Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast November 23: Sun and Mercury in Sagittarius

Pat's tart tatin with organic applesIn the United States, it’s Thanksgiving week, when many people take two or more days off to eat too much, watch too much football, and shop ’til they drop.

You’ll be happy to know that the planets are obliging on all fronts. For the most part, this week’s astrological energy is much lighter and more fun. With the Sun and Mercury in the travel-loving sign of Sagittarius, it’s also a good week for being on the road or in the air.

Fortunately, we get the Venus-Jupiter square out of the way on Monday, well before we’re at a table overloaded with turkey, gravy, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams with miniature marshmallows, and five different kinds of pie. Hard Venus-Jupiter aspects are notorious for overindulging, and this will be all the more true with Venus in Scorpio.

On Tuesday, the Sun forms a happy sextile with Saturn, and hopefully this will help us get past some of the issues raised when Saturn squared Pluto a week ago. That square is still active, but with illumination from the Sun, we may be able to understand how to work around seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Trying to see the bigger picture is always a good strategy, but it will be especially effective now.

Wednesday is our day for surprises, hopefully of the happy kind, when Venus trines Uranus, both in deep-feeling water signs. It’s a perfect day for showing up on the doorstep of friends and family, with your homemade specialties and other gourmet treats in hand.

On Thursday, Mercury in Sagittarius trines Mars in Leo, a great day for driving, lively conversation, and sports. Sagittarius is very competitive, and Mars the warrior is all fired up in playful Leo. I’m not into football myself, but for those who are, today’s games will be particularly dramatic and entertaining.

Also on Thursday, Venus squares Neptune. Among other things, this is the classic “eyes bigger than your stomach” aspect. Start with small helpings and go back for seconds if you’re still hungry. If you’re drinking or using other mind-altering substances, take some care, as you’ll be tempted to overdo it.

Sunday is another excellent football day, with Mercury in a spirited sextile with Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius. Later in the day, Mercury sextiles Chiron, the wounded healer. Let’s hope this is a sign of injuries averted and not an indication that your favorite player gets carried off the field.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: My attempt at a tart tatin, a French apple pie baked upside-down with the crust on top, then flipped onto a plate. The photographer is none other than our own dear Tseka, who dropped by last week for a wonderful visit. I’m wearing one of her new talismans, which are selling out everywhere she takes them.

Weekly Forecast November 16: New Moon in Scorpio, Sun Enters Sagittarius

The Rotting SeasonDevelopments that began unfolding last Thursday or Friday continue to play out in what promises to be another intense week. There likely will be another surprise or two, and it’s anyone’s guess whether it will be pleasant or of the other variety.

The week begins with a powerful New Moon in Scorpio. You’ve probably read Neith’s complete report, but if not, it’s a must-read. This New Moon comes fully loaded with six out of ten planets in fixed signs, virtually guaranteeing some sort of conflict.

Now, as I’m so fond of saying, not all conflict is bad. Sometimes we need it to push us out of a rut. If nothing else, we are forced to decide what we really want. If we don’t make a point of setting priorities, life sometimes hands us a situation to get our attention. That has happened to me a couple of times already in the past week, and I’m expecting more of it this week, with the New Moon dead on my lunar North Node and Midheaven.

If for some reason someone or something has you feeling cornered, look to the sign opposite the apex of the T-square for direction, which would range from about 11 degrees to 25 degrees of Taurus. In my chart, 25 degrees Taurus is my South Node and IC, so for resolution I might look to home, family, or memories from childhood. Or, if I come against a problem I can’t get a handle on, the source might be behavior I’m not aware of that no longer serves me. That’s what I would tell a client, anyway.

The New Moon can represent powerful new beginnings, so keep that in mind, too. Sometimes in order to make a fresh start, we need to leave something or someone behind for good.

On Tuesday, Mercury sextiles Saturn. Positive Mercury-Saturn contacts typically help our concentration. In this case, we may get some clarity regarding a long-term relationship, and we’ll be able to discuss matters frankly and honestly with the other person.

Venus squares Mars on Thursday, and this often can manifest as conflict in love relationships, especially involving issues of jealousy, possessiveness, and dominance. If you’re attracted to someone and are prevented from acting on it, one or both of you could end up frustrated and irritable. This is all the more true if you’re unaware of your feelings or deliberately suppressing them. But this aspect also represents the tension in an intimate relationship that leads to unbridled passion.

