Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast March 5: Mercury Conjunct Uranus, Full Moon in Virgo

Fish fighting for food. © Renars Jurkovskis for Dreamstime.com

As we head into even more conflict this week, it’s a good time to discuss the general idea of conflict.

Simply put, we need conflict. Rather than trying to make it go away, we might do better to understand its role in our growth and evolution. We need to learn to make peace with conflict, as it were.

How many people think conflict is bad by definition and to be avoided? In fact, there is no avoiding conflict. We don’t all want the same things, and that, in a nutshell, is the source of conflict. There seems to be a movement these days toward trying to get everyone to want and need the same thing. We’re all supposed to hold hands, sing Kumbaya, acknowledge that we’re all part of the human family, etcetera ad nauseam. The first tactic is to try to persuade everyone to agree on what’s desirable. When that doesn’t happen (and it never will), group leaders resort to underhanded, manipulative tactics to try to coerce others to accept their worldview – the whole point being to avoid conflict. It’s comical, when you think about it. The result, however, is no laughing matter.

One of the most insidious manipulation techniques I’ve had to grapple with over the past couple of weeks is the use of pop psychology terms applied backwards. I’m reminded of a situation I encountered as a teenager babysitting two small children for the couple next door. Jody, 5, had discovered an ingenious means of getting what she wanted. She’d walk up to her 3-year-old brother, Danny, and grab his toy, often by force. When he put up the predictable protest (which typically involved hitting and pushing), she’d go to her mother and complain in her best victim voice, “Danny won’t share” or “Danny hit me.” I witnessed poor Danny getting spanked more than once. Finally, I said something to their mother, who immediately called Jody into the room and asked whether it was true that she took Danny’s toys. Of course, Jody lied, and her mother accepted her word over mine. I tried to help Danny by giving him extra special attention and care. But then Jody started making a fuss whenever I babysat. I don’t need to tell you how that turned out.

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about how this story applies to many relationships today, be they political, social, personal, or romantic. For my part, I’ve had intimate contact with the aggressive side of Mars over the past few weeks, and I’ve finally realized with crystal clarity that it serves a productive purpose – even as it destroys. The old and unworkable needs to be eliminated in order to clear the way for the new and sustainable. The destroyer is serving a high and noble cause, but invariably, he is labeled “bad” and “negative.” It does tend to make him a bit feisty and irritable. Hopefully, under Mercury and Mars retrograde, some light will be shed on how situations and relationships devolved into irreconcilable conflict and how we can move past these obstacles to reach our goals.

Saturn retrograde in Libra with Mars retrograde is helping us to understand the role of conflict in finding balance. Balance doesn’t happen by forcing everyone into agreement – if that were even possible. We need multiple points of view. Without them, what we have is the tyranny of the majority our forefathers warned against. Have you ever noticed that when disagreements arise, people tend to try to convince others of their position and then form a group of people who think the same way? Truth isn’t determined by numbers.

As of last Friday, Mercury is in Aries, so now he and Mars are in mutual reception. As I predicted, the noise level went up immediately, and it will go up another several decibels when Mercury turns retrograde on March 12. In addition, computer problems are escalating from the merely frustrating to the absolutely ridiculous. I’ve been editing a spot for the film and video program that should have taken a week. Due to computer breakdowns, I’m now in my fourth week and counting. If any of you tried to access RealAstrolgers yesterday, you may have noticed a page of error messages. The fix took more than three hours, although I can’t fault my web host, InMotion Hosting. They were extra busy yesterday – big surprise there – and did the job as fast as they could. And they were so darn polite – a real feat, given the astrological climate. On Thursday, I received an e-mail from a client about a computer nightmare at her workplace that could turn into total chaos when her company switches over to a new system on March 12. Monday’s conjunction of Mercury and Uranus is the spark that ignites the electrical fire – literally and figuratively. I can’t say it enough: back up your computer data!

Chart for Full Moon in Virgo

Click on image to enlarge

Thursday’s Full Moon in Virgo likely will bring a lot of conflict to a head, so be prepared. As the volume increases, seek to maintain your integrity and responsibility – two key ideas for Saturn in Libra. Know what you want, why you want it, and what you have to do to get it. Know the difference between selfishness and enlightened self-interest. This distinction will become increasingly important as Uranus approaches an exact square with Pluto. Conflicts that emerge now actually can help you clarify your goals and purpose.

On the positive side – and there is one, thank goddess – Venus enters Taurus on Monday. Jupiter also is in Taurus, and these two are quite a lucky pair. They’ll form an exact conjunction next week, but they’re close enough at the Full Moon to create a positive vibe for manifesting real, concrete results, despite the tension and conflict – or perhaps because of it. Venus and Jupiter will form one leg of an earth trine with Pluto in Capricorn and Mars in Virgo. This creative configuration reinforces the notion that the destructive force of Mars is breaking down structures that are no longer serving us, clearing space for a fresh start. We’ve been traveling that road since summer of 2010 (some of us earlier), and this is a major milestone.

Again, it’s helpful to keep our sights on our long-term goals and our life’s purpose as we navigate through the rough seas of the next few weeks. Look for new developments that will blossom with the spring flowers, after Mercury and Mars return direct in the first half of April. Speaking of spring flowers, Venus sextiles Neptune on Tuesday, giving us an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature as an antidote to all the BS.

