Category Archives: About astrology

Weekly Forecast October 19: Sun Enters Scorpio

The Sun goes into Scorpio this week, and here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a time for turning inward.

The mood is set right off, with the Moon in Scorpio on Monday and Tuesday. She actually entered Scorpio yesterday (Sunday) and squared Mars, which entered Leo this past Friday. There was no mistaking it for me! With Mars sitting right on my Descendant, I got smacked but good … and by a Scorpio, no less!

Of course, we’re also still in the wake of Sunday’s New Moon in Libra, with Venus and Mercury also in the sign of reconciliation and harmony. So there’s at least a chance to talk things through, and this will continue throughout this week. Tuesday’s trine between Mercury and Jupiter should go a long way toward repairing any dings, and we can further discuss hurt feelings on Thursday, when Mercury trines Chiron. Just make sure you don’t cause more of them.

The Sun enters Scorpio on Friday, which also has happens to be Neith’s birthday, so please join me in a big birthday wish for my cherished friend and business partner.

On Saturday, the Sun forms a sextile with Pluto in Capricorn, which should help us repair situations with authority figures, be they supervisors, parents, or the government bureaucracy. You’ll have to make a case for yourself and won’t get any favors you don’t deserve, but it’s still an opportunity that’s there if you need it.

Later on Saturday, Mercury trines Neptune, a nice aspect for writing poetry or doing any kind of work that requires creative imagination. It’s a good time to tell someone how much you appreciate them, too.

Meanwhile, Jupiter continues to yawn and stretch, giving us a little extra luck in one or more areas of our lives. I’ve noticed some improvements here and there and am hoping for more.

Lastly, Saturn is moving through the final degrees of Virgo before entering Libra next week. He’s not done yet, as he’ll turn retrograde in January and return to Virgo for a few months next year. So whatever you’re working on now, you’ll probably have to revisit later, but do your best. Even the stern taskmaster can’t require any more of us than that.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Right on cue, the wet, rotting time begins here in the Pacific Northwest. Our winters may not have a lot of snow, but they are very Scorpionic nonetheless. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Saturday Extra: Libra and Leo – No Problems, Right?

For a change of pace I decided to do a short post on synastry in response to a reader’s question. She is Libra Sun and her boyfriend is a Leo – very fitting, with Venus having just returned to her home sign and Mars arriving in Leo yesterday.

Ms. Libra asks why her Leo boyfriend has her so baffled all the time when their synastry seems quite good at first glance. Fiery Leo is usually very appreciate of charming Libra.

This is a good example of why it’s important to move past Sun signs for understanding how we relate to others. For those with either Libra Sun or Ascendant, the placement of Venus is particularly important. In Ms. Libra’s chart, Venus is in Scorpio square Saturn in Leo, where both planets are in their detriment. What this means is neither are at their best and brightest. Venus can be obsessive and possessive in Scorpio while, dour Saturn greatly diminishes Leo’s sense of fun.

Mr. Leo’s Sun is conjunct his Venus in Leo, increasing his warmth and charm, but both are square his Jupiter in Scorpio. This has me wondering if perhaps he likes to spread all the charm around a little too much for Ms. Libra’s comfort?

Her Venus conjoins his Jupiter, squaring his Sun-Venus. Venus square Venus in synastry shows a disparity between each individual’s ideas of what constitutes a good time. Scorpio prefers to be alone with their lover and Leo wants to show them off at every party in town.

Another potential source of differences is Mars, his in detached Aquarius and hers in passionate Scorpio. This can lead to heated discussions about how to get things done, because the way they get from ‘A’ to ‘B’ is very different. Scorpio is noted for getting an amazing amount accomplished with a minimum amount of discussion, while Aquarius wants to set up a study group before taking one step.

Is there any workaround for them? Possibly, but they need to be honest with themselves and each other first and foremost. If Ms. Libra has questions about her lover’s fidelity, those need to be addressed ASAP, because with as much Scorpio as she has, anything less than total fidelity is not going to work.