Also on Thursday, the Moon conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn. I wrote about this influence last week, when the Moon conjoined Saturn and squared Pluto. If you got a blip on your radar screen last Thursday or Friday (I did), it may grow into something more this week.

Relief from all this intensity comes on Saturday, when the Sun enters Sagittarius. The Archer is a centaur, a mythological creature who is half man, half horse. Except for Chiron, the centaurs were a wild bunch and loved playing around, in all senses of the word. But hey, we all have to cut loose once in awhile and have fun, damn the torpedoes. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret in the morning.

Wishing you all much love and joy,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: We’re seriously into winter here in the Pacific Northwest, with the relentless cold rain that leads to the most impressive composting and rot I’ve ever seen. Scorpio is the sign of death, rebirth, and transformation, and here we are, in the uncomfortable dying out phase. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Weekly Forecast November 9: Saturn Square Pluto

TransitionIf you think Friday the 13th is scary, try it while Saturn is squaring Pluto. I’m shaking in my boots.

OK, not really. But this isn’t going to be an easy week. It’s not that I think anything terrible is going to happen, just that we’re shifting into the cardinal energies now, and that means big changes are on the way. For a heavily fixed-sign person like me, it means more stumbling over the rearranged furniture. Some people are just better at adapting than others.

The cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — mark the beginning of a new season, at least in Western thought. In astrology, they are traditionally associated with the four chart angles. When transiting planets cross these angles in our natal charts, we typically experience major life events, changes, and breakthroughs.

Likewise, with four out of the five outer planets heading into cardinal signs, we can expect these changes to happen on a planetary scale. Since several of these planets will be in conflicting squares with each other, we also know that powerful forces will be working at cross purposes, each trying to dominate and gain the advantage over the others. It is going to be tense, chaotic, and maybe scary.

This week, we get an advance glimpse of this trend, when Saturn in Libra squares Pluto in Capricorn. The square is exact on Sunday, but we’ll feel it all week and into next week, too. The Moon in Libra on Thursday and Friday will activate this energy, so watch for clues on those two days. Who are you with? What are you doing? What news do you receive? Even if it doesn’t seem that significant, take note, because this may be part of a growing trend in your personal life. Keep an eye on the news headlines, too, because we may catch a glimpse of the global trends.

Taking the week day by day, we start with a sextile between Venus and Pluto overnight on Sunday (just after midnight Monday morning on the East Coast of the United States). We all know that Venus and Pluto make a sexy pair, although there can be obsession and jealousy, too. This is all the more likely with Venus in Scorpio. If you’re willing to go into some dark places in your psyche, you can use this aspect to grow, and this could be the seed of personal transformation.

For most of the day Monday, the Moon is in Leo, and she opposes Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune. Jupiter is gaining speed now and soon will make a last exact conjunction with Chiron and Neptune. Our healing has been slow and painful, but now we’re beginning to see results. I know quite a few people (myself included) whose lives are starting to turn around.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Mercury in Scorpio squares Chiron and Neptune, making this a good time to talk about our healing process. Some wounds may never heal, but if we at least are aware of them and accept them as part of who we are, we can move forward lighter and less encumbered. For better or for worse, the Sun further illuminates our healing process this week when it squares Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune.

Mercury and the Sun also trine Uranus this week — Wednesday for Mercury and Saturday for the Sun. If you’re willing to shine the light into the dark corners of your heart and mind, you’ll probably find that what’s lurking in there isn’t so scary after all. If you’ve been going through a difficult time, remember that none of it is outside the human experience. Your responses are normal and understandable, including any discomfort you may have for feeling that way to begin with.

Sunday is the Saturn-Pluto square. Since the normal work week is Monday to Friday, I’m guessing that most of you will feel this more acutely next week. Just be aware of the buildup this week, though.

As usual, if you experience any noteworthy events that you believe are linked to any of these broad energy trends, leave a comment. Those of you who are part of the Real Astrologers community know that you’re not alone. Even though others aren’t experiencing exactly what you are, we’re on parallel paths, and often the emotions are the same, even if the names and places are different.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: A patron is reflected in a sculpture entitled “Transition,” by Satu Bushell. The work is part of the Sculpture By The Sea exhibition in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Daniel Munoz of REUTERS.

