Category Archives: Forecasts

Saturday Extra!Eclipse Cycle Mile Markers

Port After Stormy Seas, by Evelyn De MorganWe’ve been in a new cycle of eclipses since early July, although you’d hardly know it. A few people I know experienced notable events in July, but for many, it was strangely quiet.

The “Big Event” solar eclipse of July 21 was a degree shy of my Descendant, so you’d think I’d have been one of the people to feel it. If it made a blip on my radar screen, I’ve forgotten already. Eclipses often take 30 days to deliver results, but I didn’t notice any major developments then, either. What gives?

Well, it appears that these eclipses either are late bloomers or need some time to build up steam. And that seems to be happening now.

To refresh your memory, the eclipses were in Aquarius and Leo starting in February 2008. The last in this series occurred on August 5. Meanwhile, the new series, in Capricorn and Cancer, began with a lunar eclipse on July 7, followed by the total solar eclipse at 29 degrees Cancer two weeks later.

Two key astrological events are acting as triggers that may set the energy of this new eclipse series in play. So if, like me, you didn’t feel much of anything, you may start feeling the delayed reaction soon, if you haven’t already.

Mars, which often acts as a trigger when he passes key degrees, currently is in Cancer. On September 20, he crossed the degree of the lunar eclipse on July 7. On October 12, he’ll activate the second eclipse. This is an important date, as it’s also the day that Jupiter returns direct. Individually and collectively, we can expect major movement around this date.

We likely won’t have to wait that long, though, because there’s a Full Moon on October 3, the 90-day point, or square to the July 7 eclipse. Mercury will be direct by then, too, and things tend to get moving again when the Messenger comes out of a retrograde phase. 

Personally, I’ve felt a shift this summer. Externally, it’s barely detectable, but the picture is coming into greater focus. Inwardly, there has been an enormous change. Whether it’s related to the new series of eclipses, the old one (more likely), or other factors doesn’t seem to matter. In many ways, it seems that the changes taking place over the past several months are part of a bigger trend that began many years ago — in other words, just details.

But these details make all the difference in the world.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Port After Stormy Seas, an allegorical work by Pre-Raphaelite painter Evelyn De Morgan, 1905.

Weekly Forecast September 21: Sun Enters Libra

Venus in VirgoThis should be a fairly quiet week, and yet it won’t be without movement. Shifts continue to take place, but overall they’re less jarring.

We still have just over a week left to Mercury retrograde, and while certain events may be happening without any effort on your part, don’t be too confident or too fast to embrace them. Changes are still likely, as well as delays and perhaps a change of heart by others. Or you may change your mind about something you thought was a done deal. And, of course, all the usual caveats still apply: no signing contracts, making major purchases, or starting important new projects. Stall, if you can, until the middle of next week.

Venus, meanwhile, has entered discreet Virgo, not her favorite sign. From the tone of your comments, most of you have not been out partying all night for the past several weeks, and yet for one reason or another, you might need a reminder to treat your body right by increasing your exercise, eating more vegetables, and reducing your intake of fat, sugar, and toxic substances. I swear, I gained three pounds this weekend just by looking at a piece of chocolate cake. OK, so I didn’t just look. But who gains three pounds in a weekend?

If you need help rebalancing your system, the Sun’s entry into Libra on Tuesday also will help. This is the equinox — fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the southern half of the world — when the days and nights are of equal length. Libra is ruled by Venus, and we can use the Sun’s passage through Libra to find harmony and balance within ourselves. For many of us, planetary influences since last spring have pushed us past our limits and created a lot of stress. We need to regain our center.

The Sun squares Pluto on Wednesday, which may provide us with yet another glimpse of what we might expect with the impending cardinal T-square between Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto. The Moon joins the pattern on Friday, when she conjoins Pluto in Capricorn. Keep your antennae up this weekend for anything that seems new or unusual. If you’re asked to stretch outside your comfort zone, try it.

On Thursday, Mars conjoins Comet Lulin in Cancer. I admit that I don’t have a solid grasp of what this means, as we don’t know enough about Lulin yet. This mysterious visitor appears to be working on a subtle level, urging us to look back at where we’ve been before we can move forward. Moving backward through Cancer suggests looking back at our childhood and genetic roots for clues about what we need to know.

