Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast December 26: Sun Conjunct Pluto, Moon in Aries

As the Sun stands still, life has slowed down and is starting to return to some semblance of balance. At the same time, a shift is occurring, and that means constantly shifting our response to stay in balance – kind of like walking on a tight rope.

The New Moon on Christmas Eve was a milestone for many, especially for those of you with emphasis in your natal chart on the early cardinal signs. The degrees from 0 to 4 Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn were activated for most of 2010 and 2011, thanks to the cardinal T-square that reached its height in July and August of 2010. Although that configuration has long since broken up, Uranus is still at 0 Aries, indicating that the changes that began happening back then continue to unfold.

For some, the unfolding happened at breakneck speed, disrupting your entire life. For others, the changes have been painfully slow, causing you to wonder whether you’re ever going to reach your new destination. Well, take heart, because the next four weeks look especially promising for some of the goodies to show up on your doorstep. With Jupiter’s return direct today (December 25), all ten planets now are moving forward. That’s right, no one is retrograde, not until Mars shifts into reverse on January 23! This is a magical time, when we can cover a lot of ground and accomplish much.

This week, the Sun aligns with Pluto, who’s now at 7 degrees Capricorn. If you have Sun, Moon, or Ascendant at 5-9 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, this week may be pivotal. Even for those who don’t have planets or key chart points in these degrees, you probably know what natal house Pluto is transiting and where your life is being transformed.

In describing Pluto’s cycle, I like to tell the story of the dead raccoon on the side of the road I used to walk along when I first came to Vashon in December of 2004. Our winters are mild here, but the weather is chilly and wet – perfect for rotting. I walked by that raccoon for weeks and was amazed that he remained intact – or so I thought. After seeing no outward change all that time, one day I walked by, and his entire structure had collapsed. Within a couple of days, there was nothing but a dark, soupy blob to indicate that he’d ever been there.

That is how Pluto works. You may not see the changes on the outside, but one day you wake up to find the entire structure of something in your life – a relationship, a job, a cause – disintegrated. It’s depressing at first, because you feel powerless. I encourage my clients to think of it as the rotting and composting cycle. The energy that is released through the death of someone or something is now free to manifest into something new, to be reborn. In the cycle of nature, that typically happens in the spring, at the Aries point. And, as it so happens, that’s where Uranus, the Awakener, currently is positioned.

The Sun crosses Pluto on Thursday. On Saturday, the Moon enters Aries, immediately conjoins Uranus, and then moves through the degrees of the cardinal T-square until she, too, makes contact with Pluto. In doing so, she carries forward the energy of Uranus to Pluto. In 2012, there will be two exact squares between these outer planets, one of which symbolizes change through slow transformation and the other of which represents sudden change through revolution. The global rebellion that already has begun to occur in reflection of this powerful aspect will become even stronger, as a new order seeks to displace the old, corrupt (rotten) system.

How are old, worn-out structures in your life rotting away so that fresh, new ways of thinking and being can emerge? And what can you do to put that compost where it will do the most good? Where can you use it to fertilize new ideas, new directions?

The only other major aspect this week is a square from Mercury to Mars next Sunday (late Saturday on the West Coast of the United States). This aspect also occurred on December 4 and is repeating, due to Mercury’s retrograde cycle. That it’s occurring again on New Year’s Eve is significant, in that Mercury and Mars will be retrograde in mutual reception in March. In other words, whatever you’re arguing about now likely will remain a contentious issue through the middle of April. Ironically, my Llewellyn’s 2011 Planetary Guide contains a typo, putting Mercury in Aries on New Year’s Eve, even though he’s correctly placed in Sagittarius the day before. It’s almost as if the universe is sending a message to be prepared to keep fighting for the truth, and don’t let anyone try to confuse you by overwhelming you with details.

Hoist your sails, mates, and take advantage of this cosmic fair wind!

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast December 22: New Moon in Capricorn, Jupiter Direct

Whew! That was one bad-ass Mercury retrograde. I’m sure you will join me in gratitude that it’s over.

Unfortunately, life didn’t turn around immediately, as I expected it would. It was almost as if people had a Mercury retrograde hangover. It took me a couple of days to clean up the mess, and then I had to sleep off a grueling academic quarter. I just now am starting to feel like I’m re-entering the real world – although, after two eclipses, it’s not the same world I left.

Reflecting on the past three months and on what comes next, I was able to connect the dots of events over the past two years. Although it’s true in general that we wouldn’t be where we are now if events in our lives hadn’t happened in the specific order that they did, there seems to have been something unique about the period since the cardinal T-square began ramping up in the spring of 2010. The tests and trials we encountered appear to have been precise in their design. For example, one of my classmates was about to get accepted into a prestigious art school in the summer of 2010, and the door suddenly closed, only for another to open in the spring of 2011, when she switched to film school. Incidentally, this young woman has strong early cardinal energy in her chart. Those of you with Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in the early degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn likely have similar stories.

In any case, we crossed a threshold during the eclipses, and now that Mercury is direct, we’re seeing a new reality. Or, perhaps it’s the same reality from a broader perspective. That’s definitely within the scope of Sagittarius, seeker of the Truth. Be prepared to see an even larger piece of the picture when the Sun crosses over the degree of the Galactic Center early Monday morning (2:27 a.m. EST). The portal is open for a giant leap in consciousness. The rest of the week is equally momentous, culminating with a groundbreaking New Moon in Capricorn on Christmas Eve and Jupiter’s return direct on Christmas Day.

