Category Archives: About astrology

Ask Real Astrologers: Why Can’t Mom and Daughter Get Along?

This week’s question comes from Charlotte in Pennsylvania:

My daughter and I can’t seem to be in the same room for very long. Her Saturn and Mars are conjunct my Moon and Uranus in the ninth house. Could this be the culprit? Her Moon sits on her Ascendant at 7 Virgo. She is an emotional basket case, and I’m raising her child … Any insight would be very helpful.

P.S She thinks she’s pregnant again!

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Charlotte, not only is her Saturn-Mars conjunct your Moon-Uranus, but her Uranus conjoins your Ascendant, only adding to the unpredictability factor. I would not be surprised to find that you both think the other is impulsive and very independent-minded.

However, you two do have many parallel signatures in your natal charts. You both have Moon square Neptune, Venus aspecting Neptune, Venus aspecting Pluto, and natal Moon-Uranus aspects. These parallels hold out hope for greater understanding between you, but it may take some doing to end up in the same place at the same time long enough to get there.

Saturn in Libra will conjoin her Pluto in October 2010 and your Sun in December 2010. Since her Pluto is closely inconjunct her Venus-Jupiter in Taurus, it does look like that transit is going to be an important one for her. Perhaps she will be forced into taking responsibility in some way, or at the very least her pursuit of pleasure will be curtailed.

If she is indeed pregnant again, you may be in the unenviable position of having to decide whether or not you have the resources, both emotional and financial, to rear another child. Is there anyone you can talk this over with? Here is where a neutral third party could do you both a world of good.

I wish you well, Charlotte, in finding your path to resolution of your relationship with your daughter. There are no easy answers, as no doubt you are already aware.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Charlotte, I agree with Neith that this is a difficult chart combination with no easy answers. It reminds me of those times when I know that planetary transits are interfering with my ability to relate to others or to one person in particular, and still I can’t keep myself from doing or saying the wrong thing. In such cases, astrology can help us understand the obstacles in our path, but finding a way to remove them is another matter.

Still, at least you know what you are dealing with — and, by the way, you get major points for seeing that difficult aspect in your synastry chart. It certainly is the one that leapt out at me right away!

Another thing that immediately got my attention is your very tight Sun-Saturn opposition. With your Saturn opposite your daughter’s Sun, I’m guessing that you feel duty bound to parent her, for better or for worse, and her stubborn Taurus nature is going to naturally resist anyone telling her what to do. You’ve probably already figured out that the more you try to advise her or guide her, the more she tunes you out. I’m guessing that she perceives you as controlling, whether or not you actually are.

I would certainly be concerned that she is back in the vicinity and possibly pregnant. As Neith wisely pointed out, you will have to set your boundaries. At this point, it is up to you to focus on your own personal growth and awareness, and to let your daughter grow and develop in her own way, in her own time.

What becomes of your granddaughter is another question, of course. You didn’t give us her chart information, but she is an integral part of this equation and will become more of one the older she gets. Until then, her welfare has to be the primary consideration. Because she is a minor, circumstances may require family counseling at some point. More and more therapists are incorporating astrology into their practice. Hopefully you will be able to find one who understands the difficult dynamics and can help you work through it.

I join Neith in wishing you the best of luck. Thank you so much for writing.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact us, or we don’t get your question. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” Thanks!

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Ready for Mars Rx Season?

This Sunday Mars stations retrograde at 20° Leo, effectively slowing action to a crawl for most of us. We’ll feel it all the more, since only a few hours later, the Moon in Aquarius (sign of the collective) will oppose Mars.

For those of us with our natal Mars in the fixed signs – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius – this celestial event likely will be quite evident, for better or worse. Oddly enough, even though Mars has been squaring my natal Mars in Scorpio for the past week or so, I am not feeling noticeably testier or more tired than usual. I am attributing this to the fact Mars is my chart ruler and deliberate is my usual pace.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to know whether you’re feeling any effects of Mars retrograde. If you’ve got any antidotes, leave a comment and let us know. We’re all in this together!

