Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast July 19: Saturn Enters Libra, Full Moon in Aquarius

Road to the top. Another photo from my eclipse day drive to Mount Rainier. © Pat Paquette

Got your crampons on? Fastened tight? Good, because this week we begin our climb straight up the face of the cardinal T-square.

We’ve been waiting for Saturn, the leader of our party. He had to return to Virgo for a few supplies, but he’s due back at base camp Libra on Wednesday, when we’ll get further instructions — specifically, who we’ll be climbing with and how we’re going to share the load.

As I mentioned in my Saturday Extra! post, Saturn will be on the Ascendant in Washington, D.C., the moment of his ingress. It remains to be seen whether this manifests in the short-term, or whether it represents what the United States will experience during the two years that Saturn is in Libra.

On Thursday, the Sun enters his home sign of Leo, ruler of the heart. The Latin root for “heart” and “center” are the same, and it also is the root of the word “courage.” Thus, to encourage someone is to give them heart. It’s one of my favorite words, and we’re all going to need to give each other a lot of encouragement as this T-square unfolds.

The last aspect that the Sun and Saturn make before entering their respective new signs is an inconjunct with Chiron, who as of Tuesday is back in Aquarius, sign of the collective. This places Chiron at the apex of a Yod with the Sun and Saturn at the base. To be able to set our sights high and encourage each other to keep climbing, we’ll have to confront our wounds, collectively and individually.

Most of us are wounded in some way. As I was re-reading Eckhart Tolle last week, I came across his comment about how the human mind is inherently dysfunctional. Our egos essentially make us an insane species, he says. He talks about the “pain body” and the ego’s investment in remaining wounded.

Some of us are more wounded than others, which means that the load isn’t going to be distributed evenly on this trip to the top. We want as many of us to make the climb as possible, so those who can carry more will have to do so. Conversely, those who really do need help will need to ask, and in a clear, direct manner, without whining. Some people don’t like to ask for help, because they think they might be perceived as weak. To avoid that impression, they sometimes resort to manipulative tactics to get others to carry their load for them. That won’t work anymore.

If you truly are doing your best, no one can ask more of you, but the point is that we’re climbing to a field of higher consciousness, where our best is far beyond anything we could ever have imagined. We need to stretch and grow. If we were climbing a mountain for real, we’d accept sore muscles and fatigue as a given. So it is with the climb to your higher mind.

Some people are so wounded that they won’t be able to make this trip, and that’s going to be extremely painful for all concerned. We don’t want to leave loved ones behind, and yet we can’t hold ourselves back. It’s an excruciating choice to have to make, but that’s part of what the conflicting energies of this T-square are all about. And we’re probably not going to have the luxury of time to weigh all the pros and cons. The climbing party leaves at the crack of dawn. You’re either geared up and ready to go, or you’re not.

On Friday, the Sun in Leo trines Uranus, who’s retrograde and somewhat diminished but still feisty enough in Aries to create a crisis or two. “Fires to put out,” we might say. Or maybe “shock and awe.”

At the same time, Jupiter is stationed to turn retrograde in Aries on Friday. We’re going to feel this shift, possibly as a financial event of some kind. The Big Guy squares Pluto on Saturday, the first of three exact squares between these two, both of which are associated with money, power, and influence. Corporate giants like BP definitely fall in this category, so we may see major developments in the Gulf of Mexico at this time, perhaps as a result of government enforcement or legal action. But, as I’ve repeated several times, there are so many variables in this equation that predicting with any confidence is simply impossible.

Sunday is the Full Moon in Aquarius, which forms a mystical rectangle with Saturn and Mars on one leg and Jupiter and Uranus on the other. This could be the magic “release point” of the Saturn-Uranus opposition. In addition, the previous Full Moon coincided with a lunar eclipse, so this lunation is the 30-day marker, which sometimes is the trigger point for delayed eclipse-related events. I’ll have a detailed analysis of the Full Moon later this week.

In the meantime, I’d like to leave you with a lovely image of Venus aligning with Mercury, Mars, and Saturn, taken at Point Venus in Tahiti. You’ll need to squint at your screen a bit to see them all (Venus is the brightest object) but it’s still an amazing photo.

Wishing you all limitless love and courage,
Pat

Saturday Extra! Saturn Enters Libra, T-Square Powers Up

Next Wednesday, July 21, Saturn enters Libra — or, more precisely, re-enters. Once this happens, we’ll be in the final ascent toward the peak of the 2010 cardinal T-square.