When it comes to their differences about what’s enjoyable (Venus square Venus), finding a compromise probably won’t be that difficult, but the square between her Mars and his, both in fixed signs, may be more challenging. It all depends on how attached each of them is to being right. Sometimes the best solution is to take turns instead of attempting to work together!

With Saturn about to move into Libra, we all will be learning the fine art of compromise when seeking to improve our relationships.

posted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast October 12: Jupiter Direct, Mars Enters Leo

Had enough rest? I hope so, because we’re in for a busy week!

Mercury is back in Libra, picking up speed, and leaves his post-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday. Just as he’s entering new territory, Venus enters Libra. Relationships will benefit enormously from this double dose of Libra, especially after weeks of Venus and Mercury in nitpicky Virgo. If you and a loved one have been getting on each other’s nerves, you can both relax!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s have a look at this week’s lineup, one day at a time.

On Monday, Mars sextiles Saturn, just as both are about to enter a new sign. The Mars force is suppressed in watery Cancer, but even though our physical energy hasn’t been the most vibrant, it should pick up early this week so that we can finish up projects that have been on our plate for awhile. If those projects involve paperwork and mental concentration, so much the better.

On Tuesday, Jupiter returns direct at 17 degrees Aquarius. He’ll need a few days to yawn and stretch, but once he does, many of us are going to see major movement. How much depends on where he’s currently transiting your chart, but with the New Moon this weekend favorably angled to Jupiter, you should see at least a small obstacle clearing. The Big Guy is in my first house, so I’m expecting significant news. I’ll keep you posted.

Also on Tuesday, Venus conjoins Saturn in Virgo and sextiles Mars. Venus-Saturn aspects aren’t the happiest, especially for romantic relationships. Talk about a bucket of cold water. The inclusion of Mars in this configuration should mitigate that effect somewhat, though, and hopefully the outcome will be embers that glow for a long time rather than a flame that flares up but dies out just as quickly. I’ll be interested to get feedback on how you experience this three-way energy.

Even if you do suffer a little setback or temporary disconnect, all that should change when Venus enters Libra on Wednesday. This is her territory, and with Mercury and the Sun also in the sign of harmonious relations, people everywhere should be feeling more courteous and conciliatory. While Venus is in Libra, it’s also a great time for haircuts, manicures, and beauty treatments of all time. Goddess knows, I should have waited. I had my haircut last week during Venus in Virgo and I’m not at all happy with it. Yes, as an astrologer, I should have known better!

On Thursday, Venus squares Pluto. One of the problems with this aspect is that the heat can be too intense and judgment can fly out the window. This also is one of those energy combinations that can feed into manipulation. Venus uses sex and charm to get what she wants, while Pluto uses money and power. Age-old story, isn’t it? But whatever works between consenting adults…

Friday could be a hot date night, as the Moon enters Libra and amplifies the Venus-Pluto square. The real news, though, is the entry of Mars in fiery Leo. We’ll have more on this planet-sign combination in the weeks and months ahead, as Mars will be retrograde in Leo from December 20 to March 10. I’m already on the edge of my seat for this one. In the meantime, we should all feel a bit more energetic.

The weekend will be dominated by Sunday’s New Moon at 25 degrees Libra, in a close trine with Neptune and Chiron and a wider trine with newly direct Jupiter. The energy of the New Moon still will be very active early next week, so next week could be even busier!

I’m looking forward to some lovely new beginnings and wish the same for you.

Much love to all,
Pat

Image: The Bulgarian theatre group Temp performs their show ‘Wings in the Fire’ in Skopje earlier this year. What could better express the energy of Mars in Leo than a live performance with fire? Photo by Robert Atanasovski for Agence France-Presse.

Ask Real Astrologers: New Career Path Possible?

This week’s question comes from Lise in Melbourne, Australia:

I have a blind spot big time with my career. I know what I love doing, no problem with that, but putting things into context with my career, nada. I’ve been mostly in administration for years, medical mostly though some law in earlier days. It really does nothing for me, but comfort level keeps me here. Ideas/comments much appreciated!