Wishing you all lots of love and a much-needed break,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: This Venus doesn’t eat her vegetables but wears them on her head instead. Maybe she needs a lesson in hair styling from Leo? This creation was modeled at a fashion show by Colombian designer Laura Martinez earlier this year. Photo by Raul Arboleda for Agence France-Presse.

Weekly Forecast September 14: Saturn Opposite Uranus, New Moon in Virgo

Disoriented! (Photo by AFP.)Well, this week is getting off to a galloping start. Already I’ve got at least two Mercury retrograde mix-ups and one jaw-dropping shocker. And it’s only Monday!

The dominant energy this week is Saturn’s opposition with Uranus at 25 degrees Virgo-Pisces. Neith and I both have been writing about this, and there’s not a whole lot more to say. If you need a refresher, check out my Saturday Extra! posts on August 22 and August 29.

This heavyweight aspect is amped up several volts by Friday’s New Moon at 26 degrees Virgo. As if that’s not enough, Mercury is retrograde and backtracks from Libra into Virgo on Thursday. At the New Moon, he’ll be sitting at 29 degrees, which for all practical purposes is conjunct the New Moon.

The New Moon typically represents new beginnings, but it’s sure tough to know what this one will bring, given the complications. Typically, when Mercury is retrograde at the New Moon, outcomes are delayed until Mercury returns direct. In addition, we may have to finish up some old business before we can start fresh, and that could end up being an arduous process.

The New Moon isn’t until Friday, but we’ll feel the effects strongly on Thursday, when the Sun opposes Uranus and conjoins Saturn.

Although Jupiter and Neptune aren’t directly in aspect with this New Moon, they are indirectly involved via the mutual reception between Uranus and Neptune, as well as the inconjunct from Saturn to Neptune. To those who believe that healing isn’t taking place, I’d like to point out that what looks like continual wounding is a form of healing. Just like a physical wound that needs to be kept open to drain, we’re being kept open and raw in order for the old patterns to release. It is painful, I know.

In any case, Neith will have more on this heavily charged New Moon, either tomorrow or Wednesday, so check back.

Speaking of Neptune & Co, Venus opposed Jupiter last week, and this week she opposes Chiron on Monday and Neptune on Tuesday. The Moon enters Leo on Monday and acts as an amplifier on Tuesday and Wednesday. Normally, we need to be wary of Venus-Neptune transits, which can translate to deceptive romantic relationships and self-delusions. Although this certainly may be the case this week, I think it’s possible our eyes will be opened, thanks to the “interference” of sobering Saturn.

Before re-entering Virgo on Thursday, Mercury squares Pluto, the second of three passes he makes during this retrograde cycle. If you find yourself obsessed with one subject or person, stop to think about why. For example, if you can’t stop thinking about a certain someone who isn’t right for you, perhaps there’s a message for you about what you need to learn before you can find someone better. The lesson may not be anything more than recognition of an unconscious behavior pattern.

This theme continues through the weekend, as the Sun conjoins Mercury on Sunday. Also on Sunday, Venus enters Virgo and trines Pluto. Although this normally lusty combination is in earth signs, the planet of love and desire is subdued in the sign of the Virgin. Passion is tempered, and we can stop long enough to remember to take safety precautions. This applies whether you’re in a physical relationship or undertaking some other endeavor.

Much love and courage to you all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Disoriented? On the edge? Yep, that would be this week. For the life of me, I can’t figure out what’s what in this photo, of a shop window designed by director David Lynch for the Galerie LaFayette in Paris. This week could read like a David Lynch script. Stay tuned. Photo by Bertrand Guay for Agence France-Presse.

Saturday Extra! I Blame It on Mercury Retrograde

Photo by The Associated PressSurely I’m not the only astrologer who read about yesterday’s 9/11 Coast Guard snafu and automatically thought, “Mercury retrograde!”

But this is not just any Mercury retrograde. Pluto was stationed and just hours from returning direct. Saturn and Uranus are close to exact opposition. Mars is about to cross the degree of an eclipse in July that was the first in a new series. More about all of this below. First, let’s have a quick look at what happened.