The Lord of Karma briefly stepped onto the Scales from October 29 to April 7. Since then, he’s been finishing up his business in Virgo, where he taught us practical lessons like taking our Omega-3, paying attention to the environment, and doing our duty to help others. He also served as an anchor to keep the volatile energies of the cardinal T-square in check.

Once he enters Libra, it’s going to be a whole new game. Cardinal energies favor swift, targeted action. Libra is an air sign, so we might expect some violent wind storms and probably a big shift in political and financial winds, too. Saturn in Libra will enforce balance. If we’re out of alignment in any way, we’ll have to adjust accordingly.

There’s a lot more I could write about Saturn in Libra, but the most compelling issue is that the cardinal T-square is now fully activated and powering up toward peak output in late July and early August. In the first degree of Libra, Saturn will be tightly opposed to Uranus at 0 degrees Aries and Jupiter at 3 degrees Aries, and he’ll square Pluto at 3 degrees Capricorn. Jupiter is stationed, two days from turning retrograde on July 23. That’s a whole lot of shifting going on.

The biggest bang may be heard in Washington, D.C., where Saturn will be dead on the Ascendant at the moment he enters Libra. Saturn rules the government, while Jupiter rules the banks and the justice system, and Uranus is associated with explosions, political protest, and unexpected events. All three planets will be in a tight square to Pluto, which rules subversive elements, espionage, and the very wealthy and powerful.

There are way too many variables in there to make a reliable prediction, but I’ll be watching the news headlines. Whatever happens, it looks as though President Obama will play a major role.

Saturn is said to be “exalted” in Libra, where he demands peace, social justice, diplomacy, equality, and fairness. Although Saturn is very challenged in this T-square arrangement, he’s the strongest of the outer planets, since he’s direct and in the sign of his exaltation. All of the other planets are retrograde or stationing. That said, he’s getting slammed from all sides, and Mars is approaching conjunction with him as well. All in all, it looks like we’re in for some dramatic developments.

From July 31 to August 20, Venus and Mars both will be conjunct Saturn, and that could have implications for male-female relationships everywhere, perhaps even for the balance of masculine and feminine energy on the planet as a whole. I’ve written a lot about this imbalance, which appears to be slowly correcting.

I’ll have more about these aspects in my upcoming weekly forecasts. Be sure to check back often!

Pat

The Collective Reboot: Birthing a New Reality

Light on the Summit. Since ancient times, mountain peaks have been symbols of higher consciousness. I took this photo of Mount Rainier the day of the eclipse. © Pat Paquette

In my post on Sunday’s eclipse, I referred to a “collective reboot.” It’s happening, and we’re giving birth to a new reality.

Some of us are experiencing painful situations. When we experience a leap in consciousness, our old way of being becomes incompatible. The more we try to hang onto it, the more we suffer. Some of us are better at letting go than others. There are times when tenacity doesn’t pay, and it sure looks like this is one of them.

If you suffered a loss during this eclipse, there is no going back. When we lose something that has outlived its purpose, it still hurts. Grieve for the loss, and keep moving forward, even if you don’t know where the road is leading. It’s scary, and you may feel alone at first, but that feeling will dissipate once you realize what you gained. Stay aware, and look for evidence that your higher consciousness is manifesting, without interference by your “egoic” mind, as some call it.

I was reading Eckhart Tolle this morning and stumbled on his comment about the fall of the Berlin Wall:

[T]he ego is destined to dissolve, and all its ossified structures, whether they be religious or other institutions, corporations, or governments, will disintegrate from within, no matter how deeply entrenched they appear to be. The most rigid structures, the most impervious to change, will collapse first. This has already happened in the case of Soviet Communism. How deeply entrenched, how solid and monolithic it appeared, and yet within a few years, it disintegrated from within. No one foresaw this. All were taken by surprise. There are many more such surprises in store for us.

The Berlin Wall fell during the cardinal T-square of 1989, which in many ways was a precursor to the T-square of 2010 and 2011. I suspect that we’re going to experience many more losses between now and 2012, both individually and collectively. All of these events will be signs that the old, ego-centered order is falling away as we enter a New Age of Interconnectedness.

There was something symbolic about returning home from a difficult weekend to find my car surrounded by huge tree branches and yellow police tape. The car sustained only minor scratches, and whoever had put up the barrier left it low enough for me to back out of my parking space. It was a reminder how easily things can come and go — and when we least expect it.

