Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast August 8: Mars Square Uranus, Opposite Pluto

I sure have felt the angriness floating around this past week. Have you?

With Mercury retrograde and Mars moving through the T-square degrees, rush hour traffic on Friday was hell. People were doing crazy things, cutting in front of each other without signaling, flipping each other off, and yelling obscenities out the window. A pedestrian who witnessed one of these maneuvers yelled out, “Idiots!” Seattle isn’t particularly known for road rage, so I can only imagine how it was in other locales, especially since many of you also are still suffering under intense heat waves.

The dreams are weird, too. Friends who normally don’t even remember their dreams are commenting on it. Mine have been schizophrenic, to say the least. For that, we can look to Mercury’s continuing opposition to Neptune, planet of sleep and dreams. The two make another exact contact on Monday, right after Mercury re-enters Leo on his retrograde path. If you can steal away for a vacation, do it now!

The rough sailing has already started, but the waves get higher on Tuesday, when Mars squares Uranus in Aries. This is an extremely volatile combination that calls to mind the scene from the 1976 film Network in which masses of people shout out their windows, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” If you don’t know what I’m referring to, check out the clip on YouTube. It’s eerily relevant for our current economic crisis and especially relevant this week.

The Mars-Uranus square is amplified by the Moon in early Capricorn, which squares Uranus, opposes Mars, conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn – all in less than 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the Moon is a fleeting influence, her journey through these degrees and contacts with the T-square planets provide a strong reminder of where we’ve been since last summer and how our lives changed as a result. It may not be all bad, but most of us likely will be unsettled in some way.

Peter Finch is 'mad as hell' in Network. © MGM.

On Wednesday and Thursday, depending on where you are, Mars opposes Pluto in the big standoff. Staying out of the crossfire may not be possible, but at least don’t go looking for trouble. It’s one thing to protest corruption and injustice, quite another to do so in an area where security forces are armed and waiting for any excuse to fire into the crowd.

The Moon enters Aquarius on Friday, and then we have the Full Moon on Saturday. The Full Moon typically brings results to projects or situations that began at the New Moon, but we’ll probably experience delays and possibly setbacks due to Mercury’s retrograde phase and the challenges represented by Mars in conflicting aspect. If you feel like you’re losing ground, hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. The New Moon on August 28 is brilliant, and the new territory indicated by the New Moon in Leo on July 30 will come into view as well. If you want to know where these lunations fall in your chart, you’ll find it your Starguide Monthly Forecast for August.

Now, there is something really exciting happening this week. NASA’s Dawn mission is scheduled to go into orbit around Vesta, one of the so-called “asteroid goddesses.” Photos already are streaming back of Vesta’s pockmarked surface.

What can we read into a spacecraft called Dawn orbiting an asteroid named after a Roman goddess? It’s no accident that Vesta, like Ceres before her, has entered the collective consciousness – or, I should say, re-entered, as both goddesses were revered in various forms in ancient times and then forgotten, swallowed by time. As usual, we can turn to mythology for possible clues about the greater significance in this event.

The planets are named after Roman deities, most of which were adapted from the Greeks. Vesta, goddess of hearth and home, was highly revered. Her symbol was an eternal flame, which was kept burning in the holiest ground of ancient Rome and in every home. Among other things, it was a reminder that community is extended family. As it turns out, Vesta currently is in Aquarius, the sign of community and the “family of man.” If nothing else, the global debt crisis is hammering home the reality that we’re all connected, and in the most personal way.

Vesta’s Greek counterpart, Hestia, was one of the 12 Olympians, the most important of the gods and goddesses in ancient Greece. She was the first child of Cronus (Roman Saturn) and Rhea, who were Titans – the elder gods. Cronus, who himself had led the overthrow of the first generation of Titans, ate his children to prevent them from doing the same to him. However, Rhea plotted to save Zeus, who in turn instigated the overthrow of the Titans and forced Cronus to spit out his older siblings. As the eldest, Hestia was the first to be swallowed and the last to be disgorged; thus, she was said to be both the oldest and the youngest of the new race of gods that replaced the old cosmic order.

The War of the Titans lasted 10 years and ended the Golden Age, a period of peace and abundance, when manmade law was unnecessary because everyone lived in their integrity. This notion of a celestial war didn’t originate with the Greeks but also can be found in older cultures. There’s even a version in the Christian Bible. Likewise, the story of an earthly paradise is found in many ancient traditions.

I’ve often mentioned a planetary energy shift, which is just another way of describing this war. It’s common to believe that our ancient ancestors were superstitious, because they believed in gods, demons, and other human-like entities. However, I see their belief system as an ingenious way of putting a human face on disembodied energies, taking them out of the abstract so they could be understood by the human mind.