The U.S. Coast Guard was conducting what it called routine training exercises on the Potomac River, just as President Obama was arriving at the Pentagon for services commemorating the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The CNN newsroom heard the chatter on its police scanner and mistook it for a real attack, and other media picked up the story. CNN staff later said they tried to verify the story with the Coast Guard, who said they knew nothing. But the network made the decision to run with the story anyway. As a result, flights out of the busy D.C. airport were delayed, and even the Coast Guard was confused about whether the attack was real or just a drill.

In a press briefing at the White House, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs got into a tiff with the reporter covering the conference for CNN, blaming the incident on the network and saying they should have checked their facts before broadcasting the story. Both the White House and the Coast Guard refused to apologize for the snafu, but the Coast Guard later issued a press release saying it would conduct a full review of the incident and hinted that the boats involved in the drill may have been using the wrong radio channel to communicate with each other.

Of course, any glitch in communications is automatically a function of Mercury retrograde. But this was a very big oops! I took a look at the chart for the event, which, according to news reports, began at 9:30 a.m. The Ascendant is 21 degrees Libra, with Mercury retrograde in the twelfth house, the sector ruled by Neptune, the confusion planet and also one of the two planets that rules shipping. Jupiter is the other, and chart ruler Venus was exactly opposite Jupiter, who is retrograde but still in close conjunction with Neptune.

Pluto was three hours from returning direct after five months retrograde. He’s stationed at 0 degrees Capricorn, in the third house, which concerns communications, and he’s square retrograde Mercury. In the original chart for the 9/11 attacks, Pluto was in close opposition with Saturn, which many astrologers considered a key indicator of the attacks, since Pluto rules subversive elements in society.

In yesterday’s chart, Pluto also is in wide opposition to war planet Mars at 10 degrees Cancer, the closest planet to the Midheaven at 24 degrees Cancer. The United States is a Cancer nation, concerned with security, a keyword for Cancer. The ninth house, where Mars is located in this chart, includes training and improving skills.

That all chart four angles are in cardinal signs is a clue to what this event might signify, other than just a very big Mercury retrograde mistake. Mars is about to cross the degree of the lunar eclipse of July 7, which was the first in a new series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer. These eclipses are going to amplify the cardinal energy of 2010, when Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto form a T-square in Libra, Aries, and Capricorn. The handwriting is appearing on the wall, and it’s starting to look like a road sign for how to move forward.

There are two other interesting things to note about this chart. First, Ceres is on the Ascendant, signifying that wisdom ultimately prevailed. We may not always be this lucky, but we can hope, and perhaps as more women take up positions at high levels of government, we’ll adopt a more balanced approach to war and national defense.

Second, Comet Lulin is lurking in the background. On Sept. 11, 2001, Lulin was at 24 degrees Pisces, which is where Uranus currently is sitting and where he’ll be opposed by Saturn next week. Lulin conjoined Saturn in late February at 20 degrees Virgo. At the time, Saturn was the only planet retrograde, which was notable, because Lulin moves backwards, unlike any other known comet. Now Saturn is moving forward and Uranus is retrograde. There seems to be a message here about going back, remembering, and understanding how we got where we are as a prerequisite to moving forward.

Mars and Lulin will conjoin at 17 degrees Cancer on September 24. I don’t know if we’ll see any effects, but keep your eyes and ears open for anything that improves our understanding about past events or how we got to be the way we are.

Meanwhile, perhaps there’s a clue in a statement to the media by the Coast Guard’s chief of staff, John Currier, following yesterday’s mix-up.

“We’re going to take a good hard look at what we did here today and ensure that if we need to modify procedures, if we need to modify notification, we will do so in the future,” he said.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The U.S. Coast Guard conducting drills on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2009. Photo by Kevin Wolf for The Associated Press.

Weekly Forecast September 7: Mercury Retrograde, Pluto Direct

Mercury Appearing to AeneasIf nothing else, this is going to be quite an interesting week. Rather than putting labels “good” or “bad” on it, I suggest only that you keep your antennae up for certain kinds of experiences, as these will contain information that could be critical for your future.

