Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast April 26: Saturn Opposite Uranus, Full Moon in Scorpio

A volcano erupts under Eyjafjallajökull glacier in Iceland on April 14, 2010. Photo by Ingolfur Juliusson for REUTERS.

Question: What’s the difference between a Saturn-Uranus opposition in Virgo and Pisces and the same opposition in Libra and Aries?

Answer: I don’t know. But we’re about to find out.

It’s not often that we get this great opportunity to get out of the lab and into the field. I’ve been studying charts, and theoretically, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between a Saturn-Uranus opposition in mutable signs, cardinal signs, earth and water, or air and fire. It’s all explosive, and it’s disruptive on a global scale, as we’ve seen in the past two weeks.

Saturn and Uranus have been in opposition since late 2008. Actually, they’ve been in opposition since forever — their astrolological attributes are as different as two planets can get. Saturn is about structure, stability, established hierarchy, limitations, and constraints. Wild and unpredictable, Uranus rules rebellion, freedom, human rights, space travel, technological breakthroughs, electricity, and sparks of creative genius.

Simply put, Saturn is order and Uranus is chaos.

So what happens when they oppose one another in the sky? Well, their first exact contact of this cycle was on November 4, 2008 — Election Day in the United States, and we all know how that turned out. After the initial euphoria, many hoped-for changes failed to materialized, and the Obama administration is under heavy fire from both sides of the aisle as his popularity rating continues to plummet. He’s taking heat in particular for his healthcare plan, which even has led to violence against lawmakers who approved it. A new grassroots rebellion is rising among political conservatives.

Wait — rebellious conservatives? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Not when Saturn is opposed to Uranus!

This conflict will intensify as Saturn and Uranus continue their opposition into late July and early August, by which time they both will have changed signs and will be part of the explosive cardinal T-square with Pluto at the apex. In the meantime, they form an exact alignment today (Monday) at 28 degrees Virgo and Pisces. There will be one more exact contact on July 26, at 0 degrees Libra and Aries.

In other news this week, we have the Full Moon in Scorpio on Wednesday. I’ve already written about this event, so there’s not much more to say. Later in the day, Ceres turns retrograde. She never quite made it to an exact conjunction with Pluto. That will take place later this year and will bear watching. I’m still not ready to make pronouncements about what Ceres transits mean, but I know that a conjunction with Pluto is significant.

On Sunday, the Moon in Sagittarius squares Saturn and Uranus, briefly forming a mutable T-square, and then carries that energy forward to Pluto in Capricorn later in the day. If you’re having your own personal crisis with Saturn and Uranus, you could go into meltdown phase. The Moon in Sagittarius generally is optimistic, but it’s hard to think positive when you’re dodging falling debris.

Wishing us all an abundance of love and courage,
Pat

The Cardinal T-Square of 2010 and 2011, Part II

A peaceful day at the foot of Mount Rainier, an active volcano on the Pacific Rim of Fire. © Pat Paquette.

With the coming astrological shift into the cardinal signs, we can expect dramatic developments in the world. But what, exactly, is going to happen? Is there any way to know in advance or at least to make some educated guesses?

In Part I of this article, I explained what a cardinal T-square is and gave some examples of world events in years when cardinal energy was activated. In this post, we’ll explore the cardinal alignment in 2011 and how it differs from this year’s configuration.

This summer, the action takes place primarily in the earliest degrees of the cardinal signs, which are the most volatile, and we’ll be in the midst of an eclipse pair in cardinal signs Capricorn and Cancer. This is the highest-risk period for extreme disruption, be it natural or manmade.

By summer of 2011, Jupiter will have advanced to Taurus, Saturn will be out of range of a square with Pluto, and the eclipses will start shifting into Sagittarius and Gemini. The last eclipse of the Capricorn-Cancer series is a partial solar eclipse at 9 degrees Cancer on July 1, 2011. With Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto in a T-square, the addition of the eclipse forms a grand cross. This configuration is more like a dog chasing its own tail — a lot of activity, but it may tire itself out before any real damage is done.