Pat’s response:

Lise, it’s no surprise that you’ve done administrative work, and in law and medicine. In your birth chart, the ruler of your tenth house (career) is Jupiter, and he’s in the tenth house, too. Jupiter and the sign he rules, Sagittarius, are associated with medicine, law, and higher learning. Further, your Jupiter is in Capricorn, the sign of administration and keeping order. I’ll bet you’re one of the best, most reliable admins on the planet! Not only are you comfortable in that line of work, but your supervisors no doubt love you, too.

That indeed would be hard to give up, and I’m guessing that your career really does satisfy you in some deeply important way. Based solely on your chart, I’d say it probably had to do with material comfort. This is nothing to sneeze at, especially in this economy.

That said, there is a trend in industrialized countries toward giving up lucrative careers and downsizing households in order to follow one’s heart. That’s what I hear in your question, and it’s also no surprise that you’re asking it now. As I mentioned above, Jupiter is a key career indicator in your chart, and since late December 2008, you’ve had Pluto transiting your Jupiter. Pluto transforms everything he touches, and he also demands that we dig deeply to determine whether we’re being true to ourselves.

If you feel a need to get out of admin, why not establish your own business? Your chart suggests that you would be extremely successful on your own. If you’re not ready to do that yet, you could start doing what you love on the side until you feel comfortable enough to make the switch. Or, you might just see what this Pluto transit does. Often, he takes care of the problem for us — not in a way that’s easy or comfortable, but just like you, we can rely on him to get the job done.

Best of luck to you!

Neith’s response:

Yes, Lise, it is easy to see why you choose to work within the medical system with Pisces rising and your Scorpio Sun-Neptune conjunction. Helping others in some capacity is part of who you are.

Over the past year, transiting Uranus in your first house has been inconjunct your natal Uranus in Leo in your sixth house. It is this element I suspect of agitating for a change of vocations and the need to be doing something more personally fulfilling. Uranus transits to the first house make us antsy and eager to do something new and different almost without exception.

Your sixth house Uranus in Leo is trine to Venus in Sagittarius in your tenth, connecting two of the houses relating to our career or vocational path. Because trines work so smoothly we often overlook their benefits. There is tremendous creative potential with any Venus-Uranus aspect as well as the ability to come up with new and exciting ideas on the spur of the moment. Do you have a creative hobby or interest of some type? Have you ever given thought to turning it into something more?

Ideally you can come up with a way to combine your creative abilities with your natural inclination to be of service to others. Uranus will continue to prod you to make changes through March 2010, helping overcome the natural reluctance of your fixed sign Sun to try something new.

Good luck! Remember to stay open to the offbeat and unusual ideas that pop up, Lise. You’ll break out yet.

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: Any Hopes For Jupiter Going Direct?

Jupiter is creeping to a halt this week in preparation for returning direct next Tuesday. Jupiter’s retrograde periods typically aren’t traumatic, but since he went retrograde on June 15, many of us haven’t been able to move forward in certain areas of our lives.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to explore the dreams and wishes you may have in connection with the planet that ancients called the Greater Benefic.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Pat

Weekly Forecast October 5: Mercury Enters Libra

This should be a slow week, not without a surprise or two, but mostly we will have a chance to assimilate new information from the Full Moon and other recent events.

In terms of planetary transits, there isn’t a whole lot going on. As this week begins, we’re still in the wake of Saturday’s Full Moon in Aries. For some of us, this Full Moon may have been the culmination of a shift that has been evolving since July, when we began a new series of eclipses. If that happened to you, then the next two weeks will be an adjustment phase.

Mercury begins in earnest this week to retrace the steps of his retrograde path. On Thursday (late Wednesday in western time zones) he conjoins Saturn in Virgo, the third of three passes, and on Saturday, he makes a third and final square to Pluto.