While conjunct the GC, the Sun sextiles Saturn in Libra on Monday and Neptune in Aquarius on Tuesday. The key to successfully visualizing what you want and manifesting it into reality is knowing your purpose and following your path. I can’t help but think of the words in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy will be done.” Change the concept of the Christian God to a neutral universe in which we collectively upload and download, and then think about where your individual Will comes from. Incidentally, this is the same Will that Crowley was talking about when he said, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” (I’m not a Crowley fan, but I appreciate the concept.)

Venus enters Aquarius on Tuesday and immediately squares Jupiter and sextiles Uranus. This is great energy for holiday parties at the office and among friends, and while some overindulgence is a given, take care not to go too far overboard. That goes for last-minute shopping, too. I’m a big believer in “less is more” when it comes to holiday gift-giving. Give gifts that are simple and meaningful and that create a heart connection between you and the recipient of your generosity.

Thursday is Solstice, with the Sun’s entrance into Capricorn (late Wednesday on the West Coast of the United States). In itself, it represents a shift, from dark to light. Given the recent eclipses and events leading up to them – including an eclipse last year just hours before Solstice – there’s no doubt that we’re in a magical time of awakening, when the light is “reborn” – light being a symbol of consciousness.

Speaking of which, this seems as good a time as any to mention the so-called 2012 alignment – you know, the one that’s supposed to happen on Dec. 21, 2012. In fact, that alignment happened already. Because the galactic equator isn’t an exact spot in space, the alignment occurs over several years. We’re in it now and will still be in it next year. However, most astronomers agree that it was closest to exact in 1998. For many of us who have been observing the evolution of human consciousness, 1998 was a pivotal year. What we’re experiencing now is clearly an outgrowth of that cosmic shift, and this week’s solstice is another important milestone.

Shortly after entering Capricorn, the Sun trines Jupiter and squares Uranus, both on Thursday. Both aspects are activated by the New Moon, so I’ll turn my attention toward this significant event.

Click on image to enlarge

The New Moon, at 1:06 p.m. EST on Saturday, falls at 2°34′ Capricorn – right about the degree that Pluto occupied during the summer of 2010, when the cardinal T-square was in full force. Meanwhile, Saturn was in early Libra, and Jupiter and Uranus were conjunct in early Aries. In other words, this New Moon is significantly linked to the T-square. The big difference is that Saturn has moved on, and so we don’t have the obstacles and constraints we experienced back then.

Better still, Jupiter is now in early Taurus, in a harmonious earth trine with Pluto. What’s more, he’s coming out of his annual four-month retrograde. Planetary energies are most powerful when planets are stationed to shift direction, and earth signs are about manifestation on the material plane. I interpret this configuration as a free flow of the rewards we felt so close to attaining in the second half of 2010 but that continued to elude us, no matter how hard we tried or how much we suffered and sacrificed.

That’s not to say there won’t be disruption. As you can see in the chart, the New Moon is at a jarring square to Uranus, in the same degrees of early Aries he occupied in the summer of 2010. As I’m so fond of saying, change by definition is disorienting, even when it’s overwhelmingly positive. The more sweeping it is, the more disrupted your life will be.

The New Moon also makes a favorable sextile to Chiron, conjunct Vesta in early Pisces. In Pisces, Chiron reflects wounds from our individual and collective past. It’s no accident that so many people are beginning to have an awareness of other lifetimes (often called “past lives”). Manilius, an astrologer writing in the 1st century CE, considered Vesta as the patron deity of Capricorn. Virgin goddess of the home and hearth, Vesta occupied a special place in Roman society and was called upon whenever new communities formed. What is happening if not the formation of a new global collective without geopolitical, racial, ethnic, or religious boundaries? Vesta conjunct Chiron in Pisces also reminds us of our “spiritual home.” We are active on the material plane, but there is a deeper, unseen reality – that bigger picture that more and more of us are beginning to see and feel.

Not to neglect Mars, the warrior currently is moving on his own, with no major aspects at this New Moon. However, he is in his pre-retrograde shadow, making rumbling noises through Mercury, planet of communications. If you find yourself overly critical, perhaps even starting an argument when you believe someone to be lacking in some way, stop and think about whether you could get your message across without being so blunt. Directness does have its place, and it can save a lot of time and wasted energy. However, sometimes a little sugar can get you what you want faster. It’s your call.

Wishing you all abundance, joy, and hearts full of love during this magical season,
Pat

P.S. StarGuide Winter 2012 forecasts are now available. If you want to reserve a place on the list, don’t wait to order! I’ve got an increasing backlog of reports, and right now there’s an estimated wait time of 5-7 days. To those of you waiting for reports and consultation follow-up notes, I am grateful for your patience and understanding. I’m slowly making my way through the backlog while nursing a persistent cold and catching up on much-needed sleep.

Weekly Forecast December 12: Mercury Direct, Venus Square Saturn

When conditions are right, beauty can pop up overnight. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

I probably don’t have to tell you that this has been the mother of all Mercury retrogrades. Your list of crazy happenings might be even longer than mine.