Wishing you infinite love, courage, and beauty,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast February 27: Mercury Enters Aries, Sun Opposite Mars

Swimming with sharks. © Pavel Erofeev for Dreamstime.com

I don’t know if I’m going to survive this Mars retrograde. To be more precise, life as I know it may not survive this Mars retrograde.

I’m so far behind on my academic work, I’m not sure if I’ll get it all done before the end of the quarter. (For those of you waiting for reports, I’m trying to program in a few hours a week to catch up, so hopefully I’ll be able to respond to you soon.) Beyond that, I’m not sure whether the program in which I’m enrolled will survive the state’s budget cuts. Infighting among classmates and faculty isn’t helping. Everyone is demoralized and depressed.

The good news is that the energy of retrograde Mars in Virgo destroys what isn’t working, clearing the way for new, healthier and more supportive structures to take root. It may turn out that what you fear losing isn’t worth keeping, and if you let go and allow a breakdown to happen, the outcome will be circumstances more conducive to fulfilling your divine mission in life.

Speaking of which, I posted Ruth’s article on Pisces this morning (late, of course; it was supposed to be up yesterday). All of Ruth’s posts are special, but this one is particularly brilliant and resonated with me. With my Pisces Moon, I consider myself an “honorary Pisces.” Even if you don’t have a lot of Pisces energy in your chart, her article is well worth reading.

So, on that note, let’s talk about the most significant planetary aspects this week. First, Mercury enters Aries on Friday, which means that Mercury and Mars officially will be in mutual reception (when each of two planets are in the sign ruled by the other). Mars retrograde in Virgo has felt an awful lot like Mercury retrograde, so I suspect that when these two are linked in this special relationship, the effect is going to be amplified. That means even more error messages, dead batteries, crashed servers, equipment failures, infections, and other frustrating computer glitches.

Mercury also is approaching his own retrograde, starting March 12. I’m always hesitant to say things are going to get worse, but it’s hard to imagine that Mercury in Aries is going to help any. I won’t be surprised if people go from mere yelling to throwing objects across the room at each other, from nitpicking to outright scorn. Start looking now for ways to duck and cover. If you can’t stay out of the line of fire, think up a good flak jacket. Virgo demands precision and accuracy, so one way you’ll be able to deflect criticism is by having your facts straight, with all i’s dotted and t’s crossed.

On Saturday, the noise level goes up another few decibels with the Sun opposing Mars. If you don’t have to work with others, you can get a lot done under this aspect. However, if your work involves collaboration, or if your main area of contention these days is in a personal relationship, be prepared for a hot-and-heavy argument. This is tough, because the nature of this sign-pair combination suggests that someone is at risk of being dumped on. If you find yourself in such a predicament, you might have to shout out your differences.

In some cases, such a release can lead to a peaceful solution. However, it’s more likely that if you have an argument this weekend, you may have to spend time in that uncomfortable state of feeling that no one is on your side and nothing you do is ever good enough. Venus and Saturn are opposed on Sunday, suggesting feelings of isolation and alienation, at least for a few hours. If you feel down, tell yourself it won’t last – and it won’t. These influences won’t last more than a day, as Venus and the Sun move relatively quickly.

On the positive side this week, we have a harmonious sextile from the Sun to Pluto on Tuesday. Use the first two days of this week to clean up messes, whether literal – like the dishes stacked in the sink or the trash blocking the back door – or emotional. You can do a lot to preempt the Sun-Mars opposition later in the week by addressing “messy” personal situations now.

As I mentioned above, I’m trying to carve out some time to fulfill report orders, giving priority to pre-ordered March StarGuide reports. A few of you also are waiting for consultation follow-ups. I just want you to know that I haven’t forgotten about you.

So, as we head into another tough week, just know that you’re truly not alone, that others are facing similar obstacles. We all just need to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Wishing you infinite love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, please check out the article in Forbes on financial astrology, quoting Ray Merriman. Good astrologers are priceless in our effort to get more respect for our craft.

Weekly Forecast February 20: New Moon in Pisces

© Dan Collier for Dreamstime.com

Twice this past week, I worked so late in the editing room that I missed the last bus home. That meant walking a mile up a steep hill at midnight, in the rain, dragging a pack full of books.

As I struggled to put one foot in front of the other and keep going, it occurred to me that this was a good image for the astrological period we’re moving through, which won’t end until Mars returns direct on April 13. Saturn will still be retrograde, which will have its own set of issues, but at least we won’t feel so dragged down, demoralized, and obstructed.

That said, it does appear that some good is coming out of the combined retrogrades of Mars and Saturn, with the latter in the relationship-oriented sign of Libra. Saturn turned retrograde two weeks ago and has been sitting at 29 degrees Libra, where he’ll remain until March 4. By the time an outer planet has reached the last degree of a sign, we’re ready to move on to the next lesson. But there’s still something we have to learn about commitment in relationships and maintaining inner balance while interacting closely with others.