Libra always seeks balanceposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast December 14: New Moon in Sagittarius, Mars Retrograde

Blewett PassWhen I’m traveling by air, I hate it when the plane lands and, for an agonizing few seconds, I’m subject to the negative g-force. That’s the feeling I have this week as Mars slows down in preparation for turning retrograde.

Although there’s a lot going on astrologically this week, the impending retrograde of Mars is what we’re likely to feel the most. That’s because Mars rules our physical energy, and when he’s slowing down (that’s what it looks like from down here anyway), we tend to do the same.

Mars also rules steel and moving parts, which means we’ll see his effect on holiday traffic. With Mercury also slowing down, we can expect mall traffic to be even more of a nightmare than usual. If you find yourself in that situation, stay alert for drivers who may be inclined to take out their frustrations on the gas pedal.

In her New Moon post, Neith already mentioned the dominant aspects of this week, but I’ll run through them here chronologically.

On Monday, the Sun squares Uranus and sextiles Jupiter. Conflicting angles between the Sun and Uranus sometimes suggest accidents and disruption, and while Jupiter may amplify them and make them really big, his lucky influence also can bring happy endings to tense situations. For many people, this planetary combination may indicate an exciting break in routine for something fun and totally unexpected.

On Tuesday, the Sun sextiles Neptune, which is in a three-way conjunction with Jupiter and Chiron. Sextiles tend to be easy, and often they pass without any notice. It’s also going to be just plain difficult to figure out which planetary combination triggers which event, since there are so many planets involved … kind of like trying to determine who caused a 12-car pileup.

Tuesday’s Moon-Venus conjunction makes this my favorite day of the week for a party or for getting together with friends after work for some holiday cheer.

Wednesday is the New Moon in Sagittarius, three degrees from the Galactic Center. Be on the alert for “downloads.” They could come in brilliant flashes of insight, in dreams, while meditating, or by some other means. Be sure to record these messages somewhere so that you can contemplate them over time.

An hour and a half after the New Moon, the Moon enters somber Capricorn and immediately triggers the Saturn-Pluto square. You may feel lonely, isolated, or disempowered under this influence, but it won’t last long.

Venus trines Mars on Thursday, just as he’s close to a complete halt. She’s got a captive audience, so he’ll just have to sit there and listen to her, and then he’ll go off and think about it. If any of you are having “discussions” with a partner who’s lagging a little behind you spiritually or emotionally, be patient and give him or her some space, while continuing to be completely honest about how you feel.

Saturday’s sextile from Venus to Chiron and square from Venus to Uranus promises to bring a surprising breakthrough in healing a rift between you and someone else.

Mars finally turns retrograde on Sunday. If you’re out and about, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Keep your to-do list short and your shopping reasonable, as it won’t take much to get shopped out. The Moon opposes Mars later in the day, increasing the risk of arguments due to overstimulation and fatigue.

Fortunately, we’ll also have Venus in a lovely sextile to Neptune and Jupiter to lift our spirits and help us remember what the holidays are all about. With so much media pressure to show our love through material gifts, we often forget that the best thing we can give is precious moments truly connecting with those we love.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Snow on Blewett Pass, one of the few routes through the mountains separating the Seattle metropolitan area from the vast open stretches of Eastern Washington. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Weekly Forecast December 7: Mercury Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn

Christmas in Leavenworth. © James A. Weythman, 2009.

I know I’ve written this before, but now I really, really mean it: We’re in a time of major shifts, and it’s hard to keep our bearings when the ground isn’t steady under our feet.

This can be nerve-wracking or it can be exciting, depending on your point of view. Maybe both at the same time. I concede that, as a fixed-sign person, changes are harder for me to adjust to, and that tends to color my take on what’s happening in the sky. But humans in general don’t like change, even positive changes that we know we need. And all growth requires change.

I see this week as an incubation period. Now that Uranus is direct, all the planets and even the major asteroids are direct until Mars turns retrograde on December 20. We have a short window in which we can advance by light years. That applies to personal development, relationships, career moves, domestic circumstances, and specific projects we may be working on.