In fact, I’m going to have to make this a very fast blog post, because I’m heading into finals week with three major projects due and a final exam tomorrow morning. On top of that, I was just getting over the cold that was going around, and yesterday I got it again. Starting from the top all over, same sore throat for a day, followed by congestion and pressure in the head that makes you want to explode. I guess Mercury didn’t think I did it right the first time around. Other than my brain actually exploding, I’m not sure how to convince him that I’ve aced the cold and am ready to graduate to the next virus.

Everyone in my film editing class is going nuts. Nothing is working as anticipated, and many of the glitches are things we haven’t learned how to troubleshoot yet. Of course. And, of course, we’re all on deadline. I could go on, but I’m sure you’ve got plenty of your own stories. Speaking of which, my apologies for not responding to the comments on the previous post. I did read them and took note.

The good news is that once Mercury returns direct on Tuesday, I expect that we’re all going to see some fast and furious changes, and I believe they will be mostly positive, even if there is some disruption. Change is like that – especially fast change. Remember, Uranus has just returned direct, and we had two eclipses. All we’re waiting for now is for Mercury to get his act together and to start flying right. I’ll be interested in hearing how your world blasts open in the second half of the week.

That said, Sunday’s Venus-Saturn square could be somewhat of a downer. If you recently had a breakup, you may feel especially sad. It’s also possible that you’ll need to wrap up and resolve some loose ends with your ex, which is never comfortable. Now, for some of you, there may be a new commitment. Still, whenever Saturn is involved, joy is tempered with a sense of responsibility. In some case, it could be very heavy – for example, committing to someone with a serious illness or a difficult child. Some relationships require heroic love.

I hate to rush, but there’s not a whole lot more to say about this week, anyway. For me, it’s several more hours of homework before catching a few hours of sleep to haul my sorry, congested head out of bed at 5:30. I’ll write more next week.

In the meantime, wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast December 5: Uranus Direct, Lunar Eclipse in Gemini

The monolith from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi breakthrough, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

I keep telling myself that the universe was born out of chaos.

This has been my mantra for the past two weeks, which have been nothing if not chaotic. The week ahead is going to be even more so, with Uranus turning direct this Saturday less than eight hours before a lunar eclipse in Gemini. If any one planet spells chaos, it’s Uranus, bringer of upsets, surprises, and general mayhem. Gemini, meanwhile, is ruled by Mercury, a lower octave of Uranus.

Mercury also happens to be retrograde for another week – he turns direct on the 13th – and what a performance he has given us so far! Maybe if we nominate him for an Oscar now, he won’t feel obliged to keep up appearances for our sake. I’ve been “entertained” quite enough, thank you very much. Some of the things I’ve done have been shocking – and embarrassing. Can I tell my instructor that I lost a vital piece of equipment because Mercury was retrograde?

Eclipses can be chaotic events in and of themselves. Typically, we experience some kind of rapid change around the time of eclipses, sometimes within a matter of days, but sometimes not for another 30 or 60 days – another one or two lunar cycles. Sometimes, we even experience our “eclipse event” before the actual eclipse. However, this time around, I suspect the change will arrive within a week or two after the Full Moon, and it will correspond in some way to the solar eclipse on November 25. Check your chart (or your StarGuide December forecast) to see where the eclipse occurred. Then look at the opposite house and check what you’ve got going on there. Your “news” could come in an area governed by either house. You’ll be affected most if the eclipses are in an angular house – the first, tenth, seventh and fourth.

For example, if the solar eclipse fell in your tenth house and the lunar eclipse is in your fourth, you might hear about a new job, and it could require you to move or to spend a lot of time away from your family. However, with Mercury still in “reverse,” your actual start date might be delayed until after the first of the year. Indeed, let’s hope it is, because you really wouldn’t want to sign an employment contract or any other kind of contract while Mercury is retrograde. Also, if your eclipse event is an ending of some kind that makes you sad – for example, breaking up with a partner – you may need to let it go for good. Events that happen near eclipses seem to have a sense of purpose and permanence.

Click on image to enlarge

In general, synchronicities continue to pop out all over. Every day, I hear a new tale or two about amazing “coincidences” with nearly impossible odds of happening. This is how you “see” invisible planetary energies. They manifest as events, people, and situations. You just need to learn to recognize the patterns. I liken it to the visual puzzles that used to appear in the comics section of the newspaper. Figures were hidden within drawings, and you had to turn the image around every which way to be able to find them. What was so amazing about the illusion was that some people could see it instantly, and others couldn’t see it, even with someone pointing it out to them. That pretty much sums up my take on the invisible energies coursing through our universe. Before we can learn to use them to our advantage, we have to learn to see them.

Speaking of which, here is this week’s outlook:

On Monday, Venus in Capricorn trines Mars in Virgo – two earth signs known for diligence and practicality. It doesn’t sound very romantic, does it? Then, there’s something to be said for doing it over and over again until you get it right. On the same day, the Moon in bold Aries opposes Saturn in Libra. Don’t even ask who gets to be on top (hint: Capricorn is sometimes symbolized by a mountain goat).

Saturday is the big day, with Uranus, the Awakener, waking up in the dynamic sign of Aries and ready to make up for lost time during all those months when he was retrograde. If you’ve needed a shakeup in your life, this could be your moment. Shakeups usually aren’t comfortable, but there’s no faster way to get where you want to be.