After that eclipse, Saturn moves past the mid degrees of Libra. While technically still in a cardinal sign, he’s at too wide an angle from Uranus and Pluto to bring heated conflict.

However, Pluto will remain in a tight square with Uranus in Aries, and this is where we’ll see continued upheaval. The square between Uranus and Pluto won’t be exact until 2012, but it will be close enough next year for us to feel its effects.

The last time Pluto and Uranus met was a conjunction at 16-17 degrees Virgo in 1965 and 1966. In September 1965, toward the Full Moon with the Sun, Pluto, and Uranus in a tight conjunction opposite Saturn in Pisces, Hurricane Betsy made landfall twice on the southern coast of the United States and was the first tropical storm to cause more than a billion dollars in damage.

Other developments around that time were the racially motivated Watts riots in Los Angeles, the eruption of the Taal volcano near Manila, a sweeping regime change in Indonesia, and the escalation of demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan were at war, with China stepping in on the side of Pakistan.

As I wrote in my last article, past events linked to the cardinal T-square and to Uranus-Pluto aspects are so broad that it’s hard to know whether the coming alignment signifies natural catastrophes, war, social upheaval, environmental disasters, or other crises. Further, whenever Uranus is involved in an aspect, the outcome is wildly unpredictable. Still, I think it’s a safe bet that “all of the above” will happen again in the next two years.

One of the biggest threats, in my opinion, is war between India and China as they compete for resources to fuel their rapid growth and development. The entire region is already destabilized, a powder keg just waiting for a cosmic spark to ignite a third world war. The Pacific Rim of Fire also appears to be vulnerable. If history is any indication, hot spots will intensify during these astrologically volatile periods.

I’ll keep you informed in my weekly forecasts and other posts along the way. Meanwhile, if you see news stories that indicate which way the cosmic wind is blowing, please leave a comment with a URL.

Pat

Weekly Forecast April 19: Sun Enters Taurus, Venus Enters Gemini

The Bull from the Sea. Monotype by Vashon artist Brian Fisher, 2009. Images of bulls were prevalent during the Age of Taurus, which was roughly 4525-1875 B.C.

The Saturn-Uranus opposition isn’t exact until next week, but its effects are strong enough now that they’re overpowering everything else.

First, let’s have a look at this week’s lineup …

We start out on Monday with Mercury newly retrograde in Taurus. Traffic and communications will be all snarled up, so do whatever you must to maintain your blood pressure. The Messenger squares Mars in Leo on Sunday (April 25), but the mood could be icky all week, with a higher-than-average risk of arguments. With both planets in fixed signs, neither side will want to back down. Mercury in Taurus will win by saying as little as possible to avoid fueling the temper of Mars in feisty Leo.

On Tuesday (Monday on the West Coast of the United States), the Sun enters Taurus. Do I hear a collective sigh of relief? Taurus may have a reputation as stubborn, but the Bull also is placid and steady. We’ll welcome this new energy after the nonstop activity of Sun in Aries.

In honor of the Sun in Taurus, I’ve chosen this beautiful image by Brian Fisher, one of Vashon Island’s best-loved artists. Brian’s inspiration was the famous fresco of the bull leapers from the Palace of Knossos on Crete. He has a fascinating history of artwork from this era on his blog. Check out his online gallery, too. After all, art appreciation is a very Taurus thing to do!

Also on Tuesday, Chiron enters Pisces, where he’ll stay until August. We’re not likely to notice any immediate effects of this transit, so I’ll deal with it in a future post.

Thursday could be especially difficult, when the Moon in Leo conjoins Mars and squares Mercury. Despite what I wrote about saying as little as possible, you may not be able to contain yourself. There will be meltdowns and temper tantrums everywhere. Try to maintain your decorum.

