Category Archives: Forecasts

Weekly Forecast August 10: Mars Transits

Bridge repair, photo by WSDOTThe eclipses are over, but they will continue to have a ripple effect for weeks and, in some cases, months.

But at least we’re out of the inter-eclipse period, and the dust will start to settle. It may not feel like it early this week, though, as Mars in Gemini squares Saturn in Virgo. If you’re grumpy and slow, or if you encounter others who aren’t being very kind, chalk it up to these two, who in traditional astrology are the Big Meanies of the solar system. Actually, they called them malefics. They definitely put a crimp in my writing this weekend (Mars is transiting my fifth house).

In modern astrology, we make allowances for grumpy old planets and try to find the good in them. If you’ve followed Neith, you know that she attributes lots of good qualities to Saturn. Likewise, Mars has a positive side. He rules muscles and blood, and when he’s behaving, you can get an energy boost and a strong dose of motivation. Just not when he’s square Saturn.

On Thursday, Mars trines Jupiter in Aquarius, and it’s a whole different ballgame. You may feel an energy surge, and depending on where these planets are transiting your chart, you could feel motivated to move mountains.

The Sun and Mars are moving in a close sextile, so the two of them are transiting the same set of planets, Mars by trine and the Sun by opposition. On Friday, the Sun in Leo opposes Jupiter. This is one of the “good” oppositions. It’s energy is cheerful and optimistic. On the downside, you might overestimate you capabilities and do something stupid. Think before you dash across five lanes of traffic to get a latte. Or before you tell your boss that you can get through all that paperwork by 5 p.m. in order to pick up the client at the airport and check out all the catering arrangements for dinner at 8.

Over the weekend, Mars and the Sun both aspect Chiron. Normally, I would issue a cautionary note about this, but since we have to look at the chart as a whole, this is really about a Sun-Mars combination aspecting Neptune & Co. On the whole, I think this is conducive to deep healing that will clear the way for a leap in spiritual growth. But, as with all healing, sometimes you have to reopen a wound first, and Mars trine Chiron could do that. I don’t think it will be extremely painful, though, and the post-op recovery should go very fast.

Looking at the lunar cycle this week, we start out with the Moon in impulsive Aries, adding a bit of impatience to Monday’s Mars-Saturn square. Stifle the urge to do anything rash. By Wednesday, when the Moon enters Taurus, you’ll wonder why you were so irritated. The Moon squares Neptune & Co. all day Thursday, sending us a little reminder that we’re still wounded in some way. Many of us will say to that, “Thank you very much for telling me what I already know.”

On Friday and Saturday, the Moon is in Gemini, where she’ll conjoin Mars and amplify his trine to Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune. Again, I see this is as a healing balm, and since Gemini is an air sign, this combination of planets is conducive to greater understanding of what ails us. If you’re not yet aware of the repeat patterns in your life, spend some time alone this weekend in quiet meditation. For those who are having repeated “failures” in love, think about how each successive relationship contained the same pattern. Likewise, if you’ve had similar experiences every time you get a new job, think about the pattern and see if you can detect its underlying source.

We’re on a fast track of expanded consciousness, and part of the process may be tearing down and reconstructing. That’s actually more Plutonian than anything happening this week, but it all goes into the same pot.

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

Image: Bridge repair. Washington State Department of Transportation workers repair a bridge over the Naches River after a collision. I like the symbolism here. Repairing internal structures after a collision. The delays and stops in traffic during repair. Bridges as our means of connection and communication. I’m sure you can think of more metaphors. Photo courtesy WSDOT.

Saturday Extra! Lunar Eclipse Debriefing

comet-lulin2.jpgWe’re now out of the inter-eclipse period. Thank goddess for that!

The past week and a half has been very rough for me. I wish I could tell you what’s happening, because it tracks 100-percent with the eclipses. I can’t provide any details, unfortunately, because it is important that I keep my personal life extremely private right now.

Because of these events, I haven’t been able to respond to the many comments you’ve posted, mostly on the weekly forecast. Some of them are astounding, and I have felt deep sympathy and compassion, even though you might not have thought so because of my silence.