Conflict is a natural part of any relationship, but Libra seeks to avoid it in an attempt to “keep the peace.” Under retrograde Mars, with the help of Venus in Mars-ruled Aries, conflicts are being provoked that ultimately will help restore the balance in circumstances that have been out of equilibrium for too long, often due to those attempts at keeping the peace. If you’ve been embroiled in conflict for the past week or two, take heart. Events are unfolding to help you move past it and find higher ground. But you will have to do a lot of heavy lifting. You can’t expect that the other person will make all the concessions. At the same time, you can’t be the one who caves and gives up everything just to avoid more conflict. In fact, you’ll just be deferring it.

The other conflict-averse sign of the zodiac is Pisces, but for different reasons. Whereas Libra strives for harmony and balance, Pisces seeks oneness through dissolution of boundaries. However, confusion can be the result, as Pisces is a psychic sponge for everyone else’s thoughts and feelings. As a result, she may not have a strong sense of self, and she needs time to figure out what she really thinks and how she feels. That makes it hard to stand up for herself in a conflict, so she tends to avoid it. (Please remember than when I talk about the signs, I’m referring not only to the Sun sign, but anyone with that particular energy dominant in their chart. It may be your Moon or Rising sign, or a stellium of planets in a particular house or sign. The only way to know for sure which energies are dominant in your chart is to consult with a professional astrologer.)

So, that’s the heavy news for this week. The good news is that we have a lovely Pisces Moon on Tuesday conjunct Neptune and Chiron and sextile Jupiter. Neptune is the modern ruler of Pisces, traditionally ruled by Jupiter. So it’s significant that this New Moon aspects both planets. This is the first time in hundreds of years, by the way, that we’ve had a New Moon in Pisces conjunct Neptune. The last time it happened, Neptune hadn’t even been discovered.

Chart for New Moon in Pisces

Click on image to enlarge

Neptune rules sleep, dreams, the deep psyche, the collective unconscious, past-life memories. There is magic here, and yet there are pitfalls. We’re in an area where lines are blurred, and we can be tricked into thinking we see something that’s not there. Dreams become illusions or delusions. This is where Truth is a moving target.

Pisces also is the sign of empathy and compassion. With the New Moon conjunct Chiron, the wounded healer, we can have greater compassion for our own wounds and, thus, for those of others. Only when we accept our own flaws and weaknesses can we accept them in others and make a heart-centered connection.

Before leaving Pisces on Thursday, the Moon conjoins Mercury as the latter is about to oppose Mars. This is likely to be a difficult day, but there may be room for the kind of dialogue I described above. Just be advised that it could be painful. Getting through it may require struggling to put one foot in front of the other, in the dark, until you get to the top of the hill.

Saturday’s Sun-Jupiter sextile is much happier. Blow off steam from a tough week by going out to a special breakfast with friends and family. Or, you may just want to sleep in and have coffee in bed.

Speaking of bed, I’ll repeat last week’s recommendation to keep a dream journal with you. I’m hearing many reports of vivid, weird, and otherwise unusual dreams. Write them down now so that you can decode them later.

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

Weekly Forecast February 13: Sun and Mercury Enter Pisces

Walking into the land of Pisces. © Petar Neychev for Dreamstime.com

Well, so much for returning to some semblance of sanity.

Due to my heavy academic schedule, I’ve had to cut way back on consultations and reports, and I don’t have a lot of time for the weekly forecasts, either. Talk about Mars retrograde in the tenth house! Rushed to write last week’s forecast, I overlooked all of the inconjuncts – Thursday’s inconjunct from Mercury to retrograde Mars was especially jarring – all happening as Saturn was stationed retrograde. That explains a lot, and it also gives me hope that the wildly fluctuating energies of the past couple of weeks will even out this week, helping us regain some order in our lives. It sure would be nice to go an entire week without another computer crash!

We also make a big shift from Aquarius to Pisces this week. Aquarian energy is like an unstable electrical current, while Pisces is more like the constant motion of the sea. On Monday, Mercury enters Pisces, followed by the Sun on Sunday. Neptune, Chiron, and Pallas already are in the early degrees of the Fishes, so by this time next week, we should all be feeling a lot more Zen.

Before moving into Pisces, Mercury makes a trine to Saturn. With both planets in intellectual air signs, tasks that require concentration and heavy thinking should go well. I have a couple of projects on my plate that fit that description and will appreciate all the help I can get! I recommend taking advantage of this aspect first thing Monday morning, because the vibe will be gone once Mercury changes signs on Monday evening.

With Mercury in Pisces, we’ll have access to the collective conscious and everything beyond. Deep insights are possible; the difficulty is in trying to explain it to anyone. Words fail. Do keep a journal and pen by your bed to record your dreams. I expect that some of us will have some real whoppers Monday night and into the wee hours of Tuesday. If that happens for you, please leave a comment and tell us about it.

On Tuesday, Jupiter in Taurus sextiles Chiron in Pisces, with the Moon in Jupiter’s sign of Sagittarius. Healing can take place, and it can happen big. In some cases, we stay wounded and stuck due to our beliefs about ourselves. The key to healing old wounds – be they physical or emotional, from this life or another incarnation – is not in trying to fix them or make them go away, but in accepting them as a unique part of who we are. The root word of “heal” is to make whole, and it’s Jupiter’s nature to expand the scope of our understanding so that what we have thought of as disparate parts or even polar opposites become parts of a greater whole.