Saturday Extra! So Are We In Scorpio, Or What?

Scorpio is the sign of mysteries, secrets, and hidden things, so it’s no surprise that among its hidden attributes is an entire “lost sign” of the zodiac.

I wrote about this last year in the second half of Scorpio, so many of you already are aware that there’s a thirteenth constellation of the zodiac, Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, sometimes called the Snake Handler. There is so much rich symbolism in this sign, including its hidden nature.

Ophiuchus

As I explained previously, the zodiac is comprised of twelve constellations Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast November 2: Full Moon in Taurus, Neptune Direct

Scorpio DaysWe’re heading into dreamtime now. With the Sun in Scorpio and Neptune at a standstill, preparing to go direct, we’re all more open to psychic phenomena and “downloads” from the universe.

I forgot to mention in last week’s forecast that Sunday was the Celtic cross-quarter day of Samhain. In earlier times, Samhain was the beginning of the new year. In the industrialized West, we tend to view night and the dark part of the year as negative and undesirable, but to the nature-centered Celts, light grows out of darkness, so their days began at sunset, not sunrise, and their year began with the descent into winter. The seeds have all been planted for what will be born again in spring.

This also is a time of year when many people feel the veil thinning between the worlds of the visible and the unmanifest. So the tradition goes, the veil lifts very briefly on Samhain, which evolved into our modern Halloween. Still, as with many of our traditional holidays, we’ve retained the rich symbolism, even if we’ve lost touch with its meaning.

Because of this week’s Full Moon and Neptune’s change of direction, the window will remain open a little longer this year for us to travel into unseen realms. Your dreams may be very vivid this week, and they may contain important messages. Keep a journal by your bed, and don’t let those images get away!

We begin the week with the Full Moon in Taurus. Most of you probably have read Neith’s post from Saturday, but if not, don’t miss it. She has a lot of interesting insights, especially for us change-averse fixed-sign types (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius).

Even if you don’t have a lot of fixed energy in your chart, it’s human nature to fight change, and the changes are going to come fast and furious as we head into next year’s cardinal cross. Now is the time for us to take inventory, keep what serves us, and get rid of everything else. We’re going to need to travel light in the times ahead, both materially and spiritually. In my experience, it’s always best to make the necessary sacrifices, rather than waiting for someone or something to take away the things you’re attached to.

Neptune turns direct on Wednesday. We may feel sleepy and slow for much of this week, and concentration will be more difficult than usual. If you don’t have a mentally demanding job, or if you have a lull and can turn off your thought processes for a few days, you can get some amazing insights. Because Neptune is in Aquarius, the sign of the collective, the messages that come to us now may be about how we fit into the unfolding story of our time. We may get glimpses of the future, too. If a booming voice tells you to build an ark and gather the animals two by two, let me know!

The Sun and Mercury conjoin on Thursday, and it’s another day for profound insights and deeper understanding of how the universe works. New ideas may come into our minds as images or even feelings rather than thoughts, and they may need time to process before you understand them. It could take days or even months.

Venus enters Scorpio on Saturday, intensifying Scorpio themes of money, sex, and power. To the undeveloped mind, this translates to greed, lust, and the need to control. But the evolved mind knows that desire is a means to an end and that there is real power in being able to desire with an intensity that could kill us, and then releasing attachment to those desires. That kind of power is a bit scary to think of, and maybe that’s why we have a simultaneous fear and fascination with Pluto and Scorpio.

On Sunday, Mercury sextiles Pluto. The downloads just keep on coming, and we stumble on information that opens our eyes and may even be scandalous. If you need to talk to someone about your deepest feelings, this is a good time for it.

With all this intensity, it’s not going to be an easy week. But with some effort on your part, it will be an amazingly productive week. Be sure to leave comments and let us know what’s going on with you!

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Wet dawn in the Pacific Northwest. Off daylight saving time, with the days shortening, and rain, rain, rain. It’s weather for going inward, and so very Scorpio. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Weekly Forecast October 26: Saturn Enters Libra

Justice, from the Rider-Waite-Smith TarotThis could be a fairly intense week on several fronts as we continue to feel major shifts, welcome new developments into our lives, and heal old wounds. I should say upfront that this is not going to be a week for the faint-hearted!