Although we’re out of the inter-eclipse period and the Aquarius-Leo series of eclipses is over, the issues raised during this series are still playing out for me, so I assume that this also may be true for others. It’s hard to know whether it will take another two weeks or 30 days or perhaps even longer. This is typical of eclipses, and since we also had two eclipses in a new series prior to the lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 5, it’s hard to know which energies are in play and which are dominant.

I’d like to throw in another complicating factor, and that is Comet Lulin, which was conjunct the Sun on July 6, just a day before the lunar eclipse in Capricorn. That eclipse, as you may recall, was the first in the new series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer.

I had forgotten all about Comet Lulin until about a week ago, when he (she?) suddenly popped into my head. I am sure that this visitor came with a message or perhaps with a new set of “instructions” for us. Lulin is still inside the orbit of Jupiter and will remain there until February 2010, which tells me that he is still very much an influence. The mysterious retrograde motion of his orbit puzzled astronomers, who have never seen this before. Moreover, unlike other comets, Lulin is roughly following the ecliptic, which is the path that the planets take.

When Comet Lulin first came to the attention of the mainstream media in January, the Oscars were imminent and also were making headlines. One of the major contenders was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which the main character is born old and ages backward. One of the taglines for the film was, “Life can only be understood backward; it must lived forward.” The hero has a love interest, and they can connect romantically only during the period in which they are the same age. At that point, his beloved says, “We’re almost the same age, meeting in the middle.” (You can read more about Comet Lulin in a post I wrote earlier this year.)

It’s still hard to draw any conclusions at this time, except to say that we are still processing the information of this highly unusual visitor and may be for some time to come. If anyone has any ideas, post them here and let’s get a discussion going (keeping in mind that my participation may be limited).

As always, wishing you all much love and strength of heart,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Comet Lulin on Feb. 21, 2009. Photo by Conrad Pope of Kelly, NC.

Weekly Forecast August 3: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius

Solar Eclipse in the Cook Island, see credit belowWell, this is my big week, with a lunar eclipse exactly on my Sun at 13 degrees Aquarius on Wednesday. Over the past year, I’ve been alternatively dreading and anticipating this moment, hoping that something would shift to bump me up a notch.

Anyone with the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant within five degrees of this eclipse is likely to experience sudden or sweeping changes. An eclipse on Venus or Mars will be noticeable, too.

Even if this eclipse doesn’t touch any of your personal planets or chart angles, a situation or relationship that has dominated your life in the past year and a half will come to closure or resolution now. That’s because this is the last eclipse in a series in Aquarius and Leo, which began in February 2008. Wherever Aquarius and Leo fall in your natal chart, that’s where you can expect to experience a final chapter. I wrote about this in a Saturday Extra! column on July 11. Also, for more information on this Full Moon eclipse, check out Neith’s excellent post (we skipped last week’s Q&A in order to get it to you as soon as possible).

Wednesday’s Full Moon may have an entirely different meaning for you, in that it brings to fullness the energy of the powerful solar eclipse on July 21 at 29 degrees Cancer. If you didn’t notice anything in particular then, you may feel the effects now. Admittedly, there’s so much going on in the sky that it’s hard to tell which celestial phenomena are associated with particular events in your life (notice that I didn’t write “caused”). If you’re confused and want to know more, I highly recommend a session with your favorite consulting astrologer.

Whether this lunar eclipse or the previous solar eclipse is the bigger influence for you, you may be feeling the effects already. In 1990, the last time we had eclipses at these degrees, I started feeling the lunar eclipse two months in advance, and those events reverberated into my life for a good year afterward. It should be noted, however, that the lunar eclipse at 13 degrees Aquarius in 1990 was not the last one in a series, so events continued to unfold as the eclipses in Aquarius and Leo progressed into 1991. Perhaps this eclipse will be the last chapter to more than one book, kind of like the gripping conclusion of the Harry Potter series.

So, enough about eclipses! There are other things happening this week, too, although they pale in comparison. On Monday, Mercury in Virgo trines Pluto in Capricorn. Virgo is one of Mercury’s two home signs, although it can make a nitpicker out of the Messenger. Fortunately, this easy trine aspect lends itself toward constructive criticism, and Pluto in Cap will get right on the job and fix whatever needs repair, whether it’s your garden fence or a ding in your self-esteem.