On Monday, Jupiter conjoins Chiron for the third and last time, and we also are approaching the final conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune (exact on December 21), not to be repeated for another 13 years. There is a real opportunity for deep healing of old wounds, especially those that are imprinted in our energy field. This is a subtle business, though, so you will have to be very observant and pay attention to understand how this particular aspect is manifesting. If you’ve been working on your own healing for the past year, you’ll see results in the next two weeks. Finally, you can look and see how far you’ve come.

If you need help playing detective and getting to the root of matters, Monday’s Mercury-Pluto conjunction will go a long way toward increasing your understanding. What comes up may not be comfortable, but it will be the truth. We can’t solve problems if we don’t understand what’s causing them.

Because this conjunction is in Capricorn, it also should help with financial issues. Watch for news about scandals involving money. Since Mercury also squares Saturn on the same day, news stories may involve government regulation and industry efforts to avoid having to meet stricter codes. Personally, we may find that the way to resolve issues that come up this week is belt-tightening or some other form of self-discipline.

As I mentioned in last week’s forecast, Mercury is slowing down in preparation to turn retrograde later this month. That means that all aspects this week involving Mercury will have more impact than they normally would. The Messenger enters his pre-retrograde shadow period on Thursday, so start wrapping up all your shopping and mailing. It would be best not to purchase any expensive items or electronic devices after this date.

Fortunately, the Sun is still in fun-loving Sagittarius, and on Thursday, it trines Mars in Leo, another party sign. Early season holiday parties will be lively. If you’re planning one, include lots of music and a place to dance, as well as strings of colorful holiday lights.

Do take advantage of this chance to have a good time, because Mercury and Mars retrograde are going to take their toll this holiday season, in ways that you may not be able to foresee right now. The healing work we do this week will be much more effective, too, if we laugh and have fun.

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

Saturday Extra! Holiday Planning with Mercury Retrograde

Blizzard in the UKAs most of you know, another Mercury retrograde period will be upon us soon, just in time to mess with the best-laid holiday plans.

With Mars also about to go into reverse, the typical delays and frustrations that vex us while Mercury is retrograde could cause temper tantrums and emotional meltdowns everywhere. The holidays are stressful enough as it is, and I’m sorry to have to report that this season may be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Fortunately, since you know about this in advance, you can take some measures to mitigate the worst effects of Mercury retrograde. Indeed, all of you seem to be aware of this already. According to our Wednesday poll, the majority of you are planning to get your shopping and mailing done early, before Mercury and Mars go retrograde and turn all the UPS trucks into pumpkins.

As for holiday shopping and other daily activities, the usual caveats apply and then some. Be absolutely sure to buy all big-ticket items early this month. Hopefully, you even took advantage of all those Black Friday specials and have most of your major shopping out of the way. Electronic devices in particular need to be purchased while Mercury is direct. Watches, a popular gift item, also should be purchased now, as should cars and auto accessories – anything that has to do with transportation.

Most companies don’t make hiring decisions at this time of year, and they may put off important new business until after the first of the year. That will be problematic, as Mercury will be retrograde until January 15. If you get a new job opportunity, hopefully you’ll be able to stall signing the contract until then.

The effects of Mars retrograde are a bit harder to deal with and will take some mindfulness to counter. First of all, we all will need to make a sincere effort to communicate clearly, and when the inevitable breakdowns occur, we will have to resist the urge to blame the other person. Even if it seems like the other person was insensitive or not paying attention, respond with love and kindness, and be willing to forgive and forget. If the person in question really is malicious or intentionally showing you disrespect, that will come out again later, and you can deal with it then.