As one door closes for me, a new one seems to be opening, thanks to those of you who responded to my request for donations. Many of you sent notes of encouragement along with your contribution. Some of you couldn’t donate but sent e-mail affirming your support. I was incredibly touched and now have renewed faith that RealAstrologers could become a viable business to serve those entering the new reality.

Pat

Weekly Forecast July 12: In the Wake of the Solar Eclipse

Detail of The Storm Spirits, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1900.

We begin this week in the wake of Sunday’s solar eclipse in Cancer, and that’s really the biggest news — that, and the steady march toward the peak of the cardinal T-square, just a couple of weeks away now.

Eclipses often signal rapid change, and these sometimes are evident within three days on either side of the eclipse date. But in the case of the New Moon eclipse, developments may take until the Full Moon to unfold or until the next New Moon. Sometimes the effects are delayed by two or three months, but I don’t think that will happen in this case, due to the building energy of the T-square.

Under astrological influences such as we’re experiencing in 2010 and 2011, world events may not happen at the moment planetary alignments are exact, but can be staggered throughout the year. Sometimes transits by the Moon or Mars to critical points can trigger an event. It can all get pretty complicated.

Otherwise, there’s not a lot happening this week (as if that’s not enough). Venus in Virgo trines Pluto in Capricorn on Tuesday, an aspect for physical love and the emotional intensity that can come from sexual desire, if you let go and allow it to take over. When sex is approached as a means of deeper connection and not just for instant physical gratification, it is a powerful agent of spiritual growth. This can be scary for some people, usually because it involves giving up mental control.

The emotional intensity is even greater on Wednesday, when the Moon conjoins Venus and trines Pluto. Sexually, things could get even more interesting, as the Moon conjoins Mars on Thursday, carrying forward the energy of Venus and Pluto to the planetary ruler of the libido. Events mid-week could be a prelude to the Venus-Mars conjunction on August 20, so keep your eyes and ears open.

The Moon enters Libra on Friday, and for a brief period we have a mini-version of the cardinal T-square. The Moon moves too quickly for lunar transits to have much impact (eclipses being a major exception), but in this case the Moon may act as a trigger for events related to the T-square. Stay alert, and note any unusual events on that day.

Also on Friday, Mars in Virgo squares Ceres in Sagittarius. Astrologers are still studying the movements of Ceres, and it will be some time before we collect enough data to make definitive statements about her role in individual and mundane astrology. It does appear, however, that she is a marker for environmental issues and also for events that are cyclical in nature. A conflicting square between Ceres and Mars in detail-oriented Virgo might, for example, indicate serious problems in BP’s attempt to contain the well gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

As I explained in last week’s forecast, we’re in a period when change could come swiftly and out of the blue, so it will pay to stay focused and in the moment. I liken it to being in a boat on a fast-moving current. The river determines our general direction, but we can lean to one side or the other and alter our course slightly — perhaps enough to avoid the rocks. This is especially true for the collective. Where our thoughts go, our lives follow.

Before I sign off, I’d like to express my deepest thanks again to those who made donations. If you haven’t made a donation yet, please would you take a moment to do so? We’re all connected here, and what you do really does affect whether RealAstrologers continues as-is, morphs into something else, or rolls down the shutters and folds. I’ve created a special page to tell you more about how you can help. Please spread the word.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Cardinal T-Squares Past and Present

As we head into peak season of the 2010 cardinal T-square, I continue to search back through time for similar configurations that might provide some clues of what to expect in the next couple of months.

I’ve made a lot of references to events in 1989, the most recent year we had anything approaching the cardinal configuration currently forming in the sky. As I noted in this week’s forecast, the 1989 alignment wasn’t as dramatic as this year’s, and still there were a lot of exceptional events that year, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Loma Prieta earthquake.

So far this year, we’ve had a mega-quake and a mega-spill, and that’s consistent with the astrological markers.

One could argue that oil spills and earthquakes happen all the time, but those that occurred in 1989 were exceptional. The Loma Prieta quake flattened downtown Santa Cruz and caused extensive damage in the San Francisco area, and the Exxon Valdez spill remains one of worst in history.