The biggest news this week, of course, is Saturn’s entry into Libra. Saturn is far happier in Libra than he’s been in service-oriented, nitpicky Virgo. Commitments to social justice and restoring balance in government should be evident in the headlines soon.

In our individual lives, honoring our commitments in relationships will take on more importance as we come to understand that good relationship don’t happen by accident. They require diligence, compromise, and hard work.

Just so you know, Saturn turns retrograde in January and returns to Virgo from April to July. So whatever you’ve been grappling with will come back for review at that time. Likewise, societal trends might seem to change and then take a step back. It’s a given that we’ll be revisiting healthcare reform, a very Saturn-in-Virgo subject. I do believe that we’ll get a better deal next time around.

None of this is going to happen without a fight, either. As he moves back and forth through the early degrees of Libra, Saturn will square Pluto in Capricorn. There will be seemingly insurmountable obstacles to change, both in the collective and in our individual lives. Once Uranus gets in on the mix in the middle of next year, it could be a real free-for-all. But we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

This week will be like college orientation, when we get a lay of the land and learn more about what will be required of us.

Although the other shifts this week aren’t nearly as radical, they will be noticeable, starting right out on Monday and Tuesday, when the Moon is in Aquarius. Jupiter turned direct in Aquarius on October 12, and this Tuesday, the Moon will conjoin the Big Guy for the first time since he began moving forward again. The Moon is often a trigger for releasing pent-up energies, so if you haven’t noticed any changes since Jupiter went direct, keep your antennae up this week.

Also on Tuesday, the Moon conjoins Chiron, which turns direct on Friday, and Neptune, which turns direct next week. With Wednesday’s trine between Venus and Jupiter and her trine to Chiron on Saturday, there will be no doubts after this week how the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction is going to play out in your life. The handwriting is on the wall, in huge, black spray paint.

On Wednesday, Mercury enters Scorpio and sextiles Pluto, the Scorpion’s modern ruler. Typically, this combination turns up hidden motivations or activities, but since this is an easy sextile, I don’t expect that we’ll be overly shocked by the revelations. They may come via dreams or psychic flashes, even if you’re not normally prone to such insight (but especially if you are). If you need to pry information out of someone, this is a good aspect for doing so. Just make sure you’re using the information for the right reasons and not for your own power trip.

Overall, I see this week as holding a lot of potential for deep healing and higher growth. How much depends on whether you’re committed to doing the work.

Saturday’s square between Mercury and Mars is the big exception. Depending on where this aspect falls in your chart, you could end up in a stinging confrontation with someone. Since both planets are in fixed signs, neither side will want to budge, and what starts out as a trivial difference of opinion could escalate into a knock-down, drag-out fight. If someone is in your face, step to the side and wait until next week to call them on their behavior.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Justice, from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. Most of the Major Arcana have an astrological association. Justice corresponds to Libra.

Weekly Forecast October 19: Sun Enters Scorpio

Winter’s on the way…The Sun goes into Scorpio this week, and here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a time for turning inward.

The mood is set right off, with the Moon in Scorpio on Monday and Tuesday. She actually entered Scorpio yesterday (Sunday) and squared Mars, which entered Leo this past Friday. There was no mistaking it for me! With Mars sitting right on my Descendant, I got smacked but good … and by a Scorpio, no less!

Of course, we’re also still in the wake of Sunday’s New Moon in Libra, with Venus and Mercury also in the sign of reconciliation and harmony. So there’s at least a chance to talk things through, and this will continue throughout this week. Tuesday’s trine between Mercury and Jupiter should go a long way toward repairing any dings, and we can further discuss hurt feelings on Thursday, when Mercury trines Chiron. Just make sure you don’t cause more of them.

The Sun enters Scorpio on Friday, which also has happens to be Neith’s birthday, so please join me in a big birthday wish for my cherished friend and business partner.

On Saturday, the Sun forms a sextile with Pluto in Capricorn, which should help us repair situations with authority figures, be they supervisors, parents, or the government bureaucracy. You’ll have to make a case for yourself and won’t get any favors you don’t deserve, but it’s still an opportunity that’s there if you need it.