I say that, because most aspects of any consequence this week fall in the early degrees of the cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — and this is going to give us a taste of the cardinal T-square that starts next year, when Jupiter and Uranus enter Aries. At times during 2010 and 2011 when faster-moving planets are in Cancer, we’ll have a grand cross. This is going to be a wildly instable period during which we’ll experience sweeping changes, as individuals and collectively.

So why worry about that now? Well, not to be alarmist, but by the time the collective changes are upon us, our options for dealing with them may be severely limited. Those who foresee the challenges and act accordingly will be better prepared for what could be some pretty serious disruption.

We begin the week with Mercury stationed retrograde at 6 degrees Libra, in a separating square with Mars. Mercury retrograde periods are great for reflecting, rethinking, revising, and regrouping, but not so good for reacting.

The nice thing about Mercury retrograde in Libra is that we are better able to find the balance in refraining from action. There will be plenty of opportunity for that in the future. Do be prepared for the inevitable frustrations and delays, though, and you know all the rules by now about not buying expensive toys, especially electronics, while Mercury is in retreat.

Mercury also is in an applying square to Pluto, who turns direct on Friday at 0 degrees Capricorn. You’ll feel this shift most strongly if you’re a Scorpio or Rising Scorpio or if Pluto is transiting a key planet or angle in your birth chart.

Pluto will be part of next year’s T-square, with Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Libra. From now until July 2011, we’re also in a series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer, which will act as an accelerator to change. This series began a couple of months ago, and while some of you felt them, my general feeling is that their messages were delayed. With Mercury retrograde and Mars coming up on the degree of the first eclipse in the series (exact on September 19), those messages will get louder in the next few weeks.

We may hear some whispers this Saturday, when the Moon enters Cancer. She’ll oppose Pluto and square Mercury before conjoining Mars on Sunday. Lunar transits are fleeting and don’t always register on our radar screen, but if you try to tune in, you should get some feedback. Once again, try not to put a label on it. Just observe. I’ll be recording my impressions in my journal.

The only other aspects this week of note are oppositions from Venus to Neptune & Co. She starts out by aspecting Jupiter on Friday and then aligns across from Chiron late Sunday (Monday morning on the East Coast of the United States and in the Eastern Hemisphere). I don’t foresee anything too jarring here. Indeed, if you’ve been impacted by this powerful three-way conjunction, she may help you make some sense out of it and assimilate the new information into your body/mind. It may not be the most comfortable feeling, but it won’t hurt too much, either.

Keep your eyes and hearts open.

Much love,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mercury Appearing to Aeneas, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1757. In Virgil’s Aeneid, Jupiter sends Mercury to Trojan warrior Aeneas, who must choose between his destiny to found the city of Rome and his love for Queen Dido. The story recounts the mythological events of a changing era and the dawn of a new empire.

Weekly Forecast August 31: Full Moon in Pisces

Sunset in Bucarest. Photo by the AP.Most of this week should be fairly quiet. I, for one, will be very grateful for the break, but I’m betting that most of you will be, too.

Of course there are always exceptions. If you have personal planets or chart angles in early degrees of the cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — you may start feeling Mercury retrograde a week before the rest of us, thanks to a square between Mercury and Mars on Thursday. Arguments, equipment breakdowns, and delays could try your patience and make you feel downright paranoid.

Even if you don’t have these sensitive points in your chart, you should be wrapping up business and getting major purchases out of the way before next Monday, the sooner the better. We’re well into the shadow period, and most of the rules for Mercury retrograde apply. It would be OK to submit job applications early this week or to pitch your latest creative project to an agent, but then be prepared for it to sit on someone’s desk until late September. Indeed, hope it does sit there. The last thing you want is to be presented with a contract to sign while Mercury is retrograde.

For the fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — you may feel a little edgy this week. This likely will have more to do with our friends Neptune & Co. than with Mercury’s station. The Moon is in Aquarius from Tuesday through Thursday, and she aligns with Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in turn on Wednesday and Thursday. This happens once a month, so you probably won’t be blindsided by some horrendous situation. Rather, you simply may be reminded yet again that you have some important healing work left to do.

Mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — you get your turn at the wheel on Friday, with the Full Moon at 12 degrees Pisces. Anyone with major planets or chart angles near this degree will feel this Full Moon acutely, but even if you don’t, this is the one-month follow-up appointment for the Full Moon lunar eclipse in Aquarius Leo on August 5. Sometimes eclipse-related results are delayed until the next lunar cycle, so keep your antennae up.

As usual, Neith will have a full report, which we’ll post in place of this week’s Wednesday poll.

In the meantime, start planning ahead for Mercury retrograde, and also be mindful that the Saturn-Uranus opposition is closing in. There won’t be a lot we can do about it, other than to maintain our awareness and vigilance. In a way, we might be glad for this Mercury retrograde period, as it allows us a chance to slow down, catch our breath, and visualize our next move.

Wishing you all strong hearts,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Dog days: Sunset outside of Bucharest, Romania, after a hot day in August. Photo by Vadim Ghirda for The Associated Press.

Saturday Extra! Saturn-Uranus Opposition by the Numbers

Photo by Michael Buholzer for REUTERS

Lightning over the Swiss Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland. Uranus rules electrical storms, while Saturn is associated with political hierarchy. This amazing photo was taken on July 17, 2009, by Michael Buholzer for REUTERS.

Since we’ve started talking about the upcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition, we’ve received many questions asking essentially, “What does it mean for me?”

In this column I’ll attempt to give you a quick rundown of what you might expect given where Saturn and Uranus are  transiting your natal chart. To see how this might work, check out yesterday’s Q&A. 

Most of you have enough knowledge of astrology to know your Ascendant and house delineation. If you don’t, I suggest going to Astrodienst and getting a free chart. It takes a few minutes to sign up, but it will be worth the effort. You can find out which of your houses Saturn and Uranus are transiting by clicking on the option “natal chart and transits.”

This article is very basic and doesn’t take into account whether you have key planets or chart angles being activated, nor could I possibly cover every foreseeable set of circumstances. This is just a starting point. The usual caveat applies: There is no substitute for a thorough reading with a professional astrologer.

First and Seventh

The first house is the most personal area of the chart and represents your physical body. The seventh house concerns one-on-one relationships. If Saturn is in your first house, you are carrying a heavy load and may be experiencing increased responsibilities. This is a maturing transit, and often relationships fall apart during this time, simply because you are changing. Uranus in the seventh house suggests radical changes in your close relationships.

With Saturn in the first house and Uranus in the seventh, you probably are going to experience some shakeups. As upsetting as this may be, it is a prerequisite to forming relationships that meet your needs better and are more fulfilling. Knowing your needs is a good start, and Saturn can help you with that. Remember that your needs are not simply physical, but spiritual and emotional as well.

With Saturn in the seventh house and Uranus in the first, you are in a period of extreme change. This is an exciting time when you can express your individuality and show the world who you really are. However, Saturn in opposition in the seventh house suggests that you may be under pressure by someone you love to stay as you are. Our loved ones don’t like it when we change, because it changes the dynamics of the relationship and in some cases can mean they lose you. You will need to find a balance, but if you try to sacrifice your growth to make others happy, circumstances will arise that ensure you follow your own path.

Second and Eighth

The second house is associated with money we earn through our work and with our material resources. It also represents our personal values. The eighth house is about resources we share with others. For example, if you’re married or living with someone, you probably have joint finances. It also is associated with income we get from sources other than a salary, such as rental income, return on investment, insurance payouts, and so forth.

With Saturn in the second house and Uranus in the eighth, you may have taken a cut in pay recently, or you could have experienced an increase in expenses. Perhaps you had to sell some of your valuables to make ends meet. Uranus is a wild card and indicates a total lack of predictability in other forms of income. If you’re married or living with someone, your partner may have a sudden change in income, and this may cause you to have to shoulder a greater share of your household expenses. If you’re not in a partnership, this opposition could indicate a deep personal transformation that causes you to reexamine the value you place on material things.

If Saturn is in the eighth house and Uranus is in the second, you may be struggling with whether to work for yourself despite the financial risks versus working for an established company that will provide you with health benefits and stability. The latter has great appeal in economically uncertain times, but it may mean that your talents are vastly under-utilized or that you have to put up with a corporate attitude that is totally at odds with your value system. It’s understandable that you’d want the security, but Uranus demands that we give the world our unique gift. Your challenge may be finding a way to do that without ending up living under a bridge on the wrong side of the tracks.