Looking back a little farther, we find another period of intense cardinal energy in the early 1930s. I can’t take credit for digging up this one but have to thank Ray Merriman, whose weekly financial column includes a lot of mundane analysis. That’s why he’s first on my list of links in the left sidebar. I highly recommend including him in your weekly astrology reading.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, the cardinal build-up had just begun, with Pluto in Cancer and Uranus in Aries. Saturn entered Capricorn earlier in the year but was back in Sagittarius at the time of the crash. He re-entered Capricorn in December, and then Jupiter entered Cancer in June 1930. At that point, all of the outer planets except Neptune were in cardinal signs, although they weren’t in as tight a configuration as this year’s T-square.

The cardinal configuration continued to build in 1930 and 1931, with a new series of eclipses in cardinal Aries and Libra. The first in the series, a total eclipse of the Sun in late Libra on Oct. 21, 1930, was in a wide square to Jupiter and Pluto conjunct in Cancer, with Uranus in the mid-degrees of Aries and Saturn in early Capricorn.

It’s interesting to note that Ceres also was in the formation, just as she is today. The Full Moon on Jan. 4, 1931, was conjunct Jupiter and Pluto, with the Sun tightly conjunct Saturn and retrograde Mercury, all in a tight T-square with Uranus in Aries. Ceres in Libra transformed the configuration into a grand cross.

You probably know where I’m going with this. The Great Depression began with the stock market crash and lasted ten years. Although it began in the United States, it spread worldwide, causing untold misery for millions of people. At the same time, Adolph Hitler was gaining influence in Germany, Japan began exerting its military might, and the world stage was being set for World War II.

I have to repeat my usual caveat that I’m not trying to spread gloom and doom, only to provide information about how similar astrological configurations have expressed themselves in the past. Obviously, events don’t repeat in exactly the same way, and the T-square is configured differently in 2010 than it was in 1931.

Still, there are enough similarities that it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of caution. Maybe I’ll feel silly preparing for a situation that never happens, but that’s nothing compared to how bad I’ll feel if I’m not prepared for a serious emergency.

Pat

Weekly Forecast July 5: Uranus Retrograde, Solar Eclipse in Cancer

Artist's conception of a geomagnetic storm. Image courtesy of SDO (NASA).

This week begins with Uranus turning retrograde and ends with a total eclipse of the Sun. We’ve got all the information we need, and now it’s time to spend a few days preparing before we venture into new territory.

Uranus, the innovator and awakener, entered pioneering Aries on May 27. Since then, we’ve been able to scout the unknown terrain to give us a better idea of what’s out there in our Brave New World.

Unfortunately, we’re not going to have a lot of time to analyze the data, and events may unfold too quickly this summer for us to follow a coherent strategy. Still, we have a better idea of where we want to go and who we want in our camp, and we do have a bit of time this week to put together a hasty roadmap.

Uranus turns retrograde on Monday. He’ll re-enter Pisces in mid-August and then return to Aries on March 11, 2011. With the Moon in Taurus on Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ll have just the space we need for some quiet contemplation and, hopefully, sudden inspiration.

Venus opposes Neptune on Thursday, an aspect often associated with fantasy and delusion in romance. It depends on where these two are in your chart. If you’re looking to create an illusion of glamour and enchantment, this is your ticket. Just make sure you’ve got a ride home when your coach turns back into a pumpkin at midnight.

Friday is a busy day, with communicative Mercury making a productive sextile to Saturn in the final degree of Virgo. Think about what you really want. Better yet, talk about it. Often we don’t want what we think we do, and that sends out mixed messages to the universe.

Later in the day, Mercury enters Leo. It’s hard to find humor in our circumstances when we’re under so much stress, but sometimes that’s exactly what it takes to break the spell. Mercury trines Uranus on Friday and Jupiter on Sunday, which should provide lots of inspiration and mental stimulation, even with Uranus in retrograde mode. On the downside, there’s a potential here for major electrical outages.

On Saturday, Venus enters nitpicky Virgo — not her favorite sign. If you feel an urge to be critical at every turn, channel that energy into helping those you love in simple, practical ways. Likewise, when someone does something nice for you, no matter how small, recognize the love in their actions and show your appreciation.

Also on Saturday, the Moon enters Cancer and begins moving into position for Sunday’s total eclipse of the Sun. The Sun, meanwhile, sextiles Mars in Virgo, the only aspect this New Moon will make with any of the planets. As I wrote in my eclipse post on Saturday, I’m hopeful that this easy aspect will bring positive results, but there is always the possibility that it will be the path of least resistance for the pent-up energy of the eclipse.