In that vein, Hestia represents initiating fire or spirit, an attribute astrologers assign to Aries, the first of the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The cardinal T-square, which at times has formed into a grand cross, was the astrological configuration that led to predictions that great change would occur from 2010 to 2012, with political upheaval continuing into 2015, as indicated by the long-term square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. It’s no accident, then, that we’re visiting Vesta in the midst of this cardinal buildup.

Dawn will spend a year observing Vesta and then will head toward Ceres, with a scheduled arrival date of 2015. The Greek counterpart of Ceres was Demeter, Hestia’s sister, who also was among the Olympians. I’ve written a lot about Ceres, who came back into the collective awareness when she was “promoted” to dwarf planet in 2006.

At the very least, the mission to find out more about celestial objects named after goddesses tells us that the planetary energy shift is restoring the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Of course, this isn’t news, but just confirms what many of us have felt intuitively for several years.

As an addendum, I’d like to mention Juno, NASA’s new mission to Jupiter. Juno was launched into space last Friday, August 5, and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in July 2016. In Roman mythology, Juno was Jupiter’s wife and queen of the gods. Asteroid Juno currently is at 4 degrees Libra, directly opposite Uranus, which means that she is intimately involved in this week’s cardinal configuration.

How’s that for synchronicity?

I leave you with this awe-inspiring full rotation of Vesta, courtesy NASA/JPL.

Wishing you all an abundance of love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast August 1: Mercury Retrograde, Mars Enters Cancer

Waiting in line. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

As if the dog days of August aren’t hot enough, astrological aspects in the first three weeks of the month add to the frustration and irritation.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday and will stay in “reverse” until August 26. If you’ve got a teaching position or some other job that allows you take this month off, I strongly encourage you to get out of town and go on a nice, long vacation. That is one of the things Mercury retrograde is good for, especially in fun-loving Leo, where he’ll spend most of his retrograde phase.

If you have to stay at your desk or shop and slog away, be prepared for tasks to take longer and possibly require revision. The exception is editing, which is another activity that can be more efficient during Mercury retrograde. Transiting Mercury’s position in your chart indicates what areas of your life will be most affected this time around. If you’d like more information, I recommend my StarGuide Monthly Forecast for August. Not only will it tell you where Mercury is retrograde in your chart, but you’ll get an idea of how the Full Moon and New Moon will affect you.

You’ll also know where Mars is transiting your chart, which may turn out to be even more significant, as he’ll trigger cardinal T-square and grand cross points. You may know what those are already, since they’ve been active for more than a year.

Mars is cranky enough in Cancer without the conflicting aspects to Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. I suspect we’re going to see a lot of events in the headlines based on anger, paranoia, and an excessive need to protect loved ones and personal property, although that’s more likely to occur next week and the week after.

Other aspects this week reinforce conflict, but there are a couple of mitigating influences that hopefully will help keep the peace, at least for now. Taking the week chronologically:

Venus forms a trine with Uranus on Monday (late Sunday night on the West Coast of the United States). Unexpected opportunities come up for love, money, and a good time – again, depending on where these two are transiting your chart. Just keep in mind that sudden developments may be temporary. The Sun’s square with Jupiter could lead to inflated expectations about how big the opportunities are or what they mean in the long run – in other words, don’t start planning your wedding just because the cute guy down the hall asked you out. The Moon is in Virgo on Monday and conjoins stationed Mercury, so I think we can avoid getting carried away, and we might even come up with some good ideas for how to take advantage of new opportunities toward the end of the month.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday, but we’ve been experiencing the effects since late last week. I woke up on Thursday to news reports that I-5 South out of Seattle was completely blocked due to an overturned semi-truck that spilled its load of fuel all over the roadway. The driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Mercury was in an applying opposition to Neptune, which rules petroleum. Both Mercury and Neptune play a role in sleep.

On Wednesday, Mars enters Cancer, with the Moon entering Libra less than an hour later and immediately forming a square with Mars and crossing the cardinal T-square points. Minor irritations throughout the day provide hints about what’s to come, so keep your antennae up. Mars also trines Neptune, who retrogrades back into Aquarius on Thursday. More extreme weather may occur, although it would be hard to pin it to astrological phenomenon.

Speaking of weather and stars, did you know that the term “dog days” has its roots in the night sky? In ancient times, the hottest days of the summer coincided with the rising and setting of Sirius with the Sun. Sirius, also called the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky and one of the stars forming the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog). The Romans believed that the earth received heat from Sirius, which appeared even brighter in those times due to lack of city lights and air pollution. (Thanks to James Weythman for the link on Wilstar.com.)