Third and Ninth

The third house rules how we communicate with others, as well as siblings. It also represents our immediate surroundings — our “own little world” — whereas the ninth house is about everything beyond, the great big world out there and all the wonderful things to be discovered. It is traditionally associated with higher learning, travel, and spiritual growth. Of all the places for Saturn and Uranus to be opposed, this is probably the easiest.

With Saturn in the third house and Uranus in the ninth, it may be time for you to explore how programmed behavior you learned as a child is preventing you from personal growth and spiritual awareness. Alternatively, you may be itching to travel or go back to school, but for some reason find that you are limited. You may have to wait more than a year for the obstacles to clear, but they will eventually go away.

The ninth house is actually a good place for Saturn to be. You may be in school or learning new job skills, or perhaps you are advancing in the “school of life.” If you’re distance learning, upsets in your surroundings may be impacting your study time, or maybe your pesky little brother keeps interrupting you. Alternatively, you may be overextended in terms of what you want to learn and are so scattered that you can’t focus on one subject.

Fourth and Tenth

The fourth house rules home and family and also can represent our childhood and “foundation.” By contrast, the tenth house rules our public persona, usually in the context our career.

Saturn in the fourth house and Uranus in the tenth is a classic setup for being on the verge of a career breakthrough or wanting to surge forward with your work but being held back by family expectations or obligations. These limitations can include the “tapes” in your head from childhood, telling you can’t or shouldn’t do something that allows you to follow your heart. Sherry has Saturn in the fourth house and Uranus in the tenth, so you can check out our answers to her yesterday for more information.

With Uranus in the fourth house and Saturn in the tenth, you may be faced with unpredictable circumstances at home or with your family, but you’re not able to deal with them because of work piling up on your desk. It may be so overwhelming that you feel constantly exhausted and disoriented or even depressed.

Fifth and Eleventh

The fifth house is traditionally associated with love affairs and children, while the eleventh house concerns friendship and your social life.

With Saturn in the fifth house, you may be having some difficulty with a child. Or, you may be in a romantic relationship that feels heavy for some reason. At the same time, Uranus in the eleventh house is shaking up your social life, which may be quite active and exciting. You can see how these two sets of circumstances would be at odds with one another. Indeed, when we’re deeply involved in an affair, we often withdraw from our friends and social life, even though going out would help us stay more balanced and healthy.

When Uranus is in the fifth house, our love lives can be exciting but erratic. It’s also a time when we are at our creative, innovative best. Saturn in the eleventh house demands that we work with others and meet our social responsibilities. Once again, you can see the conflict inherent here.

Sixth and Twelfth

The sixth house rules your health, daily routine, and service to others. The nebulous twelfth house concerns your deep psyche, spiritual beliefs, and solitude. Since it represents confinement, it is associated with mental institutions and jails. Hopefully none of you will find yourself there!

Saturn in the sixth house often corresponds to a time when you are working like a dog and not getting any credit for it. If that’s your case, then during this opposition you might suddenly rebel and cop an attitude. Be careful here, because you don’t want to subconsciously get yourself fired! Another possible interpretation is that repressed emotions may be bubbling to the surface as a medical condition. This is often the case for many people, but it may be more obvious than usual to you now.

Likewise, with Saturn in the twelfth house and Uranus in the sixth, you may be inclined to rebel against your daily grind, and you could get yourself in trouble if you don’t stop to think about what you’re doing. Saturn is asking you to think carefully about what hasn’t worked in your life so that you can make the necessary changes. If you can find a balance between these two opposing energies, you have the potential to make some very positive, creative changes, and in a much faster timeframe than you otherwise could achieve.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast August 24: Mercury, Venus, Mars Change Signs

Venus in LeoMercury, Venus, and Mars all change signs this week, and with the Sun newly arrived in Virgo, it’s as though the sands are shifting under our feet as we walk … just as we have to start walking a lot faster.