The eclipse occurs at 9:36 a.m. on the East Coast of the United States, 6:36 a.m. on the West Coast. We might get to see a bit of it here, if the clouds part long enough.

The weekend and the beginning of next week may be slow, but once Mercury returns direct on December 13, prepare to move forward at warp speed! Until then, keep your nerve … and keep your eye on the prize.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast November 28: Venus Conjunct Pluto, Sun Square Mars

Cold November rain. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

Mercury retrograde is in full swing, no doubt about it. The traffic hasn’t been too bad here (OK, I didn’t say that) but communications have been a nightmare. I’ve had to remind myself several times a day of my maxim that otherwise intelligent people say and do stupid things while Mercury is retrograde.

I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that no real damage will be done before the little biter has returned direct – in other words, no permanent breakups, at least not due to misunderstandings.

That said, there are going to be irreparable rifts. That’s not so much due to Mercury but to the eclipses. If you had a sudden breakup, or even a not-so-sudden one (you probably saw it coming) that occurred within a few days of last Friday’s eclipse, get used to the idea that it’s over. Events that occur near eclipses usually are final. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the finality is good news. The way is cleared for you to move forward. Often we don’t realize how we hold ourselves back by hanging onto relationships, situations, or things. I once had a dream that I was sitting on bleachers in a wide open field, and suddenly a fierce wind started blowing. I hung on for dear life, hands clutching the metal benches, feet flying up in the air. And a voice said, “Let go.” I did, and I flew through the air, just kept going, to nowhere in particular. That is the disconcerting part about letting go. There may not be something else to hang onto – at least not right away. You may need to get comfortable being neither here nor there, at least in this two-week period between eclipses.

Yet, even while we’re adrift, synchronicities are happening, and lots of them. That’s our clue that we’re not in Kansas anymore. The synchronicities in my own life have been astonishing. Last week, I met another Patricia Paquette. She works upstairs from my main classroom. What are the chances that you’re going to have two of us in the same city, let alone in the same building? Even more freaky, we may be related, albeit many times removed.

Looking at the week day by day, there’s not a whole lot going on in the first half of the week. On Thursday, Venus conjoins Pluto in Capricorn. I can’t help thinking of Lady Gaga’s mutation of Nazi, Borg and nun. In a word, kinky. For those of us with more pedestrian sensibilities, the thing to be alert for is a subconscious desire to control and manipulate. Of course, if it’s subconscious, how do you know it’s there? All I can say is, stay mindful.

On Friday, the Sun, Moon, and Mars form a three-way, also known as a mutable T-square. This is nitpicky and just plain icky. I may just sit in the back in class, pull my hat over my head, and not talk to anyone. Then, I can’t do that for three days, which is how long the toxic cloud is going to waft about. On Sunday, the Sun and Mars conjoin retrograde Mercury. More misunderstandings, and more aggressive ones, too. Don’t be surprised if someone shows up with a list of all your faults. Should that happen, do your best not to engage. It’s hard not to take it personally when someone is pushing your buttons, but trust me, you’ll be thankful later for not getting into it with them. Be bigger than they are. If they add that to the list, be bigger still.

My goal will be just to make it through the week intact. But I’ll have some extra Band-Aids on hand, just in case.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

P.S. Don’t forget to order your StarGuide December forecasts.

Weekly Forecast November 21: Mercury Retrograde, Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius

Shifting dimensions. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

Before transformation can occur, the existing matrix needs to break apart. Whether we’re talking about cosmic forces, societal patterns, or individual minds, there needs to be a breakdown, with all its messy chaos, before a breakthrough to a new order can take place.

The planets are aligned this week for that breakdown and chaos to take place. There may be breakthroughs, too – in fact, a good many of us likely will experience positive shifts – but some will have to stew in chaos for a bit before the transformation takes place. “A bit” could be a few days or, more probably, a few weeks, while the eclipses kick up the allegorical dust and retrograde Mercury revises the mental order.

It’s scary, to be sure, but it’s exciting, too! We all say we want change, right? Well, this is what it takes to get it. Change, no matter how positive, rarely happens without a certain amount of pain and discomfort.

Taking the week chronologically, there’s a lull in the action on Monday and then a torrent of activity on Tuesday, when the Sun enters Sagittarius. This is our moment of Truth with a capital “T.” The Archer’s arrow is swift and to the point, which is why it can hurt so much. With Mercury stationed and ready to turn retrograde on Thursday, a lot of truth may come spilling out at the most inconvenient times. The Sun’s square with Chiron in Pisces (exact on Wednesday) isn’t going to help soften the blow. Do try to keep your tongue in check. It’s the best way to keep your foot out of your mouth. Then, sometimes the truth needs to be said, and damn the consequences. Only you can know which is the right approach for the circumstances in which you find yourself. Likewise, if someone else gives you a piece of painful truth, don’t shoot the messenger. Once you get over the initial sting, you might even want to give him flowers.

Speaking of flowers, Venus makes a lovely sextile on Tuesday with Saturn in Libra. This is a perfect day to commit to those you love. You might want to have a frank discussion about things that have been bothering you. However, go easy, and don’t push for a resolution immediately. Mercury’s impending turn in reverse won’t allow for it, anyway. There’s nothing wrong with deep contemplation over time. One of my clients calls it “marinating,” which conjures up some funny images in my mind (is the pool I’m sitting in vegetarian or with sausage?). Partnerships are excellent for confronting personal issues, because when you’re committed to someone in this way, you can’t go running off when your stuff is in your face. And it’s usually in your face pretty fast, especially if you’ve already done a fair amount of personal work.