Continuing with our week, Venus squares Jupiter on Friday, fueling a tendency toward pie-in-the-sky dreams and overindulgence. Then, I’m not against going overboard with food, drink, sex, or the substance of your choice once in a while, especially if it relieves unbearable tension. Invite your co-workers to happy hour after work on Friday and have some fun. Just be sure to agree in advance who’s going to pay, and make sure you have a calculator.

Friday through Sunday, the Sun and Venus form a happy sextile to Saturn in Libra. Love and commitment can progress, despite Mercury’s retrograde motion. Again, just be clear in your communications. If you have to, repeat your words back to each other three or four times so that you’re sure you understand. Otherwise, intentions could be badly misinterpreted, leading to embarrassment or worse.

Next week is tough, so have fun while you can and take time to make some backup plans, to the extent possible.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast July 25: Mercury Enters Virgo, New Moon in Leo

As we head into the final week of July, it’s a good time to start preparing for August, a potentially difficult month.

Spend this week shoring up your alliances, wrapping up as much business as you can, and finding ways to put new projects on hold until the end of next month – and there will be new developments, with the New Moon in Leo on Saturday.

The August StarGuide Forecast is prepared, so now would be a good time to have a look at your personal transits for next month. You’ll also get my notes about where Mercury retrograde will fall in your chart, as well as the positions of the Full Moon on August 13 and the New Moon on August 28, which will be particularly significant, as it represents a big green light for whatever was stalled during Mercury’s retrograde phase.

Meanwhile, this week is a bit chaotic, with a “which way am I suppose to go” feel to it. To help make sense of it, I’m going to address the astrological aspects out of order.

On Wednesday, the Sun in Leo trines Uranus in Aries, and then Venus enters Leo on Thursday and trines Uranus on Sunday. These are the most positive energies of the week, and they’ll be active at the New Moon on Saturday. Leo rules the heart. Opening your heart without fear to let in new opportunities will yield results. This is especially true for love, but Venus also is associated with finances and other goodies. When we’re in a state of fear and mistrust, our hearts are closed. It’s like trying to receive a FedEx delivery without unlocking your door.

The big challenge this week is going to be cultivating courage and trust. You need only look at the latest news headlines to know that there is some very weird energy in the astro-sphere. Pinning down astrological markers is a tricky business, but I’d put my money on the close square between Uranus and Pluto. We’ve been talking about this for years, and while the first exact contact doesn’t occur until next June, the two planets are retrograde and tracking just over a degree from an exact square for the next few weeks. The most notable keywords for this aspect are “revolution” and “rebellion.” But with Pluto in Capricorn, revolutions will be met by powerful forces backing up the status quo. There is no question that the next three years are going to be tumultuous. Events to date are just a taste of what’s to come.

We also have two major inconjuncts on Thursday, which tend to irritate and grate on our nerves. The Sun’s inconjunct to Pluto on Thursday pits individual will against the master plan of authority. This could manifest as anything from a clash with your boss to new stand-offs in the global hotspots of revolutionary activity.

The inconjunct from Venus to Neptune is problematic for love relationships, all the more so with Mercury in opposition with Neptune the same day. Don’t be surprised if someone hears something you didn’t say and vice versa. Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde on August 2, but it will seem like it’s already “in reverse” by the end of this week. My standard advice applies: If you have a misunderstanding, forgive and forget, and don’t assume it’s the other person’s fault. Although you intend your words to have a certain meaning, the other person may interpret them entirely differently, and both can be valid. That’s the mischief of retrograde Mercury, the Trickster.

Not to forget Ceres, the largest of the asteroid goddesses turns retrograde at 0 degrees Aries on Tuesday. What I see as most significant in this shift is that she won’t add her weight to the Uranus-Pluto square until next January and February. When that happens, we might see widespread protests over environmental issues or, worse, food shortages.

Saturday’s New Moon incorporates all of the week’s aspects, so everything I’ve written above applies to the next two weeks in general. This New Moon is the first in nearly three months that isn’t an eclipse, and it takes us into new territory beyond the issues we’ve been dealing with over the past two years. Those of you who ordered your StarGuide forecast for July or for the entire summer know exactly where this New Moon will land in your chart and what sorts of new developments you might experience. (The StarGuide Summer 2011 Forecast is still on sale and runs through September 23.)

Remember, Mars also enters Cancer next week – the day after Mercury turns retrograde – so this is the last week of relative calm (emphasis on relative) in which we can tie up loose ends. After that, it’s anybody’s guess what we’ll be dealing with.