I’ll have more on Mercury in my weekly forecast on Monday. In the meantime, I wish you all much love and abundance.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Our Readers: Going Retro for the Holidays

As most of our readers know, Mercury and Mars both go retrograde this month, just in time to mess with the winter holidays. Although Mercury doesn’t reverse motion until December 26, he’ll be in the pre-retrograde shadow period starting on December 10. Mars turns retrograde on December 20. This combination doesn’t bode well for a smooth holiday season, and we can expect long lines for gift return.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to know whether being aware of Mercury retrograde is changing your approach to the holidays.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast November 23: Sun and Mercury in Sagittarius

Pat's tart tatin with organic applesIn the United States, it’s Thanksgiving week, when many people take two or more days off to eat too much, watch too much football, and shop ’til they drop.

You’ll be happy to know that the planets are obliging on all fronts. For the most part, this week’s astrological energy is much lighter and more fun. With the Sun and Mercury in the travel-loving sign of Sagittarius, it’s also a good week for being on the road or in the air.

Fortunately, we get the Venus-Jupiter square out of the way on Monday, well before we’re at a table overloaded with turkey, gravy, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams with miniature marshmallows, and five different kinds of pie. Hard Venus-Jupiter aspects are notorious for overindulging, and this will be all the more true with Venus in Scorpio.

On Tuesday, the Sun forms a happy sextile with Saturn, and hopefully this will help us get past some of the issues raised when Saturn squared Pluto a week ago. That square is still active, but with illumination from the Sun, we may be able to understand how to work around seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Trying to see the bigger picture is always a good strategy, but it will be especially effective now.

Wednesday is our day for surprises, hopefully of the happy kind, when Venus trines Uranus, both in deep-feeling water signs. It’s a perfect day for showing up on the doorstep of friends and family, with your homemade specialties and other gourmet treats in hand.

On Thursday, Mercury in Sagittarius trines Mars in Leo, a great day for driving, lively conversation, and sports. Sagittarius is very competitive, and Mars the warrior is all fired up in playful Leo. I’m not into football myself, but for those who are, today’s games will be particularly dramatic and entertaining.

Also on Thursday, Venus squares Neptune. Among other things, this is the classic “eyes bigger than your stomach” aspect. Start with small helpings and go back for seconds if you’re still hungry. If you’re drinking or using other mind-altering substances, take some care, as you’ll be tempted to overdo it.

Sunday is another excellent football day, with Mercury in a spirited sextile with Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius. Later in the day, Mercury sextiles Chiron, the wounded healer. Let’s hope this is a sign of injuries averted and not an indication that your favorite player gets carried off the field.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: My attempt at a tart tatin, a French apple pie baked upside-down with the crust on top, then flipped onto a plate. The photographer is none other than our own dear Tseka, who dropped by last week for a wonderful visit. I’m wearing one of her new talismans, which are selling out everywhere she takes them.

Ask Our Readers: Uranus Stationing Heebie Jeebies

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Uranus is at a virtual standstill preparing to go direct on December 1, 2009 at 22° 42′ Pisces and if you have a planet or Angle between 21° and 23° as I do, you may be feeling jangled and twitchy.

When calm did not return after an intense New Moon on Monday, I started checking and realized Uranus was the culprit because it is exactly trine my natal Mercury triggering a natal Mercury-Uranus inconjunct.

Uranus often has the most immediate impact of all the outer planets by transit because of its electrical, dynamic nature. If it forms aspects to your personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) or your chart Angles (Ascendant, Nadir, Descendant and Midheaven), you will be particularly sensitive to its transits over those degree points.

Anyone else experiencing the Uranus affect by transit?

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast November 16: New Moon in Scorpio, Sun Enters Sagittarius

The Rotting SeasonDevelopments that began unfolding last Thursday or Friday continue to play out in what promises to be another intense week. There likely will be another surprise or two, and it’s anyone’s guess whether it will be pleasant or of the other variety.

The week begins with a powerful New Moon in Scorpio. You’ve probably read Neith’s complete report, but if not, it’s a must-read. This New Moon comes fully loaded with six out of ten planets in fixed signs, virtually guaranteeing some sort of conflict.