Wednesday gets my vote for the most interesting and exciting day of the week. I expect a fair share of traffic deadlocks and communications delays, thanks to Mercury’s station. However, the Sun forms a lovely fire trine with Uranus, while Mars in earthy Virgo trines Pluto in Capricorn. Uranus is at a highly sensitive point, as he, too, is stationed. He’s currently retrograde and will return direct on December 9, just before the Full Moon eclipse and Mercury’s return direct. This tells me that we may get a hint of something wonderful this week, but the actual reward may be another couple of weeks away. In the meantime, do what has to be done to get what you want. Just don’t try to force results. Let events unfold on their own, and you won’t be disappointed.

Mercury officially turns retrograde on Thursday, which is Thanksgiving in the United States. I’ve cautioned before about family gatherings while Mercury is retrograde in Sagittarius. If you don’t want to choke on your meal or go home with a giant bellyache, stay away from discussions about politics and religion. You might even be skating on thin ice talking about the weather, but I guess it’s not polite to stare down at your plate and not make some polite conversation. The sextile between Venus and Neptune will help. What I’d do with this would be to retire to the living room for a feel-good movie as soon as the cleaning up is done. You can even have second piece of pumpkin pie and a little extra whipped cream spiked with brandy.

Click on image to enlarge

Friday is eclipse day. The chart analysis essentially is my analysis of the week, so I won’t repeat it all here, other than to remind you again that this eclipse is mostly favorably aspected, so the shifts that take place should be positive, depending on where the Sun and Moon land in your natal chart. If they make seriously difficult angles to sensitive points in your chart, you could have a more tumultuous ride than others. Still, I think that any clouds surrounding this eclipse will have a silver lining. On the downside, the Sun and Moon will be square Mars in Virgo, one of the two signs ruled by Mercury. I don’t see this aspect as disastrous in and of itself. It simply may be yet another indication that you’ll need to be very patient in the next two-to-three weeks for your due.

Saturday is an astrologically busy day, as Venus enters Capricorn, putting her in mutual reception with Saturn. Mutual reception, you’ll recall, occurs when two planets are in signs ruled by the other. Again, I think this bodes very well for commitments in close relationships, as you are more able to understand how balance doesn’t necessarily exist in any given moment. There are times when one partner gives more and the other takes, and then the scales tip in the other direction. Balance may take place over time, and you may need to endure periods of sacrifice. The trick is knowing when the balance is so far tipped in one direction that you either need to take radical action to right it or walk away.

Over the weekend, Venus squares Uranus, sextiles Chiron, and trines Jupiter, and she’s reinforced by her sister, the Moon, also in Capricorn. I’m always hesitant to recommend significant discussions while Mercury is retrograde, but it’s quite possible that you may get an opportunity this weekend to go back over unresolved issues and find your higher ground. At least, you can meet at the base camp and work together on your provisions list.

Wishing you all divine portions of love and courage. Make that à la mode.

Pat

P.S. StarGuide December forecasts are now available, and I’ll be preparing the winter forecasts this weekend.

Weekly Forecast November 14: Mars Trine Jupiter

Despite the lingering yawns and sleepiness, this is a great week for getting work done. Indeed, you might give yourself a Friday deadline for accomplishing everything on your to-do list in preparation for next week’s unpredictability.

Mars is in diligent Virgo, where he’ll stay until next July. That’s right, we’ll have Mars in Virgo for nearly eight months, due to his retrograde phase starting in January. Normally, Mars remains in a sign for about six weeks. Check your natal chart to see what houses contain Virgo, and that’s where you’ll feel the active, dynamic energy of Mars in practical, helpful Virgo.

This week, Mars trines Jupiter in Taurus, with both at a close angle to Pluto in Capricorn. This lovely earth trine lends itself to manifesting your thoughts into reality. You’ll fare best if you visualize what you want as specifically as possible and place it in a supporting structure. For example, if you want a new job with a great salary, don’t just visualize a paycheck, but imagine yourself in the job environment with your co-workers, customers and clients (if applicable). Also get specific about how you feel doing the work you anticipate. Does it excite you? Stimulate your creativity? Fulfill your desire to help others solve problems?

Lastly, think of what you could do to make this scenario happen. Then do it! At least take a concrete step. Action is a keyword for Mars, and it also sends out a vibration that sets into motion the energy that eventually will coalesce into what you want. This is also just plain Virgo logic. If you want a new relationship, for example, you’re not going to get it by sitting on the couch watching reruns of The Love Boat.

Speaking of re-runs, Mercury turns retrograde next Thursday (November 24), and since Mercury rules Virgo, Mars is likely to behave badly, as though he, too, is retrograde. Be mindful of how you criticize others, as this is a perfect setup for being so insensitive and cutting that you could alienate someone to the point of destroying a relationship. It will be hard to patch up this type of falling out later. Driving also is going to be more of a challenge, with lots of minor fender-benders. This likely won’t be an overwhelming concern this week, but it can’t hurt to start thinking about your survival strategy for the three weeks while Mercury is in reverse.

On the positive side, you could have some wonderful opportunities for repairs and remodels, depending on what house in your chart Mars is transiting. Remember, Virgo is an earth sign, so this will pertain primarily to material projects, including helping others with a physical, material problem.