Wishing you a strong and open heart,
Pat

Weekly Forecast July 18: Sun Enters Leo, Mars Conjunct South Node

Grand finale. The Strawberry Festival parade ends with performers from dance and drumming classes taught by Rhythm Joy of Vashon. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

We should all get a breather this week, with the Sun moving into light-hearted Leo and, more importantly, no heavy outer planet transits to deal with. But that “other shoe about to drop” feeling just won’t go away.

Actually, I’d say there are quite a few shoes dangling in the power lines overhead, and a good wind could blow one of them down at any moment. Action planet Mars likely will supply the gust, so I jotted down a few dates to watch.

The Mars force often is the trigger to activate degrees that have been sensitized by a recent eclipse or major aspect. If you’ve already experienced a big change or significant event tied to these aspects, then it’s not likely you’ll get a sudden surprise when Mars crosses these degrees. The Mars trigger is more important for those who haven’t yet had the closure or “grand finale” of the Capricorn-Cancer eclipse series.

In Gemini, Mars is cruising through the territory of the new series of eclipses that began on the solstice in December 2010. The eclipses on June 1 and June 15 were in this series, which is marking a departure for many people, a new path to follow. Mars activated the June 1 eclipse a couple of weeks ago and crosses the lunar eclipse point on July 26.

This week, he conjoins the lunar South Node, which will be direct at the time of conjunction. The lunar nodes normally move retrograde. The periods when they are direct seem to provide access to dimensions beyond the human perception of time. For some, this can manifest as glimpses of the future or distant past, or meetings with people from other incarnations.

The bigger impact will occur August 2-3, when Mercury turns retrograde and Mars enters Cancer. The first three weeks of August are potentially explosive, individually and collectively. That’s why I suggest resting and having fun now, while things “up there” are processing in the background. The Sun enters Leo on Friday, just in time for an enjoyable weekend.

Even before he enters Cancer, Mars will start activating last summer’s T-square and at the same time form a grand cross with Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. Although Saturn is in a fairly wide square at this point, Mars will “carry forward” the energies of the other planets, and in the famous words of baseball great Yogi Berra, it will be “déjà vu all over again.”

I do know some people who have completed a cycle and are starting a new one. For me, the new path is that I’m now officially registered to go back to school this fall for film and video production. It’s a rigorous two-year program, so I won’t have as much time and energy to devote to RealAstrologers or individual consultations. If you’ve been thinking about a reading, I strongly encourage you to schedule it in the next two months. Once classes start, I’ll keep you updated about my availability.

However, as I’ve pointed out in previous posts, many of us (myself included) have faced multiple issues over the past two years, and not all of them are wrapped up. This is partly due to the nature of the T-square and grand cross; they affect several houses in your chart. Moreover, others you’re involved with have their own transits, and what’s happening between you may be part of their big picture rather than yours. If they haven’t completed the cycle, then it’s not complete for you, either. Mars crosses the degree of the July 1 eclipse – the last in the Capricorn-Cancer series – on August 17, which is another potential “wrap-up” date.

Appropriately, Berra also is credited with the saying, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

Wishing you all the love and courage of Leo,

Pat

Weekly Forecast July 11: Full Moon in Capricorn

After the desert monsoon. © Ellen Hill, 2011

The eclipses are behind us, but there are issues left to resolve.

It almost feels like a Hollywood film script with an ending that is dragged out deliberately in order to keep the suspension going as long as possible, but irritates instead. I can hear all the muttering in the audience: “Could we please just get on with it?

For some of us, the credits are about to roll. For others, it will take a bit longer, and there may be a sequel. As usual, it depends on where all of this is happening in your chart.

Those of you who ordered your StarGuide forecast* are aware that the Full Moon this Friday is a potentially a big date for wrapping up. Although it’s not an eclipse, it is near the degree of a total eclipse of the Sun in January 2010. You likely know by now what your main challenge has been over the past two years. If you don’t, it’s probably because you’ve been hit on several sides at once or because your life and the lives of loved ones with different sets of circumstances were comingled. For a clue about what might come full circle at this Full Moon, think back to January 2010, and you’ll have an idea of what to expect.

If the “big finish” doesn’t happen in the next week to 10 days, there are a couple more dates coming up, with Mars passing over the eclipse degrees. Last Wednesday, he crossed the degree of the June 1 eclipse. That one, as you may recall, was about new beginnings. He’ll reach the degree of the July 1 eclipse in Cancer on August 17. Yes, I hear the muttering. . .

So overall, I don’t see anything new emerging at Friday’s Full Moon. Like me, you’ll probably consider this to be good news.

As for the rest of the week, we start out on Monday at a fast pace, with the Moon in Sagittarius and an energetic sextile from Mercury in Leo to Mars in Gemini. Communications can be swift and direct. Keep your contacts light and entertaining. Even heavy subjects are best approached with humor.