You may have a chance to resolve a particular issue that came up in mid-August. Mercury-Saturn aspects can increase our ability to think critically, and this is especially true when the two are conjunct in Virgo. The downside is that there could be a tendency to find fault in small details, both in ourselves and others, that may not matter much. If you’re stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, just be aware of it for now.

Mercury re-enters Libra on Friday, and at that point, your point of view will balance itself out. Sometimes it’s our perception of the world and not actual events that cause us grief. If this has the case for you, you should feel a weight lifting later this week. That said, you may have to get over a bit of a hump first, as Mercury and Pluto make contact and expose an uncomfortable truth.

Friday could also be a day of surprises, when Venus opposes Uranus. This is not a heavy duty Uranus aspect. Although there is a small possibility of upsets in relationships or finances, you may just get an opportunity to get out of your normal routine and do something different, probably in the context of a close relationship.

The dominant energy of this week likely will be Jupiter’s station in preparation for returning direct on October 13. He’s in my first house, and I’ve been feeling a drag on my energy. Depending where he is in your chart, you might feel slow and heavy, too.

On Saturday, Jupiter gets a positive trine from the Sun. This is a highly optimistic combination, and you might get a clue about what’s to come when Jupiter returns direct next week. There’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in this aspect, and while we don’t want to succumb to wishful thinking, we need positive reinforcement from time to time to remind us that dreams can and do come true.

Love and blessings to all,
Pat

Saturday Archives: Pluto Transit Through The Twelfth House

Black-eyed Susans and Stargazer Lilies Donna Cunningham has written several posts recently on the twelfth house and reading those reminded me of this post from the archives.

Since most of my personal planets are found in the twelfth house, when planets transit through that neighborhood I know it!

There seems to be a lot of interest in what happens as a result of Pluto transiting through the twelfth House and since I’ve had that pleasure, I thought I would relate some of my experiences and resulting revelations.

First, it’s important to know Scorpio is the sign on the cusp of my twelfth House. And I have my Sun conjunct that cusp at 29°54′ Libra along with Jupiter, Part of Fortune, Mars and Mercury. To say this was a major transit for me is an understatement. Additionally Uranus was transiting my first House, conjoining my Venus and moving on to oppose my natal Uranus. Yes, life was interesting.

At the time Pluto was starting into the twelfth House conjoining my Sun, I moved 1,800 hundred miles courtesy of the Uranus transit to my Venus in Sagittarius. My motive was to be with a man who was considered a spiritual leader of the local Sufi community. I really didn’t know any of the people in this new community well at all, making this classic Uranus transit stuff – full speed ahead, eyes firmly shut.

This man I got involved with was 11 yrs older than I, a triple Leo with Mars in Scorpio and Uranus in Taurus squaring his Leo. He also remembered NOTHING of his childhood before about age 10! This is often a very good indicator of a really awful childhood.

In essence, the lessons I learned were not from what this man said, but from who he was. He misused kundalini energy during sex to enhance orgasms without first informing me among other things (Pluto/Scorpio/eighth House stuff). I only stayed with him for three months and was furiously angry with him most of the time. He never did understand why I was so angry either. My explanations made no sense to him at all. After I moved out, I saw him at other gatherings of the spiritual community and could not stand for him to touch me – a gut level reaction.

The months before I moved back to home base, Pluto was moving over my Jupiter and Part of Fortune. Even though the relationship I was in at the time had many good things going for it, it was damaged at the core for two reasons. One, I had thought this man loved me as I was and it turned out he was just waiting for me to change, and two, as a result of that flawed experience with kundalini energy, I just couldn’t bring myself to make love with this man. An aside: this man had Saturn in Scorpio conjunct my Mars in Scorpio – this could have been a factor too.

When transiting Uranus opposed my natal Uranus, I moved north – zip, zip, zip – and spent most of the next four years essentially living alone. During those years I also did a lot of reading on astrology, looking at charts, and thinking deeply. Liz Greene’s book, “The Astrology of Fate”, opened a door in my mind in regards to Pluto and learning the importance of accepting one’s self as a complete package.