Back to this week, the Moon enters Virgo on Friday, conjoins Mars, and trines Jupiter and Pluto. Normally, I’d be wary of the Moon-Mars conjunction, as it can be associated with unchecked emotions. However, in this case, I think the Moon’s energy will act as an amplifier, so keep up that visualization work.

The only other major aspect this week is the Sun-Neptune square on Sunday. This energy can be a bit of a downer, and with Neptune still moving slowly, you may want to plan for a lazy Sunday in bed watching your favorite movies. If you tend to be psychic to start with, you may get a flash or two of otherworldly images. Also be forewarned that if you use alcohol or mind-altering substances, go easy. It won’t take much to get into place in your mind that could leave you feeling troubled or disturbed.

If you don’t get your to-do list done by Friday, you’ll still have three days next week to wrap up, but the closer we get to Mercury’s station, the more frustration you’re likely to encounter. Also, here’s another reminder to back up your computer data. Just do it, and save yourself a lot of grief later. (This has been a public service announcement by your friendly Internet astrologer.)

Before I go, I’d like to announce that the December/January issue of The Mountain Astrologer is out, with my article on Ophiuchus. If you don’t already subscribe, you can buy the individual magazine online for $7. Readers of RealAstrologers will recognize some of the material from a post I wrote back in January, but you’ll also find lots of new information, based on extensive research.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast November 7: Full Moon in Taurus, Mars Enters Virgo

Cloud Shadows on Water. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

This week we may feel like Dorothy in the poppy field scene from The Wizard of Oz. We’ve been running, running, running, and now something forces us to slow down. Yawn … I’m falling asleep just thinking about it and struggling to write a coherent sentence.

Monday wakeup is going to be a challenge – especially if, like me, your alarms goes off while it’s still dark. Have you ever slept through a blaring alarm, so soundly out of it that a nuclear blast wouldn’t rouse you? Literally or figuratively, watch for events that fit that pattern on Monday, when Mars in late Leo opposes Neptune in Aquarius. Being off daylight saving time will help, but the bigger problem is giant Neptune, ruler of sleep, at a dead stop. Of course, planets don’t stop or move in reverse; that’s just what it looks like from our perspective here on Earth. You’ll feel this more if you have Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in Pisces or if Neptune currently is moving through your twelfth house.

Neptune has been retrograde since early June and returns direct on Wednesday, the day before Chiron returns direct in Pisces. These two have been tracking fairly closely for the past few years and are associated with awakening consciousness on a planetary scale. While they’ve been retrograde, we’ve had a chance to assimilate information we received while they were moving forward from early November 2010. Now it’s time to wake up and start putting that new information into practice. You may or may not be totally aware of how this is happening or that it’s happening at all. However, I think many of you will notice, because this shift in planetary motion is happening during a broader, macrocosmic shift in consciousness. I’ve been receiving detailed reports from clients about sweeping changes that have taken place in their lives and how they suddenly see themselves and the events in their lives with more clarity.

Once Neptune returns direct, we begin the countdown toward his re-entry into Pisces in February. He spent a little over three months in his own sign earlier this year before turning retrograde and returning to Aquarius. This is just what happened in 1848, two years after Neptune was discovered. In the years that followed, the Transcendental Movement was born in the United States, led by Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, and others. Spiritualism became a trend, with séances to contact spirits of the dead. You can find more information about Neptune in Pisces in my April 4 weekly forecast.

Thursday is the most happening day this week, with the Full Moon at 18°04′ Taurus, Chiron’s return direct in Pisces, and the entry of Mars in Virgo. That sounds like a big shift, doesn’t it? You’d think our heads would be spinning with all that activity. Fortunately, Taurus is a laid-back, slow-moving sign, and Chiron in Pisces isn’t exactly a speed demon. Moreover, Mars in Virgo, while given toward nervous energy, is more methodical and measured than Mars in fiery Leo. When you add Neptune’s sleepy station into the mix, I think we’re going to feel more slow and sleepy that fast and furious. Mars opposes Chiron on Saturday, which could fuel insensitive remarks and hurt feelings. Please try to keep your criticism constructive and helpful. Likewise, if someone hurts your feelings, give them the benefit of the doubt just this once. They probably didn’t mean it. Even if they did, this isn’t the best time to address the issue.

Also keep in mind that we’re officially in Mercury’s pre-retrograde shadow period. I’m already seeing the effects, none of which have been comforting. The consolation is that I was reminded of my own admonition to back up computer files early and often. Doing so saved me from a near disaster over the weekend. Otherwise, I’m hearing reports of alarms going off and springs popping. Stay alert out there this week, folks! And if you start seeing blatant early retrograde effects, take that as your cue to wrap up current business without delay. That includes major purchases, especially electronics.

Despite the rumblings of Mercury retrograde, this week’s Full Moon should be quite lovely. The Full Moon typically brings endings, culmination, or resolution to circumstances that began at the previous New Moon. The previous New Moon, on October 26, also was nicely aspected, so I think that most of us will feel this Full Moon as an event literally coming into its fullness or reaching a logical conclusion. Taurus is an earth sign and is associated with finances, and there are no challenging aspects to this Full Moon to indicate complications. You might have them in your personal chart, of course, but overall, this is a “friendly” Full Moon, so whatever transpires should be to your benefit.