Sometimes, all we need to see the bigger picture is one important detail that has been missing. We can find it when Mercury conjoins Chiron and sextiles Jupiter within a couple of hours on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Venus squares Pluto on Wednesday, one of the not-so-nice aspects of the week. I read this aspect in a couple of different ways. The conventional approach is that Venus in Aries can be selfish and impulsive, while Pluto in Capricorn demands that everyone toe the corporate line. So, for example, if you’re in the middle of a key project at work, don’t even think about asking for a day off because your best friend from high school blew into town unexpectedly and you want to spend the day together. Friday’s Capricorn Moon keeps this dynamic alive through the end of the week. Do your best to keep your nose to the grindstone.

However, I see another possibility here (at least one; I’m sure there are many others). Ceres, planet of environmental consciousness and embodiment of Mother Earth, is also in Aries and makes an exact square with Pluto on Tuesday. That means Venus and Ceres are in close conjunction when they square the symbol of corporate authority. Watch the news headlines for stories of women of all ages standing up to multinational interests backed by governments and military might. Or, it may be Earth herself who fights back in some way. Ceres and Pluto go back a long way. In mythology, she’s his mother-in-law and one of the few characters he knows better than to talk back to. If you’ll recall, Ceres and Pluto were closely conjunct in the chart for the BP Horizon explosion. Regardless of how much power they have, corporations are still bound by the laws of nature.

The Sun enters Pisces on Sunday and immediately conjoins Neptune. Finally we should be able to get some quality downtime. Stay home and watch your favorite film. Why not several, back-to-back? Meditation would be a good activity, too. Schedule a retreat if you can. If nothing else, go down for a delicious afternoon nap. Once again, keep that dream journal handy. Dreams take on significance now, and it’s time to make them come true.

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

Weekly Forecast February 6: Saturn Retrograde, Full Moon in Leo

Studying with Mercury in Aquarius. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

There was a lot of weirdness going on last week, and then the energy suddenly shifted on Friday. Did you notice? I attribute the shift to Neptune’s entry into Pisces and hope that life will return to some semblance of sanity, despite the craziness of Mars retrograde.

Neptune’s shift occurred at 2:03 p.m. EST on Friday. The final two days of Neptune in Aquarius were totally out of control – at least for me. My computer crashed again, and then my backup machine failed. I was without a computer for two critical days in my class work and am now nearly three weeks behind in my assignments. I had to post a notice on my order page that I’m not accepting new report orders or consultations until I’m caught up at school. From an astrologer’s point of view, all of these events are a perfect manifestation of Mars retrograde in Virgo in the tenth house: computer failure, work overload, behind in deadlines, etc.

It also seemed that people were bumping into each other more than usual, and there certainly was a spike on the anger/frustration scale. That said, I got a good reminder on Friday about the beneficial side of Mars anger. When you vent your anger properly, it’s like having a good cry. The explosion clears a lot of blockages and gets your energy flowing again – yet another great manifestation of Mars retrograde in Virgo.

By Saturday, the energy had totally changed. My take on this is that outer planets in the last degree of a sign, poised to enter a new one, send out an intense vibe that contains all the lessons of that planet/sign pair. And since Neptune was in Aquarius, which is ruled by Uranus, and Uranus is in Aries, which is ruled by Mars, the intensity of Neptune in the last degree of Aquarius was channeled through Mars, the planet of anger, action, and conflict.

What was even more interesting, though, is that once Neptune moved into Pisces, the release of anger and frustration cleared the way for a tremendous creative flow. Real magic can happen in rare moments like these. On Saturday, I had an 18-hour film shoot. First of all, I was surprised that I was able to work from 6 a.m. to midnight with few breaks. Secondly, I was amazed by how smoothly the project went. Disagreements were easily managed, and the discussions that arose over artistic differences improved the project. That is Mars energy at its best! Of course, Neptune rules film, so we might also have gotten the first sip of “pure” Neptune in Pisces.

So now let’s turn to this week, which has the potential to be quite dramatic. Tuesday is weighty, with the Full Moon in Leo just as Saturn turns retrograde in the last degree of Libra and Venus moves through the final degree of Pisces. Relationships definitely are a key theme this week, and what transpires may shock and surprise.

Saturn has been in the final degree of Libra since the middle of January, and he’ll remain there until the first week of March. With Saturn in Libra, we’ve been learning lessons about love and commitment, about how to relate to each other fairly and to make compromises that everyone can live with. As Saturn approached the end of Libra, we began closing the books and preparing for finals. What more do we have to learn?

Apparently, a lot …

It’s one thing to learn lessons, but quite another to apply them. And you may find that you end up testing out what you’ve learned with someone other than who you’ve been with up to this point. That’s especially true if you learned your lessons the hard way, through a relationship that was painful but that helped you grow and evolve. Still, I don’t discount the possibility that you will go back for another lesson with the same person.

I can’t help but wonder if one of the big lessons will have to do with anger. I say this, because Venus is about to enter Aries, with Mars retrograde. It is not uncommon for couples to grow apart due to unresolved conflict. There are lots of reasons people prefer to “go along to get along” instead of hashing out the real issues. This strategy may work in a professional environment, but in an intimate relationship, stifled anger not only can destroy the relationship, but it can make the partners physically sick.