On Friday and Saturday, Venus squares Neptune, sextiles Uranus, and trines Saturn within a 12-hour period. If you lose grip on reality, especially in romantic situations, you’ll come back to your senses before doing any real damage. You might even find that reality isn’t so bad, after all. It could end up including a very nice surprise — one that doesn’t disappear when you wake up out of a dream.

On Sunday, the planet of love skips into chatty Gemini, and then she’s in mutual reception with Mercury. The danger here is that communications will come fast and furious, but the risk of misunderstandings is high. Be prepared to set records in the number of volleys of phone tag before you finally make your connection.

Also on Sunday, the Sun trines Pluto. Normally, trines are pleasant and easy, but Pluto has been in the hot seat lately at the apex of a T-square, and he needs somewhere to vent his pent-up energy. It’s always a dicey prospect to predict earthquakes, but I won’t be surprised if there’s another big one this weekend.

The cardinal T-square is still several weeks away, but Saturn and Uranus have been going through an opposition in the mutable signs of Virgo and Pisces since late 2008. When outer planets are in aspect, we don’t need to wait until the exact date to feel the effects, but begin to notice developments a few weeks and sometimes months in advance. This opposition is all the more powerful given that Saturn is “receiving” from Pluto in Capricorn, the sign that Saturn rules.

On April 14, a volcano erupted under Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland. The plume sent ash over northern Europe and delayed air travel on six continents. I stumbled on an article in The Guardian by Greg Neale, who noted that a similar event in 1783 disrupted weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to crop failures and famine. Many historians believe this was a major factor in the French Revolution, he wrote.

Uranus was discovered between the American and French revolutions, which is how he became associated with rebellion. As it so happens, when the Laki volcano erupted in June 1783, Saturn and Uranus were in opposition in Capricorn and Cancer, both square Neptune in Libra — in other words, a cardinal T-square.

These are perfect examples of how astrological energies manifest into reality. It’s safe to predict that we’re going to get lots more reality between now and the end of the summer. In the meantime, watch the news headlines now for signs of change bumping up against the status quo.

Next week is the Full Moon in Scorpio. I’ll have more later this week, so check back.

Much love and courage to all,

Pat

Saturday Extra! The Cardinal T-Square of 2010 and 2011

For years, astrologers have been predicting sweeping global change in 2010 and 2011, based on a shift in planetary alignment into the cardinal signs.

The signs of the zodiac are divided into three qualities, or “quadrulplicites.” The cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — are dynamic and initiate action. The fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — are persistent and, just as the name suggests, solid and unmoving. The mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — are adaptable, flexible, and open to change.

A T-square occurs when planets occupy three signs within one quality. Put another way, it is comprised of two squares (90 degrees) and an opposition (180 degrees), which denotes extreme tension and conflict. The planet or planets at the point, or apex, take on great significance. If all four signs are occupied, then it’s called a grand cross, which is comprised of four squares and two oppositions.

Such alignments are rare, and when they happen, dramatic events take place on the world stage. That will be all the more true in 2010, because the eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer are part of the picture. Eclipses are often enough on their own to herald life-changing events.

The shift into cardinal influences began slowly, with Pluto’s entry into Capricorn in early 2008. He slipped back into Sagittarius on his retrograde path over the summer and then re-entered Capricorn in December that year. When Saturn entered Libra last October, he formed a conflicting square with Pluto. The resulting tension is similar to pressure that builds up at the juncture of two tectonic plates. When the pressure releases, we get an earthquake.

It starts getting a little complicated here, because Saturn currently is retrograde and back in the final degrees of Virgo for a few months. That means he’s no longer part of the cardinal T-square, although he is going to form an opposition to Uranus at the end of this month, and we’ll briefly experience a mutable T-square. I’ll have more on that in my weekly forecast.

The big news comes in late May and early June, when Uranus and Jupiter enter Aries, followed by a pair of eclipses in Cancer and Capricorn on June 26 and July 11. On July 21, Saturn returns to Libra, where he’ll stay until October 2012. From late July to mid-August of 2010, there will be a tight T-square involving Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto. We’ll have a few days in there when the Moon in Cancer transforms the configuration into a grand cross.