The cardinal T-square between Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Jupiter continues to get closer, but as of the eclipse, Saturn remains in the final degree of mutable Virgo, so technically it’s not a cardinal T-square. I’m not sure how much of a distinction this is, but I’ve theorized that Saturn in Virgo has been a stabilizing influence — an advantage we’ll lose once the lord of time re-enters cardinal Libra on July 21. That’s when the T-square will be at peak power.

That said, events don’t necessarily happen when planetary alignments are exact. There can be lags of days, weeks, or months, and sometimes events happen in advance of the planetary marker. That certainly was the case in 1989, the last time we had anything resembling this year’s cardinal build-up. With Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all in Capricorn, cardinal energies dominated the skies for much of that year.

I went back and looked at several charts for events in 1989, including the Exxon Valdez spill, Hurricane Hugo, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Loma Prieta earthquake, the protests in Tiananmen Square, and the collapse of the Hydro-Québec power grid due to a geomagnetic storm. None of these events occurred when the planets were in exact alignment, although some of them were pretty close. In some cases, key planets were on the Ascendant at the moment of the event.

What this tells us is that the changes could come at any moment. We know we’re in the hot zone, and so nothing that happens in the next two months should surprise us, no matter how unprecedented, extraordinary, or totally outside of human experience to date. We asked to come along on this journey, but we can’t control what happens once we’re on the trail.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast June 28: Inter-Eclipse Period, Uranus Stations

Jumping in feet-first. Photo by Oswaldo Rivas for REUTERS.

We’re still in the wake of Saturday’s lunar eclipse, and eclipse-related events will unfold throughout this week and into next week.

That’s really the biggest news of this week, which otherwise is blessedly free of major planetary aspects. Of course, the cardinal T-square is still activated, and Uranus is stationing in preparation to go retrograde on July 5. But, astrologically at least, the wheels have been set in motion, and now we’re waiting to see what turns up.

On Monday, the Moon glides through the final degrees of Capricorn, sign of Saturday’s eclipse, and trines Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler. Earth signs tend to bring material results, so this could be a big day to watch for your gift. I’ll be waiting by my cosmic mailbox. And who better to deliver than Mercury himself, who later in the day conjoins the Sun at 7 degrees Cancer.

On Thursday, Mercury sextiles Mars in Virgo, an aspect associated with being busy and focusing on details that matter. It will be a high communications day, too, and some very productive discussions should be the result. If you need to make a pitch or present an argument, this is a good day for it.

On Saturday, the Moon enters Aries, amplifying the T-square. Within just a few hours, she conjoins Uranus and Jupiter and squares Pluto. This is another day to watch for new developments. Most of you should know by now what areas of your life are being most affected by the T-square, but the presence of Uranus is an almost sure guarantee that our expectations will be way off. Some of them may be comically so. Indeed, keeping a sense of humor may be our best response.

Sunday is Independence Day in the United States, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. There was a cardinal T-square that year involving Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Libra, and Pluto in Capricorn. It was wider and didn’t include as many planets as this year’s lineup — yet another reason to conclude that we may witness dramatic events this summer.

The Moon’s square with the Sun on Sunday marks the halfway point between last week’s lunar eclipse and a total eclipse of the Sun on July 11. Eclipses always come in pairs like this (on rare occasions, there are three in a row), and I’ve observed that the two-week period between them can be quite turbulent.

Later on Sunday, Venus in Leo trines Ceres Sagittarius. I expect we’ll have a reminder of the importance of women in national politics, possibly related to the environment and cycles of nature. Watch the news headlines for a clue.

Bottom line for this week is that the changes may come fast and furious, and hopefully you’re ready to hit the ground running. If you’re among those who appear to be unaffected, then take this time for some much-needed R&R. Just like having money in the bank during hard economic times, it can’t hurt to stockpile some energy reserves.

Speaking of money, I’ve added a donations button to the sidebar. If you like RealAstrologers and want to help ensure that it continues, please consider making a contribution. Your support will make a world of difference.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Saturday Extra! Brain Chemistry, The ‘God Particle’ and the Space Between the Eclipses

In my consulting practice as well as my continuing study of astrology, my focus is on using astrology as a tool to predict how invisible energies flowing through the cosmos might manifest into material reality.

I’ve taken this approach for years, despite the lack of any evidence whatsoever that these invisible energies exist or that they somehow coalesce into tangible objects and events.