On Thursday, Venus conjoins Uranus in Aries, a pair favoring surprises in love and finances. I expect there will be a lot of impulsiveness, which could backfire – either that, or you may have to wait several weeks to see the results of an “instant” attraction. One thing is for sure, though: whatever occurs will be unusual and possibly groundbreaking.

I have more I’d like to write, but I’m depleted from too much work and not enough sleep, and I’m coming down with a cold, so I’ll stop here and hope it’s enough food for thought for you until next week.

Until then, wishing you much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast January 30: Neptune Enters Pisces

Jonah, from Michelangelo's painting on the Sistine Chapel.

In a recent class, we discussed the symbolism of being in the belly of the whale – one of many metaphors to help us understand this week’s shift of Neptune into Pisces.

The most famous example, of course, is the biblical story of Jonah, who tried to escape his destiny by sailing in the opposite direction. He literally was forced to turn around when a huge storm threatened his boat and he was thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a whale, where he spent three days and three nights in meditation before being vomited out unharmed but wholly transformed. The experience set him straight, and thereafter he followed his destiny as a prophet.

Joseph Campbell lists the belly of the whale as a stage in the hero’s journey in which the hero undergoes a symbolic death in order to be spiritually reborn. This stage typically happens near the beginning of the story, as the hero finally accepts that he must leave his familiar, comfortable world to fulfill his higher calling. In some versions of the ancient myth, the whale is a sea monster, sea serpent, or kraken. However, they all contain the common symbol of an underwater terror the hero must face before he can move forward on his spiritual journey. The deep water represents the unconscious – Neptune’s territory.

Many astrologers (myself included) have spoken of a coming leap in human consciousness. With Neptune in Pisces, there is the possibility of a collective descent into the belly of the whale – a scary place, to be sure. An example Campbell sometimes uses to illustrate his point is the scene in the original Star Wars film in which the heroes are trapped in a giant trash compactor. Lurking under the filthy water is a sea monster with tentacles.

As astrologers like to point out, Neptune has two sides. On one hand, it represents a fertile, unlimited imagination the source of which is divine inspiration. On the other, it is illusion and delusion, and on a grand scale. There can even be an overlap of the two – for example, when your imagination runs away with you to the point that you start worrying about huge, scary situations that don’t exist. It’s not hard to see how Neptune in Pisces might bring both sides of Neptune into physical manifestation.

When you think about it, it’s ironic that nowadays we have an entirely different view of whales, which we see as highly evolved beings who may be trying to communicate a message to us. That in itself represents a leap in consciousness. A few months ago, I was talking to a woman here on Vashon who founded a group called Whale Communicators, which is trying to spread the gospel of Granny, a wise old whale with a message for mankind. (Find out more at whalecommunicators.com).

Neptune enters Pisces on Friday and will remain in the sign of the Fishes for 13 years.

Venus, meanwhile, continues her journey through Pisces and opposes Mars on Wednesday. In Pisces, Venus represents higher love and compassion. There’s not enough of either in the world, and certainly not in our daily lives. Make this week count by taking every opportunity to put yourself in others’ shoes. That won’t be easy, with Mars retrograde in nitpicky Virgo. Before you judge, criticize, or condemn, consider what the other person is going through and give him a break. You might even find that you can turn a previously untenable situation around and get a better outcome.

That said, computers everywhere are continuing to act up. I got mine back from the shop late this week, but I had to spend hours reconfiguring my settings for printer, internet connections, and other functions, when I could least afford the extra time. School has been on fast-forward, the past month one big blur – a Neptunian fog, you might say. (To those who have been patiently waiting for reports, my apologies. I’m starting to work through the backlog and ask for your understanding for a bit longer.)

Wishing you all limitless love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast January 23: New Moon in Aquarius, Mars Retrograde

New Moon in Aquarius

© Dan Collier for Dreamstime.com

Pip said it all in her comment on last week’s post. Just about everyone I know started having major computer problems a couple of days ago — myself included.

The Internet connectivity on my computer stopped working at 1 a.m. Saturday. After nearly six hours on the phone with tech support reps in various parts of the world, I took it into a local repair shop, where it remains in a long queue. Why was I not surprised upon hearing that several other people had brought their computers in earlier on the same day? Fortunately, I have a backup, but it’s a poor old lemon that is tortured by the increasing demands for speed and memory of Internet use. I’m trying to be as nice to it as I can so that it will live until I get my regular machine back.

So there you have the essence of Mars stationing to go retrograde in Virgo. Circumstances should improve somewhat once he gets moving again, even in reverse. It beats being stopped entirely.

That said, there are several unknowns in this scenario. Uranus, which also is associated with electronics, Internet, and so forth, is currently in Aries, the sign ruled by Mars. In our lifetime, we haven’t experienced this pairing, and so we don’t know how they behave. Theoretically, they are two bad boys out to see what kind of mischief they can make. They’ll get a third gang member when Mercury enters Aquarius on Friday and contacts Uranus by sextile on Saturday. Uranus is said to be a higher octave of Mercury, so these two have a natural affinity, and together with Mars, they will make up an energy triangle. For those into the mechanics: Mercury in Aquarius deposits to Uranus, ruler of Aquarius; Uranus in Aries deposits to Mars, ruler of Arie; and Mars in Virgo deposits to Mercury, ruler of Virgo.