Now, as I’m so fond of saying, not all conflict is bad. Sometimes we need it to push us out of a rut. If nothing else, we are forced to decide what we really want. If we don’t make a point of setting priorities, life sometimes hands us a situation to get our attention. That has happened to me a couple of times already in the past week, and I’m expecting more of it this week, with the New Moon dead on my lunar North Node and Midheaven.

If for some reason someone or something has you feeling cornered, look to the sign opposite the apex of the T-square for direction, which would range from about 11 degrees to 25 degrees of Taurus. In my chart, 25 degrees Taurus is my South Node and IC, so for resolution I might look to home, family, or memories from childhood. Or, if I come against a problem I can’t get a handle on, the source might be behavior I’m not aware of that no longer serves me. That’s what I would tell a client, anyway.

The New Moon can represent powerful new beginnings, so keep that in mind, too. Sometimes in order to make a fresh start, we need to leave something or someone behind for good.

On Tuesday, Mercury sextiles Saturn. Positive Mercury-Saturn contacts typically help our concentration. In this case, we may get some clarity regarding a long-term relationship, and we’ll be able to discuss matters frankly and honestly with the other person.

Venus squares Mars on Thursday, and this often can manifest as conflict in love relationships, especially involving issues of jealousy, possessiveness, and dominance. If you’re attracted to someone and are prevented from acting on it, one or both of you could end up frustrated and irritable. This is all the more true if you’re unaware of your feelings or deliberately suppressing them. But this aspect also represents the tension in an intimate relationship that leads to unbridled passion.

Also on Thursday, the Moon conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn. I wrote about this influence last week, when the Moon conjoined Saturn and squared Pluto. If you got a blip on your radar screen last Thursday or Friday (I did), it may grow into something more this week.

Relief from all this intensity comes on Saturday, when the Sun enters Sagittarius. The Archer is a centaur, a mythological creature who is half man, half horse. Except for Chiron, the centaurs were a wild bunch and loved playing around, in all senses of the word. But hey, we all have to cut loose once in awhile and have fun, damn the torpedoes. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret in the morning.

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

Image: We’re seriously into winter here in the Pacific Northwest, with the relentless cold rain that leads to the most impressive composting and rot I’ve ever seen. Scorpio is the sign of death, rebirth, and transformation, and here we are, in the uncomfortable dying out phase. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Ask Real Astrologers: What Location Should I Use for a Solar Return Chart?

This week’s question comes from Kerrie in Washington State:

I was in Paris, France, on my birthday, and it changes the house placement [of my Solar Return chart]. Is it appropriate to use my birthplace, which puts Libra on the Ascendant, or Paris, which moves it to Capricorn?

[NOTE: Neith is taking a much-needed rest after three harrowing days of upgrading our site. She will be back for next week’s Q&A.]

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Excellent question, Kerrie. Before I answer, let me briefly explain what a Solar Return chart is for those who have never heard of it.

In astrology, a “return” occurs when a transiting planet moves back to its position in your birth chart. Many people have heard of the Saturn return, which happens to everyone in their late 20s and late 50s.

The Solar Return chart is cast for the exact moment when the Sun moves over the degree of your natal Sun. This may be on your birthday or a day or two on either side. Thus, the Solar Return is sometimes called a birthday chart.

The Solar Return chart is used as a predictive tool to determine the dominant themes in your life from one birthday to the next. The sign on the Ascendant is a key indicator and therefore very important. And yes, it changes depending on where you are.

That said, there is a big debate among astrologers as to whether you should cast your Solar Return chart for your primary place of residence or where you’re physically located on your birthday. Some go so far as to plan on being somewhere else on their birthday in order to influence the coming year!

I would say that if you were taking a short vacation to another place, it probably isn’t that significant, and you should use your primary residence. Conversely, if you were on an extended trip abroad, I would use your temporary location. I know there will be other astrologers who radically disagree with me, and that’s perfectly OK. You might want to look at both charts and then when your birthday rolls around in 2010, determine which was more accurate.

Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous year, Kerrie!

Please note that Neith and I both do Solar Return charts. You can find more information on our forecast page.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact us, or we don’t get your question. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” Thanks!