So imagine my surprise when I came across an article in the Guardian the other day quoting a leading particle physicist describing just such a process and encouraging his colleagues to start contemplating the “hidden world” behind our material universe.

It’s what I’ve been saying all along! I just didn’t have the scientific background to be able to describe it. Then, neither do most particle physicists. It is only recently that the idea has gained visibility, thanks to a new high-energy particle accelerator in Switzerland that may help prove the existence of the Higgs boson, a subatomic particle believed to be the bridge between unmanifest potential and manifest reality. For that reason, it has been dubbed the “God particle.”

This is exciting news for astrologers, because it might establish the groundwork for understanding how astrology works. Of course, we then have to make the leap into understanding what the movement of the planets has to do with energy manifesting into matter. That will require another level of discovery, but I believe it will happen, and maybe in my lifetime.

How invisible energies manifest into reality is especially important now, when we have an astrological configuration that is unprecedented in human history. In our lifetime, we’ve witnessed bits and pieces of the cardinal T-square, but never anything like what’s coming up this summer.

We’re also at a crossroads in the evolution of human consciousness. Indeed, the very idea that any physicist would look at hidden worlds rather than taking a narrow view of material reality is quite a leap. On the whole, scientists are solidly in the left-brain camp. I would bet that those proposing these radical new ideas either are particularly brilliant — blessed not just with a high IQ, but with a highly evolved intuitive side — or they’ve recently had a “spiritual” awakening.

And what exactly is a spiritual awakening? First, it’s not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. We continue to evolve, although there definitely are “spikes” along the way. Indeed, we might expect lots of spikes with Uranus in Aries amplified by Jupiter.

Second, there’s a brain chemistry factor. Within the human brain, a chemical reaction must take place to bridge the gap between the transmitting and receiving terminals of the neurons. The bridging mechanism is called the synapse, derived from the Greek “clasping together.” When something goes wrong in that process, the result can be depression, which is a sort of separation sickness — two poles in the neuron without a bridge to connect them.

Interestingly enough, the function of synapses in the nervous system was discovered in the 1800s. During those same years, Neptune was discovered, and toward the end of the century, the term “New Age” was coined to describe the upsurge in spirituality.

I have a vague sense that spiritual awakening involves brain chemistry and that impaired brain chemistry even may explain the polarization of humanity and the separation between the divine masculine and divine feminine. What if the source of this story from the beginning of time is literally in our mind? What if the separation is in our own brain chemistry, perhaps a necessary step in the evolution of the human mind and body?

I see parallels between this separation of logic and intuition, male and female, and the separation of unmanifest energy and physical matter. And, in both cases, they need some kind of a bridge across the gap between them in order to re-connect, be it a “God particle,” a chemical, or an electrical impulse.

Eclipses are windows on time. This morning’s lunar eclipse will be followed in by a solar eclipse in Cancer on July 11 (Cancer is the sign of birth and the urge to manifest into form). What will bridge this two-week gap? What will connect us? What thought forms will fill this empty space and perhaps give birth to a new reality?

These are all questions I’m asking myself. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Pat

Weekly Forecast June 21: Sun Enters Cancer, Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn

Stars being born in the Orion Nebula. Composite of images from the Hubble Space Telescope, by C.R. O'Dell of Rice University and NASA/ESA.

I’ve been writing a lot about the cardinal T-square of this summer. Well, as of Monday, June 21, summer is here, and the T-square kicks in immediately.

The Sun’s entry into Cancer officially marks the beginning of summer (winter in the Southern Hemisphere). As the Sun moves through the early degrees of the Crab, it will form conflicting aspects with Uranus and Jupiter in early Aries and Pluto in early Capricorn, forming three legs of a triangle pattern, or T-square, made up of cardinal signs. The cardinal signs are characterized by impulsiveness, action, and change. That is why astrologers have been predicting sweeping worldwide changes in 2010 and 2011, when the cardinal T-square and cross will be active.

The 2010 Cancer ingress is all the more dramatic, because it occurs just five days before a lunar eclipse in the same degree as Pluto. Is the world going to end? Of course not. And, chances are, the sky is not going to fall on our heads. As I mentioned in my post on the eclipse, there could be positive developments and breakthroughs for many of us. If you’ve been stuck and in need of a good push, get ready to start moving again.

But I believe it’s safe to say that the next two months are going to bring shocking developments that we cannot imagine now and that thus will be impossible to prepare for. The likeliest time for these events would be at the peak of the cardinal build-up in late July and early August.