That’s the bad news. There’s also plenty of good news this week, so let’s turn to that now.

Chart for New Moon in Aquarius

Click on image to enlarge

Monday starts right off with the New Moon in forward-looking Aquarius, in a close sextile with Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius. Of course, he’s in Mars, and we just discussed the possible implications. Still, I’m optimistic. Although unexpected events are likely, I think they will be mostly positive, given that the sextile is a positive angle and quite dynamic.

The New Moon also makes a close contact with Jupiter, and while the angle is a square, normally indicating conflict, the Moon and Jupiter are compatible energies. “Conflict” is relative, and in this case it could simply mean a moral dilemma between your New Year’s resolution to lose weight and the double fudge caramel sundae staring at you from the special dessert menu. Or, you may find yourself feeling overly generous and making a promise you can’t keep. Mercury squares Jupiter on Saturday, which also can be a positive. The downside is that you may overlook important details, especially with Mars retrograde. If you have an important project on Saturday, plan ahead carefully, and have someone you trust go over your work. Also, make a mental note to be open to the ideas of others. Aquarius and Taurus are both fixed signs, given to stubbornness.

Two additional reasons for optimism are that this New Moon chart has a couple of hidden fairies. Ceres may function here as a sort of fairy godmother, in that Ceres and Uranus are in perfect conjunction. At his worst, Uranus stirs the pot and conjures up chaos, but there’s usually a reason for it, and that reason has to with changing what’s broken and not working. At his best, Uranus is the Magician and Awakener. Ceres, meanwhile, is the wise earth mother, dedicated to the health and well-being of life on the planet. It will be interesting to watch the news headlines for environmental developments this week.

Ceres also has a natural association with Virgo, so in a way, she may be a temporary “chaperone” for Uranus and company. That said, they might also do her service by shaking up humanity’s planetary life-support system. You might say that the human race has a dysfunctional relationship with its mother, and something needs to change radically to restore the balance.

The second fairy is Venus, who in Pisces is the Fairy Queen. Although Uranus and Mars are the tough guys in the leading roles, they are inextricably linked to the planet of love and desire, in the sign of compassion and the collective unconscious. Venus is said to be exalted in Pisces, where her love and desire nature are at their highest. It is a state of grace.

The final word is that whatever happens this week, no matter how strange, unexpected, or upsetting, try to understand how it fits into an intricate whole. How do these new and surprising developments carry you forward toward fulfilling your life’s highest purpose?

Much love and courage to all!
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast January 16: Sun Enters Aquarius

January snow. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

The Sun is the star of this week’s astrology show, entering a new sign and making several significant planetary aspects from Thursday onward.

This also is the last week of the entire year during which all of the planets are direct! As the old saying goes, make hay while the sun shines. Truly, this is a rare window of opportunity.

Personally, I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon over the past few weeks. Thoughts are manifesting very fast. I have an image in my mind, and before I know it, it’s reality. These are not things I’ve intentionally imagined – in other words, I’m not imagining sitting in a bathtub full of hundred-dollar bills, and suddenly there I am. The one consistent factor is that the thoughts that manifested had considerable concentration and emotion behind them. For example …

On Wednesday I was in my morning acting class, when I suddenly noticed that the instructor was wearing a ring that looked like the one I lost four months ago. The ring was one of a kind, handmade with a turquoise stone set in silver. I’d found it in a junk shop and was very attached to it. During my first week of classes, I lost it – likely after taking it off to wash my hands. I checked the lost-and-found departments in every location where I might have left it. Nothing.

The day after Thanksgiving, I was in a friend’s gift shop and found a new ring, silver with an odd-shaped green tourmaline stone. What happened while I was buying it is another whole story of a miraculous manifestation, but I’ll leave that for another time.

I was wearing the tourmaline ring in class on Wednesday when I noticed the turquoise ring on the instructor’s hand. I thought perhaps she’d found it, turned it in, and when no one claimed it, was allowed to keep it. For the rest of the class, I couldn’t concentrate on our exercises, because I was obsessed with trying to get a better look at her ring. She kept putting her hands in her pockets and otherwise covering it up. I never did manage to see it up close and figured I was crazy to think it was the one I’d lost.

We had a lunch break of about an hour, then an afternoon writing class. I made a quick run to the restroom, and when I went to wash my hands, realized my tourmaline ring was gone! Since losing the first ring, I’ve been so mindful. Obviously, I’d had a lapse in that mindfulness. I asked the instructor if I could run over to the other building to check the restroom. The ring wasn’t there. I almost started crying. There was open office upstairs, so I asked the receptionist where I could find the lost-and-found department. She asked if I was looking for a ring. I was elated! But it had been taken to another room. When I got there, it was locked. I knocked loudly. The security guard who answered was crabby but she had my ring and couldn’t help smiling when she saw how sincerely grateful I was.