After being eclipsed by the Sun on Wednesday, the Moon spends Thursday carrying that energy to Neptune & Co., all of whom are retrograde I’ve written a lot about the healing potential of this triple conjunction. Since they’re all going back, we might expect a final chapter in a healing process than began sometime in the past 18 months. Or, you might have been working on issues from the distant past. Again, to understand how this energy is active in your life, look at which house in your natal chart Neptune is currently occupying.

On Friday, Mercury sextiles Venus. Once again, the nitpicking tendencies of Mercury in Virgo are softened by an easy aspect. Venus in Cancer is receptive, and so this combination is good for discussing potentially upsetting issues in a sensitive and caring way. Remember, you don’t need a sledgehammer when a simple tap will suffice. Moreover, the Moon in Pisces on Friday and Saturday make it easy to empathize with others. Being kind was never so easy, so take every opportunity to open your heart.

Much love and courage to all, see you on the other side.
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The “solar eclipse of the century,” July 21, 2009. Alan Dyer, who was on a cruise ship sailing in the Northern Cook Islands, captured this amazing image at the peak of the event. You can see more images by Alan and other eclipse chasers on SpaceWeather.com.

Saturday Extra! The Lunar Eclipse and LD 50

road-ahead.jpgAs many of you know, next Wednesday’s lunar eclipse falls exactly on my Sun at 13 degrees Aquarius. Being an astrologer doesn’t ease the jitters. I have to tell you, I’m very anxious.

When I counsel clients, I ask whether they can recall what happened at the last eclipse in whatever position we’re concerned about. Eclipse cycles run every 19 years, so in my case and for anyone who has personal planets near this degree of Aquarius and Leo, we want to look at significant events around Aug. 5, 1990.

I was in a committed relationship that year with the man I considered the love of my life. We were both reporters in Washington, D.C., and were rubbing elbows with high-level government officials. In June, his father died unexpectedly of a heart attack. His mother was dying of cancer and had been at home, with his father as her primary caretaker. His death threw everything into turmoil, and we left our jobs and moved to the West Coast.

His mother died two months later. For the better part of a year afterward, we were both in shock and totally disoriented. Finding work was hard, and we made ends meet largely with the help of long-time friends and neighbors of his parents. My ex grew up there, so he was at least on his home turf. I was completely out of my element, and after a “power career” was stunned to find my worth measured by how well I cooked, kept house, and hunted for bargains.

All of the hardship notwithstanding, moving to California changed my life for the better in ways I would not understand until several years later. If there’s a moral to the story, that’s probably it. We have to take it on faith that we’re heading in the right direction, and if we insist on going down the wrong road come hell or high water, course correction typically is very painful.

“How painful?” is the question I’m asking myself now. In scientific research, there’s a test called the LD-50, used to determine the level of toxicity required to kill half the test subjects, usually rats or mice. I’ve often joked about being a guinea pig in the cosmic lab, and in these last few days before another critical eclipse, I’m wondering whether the dose of life will be lethal or whether, once again, I’ll manage to live through it.

It’s said that knowledge is power, but knowledge is only half the equation. For it to be any good, you have to know how to apply it. That’s why astrology is a lifelong study. No matter how good we get, there’s always more to know. It’s also pretty much a given that we are too close to our own issues to be objective.

Before I end, I’d just like to thank you all again for being a part of our fledgling community and for sharing your stories. I wish I could share more with you about what’s happening for me, but I am not able at this time, and I can’t even tell you why not. And no, I am not having a sign-change operation to turn me into a Scorpio!

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

Image: The road to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. Photo by Natacha Pisarenko for The Associated Press, 2009.

Weekly Forecast July 27: Venus Enters Cancer

Venus in CancerThank goddess this is our last week of the inter-eclipse period. I’m on pins and needles, as I know many of you are, although I also sense that the overall energy has calmed down quite a bit since the big solar eclipse on July 21.

Speaking of the goddess, Venus is a major player in this week’s astrological lineup. She trines Jupiter and Chiron on Monday and Neptune on Tuesday. If you’ve identified a core wound and are going through an intense healing process, talking or writing about it will help, as you’ll realize that you are very definitely not alone. Your situation may be unique, but deep healing is hard work and takes a lot of courage, no matter what your circumstances, and we’re all in the same boat.

Venus goes on to square Uranus later in the day on Tuesday. Whenever Uranus is involved in an aspect, the outcome is hard to predict, but at least any surprises that come your way should be in the pleasant category. For example, if a certain someone expressed serious romantic interest, I might go into medical shock, but I’d be thrilled nonetheless.