Overall, we’re in a period of shifting and swift change, and this can mean temporary disorientation and discomfort. Those of us with a lot of fixed signs in our charts will have a more difficult time, whereas the cardinal signs should be quite happy for things to get moving finally!

Mars enters Cancer on Tuesday, with Mercury entering Libra just a few hours later. This means they are square one another, and they both engage Pluto in challenging aspects on Wednesday — Mars by opposition and Mercury by square. Most of you know enough about astrology to know that when Mars and Pluto face off, we end up in power struggles. These can be with another person, or groups can oppose one another. Or, we may face internal conflicts. Perhaps we struggle with an addiction.

Normally, Mercury in Libra would be a good antidote, as Libra is the sign of peace, harmony, and conciliation. However, attempts to intervene between opposing parties could backfire this week, even with the best of intentions. If you find yourself in the middle of an argument or conflict of any kind, step back and think about what’s at the root of the problem. Unfortunately, since Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are all cardinal signs, there’s going to be a whole lot of talking and action without thinking first.

Complicating matters is that Mercury is in pre-retrograde shadow. He’ll be retrograde September 7-29, during which he’ll return to Virgo for three weeks. During that time, we’ll get to reflect on any issues that come up this week and perhaps revise how we want to handle them. But there may be breakdowns in communications first. As always, when life is moving this fast, the best approach is to stay in the moment and not think too far ahead. There is a potential for rapid change now, and we’re going to have to stay in the flow.

As I mentioned in my Saturday Extra! post, the Saturn-Uranus opposition is creeping up on us. It’s within four degrees, which is enough for us to start feeling the effects. Most of you probably know by now where these two are transiting your chart. If not, look at the houses in which they’re opposed in your natal chart for clues. For example, if they’re located in the fourth and tenth houses, situations at home or with your family may be interfering with your effort to get a new job. An opposition in the fifth and eleventh houses could bring conflicts between caring for children and your social responsibilities, or perhaps you’re in a situation in which someone is transgressing boundaries between friends and lovers.

The good news is that Venus enters Leo on Wednesday, which brings some festivity into our lives. She’s out of synch with Mars, but she’ll be in a bright sextile with Mercury on Friday, and since Mercury is in her sign, this will be a good night for patching up disputes. Go out and have a good time together, and enjoy the moment.

Just don’t let it interfere with your obligations and responsibilities, because there’s no forgiveness this week for not meeting your commitments. I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but I need to let you know that failing to keep promises and commitments will be met with a swift reminder on Saturday, when the Moon in Capricorn triggers the Mars-Pluto opposition.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Venus in Leo is the party girl! Here, she’s wearing a beautiful beaded mask as she gets ready for a samba parade at Carnival in Sao Paulo earlier this year. Photo by Mauricio Lima for Agence France-Presse.

Saturday Extra! Preparing for the Next Saturn-Uranus Opposition

People's Liberation Army soldiers rehearsing a musical performance in Beijing. When I saw this, I immediately thought of the opposing energies of Saturn and Uranus. Photo by Kevin Zhao for REUTERS.

I almost hate to bring this up. We’ve just weathered a long summer storm, with three back-to-back eclipses, and now this.

If you’re like me, though, you’d rather know that more rough celestial weather is in store. We’re not going to worry about it, because that won’t make matters any better. But we can come up with a plan and a couple of backups, just to be safe.

Saturn and Uranus are in a rare, especially long opposition cycle. Normally, aspects between outer planets last several months to a year, and there normally are three passes as the planets move forward, turn retrograde, and return direct.

But this time, we’re going to experience five passes over the course of nearly two years. The first was on Nov. 4, 2008 — Election Day in the United States — at 19 degrees Virgo/Pisces. There weren’t any surprises; Barack Obama was the clear frontrunner and won in a landslide. However, his election marked the end of the Bush years and brought more youthful energy to the White House. We now have a first lady who steps off of Air Force One in denim shorts!

The second pass occurred on Feb. 5, 2009, at 20 degrees, and then we got several months’ relief as Saturn went retrograde. Once he turned direct on May 16, he began inching closer and closer to the third pass, which will occur on Sept. 15 at 25 degrees. Although the exact opposition is still a few weeks away, we’re within four degrees, and that’s enough to start feeling the pressure.