The last time we had this kind of powerful buildup in the cardinal signs was in 1989. The Berlin Wall fell when Uranus, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune were all closely aligned in Capricorn, opposite Jupiter in Cancer (Ceres and Chiron were close by, too). At the moment the announcement was made, the alignment was on the Ascendant and Descendant. This was one of the defining moments of the 20th century, and the T-square we’re about to experience is in many ways an extension of that event.

Other startling events happened in 1989, including the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, the Loma Prieta earthquake, and the protests in Tiananmen Square.

The most extreme example of a cardinal T-square I’ve been able to find is the chart for the Tunguska explosion in 1908. It’s a mindblower, with all but two planets aligned in Cancer, Capricorn, and Aries. The blast felled trees and knocked residents several miles away off their feet. Researchers still don’t know what caused it, but the prevailing opinion is that a meteor exploded several miles above the earth’s surface.

Other events that year, while not outstanding in and of themselves, fueled tensions leading up to World War I.

Unfortunately, there is no clearly identifiable pattern to provide us clues for what could happen in the next couple of years. Natural disasters, environmental crises, and political upheaval are all possible — and, I would add, likely. But some of the changes, while disruptive, may ultimately be beneficial. After all, the fall of the Berlin Wall was an amazing breakthrough.

Jupiter and Uranus slip back into Pisces this fall, and then we’ll have another reprieve until late spring of 2011. We’ll explore these developments in depth in Part II of this article.

Related post: T-Squares Past and Present

Pat

Help for the Mercury Retrograde Challenged

Detail of Farnese Gallery ceiling in Rome, by Annibale Carracci

Detail of Mercury, from Loves of the Gods, a series of frescoes by Italian painter Annibale Carracci, 1597. Palazzo Farnese (currently the French Embassy), Rome, Italy.

You’re late for your date, stuck in the mother of all traffic jams, and forgot your iPhone. After driving around for what seems like forever, you finally find a phone booth and make your call, only to discover you had the wrong day.

It’s classic Mercury retrograde!

Named after the mythological messenger of the gods, Mercury rules communications, contracts, traffic flow, business negotiations, partnerships, and small electronics. Three times a year, he goes retrograde — an astronomical term used to describe the optical illusion of planets moving backward in the sky from one day to the next. His next retrograde starts this Sunday, April 18.

Mercury was known as a trickster, and when he’s retrograde, his “practical jokes” are anything but amusing. We get our wires crossed, don’t say what we think we’re saying, and don’t hear what the other person intended. These snafus can be irritating at best and at worst can break up relationships.

Here are a couple of true stories from my past, honest to goddess, no embellishing!

During Mercury retrograde in April 2004, I was living in a small village in the south of France. Road construction on the main thoroughfare left a narrow, one-way street as the only route in and out of the village center. If two cars ended up there at the same time, one had to back all the way out and let the other pass. Now, even in the best of times, country Frenchmen will not yield to each other, probably due to some malfunction of testosterone, of which they always had too much, in my opinion. It doesn’t take much of a leap to figure out what happened with Mercury retrograde in hot-headed Aries.

I watched from my second-floor window as two cars met on the street below. Instead of the usual stand-off, one driver got out of his car and started screaming obscenities (I understood most of it!). Without a word, the other guy got out of his car, locked it, and went straight to the nearest pub for a drink. The first guy got so angry that he grabbed a nearby dumpster and hurled it at the parked car, then proceeded to back out of town via a frighteningly narrow alleyway.

Here’s another car story, this one from Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius later in the same year, just after I arrived on Vashon:

The people whose house I was renting had left their car in a neighbor’s parking space while they were away. A friend of theirs e-mailed and asked to borrow the car, which they agreed to, and they contacted the neighbor with whom they’d left the car to let him know that their friend would be picking it up. Normally somewhat absent-minded, he totally blanked out during Mercury retrograde. When he discovered that the car was missing, he called the cops, who tracked it down. The friend had some fast explaining to do, but managed to work it out with the police. When she returned the car to the forgetful neighbor, they got in a big fight, and she ended up in tears.