On Thursday and Friday, it’s Mercury’s turn to have a go at Neptune & Co., this time as an opposition from Leo. Some things just have to be said. Hopefully you set up a foundation for love and respect early in the week so that you can address unresolved issues in a positive and productive manner. Mercury in Leo can devolve into “all about me,” but you also can use it to stay on the moral high ground by sticking to “I” statements rather than confrontational “you” phrases. Use this technique with sincerity, and you just might get the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.

However, if those talks go south, Venus may save the day again when she enters Cancer on Friday. In tender, emotional Cancer, Venus can be the nurturer. The pitfall to watch for here is thinking that you’re doing something for someone else’s good when you’re really just trying to get them to do whatever is convenient for you. True nurturing makes it possible for others to grow into their own shoes, not the ones you think look good on them.

Manipulative tactics may take over this weekend, especially in intimate relationships. Venus opposes Pluto on Saturday, with the Moon in Capricorn joining the party on Sunday. Recklessly playing with another’s heart just to get them into bed is not nice and will boomerang on you eventually. If you really must have someone (or something) so badly that you can’t be honest and upfront, do some serious soul-searching. Likewise, if you find yourself going along with someone else’s manipulation of you because you just have to have him or her, take a time out and think about what’s going on.

Staying detached will be hard this weekend, but I’ve found that I can use obsessive episodes to learn something important about myself. If you find yourself obsessing, ask yourself what you really want. Do you need it? Why? What will happen if you don’t get it?

You might decide you’d rather spend much of the weekend in solitude. Not a bad idea, given that the first half of next week will be a tense build-up to a lunar eclipse, the last in the Aquarius-Leo series. Neith will have more later this week, so stay tuned for the exciting conclusion …

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

Image: This photo was taken last year at the Old Port of Montreal. The stunt was sponsored by a local radio station to raise money for the Quebec Breast Cancer Society. Cancer, the astrological sign, rules the belly and breasts. Photo by Christinne Muschi for REUTERS.

Saturday Extra!Heard on the Street

tristan-and-isolde.jpgI heard the most amazing story yesterday, and I want to share it with you, both as inspiration and as an illustration of the kind of healing I believe is taking place in these astrologically potent times.

An older couple, I’d say in their late 50s, married many years ago and after four years of marriage and one child, got a divorce. They both went their separate ways. She stayed in the Pacific Northwest, while he traveled the world, made a fortune, married again, and bought a palatial home in an idyllic tropical location. But they remained on friendly terms and stayed in touch over the years.

Last year, his wife got cancer, and he spent many months caring for her and watching her die. He was devastated, and his life felt meaningless. Old illnesses began to plague him. His ex-wife, who was dating another man, nevertheless helped him through at every step of the way.

Earlier this year, her family was getting together for a reunion. He happened to be in the area, transporting his wife’s belongings to their children. He stopped by, and the flame reignited. As it so happened, her boyfriend had been killed in an accident, and she was now single and available again.

They are more in love than ever. Their eyes went from sparkling for each other to wet with tears as they recounted all the seemingly bizarre coincidences that brought them back together. She is going to move to his home, where he is planning to build a studio for her to explore her artistic talent. Their wedding will be at a secret, sacred spot. With his health much improved, he is going to retire and work on creative projects as well. I suspect they also will be taking long walks hand-in-hand on the beach, watching the sun set.

What amazed me all the more was that this man, while not a corporate type, was a what-you-see-is-what-you get type. He obviously has some psychic powers and was aware of them at an early age, but his career was in traditional fields for men.

I believe we are going to hear more and more stories like this in the next few years. With Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in conjunction, deep healing of old wounds is taking place, and this includes rifts between men and women. I’ve written often that the separation between the divine feminine and divine masculine is one of the most critical wounds that beings on the earth plane have suffered, and healing it will have widespread implications for all of us. Other aspects are producing a synergistic effect, including the mutual reception between Uranus and Neptune and the opposition between Saturn and Uranus.

If any of you have stories to tell about deep healing, I’d love to hear them. Unfortunately, I can’t share my own very private story in these pages, but I can tell you that it is big, and it goes to my very core.