Some would say that the obvious lesson in this experience is that I should keep my ring on while washing my hands. However, I got quite a different message – especially given other similar events in the past few weeks. During class, I was intently focused on a lost ring. In less than an hour, that’s exactly what I had! Fortunately, it came back to me right away.

The second message I got right away was that if our thoughts are manifesting this quickly and perfectly right now, it might be a good idea during this all-planets-direct period to focus on what we really want and not waste a single second worrying about disasters that may or may not happen. Of course, you could say that this is reasonable statement in general, and you might be right. But that’s missing the point, which is that we have one more week to perform “magic.”

Several years ago, in an article about the Calendar of Coligny, I read a theory that the druids made special notations during periods when all the planets were direct. It’s not hard to imagine why they may have wanted this information.

Back to this week …

The Sun moves through the final degrees of Capricorn and squares Saturn on Thursday. Typically, this is an uncomfortable combination, and some of us are bound to have some run-ins with authority or clashes over who controls what. Nevertheless, with all planets direct, Saturn exalted in Libra, and the Sun in Saturn’s sign of Capricorn, what gets enforced could be fairness and balance. We may not like the rules, but can we honestly say that if there weren’t any, we’d always do right by others? Our own biases often prevent us from seeing that other people have the right to pursue goals that directly conflict with our own.

On Friday, the Sun enters Aquarius, the sign that bucks convention and thumbs its nose at the rules. On Saturday, the Sun forms a dynamic sextile with Uranus, modern ruler of Aquarius. This is an exciting combination, filled with promise of something new and different, out of the blue. If nothing else, be prepared for your Saturday night plans to change on a whim. On Sunday morning (late Saturday on the West Coast of the United States), the Sun squares Jupiter. Squares typically are troublesome, and the problem with this particular combination is that it denotes a certain amount of stubbornness and self-righteousness. However, there are some positives in this square – namely, that you can get a lot accomplished. I happen to like it for manifestation work.

Meanwhile, Venus and Pluto have a hot date on Friday. Your date could be hot, too, so if that’s not what you want, make sure you have an escape route planned. Otherwise, surrender to the moment.

Next week starts right out with the New Moon in Aquarius and Mars turning retrograde. Again, I can’t urge you enough to focus this week on the most difficult tasks on your plate. Taking care of business now will save you a lot of heartache later.

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

Weekly Forecast January 9: Full Moon in Cancer, Venus Enters Pisces

Venus in Pisces: dancer Anabel Veloso in a promotional photo for the 2009 Deje Flamenco production Nacidos del Mar. More info below.

We’re in an enchanted period in which all the planets are direct. It doesn’t happen very often and it won’t last, so make it your mission this week to move full-speed ahead toward what you most want in life.

I’m not saying that what you want is going to fall out of the sky into your lap, just because the planets are aligned. A good metaphor is having a strong tailwind on a long and perilous journey. We can cover a lot of ground in a short time, with minimal complications. Even if you have a serious affliction in your chart right now – for example, if Saturn is conjunct your natal Pluto – you will be surprised by how little resistance you meet.

Chances are, something important happened for you around the New Moon on Christmas Eve. Whatever it was, the Full Moon on Monday will bring resolution. Again, this doesn’t mean that everything is going to work out exactly as you want … or, to be more precise, the way you have been visualizing. A new element has been introduced into the situation, possibly a game-changer.

What does appear to be happening for my clients and just about everyone I know is that circumstances in their lives are linked to something that was going on in the summer of 2010, during the height of the cardinal T-square. The New Moon on Christmas Eve revisited critical degrees of that configuration. The difference now is Saturn and Jupiter no longer are squaring Pluto. Indeed, Jupiter is in a favorable sextile and will remain so for the rest of the winter season (summer for our friends Down Under). That’s another reason I’m so keen on these next couple of weeks.

The Full Moon also makes a favorable angle to Mars in Virgo. Mars is slowing down in preparation for turning retrograde on January 23. The closer we get to that date, the harder it’s going to be move forward with plans and projects, so it’s even more important that you not waste any time this week doing what needs to be done. A little effort will go a long way.

Chart for Full Moon in Cancer

Click on image to enlarge

Events related to the Full Moon continue to unfold throughout the week. On Thursday, the Sun forms an exact trine with Mars. This is not an impulsive combination, but a signal to make detailed plans in an organization manner. Once you do that, following through with action will be much easier. It’s sort of like writing a term paper. If you just start writing with no idea where you want to go, you end up with an overwhelming mess. However, if you make an outline and start filling in the details, the process is much easier and more effective.

The following day is Friday the 13th, which is not to be feared but celebrated. Far from being unlucky, 13 is a special number. Among other things, it’s the number of cycles in a lunar year. Friday is named for Freya, the Norse equivalent of Venus. As it turns out, planet Venus is busy on her day, making contacts with Saturn and Neptune before entering mystic Pisces, the sign of her exaltation – anything but unlucky!

The Venus-Saturn trine is perfect for making and renewing commitments, be they to another person, a career choice, lifelong goal, or a commitment to do something for yourself. Later in the day, Venus conjoins Neptune. Astrologers normally caution with this pair that we can lose a grip on reality. However, with Saturn in the picture, I think it’s far less likely. To the contrary, whatever commitments we enter into, we should be able to enter with eyes wide open. The conjunction with Neptune is the last aspect Venus makes before gliding into Neptune-ruled Pisces. This is Venus at her best, highest love. Compassion and understanding take the place of selfish needs and demands.