Fortunately, that story ended happily with apologies all around — after Mercury returned direct, of course.

Situations like these can be avoided if you just remain aware of the pitfalls of Mercury retrograde. Several years ago, I devised some tips for “safe handling,” and I repeat them here for you:

• BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER FILES early and often. I can’t say this enough.

• Avoid all major purchases, especially computers or anything to do with communications and transportation. If you don’t end up returning them, they’ll give you headaches for the rest of their lifetime.

• If you can avoid it, don’t travel. If you can’t avoid it, then be obsessive about confirming all reservations. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, and keep a very low profile going through security. No joking with the security guards. I don’t have to tell you how that could end up.

• Signing contracts is a big no-no. Renegotiating existing contracts to get better terms is OK, but be sure to read and re-read the fine print.

• Speak clearly and watch your words. Although we can never tell how another person will take what we say, it’s more likely during Mercury retrograde that someone will take offense where none was intended. If you need something, state it simply and directly.

• Likewise, if someone says something insensitive, stop and think before taking offense. They probably didn’t mean it. And even if they did, this isn’t the time to get into it.

• If a misunderstanding occurs, don’t automatically blame the other person. You might think you were being perfectly clear, and you may be even more sure that the other person said what you think they did, but you wouldn’t believe how many times, in hindsight, I’ve found that both sides were technically “right” during Mercury retrograde. This is one of the biggest unexplained mysteries of the Mercury retrograde phenomenon.

• We all make mistakes, and they’re even more likely while Mercury is retrograde. My best advice is forgive and forget. As I’m so fond of saying, otherwise intelligent people say and do stupid things during Mercury retrograde.

• Laugh! When you think about some of these situations, they’re funnier than any Hollywood script.

Have a safe and happy Mercury retrograde!
Pat

Weekly Forecast April 12: New Moon in Aries, Mercury Retrograde

It might seem a little strange this week, with New Moon beginnings pushing us forward, while Mercury retrograde urges us to go back and revise or reconsider.

When you think about it, though, these aren’t mutually exclusive activities. Sometimes making a fresh start requires going back over what we’ve done to see what worked and what didn’t. You can bet that I’m doing plenty of that here at RealAstrologers. Or, we might liken it to buying a house that was neglected by the previous owners. The first order of business is taking stock of what needs to be done and cleaning up the mess.

And so it goes. It’s not altogether unpleasant, provided we remain patient and do things in the right order. Trying to push ahead too soon will cost us even more time and energy later.

On Monday morning, the Moon in Pisces makes contact with the Saturn-Uranus opposition, reinforcing the message that we’ve got some old business to take care of before we can get on with our new venture. Even after entering Aries, the Moon is in her final waning phase for nearly two full days before Wednesday’s New Moon. This is a great time to clean up what’s on your plate. Just do it! You won’t want any of this stuff hanging over your head when you get your new marching orders.

As I wrote in my New Moon post on Saturday, there’s going to be a lot of activity, and change may come suddenly and without warning. Saturn’s return to Virgo will provide some stability, but it also reminds us of important details we overlooked in a previous undertaking. In a way, Mercury’s turn retrograde on Sunday (Saturday on the West Coast of the United States) may prove to be a blessing, as long as you abide by the Mercury retrograde “rules.”

They are, briefly: Don’t sign any contracts. Don’t make any major purchases, especially electronics or anything to do with transportation. If a critical piece of equipment breaks down and you have to replace it urgently, keep all of your receipts, because you may have to return it. If you’re traveling, be sure to confirm flights and hotel reservations, and allow yourself plenty of time to make connections. Expect delays. Missed phone calls and misunderstandings are typical. Usually, no one is to “blame,” and even if someone else does drop the ball, give them the benefit of the doubt.