Much love and many blessings to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Tristan and Isolde, by Edmond Blair Leighton, 1902. The source of this tragic love story is very old, and the tale holds clues about the ancient wound that separated the divine feminine and masculine.

Weekly Forecast July 20: Solar Eclipse in Cancer, Sun Enters Leo

Total eclipse of the sun, Aug. 1, 2008 See image credit below.Meltdown alert! If you’re not already well on your way…

This is going to be a defining week for many of us, with a total eclipse of the Sun at 29 degrees Cancer on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Eastern Hemisphere). The fourth sign of the zodiac is cardinal water, which, among other things, may bring a spontaneous burst of tears. For some, the flood is long overdue and will release feelings that have been pent-up behind the dam for years. Maybe even for millennia.

As a double Aquarius (Sun and Rising), I’m not naturally comfortable with strong feelings. It took me many years to realize that feelings are our barometer. They let us know whether we’re on the right course, whether we’re getting what we want and need. If not, why not? Many years ago, I read some words of wisdom that have stuck with me: Often what we’re most afraid of is what we most need.

The Sun and Moon are just a degree from Leo, the sign of the heart and of courage. So be brave. Don’t fear whatever comes up. Let it flow. Have that meltdown — in a safe place, of course, and with someone(s) you trust. If that someone is yourself only, then do it alone. That’s usually what works best for me, anyway.

Getting real can be a challenge, especially in our complex modern world, where we contort ourselves to fit into everyone else’s boxes. We still may need to do what others want, but making that choice consciously and willfully is more empowering than pretending that everything is OK when it’s not. When the Moon blocks the light of the Sun, it’s off with the blinders.

Emotional earthquakes shift us onto new ground. Something may have to end, but my guess is that most of you will make breakthroughs and experience some dramatic new beginnings. Neith and I both have been writing a lot over the past few weeks about how this new series of eclipses will affect you. But within the next two weeks, you should have a pretty good idea, even if you’re new to astrology and don’t know how to read your own chart.

If you haven’t read Neith’s New Moon report, check it out. She has a lot more to say about this.

There is other news this week, although nothing nearly as significant as a total solar eclipse in the final degree of a sign. On Monday, Mercury in Leo sextiles Mars in Gemini. This is a very social aspect, but in itself isn’t very deep. Normally, I’d recommend keeping things light and easy, but of course that isn’t going to be possible with an eclipse just a day away. If you’re with a close friend or relative, try to get to the heart of the matter rather than dancing around it. Be mindful, too, of how you may be manipulating another person to get what you want. Being honest takes courage, but it also has its rewards.

A few hours before Tuesday’s eclipse, Venus squares Saturn. Unfortunately, this can be an isolating influence, and it won’t make it any easier to relate to others on a heart level. Again, my best advice is to have the courage to be real, at least with those who are important to you. With everyone else, maintaining polite distance may be the best strategy this week. It’s what we normally consider “professional” behavior and entirely appropriate. I’m not suggesting you should wear your heart on your sleeve with just anyone.

On Wednesday, Jupiter conjoins Chiron, which is a bit anticlimactic but not insignificant. The drama may get our immediate attention, but there are strong undercurrents of spiritual growth and healing. Later in the day, the Sun enters Leo, his home sign, where he shines the brightest. We’re still in an inter-eclipse period, though, and so we may feel a bit subdued for awhile as events shake out.

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

Image: Total eclipse of the Sun on Aug. 1, 2008, by Miloslav Druckmuller. This stunning image was featured on NASA’s Astrology Picture of the Day.

Weekly Forecast July 13: Everything Inconjunct

MantattanhengeNot only are we in a disorienting period between eclipses, but there are several inconjuncts this week that could present anything from annoying frustrations to major challenges.

The inconjunct, more correctly called the quincunx (try saying that three times fast), is a 150-degree angle between two planets or chart points. Inconjuncts can be problematic, because the signs involved have little in common. It’s like putting an Army lieutenant and a ballet student in the same room and expecting them to find something to talk about. I don’t normally include inconjuncts in my forecasts, but in some circumstances, they can be very powerful, and they are indeed the dominant theme for this week.