Later on Saturday, Mercury trines Neptune, a nice aspect for writing poetry or doing any kind of work that requires creative imagination. It’s a good time to tell someone how much you appreciate them, too.

Meanwhile, Jupiter continues to yawn and stretch, giving us a little extra luck in one or more areas of our lives. I’ve noticed some improvements here and there and am hoping for more.

Lastly, Saturn is moving through the final degrees of Virgo before entering Libra next week. He’s not done yet, as he’ll turn retrograde in January and return to Virgo for a few months next year. So whatever you’re working on now, you’ll probably have to revisit later, but do your best. Even the stern taskmaster can’t require any more of us than that.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Right on cue, the wet, rotting time begins here in the Pacific Northwest. Our winters may not have a lot of snow, but they are very Scorpionic nonetheless. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Weekly Forecast October 12: Jupiter Direct, Mars Enters Leo

Bulgarian theatre group Temp, photo by AFPHad enough rest? I hope so, because we’re in for a busy week!

Mercury is back in Libra, picking up speed, and leaves his post-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday. Just as he’s entering new territory, Venus enters Libra. Relationships will benefit enormously from this double dose of Libra, especially after weeks of Venus and Mercury in nitpicky Virgo. If you and a loved one have been getting on each other’s nerves, you can both relax!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s have a look at this week’s lineup, one day at a time.

On Monday, Mars sextiles Saturn, just as both are about to enter a new sign. The Mars force is suppressed in watery Cancer, but even though our physical energy hasn’t been the most vibrant, it should pick up early this week so that we can finish up projects that have been on our plate for awhile. If those projects involve paperwork and mental concentration, so much the better.

On Tuesday, Jupiter returns direct at 17 degrees Aquarius. He’ll need a few days to yawn and stretch, but once he does, many of us are going to see major movement. How much depends on where he’s currently transiting your chart, but with the New Moon this weekend favorably angled to Jupiter, you should see at least a small obstacle clearing. The Big Guy is in my first house, so I’m expecting significant news. I’ll keep you posted.

Also on Tuesday, Venus conjoins Saturn in Virgo and sextiles Mars. Venus-Saturn aspects aren’t the happiest, especially for romantic relationships. Talk about a bucket of cold water. The inclusion of Mars in this configuration should mitigate that effect somewhat, though, and hopefully the outcome will be embers that glow for a long time rather than a flame that flares up but dies out just as quickly. I’ll be interested to get feedback on how you experience this three-way energy.

Even if you do suffer a little setback or temporary disconnect, all that should change when Venus enters Libra on Wednesday. This is her territory, and with Mercury and the Sun also in the sign of harmonious relations, people everywhere should be feeling more courteous and conciliatory. While Venus is in Libra, it’s also a great time for haircuts, manicures, and beauty treatments of all time. Goddess knows, I should have waited. I had my haircut last week during Venus in Virgo and I’m not at all happy with it. Yes, as an astrologer, I should have known better!

On Thursday, Venus squares Pluto. One of the problems with this aspect is that the heat can be too intense and judgment can fly out the window. This also is one of those energy combinations that can feed into manipulation. Venus uses sex and charm to get what she wants, while Pluto uses money and power. Age-old story, isn’t it? But whatever works between consenting adults…

Friday could be a hot date night, as the Moon enters Libra and amplifies the Venus-Pluto square. The real news, though, is the entry of Mars in fiery Leo. We’ll have more on this planet-sign combination in the weeks and months ahead, as Mars will be retrograde in Leo from December 20 to March 10. I’m already on the edge of my seat for this one. In the meantime, we should all feel a bit more energetic.

The weekend will be dominated by Sunday’s New Moon at 25 degrees Libra, in a close trine with Neptune and Chiron and a wider trine with newly direct Jupiter. The energy of the New Moon still will be very active early next week, so next week could be even busier!

I’m looking forward to some lovely new beginnings and wish the same for you.

Much love to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The Bulgarian theatre group Temp performs their show ‘Wings in the Fire’ in Skopje earlier this year. What could better express the energy of Mars in Leo than a live performance with fire? Photo by Robert Atanasovski for Agence France-Presse.

Weekly Forecast October 5: Mercury Enters Libra

Quiet ReflectionThis should be a slow week, not without a surprise or two, but mostly we will have a chance to assimilate new information from the Full Moon and other recent events.