Mercury turns retrograde at 12°37′ Taurus just after midnight EDT on Sunday, April 18. He stations direct at 2°39 Taurus on May 11.

There are some activities that actually go better during Mercury retrograde periods. Remember, Mercury rules communications and business negotiations, so editing, rewriting, and revising written work is often more efficient at this time. Renegotiating an existing contract for better terms would be fine, as would going back to work for a previous employer. Some clients also have told me that taking a vacation while Mercury is retrograde works well. Business trips tend not to go very smoothly.

Those are the major trends for this week, but we also have a couple of soft aspects on the weekend that should provide some comfort and relaxation.

On Saturday, Venus in Taurus sextiles Jupiter in Pisces, a lovely aspect for entertaining at home or celebrating with close friends. If you’re in a romantic partnership, make special plans just for the two of you. This is the quintessential “candlelight dinner for two” aspect, so make it count!

On Sunday, the Sun in Aries sextiles Neptune in Aquarius, fueling our desire to take an active part in helping others, protecting the environment, or doing something good for our local community. If nothing else, lend a hand to your next-door neighbor.

Wishing you all much love and courage —
Pat

Weekly Forecast April 5: Saturn Goes Back into Virgo

This week is for finishing up old business, taking another look at unresolved problems, and reflecting deeply on what we really want.

With Pluto turning retrograde, Saturn going back to Virgo, and Mercury in pre-retrograde shadow, it’s not time yet to make a push forward. That will come soon enough.

We’re also in the aftermath of a Full Moon, and she’s traversing the last three signs of the zodiac, indicating that one major cycle is winding down in preparation for what’s next.

On Monday, Mercury in Taurus squares Mars in Leo — a testy, stubborn pair. Expect an increase in arguments, standoffs, traffic jams, and other conflicts. Taurus isn’t the most vocal sign, so watch for body language and other nonverbal cues that someone is having a bad day, and don’t get on their case. It will help if you can distinguish between who someone is and what they have.

Mercury trines Pluto on Tuesday, just as the planet of hidden motives and animal urges turns retrograde. If nothing else, Mercury in Taurus is very matter-of-fact and can calmly deal with unspeakable things. Is there something that causes you panic and anxiety? Or something you desire deeply and are ashamed of? Repression gives power to these dark impulses, and extreme repression can lead to obsession and worse. Sometimes admitting the truth is liberating, and there is no better time to do it, since you are more consciously aware of what’s going on in your deep psyche. Do make sure you can trust the person you’re sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with.

Less than 24 hours after Pluto shfits gears, retrograde Saturn returns to Virgo and begins to move away from a close square with Pluto. This will take some of the intensity out of the cardinal T-square for now and allow change to take place at a slower, more manageable rate for the next few months.

However, Saturn will return to an opposition with Uranus in Pisces, exact on April 26, and this is where we’re going to see a lot of revisiting controversial issues. The fight over healthcare in the United States will continue. Just because the legislation passed Congress, doesn’t mean that’s the end of it. Regulations implementing the law have to be written, and that’s a long, laborious process that can be held up at any step of the way.

Other political and financial situations that developed during peak Saturn-Uranus opposition periods also may come back for another round. The opposition was exact on Nov. 4, 2008 (Election day in the United States), Feb. 5, 2009, and Sept. 15, 2009. There will be one more exact opposition, on July 26, with Saturn in Libra and Uranus in Aries. I’ll have more on that as the date approaches.

In our individual lives, this opposition is having an unnerving effect, like flooring the gas pedal with one foot and slamming on the brakes with the other. So, for example, you might be going through radical personal changes while trying to stay committed to a long-term relationship. Or, you may have an opportunity to relocate for a great new job, but family obligations are keeping you tied down. It depends on where these two are transiting your natal chart.

The rest of this week is fairly uneventful. Mars makes a third and last inconjunct with Pluto on Saturday, which we may feel not as any specific event but a vague sense of heaviness or a “disturbance in the Force.” If possible, observe your impulses, but refrain from acting on them until you know more about what they signify.