My personal analogy was called “the monster in the garden.” If we view ourselves as a garden, accepting only the pretty side of ourselves while ignoring our darker nature, it will grow like a monster weed among the lovely flowers and shrubs. Conversely, if we acknowledge and accept our dark side without prejudice, it will become fertilizer in our garden and enrich our lives even more. Pluto is more than willing to help us compost our weeds!

posted by Neith . . .

Image: Here are some of the lovely flowers in my garden – black-eyed susans and stargazer lilies.

Ask Real Astrologers: Why Can’t We Communicate?

This week’s question comes from Anita in Maryland:

I am currently in a relationship with a Cancer man who is very special. However, the last three weeks have been awful. We seem to miscommunicate and hurt each other’s feelings so easily. This isn’t the first time this has happened. We were apart for most of January of this year. I really love him and I know that he wants to take some time, but is there any insight you can give us to understand each other better?

Pat’s response:

Anita, there’s a lot going on between the two of you to explain the rough spots, but the immediate problem you’re describing has the marks of Mercury retrograde all over it.

During Mercury retrograde periods, even the best relationships can suffer from miscommunications. Relationships that aren’t on sound footing can fall apart (it has happened to me a few times in my life). This Mercury retrograde was particularly hard on your relationship, because Mercury was sitting on your Descendant, an important chart angle that is the cusp of the seventh house. The seventh house rules marriage and committed partnerships.

Mercury returned direct on September 29, and he’ll cross back over your Descendant a week from today. At that time, you should be able to discuss your most recent problems and get some clarity as to where the breakdown occurred.

Since you indicate that you’ve had ongoing issues, you likely will have to address those, too, and fortunately we’re coming up on a great time for you to do so. Not only will Mercury be in your seventh house, but there’s a New Moon in this area of your chart on October 18 that should help you get a fresh start with your sweetie.

In the meantime, I strongly advise you to get a reading with a qualified astrologer to help you understand the broader aspects between you. I encourage you to ask your partner for his permission to do this and to see whether he’d like to join you for the reading. This is the ethical thing to do, and it will help build trust between you.

I think you’re going to be just fine, but do write and let us know how it goes.

Neith’s response:

Anita, when it comes to relationships, the first thing I always do is look at the natal charts for information on behaviors and habit patterns both people bring with them. Natal aspects to the Moon and Mercury can hold the keys to our habit patterns (Moon) and the way we communicate (Mercury).

On one hand, your Mercury in Aquarius is trine Uranus, blessing you with an innovative, brilliant mind. On the other, it is square Neptune, ruler of your Sun sign, Pisces. I suspect that when emotions enter the picture, you start second guessing yourself, leading to confusion. Be thankful your Moon is generally well-aspected, giving you a high degree of emotional stability.

Your Cancer man has Mercury square Jupiter and Uranus – great for jumping to conclusions before all the facts are in. Since we don’t have a birth time for him, it is not possible to determine whether his Moon is in late Pisces or early Aries. However, in either case Uranus will oppose his Moon, increasing his need for lots of space and feeling emotionally independent.

Pluto in Capricorn conjoining your Moon and squaring his natal Moon-Uranus opposition was the likely culprit triggering the problems you two have been experiencing. Pluto has a way of introducing us to our issues with control and our little obsessions. When it comes to Pluto and Uranus, the tighter Pluto tries to hold on, the faster Uranus will run.

Does any of this sound familiar, Anita? If so, then perhaps an honest discussion about how much space you both need to really appreciate your time together is in order. You both have your Mercury in air signs, enabling you to articulate your feelings, very important for two water sign-Sun people.

Have faith in yourself, Anita, and do your best to keep your hands open, not clenched. Good luck!!

Weekly Forecast September 28: Mercury Direct, Full Moon in Aries

Mercury returns direct this week, and while this didn’t seem to be the worst-ever retrograde period, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and get on with life.