On Wednesday, Venus and Saturn form a square. Normally this is a difficult aspect, but I don’t think we’ll feel the usual “nobody loves me” effect, as Saturn is in Libra, the sign Venus rules. A good friend of mine reminded me yesterday about how hard relationships are. Keeping true love alive takes constant vigilance and requires that we continually examine our own feelings, motives, and internal programming. But both people have to be committed, or it won’t matter how hard you work. Saturn in Libra represents an equal and balanced commitment.

After Friday’s Full Moon, we’ll get a break for a week or so. It will be a welcome relief.

Wishing you all hearts full of love and courage,

Pat

* The StarGuide Summer 2011 Forecast is now on sale at 20 percent off!

Weekly Forecast July 4: Mars at Eclipse Degree, Uranus Retrograde

The eclipses of June and July continue to reverberate into our lives this week as we find closure to old issues and move farther into exciting new territory. The fireworks midweek could be better than the Fourth of July.

Getting right into the week … On Monday, Venus enters Cancer and immediately begins another round of the cardinal grand cross. But first, she forms a sweet, romantic trine to Neptune, just as Mercury in light-hearted Leo trines Uranus. Magic happens when our hearts and minds are open. If you want love, abundance, inspiration, creative genius and just plain fun, you have to be open to receive. With Uranus stationed to go retrograde on Saturday, you could surprise even yourself by what flies into your world.

A square from Mercury to Jupiter makes Tuesday a great day for coming up with a plan to make your vision a reality. Everything starts with a dream, but without action, the dream stays in your head and never sees the light of day. Figuring out how you’re going to get from point A to point B requires seeing the big picture but not overlooking details, which can happen when we rush into action without thinking things through first.

Wednesday gets my vote for the biggest day of the week, when Mars crosses the degree of the June 1 eclipse at 11 degrees Gemini. As I wrote in my post on that eclipse, it was for the most part positive and productive, but eclipses don’t always play out right away. Eclipse energy can take 30, 60, or 90 days to manifest – or, it can release when another planet crosses the degree of the eclipse and acts as a trigger. Mars, the action planet, is the most powerful trigger there is. So, if you didn’t notice any new developments at the beginning of the June or at the lunar eclipse on June 15, you could get the “news” this week.

As it so happens, Mars also makes a productive trine to Saturn on Wednesday. You’ll recall that Saturn’s favorable angle to the Sun and Moon was one of the main reasons astrologers predicted happy results for the June 1 eclipse. Saturn in Libra is especially beneficial for committed relationships, but the Mars-Saturn trine is positive overall for talking the talk and walking the walk.

On Thursday, Jupiter trines Pluto in earth signs Taurus and Capricorn, supporting growth, expansion and positive change, particularly in finances or material assets. Later in the day, Venus squares Uranus, who’s sitting at a near standstill – a powerful moment. Romance, money, or a lavish gift could appear out of the blue.

Friday is “Venus day,” and she’s the star of the show, making contacts with Chiron, Pluto and Jupiter (Saturday in some parts of the world). Because Venus also is associated with wealth, this is another possible “lucky” day for material gain. However, the Venus-Pluto opposition may be challenging for some – again, depending on where these two are transiting your chart.* If you’re normally prone to obsessing, you may get an intense twinge of it toward the end of the week. This pair is sexually charged as well.

Mercury sextiles Saturn on Saturday, another aspect supporting planning, good mental concentration and the ability to see a project through. Marketing, PR, and any form of communications are favored. If you work weekends (like yours truly), spend some extra time applying butt to chair.

To my readers in the United States, have a safe and happy Fourth of July – no blowing any fingers off, OK?

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

* Your StarGuide Monthly Forecast for July will tell you whether Jupiter and Venus also are making contacts to your natal planets, which would give this aspect a further boost.

Weekly Forecast June 27: New Moon Solar Eclipse in Cancer

Imagine that the moving van is gone with all your belongings, and you’re spending one last night in your old home, empty of everything but a small suitcase. Tomorrow at daybreak, you head out for your new destination.

Each of us has experienced the past two years in a different way. The common thread is that the circumstances were so challenging that we didn’t know how we’d survive. Yet here we are, exhausted and perhaps saddened by how things turned out, but still alive and ready to close this chapter of our lives.

Most of the major aspects this week tie in to Friday’s solar eclipse, the last in a series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer that began two years ago. Throughout the week, there may be reminders of the hardest and most painful moments of your particular situation. If nothing else, the memories may trigger intense emotions. It’s all part of moving on, and it won’t be long before you can get really excited about what comes next. Trust me on this.