The week begins with a conjunction of Mercury and the Sun in Cancer on Monday. Normally I’d say this would be a good time to talk about feelings, but you may find yourself all over the map emotionally as the week progresses, and then you’ll have to back pedal or exhaust yourself trying to explain what you really meant, but in fact you’ve changed your mind since then anyway. You get my drift. You’ll be better off just sitting with your feelings and taking note for future reference. Write in your journal or talk to a trusted friend.

Then we go right into inconjunct territory, starting with Mars in Gemini and Pluto in Capricorn. Whatever you’re trying to move — whether it’s furniture, packages, paperwork, your car, your physical body, or a point of view — you may get that “trying to herd cats” feeling. Moreover, when Mars and Pluto make contact, the ensuing power struggles can get ugly. If you’re up against any kind of authority, do your best to keep a low profile.

The next set of inconjuncts, which is active from Wednesday through Saturday, involves the Sun and Mercury in Cancer inconjunct Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius (what Neith affectionately refers to as “Neptune & Co.”). I don’t even know where to start sorting this out. All I can say is that we may have to deal with a disparate jumble of information, events, situations, and people, with no idea which end is up. I suspect this might end up feeling something like Mercury retrograde. It wouldn’t hurt to apply those rules this week. Be sure to confirm, clarify, repeat back what you think you just heard, and, above all, forgive. Everyone is on stress overload.

That said, we may get a pleasant surprise when Mercury trines Uranus on Wednesday and the Sun trines Uranus on Saturday. In the middle of all that confusion, something good will come through that will put a smile on your face.

Mercury enters Leo on Friday and immediately forms another inconjunct involving Pluto. Mercury in Leo is not a lot different than Mars in Gemini, perhaps just a bit less forceful. No matter how badly your ego is bruised, if you’re dealing with someone in a position of power, be it the judge in traffic court or the grandmother who’s paying your college tuition, bite your tongue. If you need something, remember that you’ll catch more flies with honey.

The Moon enters Cancer late Sunday, and then we’ll be in the final countdown to the total eclipse of the Sun at 29 degrees Cancer on July 21. I’ll have more in next week’s forecast, and Neith will post a report on Saturday, if not before. Check back often.

Lots of love, and chins up!
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The sun sets on July 12 during a biannual phenomenon dubbed “Manhattanhenge,” when the setting sun aligns with the east-west grid of Manhattan’s streets. At least something is lined up this week! Photo by Mike Segar for REUTERS.

Ask Real Astrologers: What Determines How an Eclipse Affects Us?

This week’s question comes from a comment posted by Mem to the Weekly Forecast for July 6:

What happens if an eclipse falls in a house in which you don’t have planets? And what if the particular aspect of life that house rules doesn’t apply to you at the moment? For instance, this eclipse falls in my seventh house. I don’t have a relationship and I don’t have a business partner. Now what?


Pat’s response:

Neith is out for the rest of the week, so I’m doing this week’s column solo.

Mem, this is a great question, which is why we saved it for the Q&A instead of posting a response to your comment.

Eclipses affect you whether or not you have planets in the houses in which they fall. In my work with clients, I have noticed a near 100-percent correlation between significant events in an individual’s life and the eclipse cycle, and these events nearly always match up to the houses involved. Eclipses stay in the same sign pair for about 18 months, and that’s typically how long the related events take to play out.

Because eclipses fall in sign pairs, there are two houses influenced and not just one. In your case, this new series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer will affect the seventh and the first houses. The first house is the most personal area of your chart, ruling your physical body and the persona you have taken on in this lifetime.

So, one way to answer your question would be that this series of eclipses may not be about partnership for you, but could have something to do with your person. With first-house eclipses, you might end up looking completely different 18 months from now. Or, you could get a new job that completely overhauls your life.

The outgoing series of eclipses is in my first house. I suffered a serious injury that has had a domino effect and brought several other changes in my life. Don’t worry, though, that the same may happen to you. Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune were transiting my first house at the same time. Also, as of the last eclipse in this series, a lunar eclipse on August 5, I’ll be completing a rehabilitation program that should put me on the road to complete recovery. So hopefully there will be a happy ending, and I’ve learned an awful lot in the process.

Now, since this series of eclipses also fell in my seventh house, I had several interesting relationship developments as well, the first of which began just one week after the first eclipse in the series in February 2008. It looks like there will be some resolution or conclusion to these situations in the next few weeks — right on cue!

