Category Archives: Forecasts

Ask Our Readers: Venus Retrograde Time Again

Psyche at the Throne of Venus We all know about Mercury retrograde. But what can we expect when Venus, planet of love and beauty, turns her back on us?

Fortunately, Venus only goes retrograde every couple of years like her partner Mars, instead of three times a year like Mercury or once a year like the rest of the gang. However, this time around she’ll be in Aries, not her happy place, for most of the retrograde period, March 6-April 17.

The impact of any given Venus retrograde varies widely from individual to individual. I’m betting if this retrograde is taking place in your first house, you will notice it! Those of us with a strong Venusian element in our charts — for example, Sun, Moon, Venus or Ascendant in Libra or Taurus — are more likely to catch the downdraft of Venus moving in reverse.

The two most important factors to consider in determining how Venus retrograde in Aries will affect you are where Aries falls in your chart and whether Venus is conjunct, square, or opposite any natal planets. For example, Venus will turn retrograde in my fifth house, exactly opposite my Libra Moon in my eleventh house. Since I’m a very married person, it will be creative projects that will need lots of “do overs” — such as dyeing some wool yarn to match color samples for a very particular client. Groan. You factor in the opposition to the Moon and, yes, my client is a woman!

Some general rules for the time Venus is retrograde: avoid impulse buying, be prepared to take a second or third look at any new lovers, don’t schedule cosmetic procedures, and stay away from the Easter candy aisle ‘cause all that chocolate is sure to look extra delicious right now.

What is a Venus retrograde good for? In this instance, it may tone down the Aries desire to burn bridges as fast as they are crossed and allow more time to evaluate a person or situation. As with all retrograde periods, we can use the time to finish up projects, particularly artistic and creative endeavors under Venus’s aegis. This is a great time to go on retreat to someplace calm and beautiful to restore one’s inner being and get back in touch with what is truly valuable to us. Most of us live in a fast-paced world and need the occasional reminder to slow down and breathe; Venus moving slowly in reverse offers this opportunity.

What about you? Got any big plans for Venus retrograde? Tell us about it!

posted by Neith . . .

Image: Psyche at the Throne of Venus, by Matthew Edward Hale, 1883. I selected this image because Venus looks so wonderfully bitchy — a perfect expression of Venus retrograde in Aries.

Weekly Forecast March 2: Venus Retrograde

Two major themes run concurrently through this week, which I’m sorry to say may be trying for many of you but productive as well, especially if you work with these energies instead of fighting them.

Venus slows to a station this week as she prepares to turn retrograde on Friday. Venus isn’t at her best in Aries to start with, and her power to attract will be impaired during her retrograde period, which lasts until April 17. Along her retrograde path, she’ll go back into Pisces for a bit, where she’ll meet up with Mars next month in what I hope will be a happy ending for all of us.

In the meantime, what (and who) you want may require some rethinking. How many times have you caught yourself striving blindly toward some goal or desire, not stopping to think about whether it’s good for you or even what you really want? As with so many other dilemmas, knowing yourself is key. Venus in Aries is perfect for focusing on yourself, so work it to the hilt for the next five weeks and watch for solutions to your thorny dilemmas to start presenting themselves.

Throughout the week, Mercury, Mars, Chiron, and Neptune fuse into a powerful current of healing energy. Mercury in Aquarius generates inspiration and innovative ideas. With Chiron in the mix, you may need a painful experience to call your attention to the source of a problem. As much as we might wish it weren’t so, we humans generally don’t stretch and grow when life is easy. It takes a challenge to get us to rise up to our potential.

Neptune’s role here is to bring out our highest ideals and to get us to think beyond ourselves. That doesn’t mean putting everyone before yourself, but to start practicing enlightened self-interest. A small example of this might be changing your food-buying habits to include more sustainably grown products. Action-oriented Mars provides the physical motivation.

Now, it’s true that Mars and Neptune generally don’t get along very well. That’s because Mars is all about ego — “me first” — whereas Neptune is about merging into the One, which requires losing the ego. This tug-of-war normally might be unproductive and even disruptive, but since Aquarius is the sign of the collective and humanitarian causes, I think Mars will come through as a defender of higher ideals.