Once she’s in Pisces, the first contact Venus makes is a sextile with Jupiter in Taurus, the sign she rules. Love with no strings attached can move mountains.

In addition to all the activity centered on Venus, Mercury forms a conjunction with Pluto on Friday. Deep insights come to the surface. In world affairs, look for headlines about skeletons in the closet of government leaders and powerful corporations. Or maybe the remains of a body under the deep, blue sea …

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

P.S. If, like me, you’re curious about how this incredible photo of Anabel Veloso was shot, watch this video on YouTube.

Weekly Forecast January 2: Mercury Enters Capricorn

Astrologically speaking, this is a quiet week – perfect for easing back into your daily routine, be it work, school, or life in general. Still, something seems to have changed, perhaps due to a collective expectation that, somehow, 2012 is different.

It’s true that the past two years have been exceptional, and the astrological configuration that corresponded to dramatic events in 2010 and 2011 has dissolved. I’m talking about the cardinal T-square, of course, which reached its peak in July and August of 2010 and then repeated on and off through last spring. Many of us completely changed direction in our lives, and we’re still rocking in the wake of these events passing through.

Top news stories of 2011 ranged from toppled governments in the Middle East and a record earthquake that caused a nuclear meltdown, to courtroom drama, a gala royal wedding, and death of an entrepreneurial icon – all while unemployment scaled new heights and a popular protest movement was born. The unifying factor in all of these events was that everything that happened, happened big. It was not a year of incremental steps toward change, but wholesale revolution.

In looking forward to 2012, it’s helpful to examine two time periods in recent history with similar planetary alignments. First, there was a cardinal build-up in the early 1930s, the beginning of the Great Depression. The configuration began dissipating in 1932, but just like our current planetary alignment, one aspect of the T-square remained: the square between Uranus and Pluto.

The second period is the turbulent mid-60s, when Uranus and Pluto and were conjunct in Virgo. Although the conjunction was exact in 1965 and 1966, it wasn’t until 1968 that the revolution changed civilization as we know it. No aspect of society was untouched. The square that that occurs from 2012-2015 is the first major milestone and test of that conjunction.

Uranus is the planet of rebellion and sudden change, and in the impulsive sign of Aries, you can expect a lot of fire bombs being thrown by individuals fighting for freedom. Conversely, Pluto is the planet of ultimate power and control. In Capricorn, he represents the ruthless power of the empire – the Darth Vader of the zodiac. You don’t need to be an astrologer to do the math. The harder the protesters fight, the greater the backlash will be. And we haven’t even experienced the peak of the Uranus-Pluto square yet. That will start this year, on June 24, and continue through 2015.

Two other major astrological events occur in 2012, both of which we’ve already had a taste. First, Neptune re-enters Pisces after briefly dipping his foot in his own sign for a few months in 2011. Then he turned retrograde and went back into Aquarius. Once Neptune enters Pisces on February 3, he’ll remain there through 2026. If you’d like to know, I highly recommend an article in the current issue of The Mountain Astrologer. You can order a single copy for $7.

The second defining astrological event of 2012 is the Venus transit on June 5, the day after a lunar eclipse. I’ll write a lot more on this subject as the date approaches. Both Neptune in Pisces and the Venus transit hold the promise of a vibrational shift in human consciousness.

Not coincidentally, the biggest story for astrology in 2011 was the “revelation” of a 13th sign. I wrote a long piece about it for TMA, which is in the same edition with the article on Neptune in Pisces (so it’s a great buy). Although the story that flew around the world via social networks turned out to be flat-out wrong, there is strong symbolism in the collective desire to change the cosmic order. Our ancient ancestors saw sea changes in civilization as a clash between the gods themselves. Just as the old gods overthrew cosmic forces – bringing order out of chaos – their children challenged them. Now they, too, have become corrupt and rotten, and the next generation has sounded the cry for revolution.

As for this week, there are no major planetary aspects until Saturday, when Mercury in the final degrees of Sagittarius sextiles Saturn and Neptune. Now, this could end up producing a revolution of sorts, in that Mercury will be just past conjunction with the Galactic Center. We know little about this mysterious point in space, except that there appears to be a black hole there, and it emits powerful radio waves. Pay attention to unusual thoughts on Friday and Saturday. They may contain flashes of genius. Changing your thoughts can change your whole life.

On Sunday (late Saturday on the West Coast of the United States), Mercury enters studious Capricorn and makes contacts with Jupiter and Uranus, briefly reminding us of the changes we have been making and the work we have yet to do. The following day, January 9, is the Full Moon in Cancer. So for the rest of this week, we’re still processing the energy of the New Moon on Christmas Eve as we approach culmination and resolution. Good things are coming in, but you may have to change your perspective to see them as blessings.

Wishing you all much love, joy, and prosperity in 2012,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. I return to classes this week, so please keep in mind when you order reports and forecasts that it may take me 4-7 days to complete your order. Thank you for your patience and understanding.