Next week is the New Moon in Aries, and our lives get busier once again, so rest while you can. Also, wrap up all your paperwork this week. Absolutely do not wait until next week to file your tax returns! The lines the post office will be interminably long, and filing online could be filled with glitches. I’ll have more on the New Moon later in the week, so check back.

Until then, wishing you much love and courage —
Pat

Weekly Forecast March 29: Full Moon in Libra, Venus Enters Taurus

Starting right out with the Full Moon in Libra, this week is the beginning of a critical period of saying goodbye to what is comfortable, familiar … and totally not working.

It’s a truth universally accepted in astrology that the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are the most likely to fight change. Regardless of whether you’re predominantly fixed, cardinal, or mutable, you are a human being, and our brains are wired to stick with what we know. Sure, your Venus in Gemini might go for a different hairstyle every day of the week, but you know what I’m talking about.

Many of you have written to me in the past couple of years complaining that you’re stuck in a boring, dead-end job but don’t want to break out. A couple of readers have admitted outright that they never would make the same kind of money in a more interesting profession. Many of you are stuck in dead-end relationships but can’t let go.

On some level, you may want to stay where you are — better the devil you know than the one you don’t know. But I also know that many of us fit my analogy of flies beating against the glass. They can see the light out there but just don’t know how to get there. Their fly brains don’t understand the concept of glass. The only way they get out is with the help of a higher being, one that is sympathetic enough to free them rather than swatting them dead.

Those higher forces are kicking in now, thanks to the increasing intensity of the cardinal T-square, which peaks at various times between now and 2012. Today’s Full Moon in Libra is a stepping stone to the next turbulence zone, which occurs around the Full Moon lunar eclipse on June 26.

Remember, cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) are characterized by initiating change. They are the movers and shakers of the zodiac, the pioneers, the drill sergeant screaming, “Move your ass!” We might not like it, but that’s how we get stronger and more confident … if the stress doesn’t kill us first!

This week, I reckon we’ll all come to the conclusion that we’re not dead, despite seriously scary g-forces. Literally, I’ve been struggling just to stay standing since my back injury a year ago, but with a new and very talented therapist, I’m beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I won’t elaborate on the Full Moon here, since I posted a detailed report on Saturday. The rest of the week should be fairly calm by comparison, allowing us to catch our breath. Mars is picking up speed, too, which is helping us to get the energy and motivation we need to accomplish all the tasks we’ve let fall by the wayside since the beginning of the year.

Better still, Venus leaves Aries on Wednesday and enters Taurus. You’ll immediately feel the difference as the planet of love and symbol of the divine feminine goes from the sign of her detriment to the sign she rules. It’s time for chocolate, roses, good food, good wine, and every other sensual pleasure known to humanity. I sometimes joke that the only reason to incarnate on the material plane is for sex and chocolate. Otherwise, I’d be happy as a disembodied being of light in another quadrant of the universe.

Thursday is April Fool’s Day and time for some much-needed laughs. Just take care that you don’t joke at someone else’s expense. With Mercury square Chiron that day, there’s a high risk of hurting someone’s feelings, and that defeats the whole purpose of this light-hearted tradition.

Mercury joins Venus in Taurus on Friday, and the weekend could be somewhat tense as both Venus and Mercury square Mars, with Venus trine Pluto just as the planetary symbol of underworld forces is stationed to go retrograde. If you’re romantically involved with someone, expect to experience a conflict between sexual attraction and emotional disconnection. Pluto typically gets what he wants, so you’ll probably give in to the physical urges. That’s OK, as long as you address your emotional needs when conditions are more favorable.