I wrote about the eclipse in a detailed post on Saturday, with a chart so you can get a visual idea of how dramatic this event is. You don’t have to be an astrologer to know that a big red square in a chart must be important. There are a lot of dire predictions floating around about this eclipse, but as I mentioned in my post, I think it’s going to be more about closure. The hardest part may be dealing with the loss. Even if the changes you experienced were positive, the adjustment was probably quite difficult. Kate and William, the Capricorn-Cancer couple, come immediately to mind. She won her prince, but we can only imagine what she had to go through to become a member of the royal family “firm.”

Looking at the week chronologically, Monday starts out on a bright note, with an energetic sextile from Mars to Uranus. If anything unusual transpires, make a note, because it likely will come in to play in your new venture.

Tuesday brings a heavy dose of cardinal grand cross energy (it may start a few days before and last a day or two after), with the Sun opposite Pluto. The usual interpretation of difficult Sun-Pluto aspects is that they represent power struggles, things breaking down, and intense experiences with other people that may leave you with a bruised ego. This is all possible, but in keeping with my “wrapping it up” theme, it’s just as likely that you find the wherewithal to detach from the past and take concrete action to head in a new direction – which, incidentally, is probably clear by now.

The Moon enters Cancer on Thursday and makes contacts throughout the day with Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, Chiron and Pluto before aligning with the Sun on Friday. A few hours later, she squares Saturn. There is no denying the heaviness in these aspects, and much of it likely will be felt emotionally. Again, don’t try to repress how you feel and keep plodding along. Stop and acknowledge your feelings. Pay them your respect.

The Sun squares Saturn on Saturday, fueling a sense of exhaustion and carrying a load that’s too heavy. Fortunately, this will pass in a day or two. If there really is something you need to do to resolve a situation, it could happen at the end of the week. It won’t be easy, but it must be done. After that, your load will feel lighter.

Speaking of lighter, Mercury enters fun-loving Leo on Saturday. It’s probably not going to help too much over the weekend, given the heavy energy surrounding the eclipse. Then, nothing says we can’t have a party to celebrate the victory of having made it through. We may be limping to the punch bowl, but by golly we’re still standing!

The two weeks following the eclipse will be a “clean-up” period, so we’re not entirely out of the old home situation yet. And then, of course, there will be boxes to unpack and furniture to arrange and exploration of the new neighborhood.

Wishing you all much love and courage – hang in there!
Pat

P.S. If you haven’t checked out my new monthly and seasonal forecasts, please take a moment to do so. When you’re traveling in a new place, it sure helps to have a roadmap!

Weekly Forecast June 20: Mars Enters Gemini, Sun Enters Cancer

Summer is here, and along with it, the activation of the cardinal grand cross.

Actually, the grand cross started last week, when messenger Mercury entered Cancer and immediately squared Uranus. What a mess! My DSL went dead on Friday, and I found out later it was a problem with CenturyLink that affected the whole state. The lines at our supermarket yesterday were like the day before Thanksgiving. The store’s credit card system works through CenturyLink and was malfunctioning, and they’ve been told it won’t be fixed until Monday. Fortunately, mine came back, or I wouldn’t be posting this forecast!

Meanwhile, United experienced a computer crash that virtually shut down the airline for five hours Friday night and early Saturday, when the Mercury-Uranus square was applying within 2 degrees. And then there was this bizarre headline, about a dead deer in a power line. Uranus rules air travel, power lines, and unpredictable events.

Events such as these help us understand how astrology can be an indicator of the myriad ways cosmic energies manifest in the physical world. On a more mundane level, the Messenger is reminding us in no uncertain terms how dependent we are on computers.

In the more immediate term, we’re starting to get an idea of how the July 1 eclipse might shake out. I’ll have more on this topic in a post on Saturday. For now, let’s look at this week.

On Monday, Mars enters speedy Gemini after spending an agonizing six weeks in laid-back Taurus. Mars, the action planet, is debilitated in Taurus. For us, that has meant a lot of frustration as we’ve tried to accomplish something and kept meeting with obstacles. With the grand cross at a peak, we’re still going to bump into obstacles, but it will be entirely different. This is more like having the gas pedal all the way to the floor and running into a roadblock at high speed. All I can say is, do your best to stay alert and be on the lookout for the detour signs.

Tuesday is the big day this week, when the Sun enters Cancer. This is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, winter for all of you on the south side. Mercury forms an exact square with Saturn less than two hours later.

Fortunately, we’ve got a couple of the “outs” I always look for in difficult configurations like this. The first out is a positive sextile from the Sun to Jupiter, who’s also in a strong applying trine to Pluto. It’s cliché to say that challenges build character, but this is one time when we’ll get an opportunity to transform and grow with less pain than normal under a Pluto transit. The catalyst to your ah-ha moment may be a run-in with an authority figure, such as your boss or parents. Setting aside your pride and ego is key.