Indeed I see a real possibility that this four-way conjunction will bring more people into the sphere of enlightened self-interest, and that in turn could have far-reaching implications for the planet. One way I see this energy manifesting is in the recent announcement that several labor unions (ruled by Aquarius) are in negotiations to heal a four-year rift and reunify into a potentially more powerful voice for workers. Of course, the corruption in trade unions is legendary, and this is a perfect expression of the dual nature of Neptune. The new organization can use its increased power either to improve the lives of working people or to consolidate more money and influence in the hands of the union bosses. Enlightened executives will know that their wealth and happiness depends on unerringly dedicating themselves to the good of the collective.

After he’s finished playing negotiator, Mercury leaves Aquarius on Sunday and enters dreamy Pisces. Depending on where you have Pisces in your chart, you might notice a sudden fogginess in your thinking. Shortly after that transit, the Sun in Pisces opposes Saturn in Virgo, pitting the need for creative self-expression against forces concerned only with whether the job gets done, in the fastest and cheapest way possible.

The Sun’s opposition to Saturn also is the opening salvo in a highly charged Full Moon on Tuesday, March 10 (March 11 in the Eastern Hemisphere). Neith will have more on Saturday, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Sunday is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time in the United States. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward!

Love and light to all …
Pat

Image: A Study in March, by Maxfield Parrish. Spring is just around the corner!

Weekly Forecast February 23: The Curious Case of Comet Lulin

As the stars came out for the Oscars last night, another “star” was making a rare debut.

Reports are trickling in of naked-eye sightings of Comet Lulin, which until last week was visible only with binoculars or a telescope. Now that we can see it, more people are paying attention, and I’ve been asked several times whether Lulin has any astrological significance.

The answer is, “I don’t know.” Throughout history, astrologers have interpreted comets as omens — and not usually good ones. That’s about all we know, but predicting disaster has fallen out of favor these days. We’re in the New Age, where being spiritual means thinking positive and collectively envisioning the new paradigm.

I say that tongue-in-cheek, of course. Those of you who regularly read my columns know that I have a unique take on being “spiritual,” which I define as being able to see the energy patterns underlying material manifestation. And by “seeing,” I don’t mean with the eye but with a different kind of vision. This concept may be one of the messages that this strange visitor is relaying to us.

What else is it saying? We might find some clues in the uncanny coincidences surrounding Lulin’s appearance this week as it makes its closest approach to Earth.

For starters, Lulin is coming out of hiding at the New Moon, and not in just any sign, but in Pisces, the sign most associated with seeing beyond material existence into other realms. (For more on this subtle but extremely powerful New Moon, read Neith’s report on RealAstrologers.com.) As if that’s not enough, on Tuesday Lulin conjoins Saturn, lord of time and the material universe, which currently is locked in opposition with Uranus, planet of electrical energy, technological innovation, and radical change.

Although Lulin was just discovered in July 2007, it has been inside our inner solar system since the mid-1990s. Throughout that time, it remained in the sign of Pisces, and from an astrological perspective, we might say that Lulin came from Pisces. On September 11, 2001, it was very close to the degree of Pisces that Uranus is now occupying in its opposition to Saturn. Lulin moved into Aquarius in August 2007 and remained there for about a year before gathering speed in its trajectory around the Sun.

The most curious thing about Lulin is that it is moving backwards, unlike any comet observed in human history. It also is displaying two tails. Past and future, meeting in the present?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, nominated for 13 Oscars, is about a man who lives his life in reverse. A defining moment in the story is the “conjunction” of the hero and his love interest as their ages converge, he moving backwards and she moving forward. The trailer includes the tagline, “Life can only be understood backward; it must be lived forward.” Coincidence?

It is not too far-fetched to believe that Comet Lulin will force conventional science to reexamine its limited view of material reality. Indeed, there is a new theory that comets aren’t balls of rock and ice, but bodies of pure energy with powerful electromagnetic fields. Lulin’s appearance also may herald a change in how we view time. We’re told that time isn’t linear, and while we understand that concept intellectually, most of us haven’t assimilated the greater truth of time.

And so, dear ones, that is what I see as the biggest news in the sky this week, although its meaning is beyond the scope of astrology and takes us into new territory that may take years to fully explore and comprehend.