This week also brings us to the numerologically significant date of 11/11/11. I’m not the best person to discuss the meaning in this extremely rare event, so I’ll leave that to others. It does seem to me to be a remarkable occurrence in a period of remarkable events, yet another sign that we’re experiencing a major shift in consciousness that will have implications far into the future.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast October 31: Venus and Mercury Enter Sagittarius

Happy Halloween, also known as All Saints or All Hallows, and the Mexican Day of the Dead.

It’s no accident that these religious holidays were established at a time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest and most permeable. Astrologically, this phenomenon matches well with Scorpio, sign of death, transformation, and rebirth.

A growing number of people are becoming attuned to other dimensions of space/time, so I expect that many of you will have unusual experiences in the next week or two. Besides being in this seasonal space between the world of the living and the world of the dead (the material and energetic planes), we’re in a cosmic place of transition. More and more people are becoming attuned to this alternating vibration.

Our ability to sense beyond material reality is amplified by the coming eclipses and Mercury retrograde. These shifts don’t happen until Thanksgiving, but we head into interdimensional waters this week, as both Mercury and Venus cross the degree of the November 25 solar eclipse and Mercury enters the pre-retrograde shadow phase. You likely won’t need to wait until the end of the month to find out how the next eclipse pair will play out. Just keep your antennae up this week for clues. If you’re having trouble identifying them, check to see where 2-20 degrees Sagittarius are in your natal chart. You also can order your StarGuide Forecast for November, which will give you some ideas of possible scenarios you might encounter.

Taking the week one day at a time, Venus and Mercury in late Scorpio square Neptune on Monday and Tuesday. With Mars in late Leo, we’ll have a fixed T-square with Mercury and Venus at the apex. Remember, the planet at the point of the triangle bears the most pressure. The combined energy of Mercury and Venus manifests as communications in relationships. These exchanges likely won’t be direct, however, as Scorpio represents deep undercurrents. To get an idea what this means, think about a time when you were standing next to someone and having a conversation, but you were exchanging more information on a nonverbal level. It might have happened through body language, but you also may have picked up on their feelings, thoughts, and even their fears and weaknesses.

The square with Neptune suggests that you may not be entirely accurate in what you’re picking up, so don’t automatically assume you’re correct in your perceptions. Mars in Leo tells you exactly how you’re susceptible to deception. If you’re ego is in the way, you’re probably getting a distorted communications signal.

As with all T-squares, the “out” lies either in the degree opposite the apex or in a planet in soft aspect to it. The degrees of late Taurus include the malefic star Algol and the Pleiades. Check to see where those degrees fall in your chart, and that’s where your solutions and resolutions lie.

Venus and Mercury enter Sagittarius on Wednesday. Their first order of business is a conflicting square to Chiron in hypersensitive Pisces. You don’t need to be an astrologer to do the math. Insensitive remarks made to someone who is wounded or insecure will be taken badly. The difficulty is that they probably won’t say anything to you and instead will let the perceived slight fester. It’s always such a pain when something like this happens, because you end up having to defend yourself against something you may not have said and certainly didn’t mean. If you value the relationship, you likely will want to clear up the misunderstanding and smooth things over. If you don’t, you may not want to take the time to say anything but “I didn’t mean that.” The worst thing you can say, by the way, is “I’m sorry you took it like that” or “I’m sorry that you feel that way.” This is emphatically not an apology, so why bother? What you’re saying is that it’s the other person’s fault for misinterpreting your words and intentions. This is one of my pet peeves.

On Thursday, Venus and Mercury trine Uranus. Communications come fast, furiously, and from unexpected quarters. In early Aries, Uranus is still tracking the degrees of last summer’s intense cardinal T-square. One of my classmates, a Libra with early Cancer on the Ascendant, had major shakeups in her life and recently began getting calls and e-mails with amazing new opportunities. Many of you may experience something like this – again, depending on where these planets are transiting your natal chart.

On Friday, both Mercury and Venus cross the degree of the November 25 eclipse, at 2°37′ Sagittarius. Mercury is the messenger and the herald, so do pay close attention to unusual events on this day. Mercury turns retrograde on November 24 at 20 degrees Sagittarius and returns to 3 degrees on December 13. So, when Mercury crosses 3 degrees Sagittarius on Saturday, he’ll officially be in pre-retrograde shadow. It’s best to avoid this period for major transactions, but if you can’t, be aware that anything that can go wrong probably will. Make sure you’ve got all your ducks connected … oh, wait, that’s supposed to be dots connected. Your ducks should be in a row.

On Sunday, the Moon in Aries conjoins Uranus and squares Pluto. This occurs once a month, so it’s not a major astrological influence. However, I think you might notice more activity this month, given what else is going on.

Don’t forget that we go off daylight savings time Saturday night. I’ve got my list started for what I’ll do with the extra hour. Unfortunately, sleep isn’t on it.

Love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast October 24: New Moon in Scorpio, Jupiter Trine Pluto

I took this photo during my early morning commute two weeks ago. Crossing the water by the Full Moon seems like a good metaphor for a transformation in consciousness. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

As the iconic talk show host Ed Sullivan used to say, we’ve got a “really big show” this week.