However, with the Sun’s entry into Cancer this week, we may start to get some clues. It is no coincidence that most of us identify primarily with our Sun sign. The Sun represents our center, our heart, our core energy. Events in the next couple of weeks will take root in our hearts, and who knows where that could lead?

Shortly after the Cancer ingress, the Sun squares Uranus in Aries. The fires and explosions in the headlines over the past couple of days are possible expressions of this aspect, but Uranus is a wild card and unpredictable. It is safe to bet that whatever happens will be big. That’s because Jupiter, the amplifier, is just a couple of degrees from Uranus. The Sun forms an exact square to Jupiter on Wednesday.

Even without the involvement of Uranus, Sun-Jupiter contacts tend to involve extremes, over-the-top behavior, and recklessness, although they can be very lucky, too. And, while Saturn is still in mutable Virgo, he’s close enough to opposition with Uranus and Jupiter that I am hopeful this will be a stabilizing influence.

You should know by now what areas of your life are being most heavily impacted by this complex configuration. Still, there’s a strong possibility of surprise developments this week.

Mercury, meanwhile, is about to enter Cancer on Friday. As he moves through the last degrees of Gemini on Wednesday and Thursday, he opposes Ceres in Sagittarius, squares Saturn in Virgo, and trines Neptune in Aquarius. More environmental bad news may be on the way, and the dialog intensifies about what it all means and what we can do about it.

After entering Cancer, Mercury squares Uranus and Jupiter, repeating the Sun’s contacts of a few days earlier. If we didn’t get the message the first time around, we’ll have another chance. Events may come in pairs this week.

Both the Sun and Mercury also trine Chiron in early Pisces. The Healer is separating from his conjunction with Neptune but still close enough for the two to signify collective healing on a deep level. I am encouraged by this aspect and believe it is a continuing factor in the cardinal build-up. It’s more of a side issue at this point, but we shouldn’t ignore this influence or let the opportunity pass for healing deep wounds from our past.

Tension will build during the week as we approach the Full Moon lunar eclipse in Capricorn on Saturday. We’re moving into the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon, and we’re also pulled in several directions at once by an extreme configuration of planets that, as far as we know, has not occurred in recorded human history (if anyone out there can find a date, please drop me an e-mail!).

I wrote a long post on Saturday about this eclipse and won’t repeat myself here, except to say that we’re approaching the rapids and need to hang on tight. Think about who and what constitutes your safety net or personal flotation device.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast June 14: Venus Enters Leo, Sun Square Saturn

We get a brief respite early this week before heading back into difficult territory from mid-week on.

The week begins with Venus entering Leo. Monday and Tuesday promise some fun and surprises, thanks to a happy trine from Venus to Uranus and Jupiter in Aries. The Moon enters Leo right behind Venus, adding some joy to the mix. With so much stress and turmoil in our lives lately, a little fun and joy will be very welcome. This aspect reminds me of a big disco ball, with lots of glitter and flash. But it won’t last long, so take advantage while you can.

Also on Tuesday, Mars trines Pluto, providing an outlet for the brooding planet of death and rebirth. At the apex of the building cardinal T-square, Pluto has been in the hot seat, with nowhere to release his pent-up energy. It’s possible that some kind of earth event may occur, but it’s just as likely that action will be taken to find real solutions to financial and environmental problems — for example, the BP oil spew.

The Sun in Gemini opposes Ceres on Friday and squares Saturn on Saturday, forming a mutable T-square. Saturn represents government regulators, and the Obama administration is putting pressure on BP to move faster cleaning up the spill. Mars in Virgo won’t be fast, but he’ll be efficient and thorough. Whatever they try next is likely to work a little better, at least in the short run.

Ceres, planet of the environment and planetary cycles, is close to the Galactic Core as she continues on her retrograde path back into Sagittarius. We haven’t had much of a chance to study this transit yet, but we can venture a guess that planetary cycles such as global climate change, tectonic plate movement and volcanic activity will play a continuing role in the evolution of human consciousness.

On Saturday, we have a micro version of the cardinal T-square, when the Moon enters Libra, opposes Uranus and Jupiter, and squares Pluto, all within a six-hour period. Keep your antennae up all day for events and situations that may provide further clues about how the T-square will affect you personally.

Later on Saturday, the Sun in Gemini forms a glowing trine with Neptune in Aquarius. Working together, we can come up with ideas to solve our most pressing problems and to make the world a better place to live.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat