Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast January 17:Full Moon in Cancer, Jupiter Enters Aries

Detail from The Deluge, by John Martin, 1834.

My head hurts. I think it’s going to implode. And somehow I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse this week.

I’m picking up on something chaotic, disruptive, and all very messy. E-mail I’ve received over the past week from friends and clients confirms what I’ve been feeling. My initial thought is that it’s the force of Jupiter and Uranus blasting through the collective unconscious. But it also could be the energy of the solar eclipse on January 4 gathering steam as we approach the Full Moon in Cancer on Wednesday.

Whatever it is, I was torn between which image to use for this post: The Tower struck by lightning, or the biblical flood. Since I’ve already used The Tower recently, I decided on The Deluge, by John Martin. I chose this painting over other more grim versions, because I am sensitive to those in regions of the world that are experiencing horrific flooding. Perhaps some of what we’re picking up is their fear and distress.

This is what happens when we become more psychically connected.

I’m convinced more than ever that the Great Awakening is under way, and I suppose I should have foreseen that it wouldn’t be all angels and rainbows. It’s as though something is f$%*ing with our heads, and we’re all discombobulated. Scattered. All over the place. Unable to get ourselves together.

Last week’s astrology fiasco is yet another symptom. I’m still shaking my head at the irony of astrologers trying to convince an unwitting public that they’ve been had by a scientist. And no matter how much we try to correct the misconception, no matter how reasonable or logical our explanations, it’s as though everyone is holding their hands over their ears, saying, “La, la, la, la.” I read one follow-up news report asserting that astrologers are “defying science” and “poo-pooing the new discovery.” Truly, the whole world has gone stark-raving mad.

OK, I’m taking a deep breath …

The two main astrological events this week are the Full Moon in Cancer on Wednesday and Jupiter’s entry into Aries on Saturday. I’ve covered both topics in detail already, but I’ll note again here that these two events together are indicative of a lot of action happening all at once. Since Jupiter is in the last degree of Pisces this week, and the Full Moon occurs in the last degrees of Capricorn and Cancer, we ought to be able to wrap up some matters that have been hanging around for awhile. Or, perhaps some issues will finally resolve, outside of our control.

Although the energy has felt chaotic and perhaps a bit menacing, I do believe that we’ll be pleasantly surprised by some of what transpires this week, thanks to the positive angle from the Sun and Moon to Uranus and Jupiter. The flip side is that the natural world is unrestrained. It has stuck in my head ever since Katrina that trines can indicate a clear path for violent earth energies to take their course. Let’s hope that’s not the case this week.

On Tuesday, Mercury conjoins Pluto for the third and final time in his most-recent retrograde phase. More revelations from WikiLeaks? Other state secrets revealed? We’ll find out soon. In our personal lives, this aspect correlates to deep introspection and close encounters with our inner demons.

Wednesday is the Full Moon, with both Sun and Moon closely aspecting Jupiter. One thing I failed to mention in my Full Moon post is that the inclusion of Juno in the chart creates a mystic rectangle. Jupiter and Juno, symbols of husband and wife, are in opposition. One way this might play out is through the resolution of challenges in marriages. You’ll need to see where they are in your chart to know whether this could apply to you.

By the way, in light of the current spotlight on the validity of astrology, I need to insert my usual caveat that the movement of the planets does not cause anything to happen on earth. The connection is more subtle than that, “As above, so below.” We look to the planets to inform us about energy patterns and trends, and we can make some educated guesses about how they might manifest into physical reality. Energy taking form is not a “cause.” It’s so tedious to explain this every time that I sometimes use the shorthand language. But we mustn’t be confused.

Saturday is the biggest day this week, when Jupiter enters Aries. Many of you will embark upon new and exciting adventures, depending on where Jupiter is transiting your chart. This is a rugged pioneering spirit, one who finds opportunities in every challenge. We’re heading into new territory, and this time we’ll stay there and reap some of the rewards.

On Sunday, Venus sextiles Saturn, a somber but usually positive aspect. Relationships may not be hot and sexy, but you can still derive a lot of satisfaction out of running errands together, learning something new, working as a couple to help your neighbors, or taking a road trip. While you’re at it, pick up some take-out from your favorite ethnic restaurant (Thai gets my vote).

It’s going to be a crazy week, so do whatever it takes to stay centered, focused, confident … and sane!

Wishing you all much love, courage, and sanity,
Pat

Weekly Forecast January 10:Mercury Enters Capricorn, Mars Sextile Jupiter

Causeway blocks disappearing into the distance. © Scott Liddell/Dreamstime.com

If it seems like you’re still going back over old ground this week, it’s probably because you are.

Last month, Mercury went retrograde in Capricorn right after crossing the critical degrees of the summer’s cardinal T-square. Mercury and Mars were in close conjunction, too. For many of us, that meant revisiting pressing matters that arose over the summer. Then Mars moved on, and Mercury went back into Sagittarius.

The Messenger returns to Capricorn on Thursday, January 13, and makes a third and final pass over those critical T-square degrees. This is usually when we find resolution. Since Mercury also rules commerce and business negotiations, you may have a chance to renegotiate a contract or verbal agreement that didn’t quite work out for you in early December.

Mercury is a busy little guy this week. Before returning to business-like Capricorn, he makes contact with Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Chiron, who have been tracking so closely over the past several months that I’ve started thinking of them as “the usual suspects.” A contact to one means a contact to all, and the only reliable interpretation I can make at this point is that whatever happened to you over the summer (and what happened in the world at large) becomes a dominant theme again this week.

[callout]Whosoever tells the truth shall be chased out of nine villages. ~Turkish proverb[/callout]

Taken as a whole, this week’s Mercury aspects allow us to see circumstances more clearly, which in turn helps us form a better strategy for moving forward. The Mercury-Uranus square on Monday may be disruptive, but sometimes we need a little disruption to light a fire under us and knock us out of a familiar but unsatisfying and unproductive rut. Doing things the way they’ve always been done is not an option now.

I recently started reading The Discoverers, by Daniel Boorstin, who writes that the obstacles to discovery are “the illusions of knowledge.” The whole book is based on this theme, that beliefs ingrained in human consciousness can prevent the acceptance of truth. The discoverers of these new truths often are vilified and persecuted.

A client recently sent me the following quote, ostensibly an old Turkish proverb: Whosoever tells the truth shall be chased out of nine villages.

Mercury in Sagittarius often results in inconvenient truths, and with a square to Uranus in Pisces, those truths indeed could upset the collective perception. The situation that springs immediately to mind is WikiLeaks and attempts by the U.S. Government to find grounds to prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his colleagues.

Mercury in Sagittarius square Chiron in Pisces says that the truth can be painful, but it also will set us free.

Mars sextiles Uranus on Wednesday and Jupiter on Thursday, suggesting that action will follow thought. Since a sextile is a favorable aspect, we can assume that the action should be positive. If you have a chance to act on a situation, these are excellent days to do so. Uranus often introduces an element of surprise, so be prepared to move quickly and decisively.

On Saturday, Mars enters Aquarius, where action benefits the collective, humanitarian causes, technology, and perhaps even astrology. In any event, it’s time to try something new and experimental.

By the way, Boorstin’s book talks about how astrology paved the way for science, a fact often overlooked by scientists and academics. I do believe that we’re on the cutting edge of bringing astrology back in the mainstream, albeit with a new approach that gives it more credibility.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Amazon.com Widgets

Jupiter in Aries

Jupiter is about to return to Aries, and this time he’s going to storm through like a charging elephant.

This is huge, and it’s pretty much a given that we’re going to make up for a lot of lost time after last year’s blockages. The planet of growth and expansion will be hindered here and there in the next few months, but not for long. He simply is moving too fast and has too much momentum behind him.

