjoining your Ascendant December 2 helping with presentation. During December Jupiter is continuing through your second house and will have just finished squaring your Libra Sun as well as forming a trine with your natal Saturn, all pointing to lots going on where your personal income is concerned.

One of the biggest transits for you is your Saturn Return being exact most of the month of December 2008. If we have been working hard in a responsible manner, we will start seeing recognition for that during the period of our Saturn Return. Saturn will be making a brief second pass over your natal Saturn in August 2009 on his way towards your Midheaven in mid-November 2009.

Best wishes with your writing and getting published!!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s Answer:

Deb, you are very fortunate to be on the upward side of your Saturn cycle. Not only are you about to experience your first Saturn return, which often is a life-changing period, but Saturn is nearing your Midheaven, which indicates a career peak.

So I’d say that everything looks pretty good for whatever you want to do.

In terms of exact timing for sending queries, looking for an agent, and the finer points, that must be determined by sitting down an astrologer personally and doing a complete analysis. For example, you want to avoid void-of-course Moon periods, and you’d want to know where Mercury currently was retrograde in your chart. I am not taking new clients at the moment, but Neith is available, and I highly recommend her.

Best of luck in your endeavor! May all your dreams come true.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. Reminder: Please remember to tell us where you’re located!
Pat’s Answer:

New Moon in Libra, September 29, 2008

New Moon by Maxfield ParrishThis is the first New Moon following the autumnal equinox and is the doorway to the period leading up the winter solstice, which marks the end of one solar year and the beginning of the new one.

Any New Moon in Libra always draws attention to our one-on-one relationships, matters of equity and justice, making informed decisions, and focusing attention on the “other” rather than ourselves. Libra is the halfway point of the astrological year and a good time to look at what has happened since the New Moon in Aries six months ago. With five planets in air signs in this chart, the intellectual approach to problem-solving is favored.

Since Mercury in Libra is retrograde on the New Moon, reviewing old business is a far better option than attempting to start something new, even though Mars is still conjunct Mercury, encouraging us to take action. Perhaps a better use of this cardinal energy is to sit down with our partners and take a look at what works and what doesn’t. The trine from Mercury in Libra to Neptune in Aquarius is still in effect and very helpful for taking the high road and applying a generous dose of compassion and empathy.

Venus, Libra’s ruler, has recently moved into Scorpio and is closely semi-sextile the Sun-Moon conjunction, strengthening the bond between them. While Libra really does prefer to stay in the mental realms, Venus in Scorpio can be very insistent about the need to look deeper and examine our motives and the “whys” behind our obsessive behaviors. What do we need to do for emotional housecleaning? Do our relationships truly benefit both parties, or would separation be the best course? These are the type of questions to ask now.

In addition, an inconjunct from Uranus in Pisces to Mercury in Libra still is resonating in the atmosphere. Uranus can be very persistent in reminding us of the need to be true to our authentic selves, and this inconjunct to Mercury can be the mosquito in our gardens flying around our heads bugging us to pay attention to ensure our own needs are being met.

The sextile from Mars in Libra to Pluto in Sagittarius will be exact on October 1. We have a window of opportunity here supporting our efforts to clear out the debris in our lives generated by the T-square with Pluto on the last Full Moon. Of course, we can always ignore this and go on as we have, but keep in mind that sooner or later, Pluto will demand his due.

The grand trine with Jupiter in Capricorn, Saturn in Virgo, and Vesta in Taurus is once more in effect. This pattern was also in the sky during the eclipse on August 16, but Venus and Mercury were in Virgo conjoining Saturn then adding their bit. This is the bare bones version but the message of healing through taking a practical, grounded approach is still there. Because we are working with the flowing energy of the trine, to get the most out of this pattern, we must consciously choose to do so.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is 7 Libra:  A woman feeding chickens and protecting them from the hawks, with the keyword GUARDIANSHIP. In 360 Degrees of Wisdom, Lynda Hill writes that there is the perception that one’s guard can’t be let down without someone, or something, taking advantage. This symbol is most closely tied to the slightly irritating semi-sextile between Venus in vigilant Scorpio and the New Moon in Libra, representing our nurturing side. The trick here is to avoid being overly protective and allowing others to make their own choices, facilitating the learning process.

Perhaps the best use of this lunation is to recognize where we are receiving genuine love and support and nurture those connections. It never hurts to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us and thank them for their help and being there for us. Oh yes, remember to practice moderation in all things including moderation . . . that’s Libra!

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.

Weekly Forecast September 22: Mercury Retrograde

The Cadence of Autumn, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1905Well, the first thing you might notice is that this forecast is a day late. I blame retrograde Mercury!

Before I talk about that, though, let’s welcome the Sun in Libra, also known as the fall equinox. I have to admit that I’m not feeling it all that much, not with Mercury, Mars, and Venus all in Libra since August 30. We’ve had a good dose of Libra energy since then, so the Sun’s passage through the sign of balance is somewhat anticlimactic, except for the Libra and Aries lunations, which Neith will have more on shortly.

It is “officially” the first day of fall, though, and that has a psychological effect. The process of harvesting, gathering, and preservation is programmed into our DNA, as are the shorter days and longer, chillier nights. We are aware that winter is on the way.

Venus leaves Libra and enters Scorpio on Tuesday. Venus is in her fall in Scorpio, and while many astrologers consider this a sexy and even psychic placement of Venus, she also can be obsessive and manipulative, neither of which help foster honest and open communications with those you love. We will all have to mindful of giving up control over situations and other people.

This will be all the more important with Mercury conjoining Mars in Libra earlier Tuesday. Difficult Mercury-Mars aspects are notorious for heated words. Because Libra is a more balanced sign, those words might be disguised as “nice” when they are meant to inflict pain or to express anger.

The Messenger goes into “reverse” on Wednesday at nearly 23 degrees Libra and will retrograde back to about 7 degrees Libra before returning direct on October 15. Relationship issues will be vulnerable to revisiting and rehashing, especially those that come up on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. There’s almost no point in trying to figure out where you stand, because that could change in the next three weeks, and more than once. Just try to remain as open-minded and as open-hearted as possible, and look inward to your desires and motivations. If you don’t feel ready to admit them to others, at least be honest with yourself.

The rest of the week is fairly low-key, with no aspects between major planets Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, retrograde Mercury trines Neptune, marking the first opportunity to have a healing discussion. Don’t expect much from this, though, and if you can’t get your message through, step back and wait for a couple of weeks, difficult as that may be. Trying to force discussions while Mercury is retrograde can get us in trouble even deeper, and Neptune is known for clouding the issues.

By this weekend, we’ll start feeling the New Moon in Libra on Monday. Other than occurring during Mercury retrograde, this should be a fairly easy lunation. Look for Neith’s post tomorrow.

Until then, love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. For more information on the upcoming Mercury retrograde, see my recent Saturday Extra post.

Image: The Cadence of Autumn, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1905.