In terms of planetary transits, there isn’t a whole lot going on. As this week begins, we’re still in the wake of Saturday’s Full Moon in Aries. For some of us, this Full Moon may have been the culmination of a shift that has been evolving since July, when we began a new series of eclipses. If that happened to you, then the next two weeks will be an adjustment phase.

Mercury begins in earnest this week to retrace the steps of his retrograde path. On Thursday (late Wednesday in western time zones) he conjoins Saturn in Virgo, the third of three passes, and on Saturday, he makes a third and final square to Pluto.

You may have a chance to resolve a particular issue that came up in mid-August. Mercury-Saturn aspects can increase our ability to think critically, and this is especially true when the two are conjunct in Virgo. The downside is that there could be a tendency to find fault in small details, both in ourselves and others, that may not matter much. If you’re stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, just be aware of it for now.

Mercury re-enters Libra on Friday, and at that point, your point of view will balance itself out. Sometimes it’s our perception of the world and not actual events that cause us grief. If this has the case for you, you should feel a weight lifting later this week. That said, you may have to get over a bit of a hump first, as Mercury and Pluto make contact and expose an uncomfortable truth.

Friday could also be a day of surprises, when Venus opposes Uranus. This is not a heavy duty Uranus aspect. Although there is a small possibility of upsets in relationships or finances, you may just get an opportunity to get out of your normal routine and do something different, probably in the context of a close relationship.

The dominant energy of this week likely will be Jupiter’s station in preparation for returning direct on October 13. He’s in my first house, and I’ve been feeling a drag on my energy. Depending where he is in your chart, you might feel slow and heavy, too.

On Saturday, Jupiter gets a positive trine from the Sun. This is a highly optimistic combination, and you might get a clue about what’s to come when Jupiter returns direct next week. There’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in this aspect, and while we don’t want to succumb to wishful thinking, we need positive reinforcement from time to time to remind us that dreams can and do come true.

Love and blessings to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Quiet reflection. A morning of coffee, biscuits, and contemplating life. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Weekly Forecast September 28: Mercury Direct, Full Moon in Aries

Late September SundayMercury returns direct this week, and while this didn’t seem to be the worst-ever retrograde period, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and get on with life.

Mercury went retrograde on September 7 at 6 degrees Libra, and he slipped back into Virgo, which is where he’ll return direct on Tuesday. As usual, it will take him a few days to get back up to speed, and that means we could experience a lot of delays this week, especially in transportation and anything that has to do with computers.

At the same time, we’re approaching the 90-day mark from the July eclipses, with Mars solidly in eclipse territory. I wrote a special post on this effect on Saturday, intended to be a heads up that this week could be powerful for many of us, especially those who didn’t experience any significant events in July. If you did, then you may get a “booster” this week, or Sunday’s Full Moon could pass without notice.

Mercury remains in a close sextile with Mars this week, with exact contact on Thursday and Sunday. We’ll likely be very busy, and we may have more family obligations than usual. Or we may have a lot of work around the house or home improvement projects. Mercury in Virgo can be hypercritical, so if you’re around family, resist the temptation to nitpick. A little effort will make your visit much more pleasant. Another possibility is that you will resent doing favors for people you think should do it themselves. Remember that your loved ones are special and worth a little aggravation from time to time.

Both Mercury and Mars make aspects to Uranus on Sunday, and this could bring an element of surprise to your plans and projects. It also could speed up events considerably. If you’ve been lamenting a lack of movement, you’ll be pleased with the increase in activity. Otherwise, you may have to concentrate on slowing down.

Speaking of slowing down, the nights are getting longer and colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, and we’re well into the fall harvest season. Sunday’s Full Moon promises to be bold and beautiful. This is the time of year when I switch from cold salads to hot soup — which really is just a cooked salad, right? I also like to bake, since it’s no longer too hot to have the oven on.

Neith will have more about the Full Moon later this week, so check back. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is settling into the shift that is taking place. Some of you have told me that the changes in light and sound vibrations are somewhat disturbing. Hopefully, with the Sun in Libra, the rebalancing will be without a lot of drama and fanfare.

Love and blessings to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Lengthening shadows of fall. I took this photo in my backyard this morning.