Looking at this week’s planetary movements, Mercury is out of his post-retrograde shadow period and also is entering unfamiliar territory, a land of innovative ideas and new possibilities. On Monday, the Messenger conjoins Jupiter, perhaps aiding in the dissemination of Lulin’s gift of knowledge. He sextiles Venus on Wednesday, facilitating the communication of love and friendship. Get it while you can, because the conjunction of Mercury and Mars on Sunday threatens to unleash quite different sentiments. Make a commitment beforehand to speak from the heart. If the truth hurts, so be it, but don’t say anything deliberately hurtful.

The only other aspects worth noting this week are Tuesday’s New Moon, followed by the Moon’s opposition to Saturn and conjunction with Uranus on Wednesday. Do pay attention to what comes up on this day, as it will provide you with hints of what to expect at the Full Moon on March 10. Neith and I will have more about that soon.

Wishing you all much love and courage …
Pat

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

Weekly Forecast February 16: Mars conjunct Jupiter, Sun enters Pisces

Jupiter and Juno, by Carracci Does anyone else feel like the past week contained several weeks compressed into one? Eclipses will do that. I’m still reeling from this latest pair.

Although the dust still hasn’t settled, it does feel like we’re getting a better idea of where events are headed. We still don’t know why or to what ultimate ends, and this could remain a mystery for some time to come. That said, we should get some clues this week, with Mercury back in Aquarius and out of the post-retrograde shadow as of Saturday. But I’m getting ahead of myself — typical Aquarius!

An energetic three-way aspect between Venus, Mars, and Jupiter begins on Monday, with a sextile from Venus in Aries to Jupiter in Aquarius. Mars and Jupiter conjoin on Tuesday, and then Venus forms an exact sextile to Mars on Wednesday. Rather than taking these aspects individually, I’m looking at them as a whole, and I’m going to stick my neck out here and throw the asteroid Juno into the picture, too.

Juno is one of the bodies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Many astrologers use the asteroids in individual chart readings, especially for women. The only one I routinely use is Ceres, who is no longer classified as an asteroid but is in the new category of dwarf planet, along with Pluto. I’m going to make an exception this week, though, because Juno is just a degree from Jupiter (the exact conjunction was last Wednesday, with the lunar North Node at the exact degree and minute as well), and she’ll be crossed by Mars this Friday.

It’s hard enough to make predictions anymore based on one aspect alone, but when you’ve got three or four planets involved, it gets even trickier. In order to make some guesses about how these energies might interact, I decided to go back to the mythology and examine the relationships between these two couples. You have to give the ancients credit for making up stories about gods and goddesses. In our ignorance, we say they were superstitious, but anthropomorphizing hidden energies and then creating stories to describe their interactions was a quite ingenious way of helping us understand how they play out in our lives.

In classical mythology, Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and he had an adulterous affair with Venus. It’s interesting to note that in the Greek version, Ares was hated by his parents because of his blood-thirsty temperament, but his reputation in Roman mythology was much better, probably because the Romans expanded their vast empire through bloody conquest.

So we might imagine Jupiter and Mars as swaggering father and son, off to conquer a neighboring territory. Or maybe they’ve decided to have a little boys’ night out of drinking and philandering. They’re full of themselves and expect that they are invincible, women will swoon at the very sight of them, and they will get anything and anyone they want.

That, in a nutshell, describes the exuberance and exaggerated self-confidence of a Mars-Jupiter conjunction. If you are faced with a seemingly impossible task, this energy is just the extra boost you need. Depending on where this aspect is hitting your chart, it may give your self-confidence a much-needed lift, and that in turn could translate into achieving a goal. The potential downfall in this mix is hubris and a sense of entitlement.

That is where the ladies come in. I expect this testosterone-laden pair to be tempered by the close presence of Venus and Juno. After their little escapade, Mars is going to have to face his mother, and heaven forbid he should be implicated in any of dad’s shenanigans. If, on the other hand, their hunt or conquest was with their women in mind, mom will be mightily pleased. The moral of the story, then, is to contemplate your purpose as you sail on these strong and swift currents. There is no higher calling than love, be it love for a romantic partner, friend, or family member, or for generic love of one’s fellow humans (the collective, a keyword for Aquarius). Remember, too, that there is a difference between selfishness and enlightened self-interest.

After that big bang of Aquarius energy, the Sun enters Pisces on Wednesday, leading up to a new lunar cycle and interaction with Uranus and Saturn. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel more emotional or intuitive, maybe both. In the watery realm of Pisces, a lot of things don’t make sense on an intellectual level, and it’s better not to even try. That won’t prevent me from making up stories about our new cast of characters, though!