Normally, Jupiter spends a year in a sign, but because he went retrograde last year in early Aries, he did most of his retrograde time in Pisces. When he returns to Aries on January 22, he’ll blow through the entire 30 degrees in just over four months before entering Taurus on June 4. Aries is impulsive, pioneering, and very fast.

Of course, Jupiter isn’t actually moving faster than usual; it just looks like it from down here. “Speed” is an illusion created by the relative orbits of the earth and other planets around the Sun. Nevertheless, symbolism is a big part of astrology, and if it looks like he’s speeding, then we interpret it that way. Think of a bull elephant charging at the speed of a cheetah, and you’ve got the picture.

During his first two months in Aries, Jupiter squares Pluto (February 26) and opposes Saturn (March 28). This means we’ll be back in cardinal T-square territory, but the configuration will be wider than it was in 2010, with fewer planets involved. Also, Saturn will be retrograde as of January 25 and won’t return direct until after Jupiter enters Taurus. That means the moderating influence of Saturn will be weakened, allowing Jupiter’s energy to expand with few constraints.

Wherever Jupiter is in your chart is where you can expect to expand, grow, and experience major breakthroughs. Depending on how he interacts with other planets in your chart, you may experience this influence as external events — for example, you may get a big raise or promotion or move to a larger home – or you could feel it more internally, as a spiritual awakening. If that’s the case for you, external changes will follow as your outer world shifts to match your inner landscape.

Although there are still plenty of surprises and plots twists in store, you should know by now the general direction in which you’re headed, and you won’t encounter as many obstacles as you did last year.

In terms of the collective, the general direction is also is pretty clear at this point, although I’m not sure I could name even one collective “goal.” There is still a great deal of polarization everywhere, even in matters of life and death. Especially in matters of life and death. A small group of people benefit from war and economic instability, and those few currently wield a large amount of power. I have to think that their goals are quite different from those who want to see more equitable social systems, and yet, they, too, are part of the collective.

The one thing we can count on is that the landscape will continue to shift as the cardinal T-square continues to play out in 2011 – starting with Jupiter’s arrival in Aries on January 22.

Pat

Weekly Forecast January 3:Jupiter Conjunct Uranus, Solar Eclipse in Capricorn

We don't often get such clear weather in Seattle in the winter, but this is what I've been treated to off my deck for the past week. © Pat Paquette, 2010.

Party’s over! It’s back on the treadmill – figuratively and literally – and time to start figuring out how you’re going to keep up and make new plans at the same time.

And that’s probably what the entire year is going to be like. Many of us found a new groove in 2010, but getting in it, staying in it, and building momentum was a problem. We can do that in 2011, starting this week.

The Moon enters serious Capricorn on Monday and immediately conjoins Pluto. Right there, you’ve got a reminder of events that took place under the cardinal T-square over the summer. On Tuesday, the Moon eclipses the Sun at 13 degrees Cap, the first of six eclipses this year. For details, check out my New Moon post last week.

Several other transits make Tuesday a big day. In addition to the eclipse, Jupiter meets Uranus for the third and last time before heading back into Aries later this month. Talk about momentum! These two made up a powerful leg of the T-square over the summer, and we might have experienced breakthroughs back then were it not for Saturn standing in the way. Then, we might want to be grateful for that. If Saturn hadn’t supplied the brakes, the effect might have been like skiing down a steep, ice-covered slope with no poles.

With Jupiter and Uranus both at the end of mutable Pisces, we can expect a rush of last-minute changes that position us for success in our goals. The pieces are all falling into place, and rapidly.

We also need to include Neptune in this aspect. Not only is he in mutual reception with Uranus, but he’s the modern ruler of Pisces. Often, what holds us back is some aspect within ourselves that hasn’t yet been healed, which in turn keeps us from tapping into the part of our being that is pure energy. That’s the part of ourselves that’s connected to everything, including what some call the “God” force. Whatever you want to call it, it’s where healing takes place – “heal” being from the same Latin root as “whole.”

Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune all get contact from Venus on Tuesday, which tells me that love and relationships are a major part of our emerging wholeness. How can it be otherwise? Connections, by definition, are relationships. Planetary aspects are relationships. There is no movement without relationships. As we gain momentum, our relationships will grow and change, too.

On Wednesday, Venus squares Chiron. Alone, this might indicate a painful experience in love, but with the interplay of the other planets, I see this more as a reminder. Moreover, Chiron in air sign Aquarius suggests that the pain may be in our collective memory. It’s always good to be aware of these things, because then we can release them or, at the very least, accept and embrace them as part of our identity.

There aren’t any other major planetary aspects mid-week, but we’ll be plenty busy in the wake of the eclipse.

Friday is a mixed bag, with Venus entering Sagittarius and the Sun squaring Saturn. Sun-Saturn contacts can feel heavy, and you may feel the effects all week. Still, I think the heaviness may be more on the order of a tough physical trainer or coach who tries to goad you into exceeding your self-imposed limits. He may seem cruel at the time, but when you accomplish more than you ever thought you could, you thank him.

Venus in Sagittarius is the bright spot of the week. Venus normally spends three to four weeks in a sign, but because of her retrograde phase, she has been in her detriment in Scorpio for four whole months. Although the party’s over for now, we’ll at least have some fun and joy in our lives.

Don’t forget to laugh! It’s a great way to stay balanced in the face of stressful change. Indeed, it might be able to help you enjoy the thrill of the ride.

Wishing you all much love and laughter,
Pat

Saturday Extra!Looking Back, Looking Forward

Bust of Janus, the Roman god of gates, doors, and beginnings. Vatican Museum, Rome.

January is named for Janus, the Roman god with two faces, one peering back into the past and the other looking toward into the future.

There’s sure a lot to look back on. Astrologers knew years before 2010 arrived that it would be an eventful year. Among other things, we predicted there would be earth events, environmental disasters, political upheaval, police crackdowns, and economic collapse. All of that happened and more. We also predicted personal challenges and sweeping changes, depending on where the year’s powerful planetary configurations fell in individual charts.

Humans are wired to stay with familiar patterns, even when they don’t work – which is why the “shock and awe” of the cardinal T-square wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Many of my clients have complained over the years that they were stuck, and more and more people have come to understand that it’s possible for circumstances to change in their lives, but the underlying patterns remain stubbornly ingrained.

All of that has changed since the T-square. At the very least, the worn-out and decaying structures – in society, in our individual lives, in our thought patterns, perhaps within the planet itself – began falling apart so that something new could take their place. The process began slowing down after September, when the planets moved out of the tight cardinal T-square formation. Not coincidentally, we experienced flashbacks in December, after Mercury and Mars conjoined Pluto, and Mercury went retrograde.

As 2011 begins, we’re still in a state of shock. Even those of us who experienced wonderful breakthroughs are reeling, mostly because circumstances changed so quickly. Everything is still in a state of flux and likely will remain that way this year. We’re riding a fast-moving current, and it’s all we can do just to hang on.

The good news is that 2011 won’t be another 2010. Rather, it will bring an unfolding and ripening of whatever was initiated last year. Whatever was broken down entirely – including economies – will begin building up again, but in new and different ways. What still needs to break down further before it can be reassembled will continue to fall apart.

And here is where we come in. We will indeed have choices, and our thoughts and actions will be critically important. Banish from your thoughts any notions of going back to how things used to be. Focus instead on how you as an individual and we as a collective can do things differently – radically differently – to achieve a different outcome.

I’m reminded of a quote from R. Buckminster Fuller:

[callout]You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.[/callout]

That is our mission in 2011. It will be accomplished through continuing spiritual awakening. In our personal lives, we can bring new worlds into being by giving less energy to the old way of doing things that doesn’t work and doesn’t allow us to live to our fullest potential.

On a larger scale, corrupt and dysfunctional systems continue to exist as long as people feel powerless to do anything about them. As more and more people awaken, we’ll understand what our options are and work to bring them into reality. I am not naïve enough to think we’ll have a bloodless coup – indeed, violent public protest over the next several years is virtually guaranteed, with rebellious Uranus creeping toward an exact square to Pluto in authoritarian Capricorn. In addition to the general predictions I made in Part II of an article I wrote last year on the cardinal T-square, we may be headed for a class war, too.

The Romans honored Janus as the god of endings and beginnings and the guardian of gates and doorways. Here’s a nice summary from Wikipedia:

Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, the growing up of young people, and of one universe to another. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings. He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.

Never was this symbolism more meaningful. We aren’t just standing on the threshold of a new year, but of a new universe.

Happy New Year!
Pat

Weekly Forecast December 27:Mars Square Saturn, Mercury Direct

Christmas lights in Leavenworth. © Pat Paquette, 2010.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is typically pretty low-key, and that’s what we can expect this week, for the most part.

The only major planetary aspect in the next seven days is a square from Mars to Saturn. This is among the dread “big bad wolf” aspects, and yet I don’t think we’re going to feel any terrifying effects from it. There are a couple of reasons I say this.

First, Mars and Saturn both are in the signs of their exaltation and thus on their best behavior. Further, Mars in Capricorn “feeds” Saturn, Cap’s ruler, and so I don’t think the square is going to be a tense as a Mars-Saturn square normally would be. It might even be positive for some people.

It could, for example, get some of us off our butts and into action, especially regarding career and family obligations. For those who feel this effect, you may experience some discomfort with the initial push, but once you get going, you’ll feel the sense of relief that comes with accomplishing something you’ve been dreading and putting off.

Second, and more to the point, Mars has already crossed the early degrees of Capricorn, where he and Mercury reactivated the summer’s cardinal T-square. That effect occurred from the first week in December until the 18th or so. Those days were extremely challenging, and we’ve moved out of that. In my estimation, Wednesday’s Mars-Saturn square will be anti-climactic and perhaps have a “dust settling” or “light at the end of the tunnel” feel to it.

Mercury, meanwhile, will return to 19 degrees Sagittarius, where he’ll return direct on Thursday (Wednesday in Western time zones). It’s hard to determine which issues arose over the past few weeks in relation to Mercury retrograde and which were associated with events of a few months ago, at the height of the T-square. In all likelihood, you’ve experienced a combination of the two, which is why this Mercury retrograde was so harrowing.

As usual, when Mercury returns direct, we can expect communications and transportation to be at a dead stop for a day or two on either side. Once he gets going again, though, much of what stood in our way over the summer may begin to resolve, little by little. Real breakthroughs are still a few months away, but it’s encouraging when we begin to see answers, solutions, and results. A little success goes a long way toward restoring one’s faith and optimism.

All other aspects this week are lunar. The most significant are the aspects from the Moon in Libra on Tuesday and Wednesday to T-square points. These aspects could add some stress to the Mars-Saturn square. Again, I don’t see much of anything new here. Rather, we’ll be returning to issues that plagued us over the summer, with a greater possibility of resolution now. Even if the resolution you get isn’t in your favor or causes you some emotional distress, it’s resolution nonetheless, and it will allow you to move on to a better place.

The only other thing I want to alert you to is that we’re in the two-week period between eclipses, which sometimes can be a bit disorienting. That sense of inner chaos and lack of control can be disturbing, but it’s not necessarily negative. Often, it’s just a sign that we’re trying too hard or attached to a particular outcome. Many people I know have managed to truly give up control and ride the wave. The more you relax and let that current carry you along, the less stressed out you’ll be.

Friday is New Year’s Eve, and we’ll be blessed with a merry Sagittarius Moon to ring in 2011. Sagittarius is the party sign, and the Moon with be there for the entire weekend. Come Monday, reality will set in, and this could be depressing for some. So enjoy the good times while you can. Eat, drink, dance, laugh with friends, and revel in the camaraderie and joy of the season.

Wishing you all much love, prosperity, and good health,
Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is 2012 Really Going to Happen?

This week’s question comes from Bucky in Saskatchewan:

I know you get this a lot, but do you really think that 2012 will happen? People said it a million times before and they say we should believe them. Should we?

Yes, Bucky, 2012 will happen … right after December 31, 2011. After that, 2013 and 2014 will happen.

OK, sorry for being a smartass, especially with a young person. But what the heck, if you can’t be a smartass with a young person, who can you be one with?

I assume that what you really meant to ask is whether I think all of the dire predictions for 2012 are going to happen. That’s actually a very good question and one I get from people of all ages who are rightfully concerned, given all the hype. My answer is definitely no. I can’t tell you who you should and shouldn’t believe, but I don’t buy any of the end-of-the-world, wrath-of-God-stuff.

The 2012 predictions are based on the calendar devised by the ancient Maya, who were exceptional mathematicians. It might surprise some people to hear that the Mayan Calendar does not say that the world is going to end in 2012. That date simply is the end of the cycle for which they calculated the calendar. The notion that it signifies the end of the world was proposed by several researchers of Mayan culture. Incidentally, they don’t even all agree on the end date.

That’s not to say that we aren’t living in interesting times and that 2011 and 2012 won’t be historic years. Events in 2010 already have a lot of people shaken up. I attribute these events to the cardinal T-square. It peaked over the summer, but it was so powerful that we felt it before and afterward. It was recently triggered by Mercury and Mars and will continue to reverberate into the material world.

There will be another cardinal T-square in 2011, although it will be different than this year’s in many ways. I did a preliminary article on it last year but will have more as we approach significant dates.

The T-square will be dissipated by 2012, but other cosmological forces will be in effect that will make it a landmark year in human history. Among other things, we’ll experience a rare Venus transit. When Venus and the Sun are exactly aligned, they will be on the Descendant in Washington, D.C., and Venus also will be in the seventh house of the birth chart for the United States (Sibly). This is a bit worrisome, as the seventh house rules enemies in mundane astrology, and the Mayans associated Venus with war.

Also, Uranus will begin an exact square with Pluto in 2012. We got close during this year’s cardinal T-square, but Uranus never quite caught up to the degree of Pluto. This square corresponds to extreme political unrest, and my guess is that the protests will be about basic survival – in other words, a class war. This unrest will continue well into 2014 and could be quite violent at times.

If you’d like to explore this topic further, I recommend Alison Chester Lambert’s book, The Future in the Stars: The Astrological Message for 2012 and Beyond (there’s a hint for you), and also a documentary film, 2012: Science or Superstition. I reviewed both of those items and found them very sane and informative.

Thanks for writing, Bucky. I’m gratified to see that people your age are asking about serious topics like this and that you’re taking the time to find reliable information. You’ve got it right.

Pat

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact me, or I won’t get your question. I do read all of your questions, although I am sorry that I can’t answer them all. If you need immediate guidance or in-depth advice, please contact me for a private consultation. THANKS!

Lunar Eclipse Hangover

We were socked in and didn’t get to see Tuesday’s lunar eclipse. Not that this is any big surprise in December in Seattle.

What is surprising is that the energy of this eclipse began unfolding before the event itself, and it’s still playing out. We can thank retrograde Mercury for that.

I’ve heard from several friends and clients that big things are afoot in their lives. But resolution hasn’t happened yet. It’s as though the eclipse is unfolding in slow motion. The final outcome likely won’t be apparent until Mercury returns direct at the end of the month and perhaps not until January 12, when he returns to the degree of the eclipse.

Incidentally, this is the first time since 1638 that a lunar eclipse has coincided with the winter solstice.

Meanwhile, Mercury retrograde is wreaking all sorts of havoc. One reader left a comment on this week’s forecast saying this has been “the most retrogradey Mercury retrograde of all time.” I just love that adjective, and boy is it ever true!

I’ve been scouring the news looking for events possibly related to Mercury retrograde and the eclipse. The trouble is, governments and politicians have been behaving so pathologically for so long, that it’s difficult to identify much of anything out of the “ordinary.” We might attribute the weather-related travel difficulties in Europe to Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius, sign of long-distance travel.

I did run across a news item about the launch of a new CIA panel to assess the impact of the release of thousands of diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks. Is it any coincidence that they came up with the name, the WikiLeaks Task Force – WTF for short – while Mercury was in bluntly honest Sagittarius? The trickster has got to be ROFL.

Now, will they realize the blunder and change the name after Mercury returns direct? I hope not. It’s one of the only opportunities they’ll ever have to get laughed at for telling the truth.

Pat

P.S. The clouds parted just enough right before sunrise for me to get this shot of the moon off my deck.

Weekly Forecast December 20:Lunar Eclipse, Sun Enters Capricorn

This week is so big astrologically that we started experiencing it before it even got here.

As most of you know by now, we’re in for a lunar eclipse on Tuesday, which also is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The eclipse, which I covered in last Wednesday’s post, is the first in a new series in Sagittarius and Gemini. As it so happens, it will be on the Midheaven here in the Pacific Northwest, at the exact degree in Vancouver, Canada.

Mercury, on his retrograde path, passed over the degree of the eclipse on Saturday. Close to that exact moment, I accidentally let in a malware program that turned my very smart new laptop into a slobbering idiot. Adding insult to injury, I fell prey to an ad promising a solution with a free trial of anti-spyware software. Three hours later, after downloading the program onto my computer and following the surgical instructions, I arrived at a page telling me that the “free trial” found the problem, but if I wanted it fixed, I had to buy the program. I fired off an impolite note to the company, PC Tools, only to have it bounce back with a message that they don’t answer e-mail from nonpaying customers.

Ah, Mercury retrograde at his finest.

The bigger message, as I see it, is about moving toward a “circle of trust” model. Rather than giving my money to a faceless corporation that tried to trick me out of my money when I was in a vulnerable position, I took my computer to our IT shop on the island. It’s a bit more expensive, but they are professional and guarantee their work, and if I have a problem, there’s a real person to talk to.

I’ve written before about the need to choose our friends and allies carefully as we head into the rocky terrain of 2011 and 2012. Who we do business with is part of this process — a fitting message for an eclipse ruled by Mercury, planet of commerce and contracts.

But we may be tempted to shoot the Messenger plenty this week. On Monday and Tuesday, he aspects Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, and Jupiter, repeating the same aspects he made in late November. He’ll make a third and final pass January 10-11. If nothing else, there will be a lot of gift returns after the holidays. The good news is that what you really wanted and didn’t get may be on sale in January.

Otherwise, think of what kind of Mercury ruled activities were going on in your life in late November. They may erupt in a crisis this week. If so, don’t worry, because it will all work out by the middle of January. For me, this is clearly the backlog of consultations I’m still struggling to catch up with. The infected computer set me back another couple of days. To new clients waiting to get on my list, hopefully I’ll have my current workload cleared by the first week of January.

If you’re trying to repair a dinged relationship, Tuesday is a good time to make overtures. However, don’t have the conversation until New Year’s or after, by which time Mercury will be direct.

Right after Tuesday’s eclipse, Venus passes the degree at which she went retrograde on October 8. Romantic relationships can progress to the next level now. Money issues may start to clear up, too. However, with Mercury retrograde, solutions may be delayed until the end of the month.

With the Sun’s entry into Capricorn on Tuesday, we’ll get yet another blast of the summer’s T-square as the Sun crosses the early degrees of Capricorn and conjoins Pluto on Sunday. I ran across an AP news article this morning about the unprecedented number of earth events in 2010. It’s not enough to convince astrology debunkers, but those with an open mind may stop and think about the connection.

As you’ll recall, Ceres was a vital part of the T-square. This week, she forms a sextile to Jupiter and Uranus, and she’s on the Descendant in Washington, D.C., in the Capricorn ingress chart. Last week, the U.S. Justice Department sued BP and eight other companies involved in the Gulf oil disaster. Dare we hope that the United States in the coming months will join in global initiatives to protect the environment, perhaps under the leadership of President Obama?

Friday’s Leo Moon should make for a festive Christmas Eve, for those who celebrate the holiday. The Moon in Virgo on Christmas Day favors healthy feasting and moderation in food and drink. Hopefully, it signifies restraint and good taste in gift-giving, as well. Like many people, I love the festivity of the season but am saddened by the crass commercialism that has overtaken the spirit of Christmas. The winter holidays are so much more meaningful when we celebrate with those we love and trust, exchange gifts from the heart, and create abundance through our soul connections.

Wishing you all much love, joy, and abundance,
Pat

Weekly Forecast December 13:Mars Conjunct Pluto, Sun Square Uranus

Detail from The Birth of Athena, monotype print by Brian Fisher, 2010.

Get your latte early Monday and make it a double. It’s going to be a wild ride this week.

We’re all on overwhelm and faced with too much work, too much shopping, too much interference, too many hassles, and too many things slowing us down when we’re under pressure to speed up.

Still, I remain optimistic that we’ll be able to address issues that had us totally frustrated and paralyzed into inaction over the summer, and that movement will be possible. Just prepare yourself for a lot of turbulence.

For this week’s image, I chose another monotype print by Brian Fisher, my favorite Vashon artist. This work, entitled “The Birth of Athena,” depicts the myth of goddess Athena springing fully formed from the head of Zeus, the Roman Jupiter. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, military intelligence, and crafts. Among other things, her birth symbolizes the manifestation of thoughts into reality. But you can bet that Zeus had one hell of a headache afterwards!

It’s a good metaphor for this week.

Throughout the week, the apex of the cardinal T-square is activated by Mars and retrograde Mercury, who conjoin on Monday with each other and with Pluto. The Mars-Pluto conjunction is especially potent, and its effects will last for most of the week. Again, I do have some optimism about this aspect, in that Mars is setting off T-square events and propelling us into movement. One of the biggest complaints I heard all summer was that everyone was stuck. Chances are, you will not be stuck after this week.

On Tuesday, the Moon enters Aries and squares the cardinal points of the previous day, adding more fuel to our rockets. Speaking of the Moon, we’re counting down to the lunar eclipse in Gemini on Tuesday, December 21. I’ll have a complete report in a day or two.

Uranus and Jupiter, who formed one leg of the T-square, are both direct in late Pisces. From Thursday through Saturday, the Sun in late Sagittarius squares Jupiter and Uranus, and he also forms a sextile with Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius. Once again, I see these aspects entirely within the context of the T-square. The jarring aspect from the Sun to Jupiter and Uranus will nudge them into action, so wherever they are in your chart – and however they’ve been playing out for the better part of a year – is what you’ll get.

Also on Saturday, Mercury retrogrades back into Sagittarius, and he conjoins the Sun on Sunday. Next week, he’ll pass over Uranus and Jupiter. It’s like he’s replaying the entire summer, right before our eyes. Yes, we may cringe at the thought, but it’s also our opportunity to get the movement we couldn’t get while Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter were in a standoff with Pluto.

As for Saturn, he’s exalted in Libra and “receiving” from all the Capricorn planets. Best of all, he’s out of the way of the T-square and so can do his job. Saturn is strict and not always fun, but when you’re manifesting new thoughts into reality, Saturn is the go-to planet.

Just don’t be surprised if you have a screaming headache come next Monday morning.

Wishing you all much love, joy, and abundance in this holiday season,
Pat

RealAstrologers

The astrology of world affairs, human evolution, the future, and the state of the universe.