There’s a second out, a trine from the Sun to Neptune, but I’m ambivalent about this one. Easy energy paths like this make it possible for Mother Nature to channel her pent-up energies. With the Sun, Mercury and Neptune all in water signs, I don’t like the sound of this. Neptune also is in a trine with Jupiter – although it’s past peak – with Jupiter in Taurus, the “earthiest” of the earth signs.

Before I continue with the rest of the week, I’d like to take a moment to promote a new report I’ve put together to complement my weekly forecasts, which are general and pertain to everyone. For specific transits, I highly recommend StarGuide, a written report based entirely on your own birth data, not your Sun sign! I’m offering it as a monthly or, if you’d like to save a little money, as a three-month forecast starting at the beginning of each season. The StarGuide Summer 2011 edition is now available, so don’t wait too long! It may take me 2-3 days to compile your report, so if you want it this week, you need to place your order now!

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this report! The transit interpretations are by Gina Ronco, who is wonderfully positive and provides suggestions for handling any difficult transits you may be experiencing. The really cool thing, though, is a graph that I created that shows your best days for love, career, and social life. This required some advanced programming to customize the parameters for my personal approach to astrology. The result is a wonderful planning tool that helps you make choices about where to put your energy and focus – so, for example, if you’ve got a great day for love coming up, you don’t want to be on the couch watching reruns of Dancing with the Stars. If you’d like to see what it looks like, check out the sample for Julian Assange.

As long as I’m in advertising mode, I’d also like to put in a plug for the wonderful folks at Cosmic Patterns Software, creators of Kepler and Sirius. They made themselves personally available when I ran into programming issues. I couldn’t have created these reports without their excellent tech support.

Back to this week (thanks for indulging me), Wednesday brings a square to Neptune from Mars and a sextile to Neptune from the Sun. Creativity is enhanced – and that includes finding creative solutions to current challenges. The Mars-Neptune square is not so helpful, as it suggests outright lies and intentional deceit. If something sounds too good to be true, don’t take the bait.

The weekend is a bit schizophrenic. On one hand, the Sun-Jupiter sextile with support by a lovely Taurus Moon suggests appreciating the comforts of home and material pleasures. Setting aside our worries for a few hours and appreciating what we have sends out a positive vibe that can ping back to us in surprising ways.

On the other hand, there’s a Sun-Uranus square later in the day, and the surprises we get may not be of the pleasant variety. If you’ve been feeling stuck, it might be a good idea to intentionally do something different on Sunday – something that in some way reflects what you would do if time and money were unlimited. You may not be able to jet off to Hawaii, but you could slice up a pineapple and do a barefoot dance in your living room. The Sun and Uranus are nothing if not creative. Let your imagine run wild.

Wish you all limitless love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast June 13: Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius, Venus Trine Saturn

This week is dominated by the lunar eclipse at the Full Moon on Wednesday.

The eclipse in the middle of the week brings us to the halfway point between the inter-eclipse period of June 1 to July 1. It’s hard to predict what will happen at eclipses, except to note that they often bring sudden and unexpected change.

It seems to me, though, that we pretty much know the nature of the changes, if not the specifics. Also, the last eclipse in a series tends to mark the wrapping up of an issue that has been the main focus of your life for the past couple of years. So, what I think we’re going to see between Wednesday’s Full Moon eclipse and the solar eclipse on July 1 is a new path coming into view, with a clear message that it leads to a very different place than where we’ve been for the past two years.

That said, eclipses aren’t a time to initiate new ventures or start a new relationship. We’re in a state of disorientation and adjustment. What feels right to you now may not seem like such a good idea in a few weeks. If an opportunity arises, go for it. But don’t try to force something to happen that isn’t unfolding naturally on its own.

Planetary aspects that occur at an eclipse provide us with additional information about how things might shake out. As I mentioned in my eclipse post, there’s a trine from Venus to Saturn, who has just turned direct – a powerful moment. The trine is exact on Saturday, so it will be in the dynamic applying stage at the Full Moon. Saturn is in Libra, the sign of relationships, and Venus rules Libra. So, Saturn is sending his structuring capacity to the planet of love. Commitment among equal partners is a theme here, and I sure hope it spreads.