I have a feeling that this pass is going to be different from the others, as it is going to have stronger ripples into the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. Because Uranus and Neptune are in a special relationship (called mutual reception), whatever happens to one affects the other. Perhaps we will get even stronger reminders that we are all connected. With a global economy and instantaneous communications, actions in one country or group of countries can reverberate around the world.

Likewise, what we do as individuals has ripples into our families, social circles, work environments, and the collective. Especially the collective, and that’s going to be a big part of the message, I think. When we heal as individuals — and many of us have been working very hard on this task — it impacts the collective. Our connection to the collective and to universal energies is not one-way. We are constantly downloading and uploading at the same time. It’s more important than ever to remind ourselves that our thoughts and actions have far-reaching consequences.

The last opposition in Virgo/Pisces is on April 26, 2010, with the fifth and final pass at 0 degrees Libra on July 26. Of the five exact alignments, that one is going to be the most explosive, but we’ll have a lot to keep us busy between now and then, so for now let’s just concentrate on what’s immediately in front of us.

I’ll have more on this important long-term aspect in my weekly forecast late tomorrow or early Monday, and I’ll try to give you some idea of how it might play out in your life.

Until then, love and blessings to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast August 17: New Moon in Leo, Sun Enters Virgo

Sun in VirgoThere are a couple of trouble spots this week, but overall it should be quite lively and a lot more positive than the past several weeks.

On Monday, the Sun sextiles Mars, with both making exact contact with Neptune — the Sun by opposition, and Mars by trine. A Sun-Neptune opposition alone would suggest confusion and possibly difficulty speaking up for yourself, but with Mars in on the act and at a favorable angle, I don’t think this is going to be a problem. With the downside of Neptune’s energy mitigated, I am hopeful that this will be a good day for increased spiritual awareness and new insights.

Communicating these thoughts with others could be difficult, however, as Mercury and Saturn are conjunct. Some of you may feel alienated and isolated for a few hours. The best antidote will be to throw yourself into a project that requires a lot of mental focus. Journaling may be a means of gaining new insight, and this could have some practical, real-world application.

Tuesday is potentially troublesome, with Mars square Uranus. These two in difficult aspect can indicate accidents and explosions, especially in shipping or transportation. Likewise, conversations could be incendiary, so if you’ve got a potentially loaded subject you need to discuss, wait until the end of the week.

On Wednesday, the Moon in Leo opposes Neptune & Co., which will set the stage for Thursday’s New Moon at 27 degrees Leo. Neith did a full report on Saturday. My take on the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction is that it has opened a rare window for healing, even though it may not feel like it for everyone right now. Often, getting worse before you get better is part of the healing process. In homeopathy and natural medicine, it’s called a healing crisis. Typically, a healing crisis lasts for a few days. Because we are healing very deep wounds, some of which are embedded in the collective, the healing crisis in this case could take weeks and even months. As a result, we are very unsettled and disoriented.

I think we’ll get some clues this week, so be sure to leave comments and let us know what’s happening for you.

Otherwise, this New Moon may contain a new beginning connected to recent eclipses.

Mercury opposes Uranus on Friday, and communications suddenly will pick up. Still, the Moon’s conjunction with Saturn could leave us feeling a little down and fatigued, and I’m betting a lot of you will bypass happy hour and head straight home after work.

Saturday night looks a little brighter, with a trine between Venus and Uranus. This aspect often brings little surprises in love, and since these two are in water signs, unexpected emotional outpourings could be part of the scenario. Ah, but the Sun enters Virgo a few minutes later, and suddenly the party’s over and it’s cleanup time. If you drink Saturday night, take care, because the price on Sunday morning may be way too high.

Sunday’s Sun-Pluto trine is good for rolling up your sleeves and tackling that project you’ve been putting off all summer. Gardening, accounting, and cleaning out closets or the garage will seem less daunting, so seize the day!

Wishing you much love and many blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Get to work! What better symbolism for the Sun in Virgo? The sixth sign of the zodiac represents your daily grind, especially if you work in a service industry. These two are migrant workers at a construction site in Shanghai. Photo by Aly Song for REUTERS.