Mercury went retrograde on September 7 at 6 degrees Libra, and he slipped back into Virgo, which is where he’ll return direct on Tuesday. As usual, it will take him a few days to get back up to speed, and that means we could experience a lot of delays this week, especially in transportation and anything that has to do with computers.

At the same time, we’re approaching the 90-day mark from the July eclipses, with Mars solidly in eclipse territory. I wrote a special post on this effect on Saturday, intended to be a heads up that this week could be powerful for many of us, especially those who didn’t experience any significant events in July. If you did, then you may get a “booster” this week, or Sunday’s Full Moon could pass without notice.

Mercury remains in a close sextile with Mars this week, with exact contact on Thursday and Sunday. We’ll likely be very busy, and we may have more family obligations than usual. Or we may have a lot of work around the house or home improvement projects. Mercury in Virgo can be hypercritical, so if you’re around family, resist the temptation to nitpick. A little effort will make your visit much more pleasant. Another possibility is that you will resent doing favors for people you think should do it themselves. Remember that your loved ones are special and worth a little aggravation from time to time.

Both Mercury and Mars make aspects to Uranus on Sunday, and this could bring an element of surprise to your plans and projects. It also could speed up events considerably. If you’ve been lamenting a lack of movement, you’ll be pleased with the increase in activity. Otherwise, you may have to concentrate on slowing down.

Speaking of slowing down, the nights are getting longer and colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, and we’re well into the fall harvest season. Sunday’s Full Moon promises to be bold and beautiful. This is the time of year when I switch from cold salads to hot soup — which really is just a cooked salad, right? I also like to bake, since it’s no longer too hot to have the oven on.

Neith will have more about the Full Moon later this week, so check back. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is settling into the shift that is taking place. Some of you have told me that the changes in light and sound vibrations are somewhat disturbing. Hopefully, with the Sun in Libra, the rebalancing will be without a lot of drama and fanfare.

Love and blessings to all,
Pat

Image: Lengthening shadows of fall. I took this photo in my backyard this morning.

Saturday Extra!Eclipse Cycle Mile Markers

We’ve been in a new cycle of eclipses since early July, although you’d hardly know it. A few people I know experienced notable events in July, but for many, it was strangely quiet.

The “Big Event” solar eclipse of July 21 was a degree shy of my Descendant, so you’d think I’d have been one of the people to feel it. If it made a blip on my radar screen, I’ve forgotten already. Eclipses often take 30 days to deliver results, but I didn’t notice any major developments then, either. What gives?

Well, it appears that these eclipses either are late bloomers or need some time to build up steam. And that seems to be happening now.

To refresh your memory, the eclipses were in Aquarius and Leo starting in February 2008. The last in this series occurred on August 5. Meanwhile, the new series, in Capricorn and Cancer, began with a lunar eclipse on July 7, followed by the total solar eclipse at 29 degrees Cancer two weeks later.

Two key astrological events are acting as triggers that may set the energy of this new eclipse series in play. So if, like me, you didn’t feel much of anything, you may start feeling the delayed reaction soon, if you haven’t already.

Mars, which often acts as a trigger when he passes key degrees, currently is in Cancer. On September 20, he crossed the degree of the lunar eclipse on July 7. On October 12, he’ll activate the second eclipse. This is an important date, as it’s also the day that Jupiter returns direct. Individually and collectively, we can expect major movement around this date.

We likely won’t have to wait that long, though, because there’s a Full Moon on October 3, the 90-day point, or square to the July 7 eclipse. Mercury will be direct by then, too, and things tend to get moving again when the Messenger comes out of a retrograde phase.

Personally, I’ve felt a shift this summer. Externally, it’s barely detectable, but the picture is coming into greater focus. Inwardly, there has been an enormous change. Whether it’s related to the new series of eclipses, the old one (more likely), or other factors doesn’t seem to matter. In many ways, it seems that the changes taking place over the past several months are part of a bigger trend that began many years ago — in other words, just details.

But these details make all the difference in the world.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Image: Port After Stormy Seas, an allegorical work by Pre-Raphaelite painter Evelyn De Morgan, 1905.

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