Mars, unfortunately, is sitting on malefic fixed star Algol, and he’s in an irritating inconjunct with the Full Moon. The planet of war isn’t very strong in Taurus, which also is ruled by Venus. I see this theme playing out in the Weiner scandal. The congressman surely is going to find out that being in a committed relationship with a woman who by all accounts is extraordinary beats the pants off screwing around on the Internet. Men on this planet are learning that their power isn’t diminished by a powerful woman, and women are learning how not to give away their power to “save” the relationship.

Much of what goes on in relationships happens under the surface, and it’s hard to resolve differences if one or both people suppresses their true feelings. On Monday, Venus squares Chiron, signifying painful exchanges. Often this is what it takes to break through to higher ground – and there’s every indication that this is possible now. The inconjunct from Venus to Pluto on Tuesday suggests that sex may be a major source of resentment and will have to be addressed.

Mercury enters Cancer on Thursday and forms favorable aspects to Jupiter and Neptune on Friday. Here’s our chance to connect on a soul level by speaking from the heart about what we want and need. And be sure to listen to what your partner, friend, or family members say they need. You may have to compromise, but at least everything’s above board.

Over the weekend, Mercury forms a cardinal grand cross with Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto. Sunday is Father’s Day, and it’s probably not a good idea to get in a discussion with dad or anyone else about politics. As it is, someone else may confront you about an unresolved issue or a secret you thought no one knew. Fortunately – at least for the coming week – Venus remains the “out” via the trine with Saturn. Love may not conquer all, but it sure goes a long way. It doesn’t take an astrologer to tell you that.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast June 6: Venus Enters Gemini, Saturn Direct

We’re in that twilight zone between eclipses, where we don’t feel like we’re all here, but we don’t know where we are when we’re not.

Normally, the inter-eclipse period lasts a couple of weeks, but because this is a rare six-eclipse year, it’s going to be with us for another month. We had a similar extended inter-eclipse period from July 7 to August 6, 2009, which also was a six-eclipse year. Maybe you remember it. Events happen very fast during this time, and you can be taken completely by surprise. If you know where these eclipses fall in your chart, you at least have an idea of what area of your life will be affected. (See link below for an article on this topic.)

I certainly remember that month. Unexpected events during that period determined the direction of my life for the following two years. That series, like the current pattern, consisted of two eclipses in a new sign pair, followed by one last eclipse in the outgoing sign pair. This tells me that one chapter of our lives is coming to an end as a new one begins, with a small overlap. One set of circumstances, while ending, leads into something new.

The profound sense of uneasiness we feel is compounded by shifting planetary energies. Jupiter just entered Taurus, while Venus, ruler of Taurus, enters Gemini on Thursday. Chiron turns retrograde on Wednesday, and Saturn turns direct on Sunday. It’s little wonder that we don’t know whether we’re coming or going.

Overall, life has been moving along briskly since the June 1 eclipse, but the pace will pick up still more once Venus enters Gemini and Mercury takes over as the dominant planetary energy. Communications come fast and furious, and if you blink, you’ll miss something. We may be coming and going so fast that our sense of time is blurred even more.

Neptune is officially retrograde but remains at 0 degrees Pisces for another two months. Combined with the eclipse cycle, Neptune’s station in the sign without boundaries has manifested for me as unusually vivid dreams and a skewed perception of time. I’ve experienced several instances in the past ten days in which my thoughts were a minute or so ahead of “reality.” I’ve heard reports of people having a hard time staying in the present, along with headaches that last for several days.

Physical circumstances begin to shift after Saturn turns direct on Sunday, although you may get news as early as Tuesday, when Mercury makes an easy flowing trine to the planet of time and structure. Saturn represents manifestation on the physical plane, which is very much related to his role as Lord of Time.

Venus squares Neptune on Friday. If you’re in the United States, there’s a good chance you’ll be sleeping during this contact, so be sure to keep your dream journal by the bed. Among the messages we receive may be communications from someone from past or future lifetimes. This portal into other dimensions remains open through the weekend. In just over four hours on Sunday, the Sun conjoins Mercury in Gemini, Venus sextiles Uranus, and Saturn returns direct.

If you’re sensitive to these energies, you no doubt have started experiencing some time-space disorientation. It may get stronger in the next few weeks. If you feel like you’re coming unglued, do whatever you normally do to stay grounded. For me, it’s sticking close to home and eating something substantial, like meat. Chocolate, unfortunately, just makes it worse. Life is so unfair.

Next week we enter the second phase of the eclipses, with a total lunar eclipse in Sagittarius on June 15. I’m working on a new service list, which I’ll announce within the next couple of weeks (if you’re on my wait list, you’ll receive a personal note), but will try to take some time out to write separate posts on the next two eclipses.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Related Posts:
What Determines How an Eclipse Affects Us?
(Please note that I’ve temporarily discontinued the weekly Q&A column.)
More About Eclipses