Not only is there a powerful New Moon in Scorpio, but we reach the alternative end-date for the Mayan Calendar. No need to toss and turn waiting for December 21, 2012 – at least, not if you believe Carl Johan Calleman. Most other Mayan Calendar experts use the 2012 date, which is no doubt more dramatic and plays better with the public, most of whom aren’t even aware of the alternative date.

Calleman and his nemesis, John Major Jenkins, have been going at it for years about who’s right. It’s silly, really, to be arguing about such a thing and to me is a perfect example of the most basic weakness of humans: the ego. Sure, we can’t do without it (Ruth wrote a great post on this topic), but we need to keep it in its proper role. Failure to do so creates a distortion in our perception of reality – which is precisely the point when we talk about expanding human consciousness.

In fact, the expansion has been happening gradually for many people over the past several years and began accelerating during last summer’s cardinal T-square. If you’ve felt like you’re hurtling forward through space at a head-spinning pace, it’s not just your imagination.

Regardless of whether Calleman or Jenkins has the bigger ego, we’re about to find out which of them is right … well, maybe. “Expanding consciousness” isn’t exactly going to be the biblical Rapture, where everyone gets taken up to heaven. It’s hard to define, let alone measure. But I think you’ll know it when you feel it.

As many long-time readers of RealAstrologers and its predecessor, The Pisces Chronicles, may recall, I’ve written about this moment, also referred to as the Apocalypse. Again, it’s been happening over time, so you may detect the big change only by thinking back to a year or two ago and comparing your life and perception of reality now to what it was back then.

One of the ways you can recognize the shift is by observing how fast your thoughts manifest into reality. This happens most efficiently if you’ve found your life’s purpose and are working on how best to share your unique gift with the world. The mere fact that more people are asking about their true purpose is a big sign that a shift in consciousness is taking place. Astrology happens to be one of the best tools for discovering this critical bit of self-knowledge, so it’s also no coincidence that more and more people are turning toward this ancient discipline.

This week’s New Moon in Scorpio is brilliant for manifestation work, as it falls within two days of a trine between Jupiter and Pluto in earth signs. The earth signs, remember, represent the tangible and material – what we can see and touch on the material plane. This includes relationships. Where this New Moon falls in your chart tells you where you can best use this energy to draw a new situation or relationship into your life that serves your higher purpose.

Rather than taking the week chronologically, I’m going to devote the remainder of this post to the New Moon chart, which contains all of this week’s astrological themes.

Click on image to enlarge

Scorpio is the sign of death, rebirth, and transformation, with heavy emphasis on transformation. Isn’t that what we’re talking about when we discuss expanding consciousness, the end date of the Mayan Calendar, and even the Rapture?

The first thing you note in this chart is that the New Moon is opposite Jupiter in Taurus. Jupiter is retrograde until Christmas – is that symbolic, or what? So some of what we set into action at this New Moon may not be completely visible for another two months. This is especially true for those with Jupiter currently transiting the six or twelfth house. The next thing you see is the strong blue line from Jupiter to Pluto. That’s the trine, which represents an easy path for energy to flow. Pluto is the modern ruler of Scorpio and shares many traits with that sign, including all the underworld and transformation symbolism. The trine is exact on Friday, as is the Sun’s opposition to Jupiter and sextile with Pluto.

Pluto currently is in Capricorn, which is about structure, among other things. Transforming the basic structure of our lives, of society, of government, and of our basic material reality is all contained in this symbolic planet-sign combination.

The New Moon also makes a wide, out-of-sign trine with Neptune in late Aquarius, which represents collective spirituality and the intuitive sense that we’re all connected. This phrase is thrown around like some New Age buzzword, but do stop to think about what this really means. Chiron at 0 degrees Pisces is just a few degrees from Neptune and adds an element of healing to the mix. “Heal” and “whole” come from the same root. Connected with others, we are greater than the sum of our parts.

You’ll also note the inconjunct (dotted green line) from the New Moon to Uranus in Aries. Radical change doesn’t happen without upset and discord. How can you fly through time and space without feeling disoriented? On a mundane level, humanity can’t experience wholesale change without massive upheaval, and that’s exactly what’s occurring.

The second set of aspects in the New Moon chart is the square from Venus to Mars and sextile from Mars to Saturn. There’s almost no better expression of “ego” than Mars in Leo, while Venus in Scorpio hints at the need for power and control through sex. Obviously, this is not an easygoing pair, and resulting conflict is represented by the square (90-degree angle) between them. As I’ve often pointed out, conflict is not inherently “bad.” It’s how we grow and how we eventually come together in union. Conflict simply means that one person wants one thing and the other wants something else. You don’t need to take it personally. It helps to be clear about what you want and why. If it’s because you need to have control or to be the center of attention, you could get a rude wallop on the side of the head this week. But that wallop could be quite transformational, if you pay attention to the lesson – “lesson,” of course, being the function of Saturn. Because Saturn is in Libra, relationship lessons are especially fruitful.

Lastly, I’d like to mention Comet Elenin, which recently passed its closest point to Earth. The dire predictions associated with this comet were among the silliest I’ve ever seen. But I don’t discount the widespread feeling that “something” is about to happen, and maybe that’s why so many people got sucked into the Internet rumor mill.

Something is about to happen. In the words of Dave in the sequel to 2001, it could be “something wonderful.”

See you on the other side next week. In the meantime, wishing you all a universe of love and courage,
Pat