I do have planets in both my first and seventh houses. But even if I didn’t, the effect likely would have been the same, with the exception of the last eclipse, which falls directly on my first-house Sun in Aquarius. I’ll let you know what happens … if I live.

Just kidding. Back to your chart, Mem, the seventh house rules all close relationships, so the next 18 months could bring a significant person into your life. For some people, this might be a literary agent or investment broker. If you’re looking for a romantic partner, that is also a possibility. There aren’t always developments at the first eclipse in the series, but sometimes the second or third. In my experience, however, the outcome or resolution usually happens within a few months of the last eclipse.

Joe also recently posted an eclipse-related question, which I’ll answer tomorrow in the Saturday Extra! column.

I hope that answers your question, Mem. We’ll all be waiting for news, so please keep us posted!

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact us, or we don’t get your question. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” Thanks!

Weekly Forecast July 6: Full Moon Eclipse in Capricorn, Jupiter Conjunct Neptune

Helios and Phaeton with Saturn and the Four Seasons, by Nicolas Poussin, 1635.

Healing at a deep level remains the dominant theme this week as Jupiter makes his second of three conjunctions with Neptune in 2009. Add to the mix a lunar eclipse, and we’re on information overload and stressed to the breaking point.

Neith has posted a complete report on the Full Moon, so I won’t go into much detail, except to remind everyone that this is the first of a new series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer, and it’s one of six eclipses this year, which is rare. Although it’s a penumbral eclipse and fairly well-aspected, some of us are going to get a jolt. Whether you feel it or not depends on where in your chart it falls. I have a friend with mid-degree Cancer Rising and a seventh house packed with Capricorn Sun, Moon, and other planets. You can bet that he’s going face a major life decision in the next couple of weeks.

Even though this isn’t the Big One, we are still sensitive to the gravitational pull of the Earth and Moon lining up with the Sun. And after this Full Moon, we’ll be in a prolonged inter-eclipse period. Normally, eclipses come in pairs, one solar and one lunar, with two weeks in between. This year we get a third one, a lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 6. That means we’ll have an entire month of the turbulence and disorientation that typically happen between eclipses.

At the same time, we’re deeply submerged in the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, which peaks on Friday. The first phase of this three-part aspect took place on May 27, the day before Neptune turned retrograde for several months. The second phase is this Friday (July 10), and then the last one won’t be until December 21.

During the first pass, our awareness was focused on a deep-seated wound that may have been embedded in early childhood or perhaps that was carried over from another lifetime. In the second phase, the wound is being re-opened so that the toxic energy can be released. This is arguably the most painful phase. Mars squares Jupiter and Neptune on Monday, July 6, acting as the surgeon’s knife. On Tuesday, Mars sextiles Uranus, and our heads should be a lot clearer. Some of us (operative word some) even may have an idea of where we’re headed next.

The Full Moon eclipse on Tuesday is in wide aspect to Uranus, which may help with the release of emotional blockages. If you feel like you have to cry or rant, find a safe place to let it all out. You may feel like a used dishrag on Wednesday, but you’ll recover much faster if you stay in the flow of the astrological current and don’t try to fight it.

The Sun sextiles Saturn on Thursday. If you need a backup plan, one may show up on your doorstep. Don’t look the allegorical gift horse in the mouth.

On Friday, Jupiter and Neptune meet, with the Moon in Aquarius amplifying the effect. If you’re out with friends, I strongly suggest foregoing happy hour or at least taking it easy on mind-altering substances. You’re going to want to have your wits about you to deal with whatever comes up.

Mars leaves Taurus on Saturday and joins Venus in speedy, chatty Gemini. Get together with friends and go for a bike ride, a hike, or a weekend getaway. Dance, party, and be happy while you can. There’s a lot more heavy lifting ahead.

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

Image: Helios and Phaeton with Saturn and the Four Seasons, by Nicolas Poussin, c. 1635. I have no idea what’s going on in this painting or who’s who — which is why it seemed like an appropriate image for this week’s astrological imprint. Helios represents the Sun, and we have an eclipse this week, aspecting Saturn. So far, so good. Phaeton, the son of Helios, is best known for insisting that he get to drive dad’s chariot, only to lose control and crash it into the earth, causing the planet to burn up. Obviously, that hasn’t yet happened in this image. But many of us can’t shake the feeling that the other shoe is about to drop …