Even in non-romantic relationships, you may feel an emotional tug-of-war beneath the surface. I’m usually in favor of being open and direct, but this weekend, hold back a bit and wait for a more suitable time to talk. With Pluto turning retrograde, the potential for deep insight is very high. My best advice to you is to let go of attachment to any particular outcome, because what you get instead could be vastly superior.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast March 22: Sun Square Pluto

March sunrise over West Seattle. I took this photo on an early morning trip across Puget Sound last week. Photo by Pat Paquette.

For the past year, astrologers have been writing about the potential for upheaval as the planetary focus shifts to the cardinal signs. This week, we get major clues as to how these energies might play out.

On Monday, Mars in early Leo sextiles Saturn in early Libra. Mars is slowly beginning to creep forward again after being retrograde for more than three months, while Saturn continues moving in “reverse” and will make a return visit to Virgo in a couple of weeks. This will remove him from the cardinal buildup. In the meantime, this week’s Mars-Saturn sextile helps restrain the egocentric nature of Mars in Leo and helps us get our work done.

Saturn continues to form a square with Pluto, indicating standoffs between competing powers. I’m not sure who I’d root for here but probably would place bets discreetly on both sides, kind of like a multinational corporation contributing to both political parties in a close race.

The rubber meets the road on Tuesday, when the Moon enters Cancer. The cardinal T-square formed by the Sun newly in Aries, plus Pluto and Saturn, becomes a grand cross, even if just for a day. Activity will be fast and furious, and if you aren’t careful, you could cancel out your initiatives by acting on too many fronts at once. Likewise, groups of people may cancel out positive change through competing interests. Emotions are going to run high, too. For some, they may be totally out of control.

Ironically, the release valve and key to getting tangible results is Mars in Leo. For once, looking out for yourself first may be the answer. “Ego” is not always a bad word. If we didn’t have one, we’d be doormats subject to getting walked all over by everyone. A healthy ego that knows how to balance its own needs with the needs of others will get you through. If you want to know where to assert your ego, look at where 1 degree Leo falls in your chart.

Whatever happens this week will reverberate into early August, when we’ll experience another cardinal grand cross with Saturn in Libra.

After Tuesday, it’s back to the cardinal T-square, with an “arm” left empty after the Moon moves past early Cancer. If you have personal planets or chart angles in early Cancer, the area of your life represented by that point could come under intense pressure. That will be true off and on into the summer, so make sure you pay extra attention to developments this week, as they will be ongoing themes for you. The United States chart (Sibly) has 1 degree Libra on the Midheaven, with early Cancer in the seventh house. Expect more news of open enemies and conflicts with allies.

Thursday is a potentially difficult day for everyone, when the Sun squares Pluto. Notwithstanding what I just wrote about your ego, do exercise good judgment in how you stand up for yourself. Before you put yourself in a compromising position, be sure you’re right and that the reward is worth the potential consequences. Spraying graffiti all over the county courthouse and defending it as your right to free speech would not be a good idea right now.

The weekend is fairly quiet and best spent getting things done around the home and office. Tidy up as much as you can before next Monday’s Full Moon. As usual, Diane will have a full report later this week on what else you can do to prepare.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Saturday Extra! International Astrology Day

Today is spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of the astrological year, when the Sun enters the sign of Aries.

Not only is Aries the first sign of the zodiac, but the first of the four cardinal signs. Think of the force of shoots pushing through the heavy earth toward the sun or of a bear coming out of hibernation, and you understand the nature of Aries. You’ll also begin to understand the forces that are at work on the planet and the breadth of the changes in store for us all.

We’ve been experiencing a slow build-up of cardinal energy over the past two years, ever since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008. Then Saturn entered Libra last year, and Jupiter and Uranus will enter Aries in late spring, creating a cardinal T-square. Now, with the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all in Aries, we’re in for a brief taste of how the cardinal forces will play out. Keep your antennae up for critical information.

I’m advising my clients to stay mobile and flexible, as anything could happen, and our lives could change on a dime. Where you have cardinal energy in your chart is where you are most likely to experience new developments.

I’ll have more in my weekly forecast on Monday, so stay tuned …

Happy Astrology Day!

Pat