Speaking of which, newcomer Comet Lulin is still out there and about to make an appearance, probably next week. I’m working on that article, honest, and will post as soon as I can.

Much love to all…
Pat

P.S. You might have noticed that my personal blog is down. It may be off-line for several weeks, but I’ll posting here regularly.

Image: Jupiter and Juno, by Annibale Carracci, part of a massive fresco in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, completed in 1608. Not surprisingly, images of his philandering were much easier to find than this rare depiction of him with his wife.

Weekly Forecast February 9: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Leo

Penumbral eclipse of March 14, 2006. Photo by Tom J. Martinez of Cleveland, MO.

No, it wasn’t the most heart-stopping event, and if you didn’t know there was an eclipse, you might not even have noticed. That’s the nature of a penumbral eclipse, in which the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow but is not hidden, as with total and partial eclipses.

My eyes popped open at 6:30 this morning, and I hobbled outside just in time to see a very dusky Full Moon through the trees, about to set behind the Olympics. Not long afterward, the sky clouded up, so this was a rare treat indeed. It looked much like the lovely image here, of the penumbral eclipse in March 2006 (photo credit below). You can find more astronomical information — the scientific nuts and bolts — on NASA’s eclipse page.

Regardless of whether an eclipse is total or whether it’s visible where you are, it’s still astrologically significant. Not all astrologers agree with this, but from my own personal experience and from working with clients, I’ve observed that there are almost always developments in an individual’s life before or after an eclipse in a sensitive area of their chart.

Most of you probably have read Neith’s excellent Full Moon post, but in case you missed it, check it out now! As she noted, Monday’s eclipse falls at 21 degrees Leo, opposite the Sun and Chiron at 21 degrees Aquarius and Neptune just shy of 24 degrees Aquarius. This Full Moon brings to fruition projects started at the solar eclipse on January 26 or, in some cases, it brings events that began around that time to a head. It may take a few days for everything to fall into place, although it could be a month for some of you, as eclipses don’t always deliver results right away.

That said, I do believe we’re in for a lot of action and more than a little mayhem this week, as a cosmic dam of sorts finally bursts. It had been held back at the New Moon by retrograde Mercury and Mars in Capricorn. Mercury is now moving forward again and returns to Aquarius on Saturday, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, Mars has entered Aquarius and is inching ever closer to conjunction with Jupiter next week.

I’ve written a lot here and on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles, about old wounds that are healing, individually and collectively. Pay attention this week to how healing may be happening for you. In my case, I recently experienced a new injury, not related to any existing physical or emotional wounds, but I am seeing that the remedies for the back injury are spilling over into general healing as well. I’ll write more about this as developments arise and I gain some clarity as to the overall direction and meaning.

On Wednesday, the Moon conjoins Saturn in Virgo and opposes Uranus in Pisces. Saturn is the traditional ruler of Aquarius and still is considered its co-ruler by many modern astrologers. Pisces, meanwhile, is co-ruled by Neptune and Jupiter, both of which are in Aquarius. So you can see how all of this Aquarius energy is being amplified on one hand but constricted on the other. Wherever Uranus is transiting your chart is where you are being urged to be more authentically yourself, while Saturn’s position indicates where you may be limited in some way, perhaps due to practical considerations, pressure to “play by the rules,” or fear of trying something totally new and different.

The Sun conjoins Neptune on Thursday, raising the possibility of confusion, delusion, and foggy thinking. However, there’s also a positive, idealistic side to Neptune, and I’m betting that this mood will prevail. Sure, Aquarius can be naively idealistic, but it’s also a rational, intellectual sign. We might even find some creative solutions to thorny problems if we tune in to this higher frequency.

Ideas and innovative solutions get still another power surge when Mercury re-enters Aquarius on Saturday. There’s a continuum here; you may notice that an idea or project that began in early January and then got delayed is not only back on track, but better than ever.

As for Valentine’s Day, Saturday’s aspects aren’t the most romantic, with Venus in me-first Aries and Mars in commitment-phobic Aquarius. It doesn’t take an astrologer to predict how that energy mix could send a lot of dates south. The Moon in Scorpio squares Mars later in the day (Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere), adding to the potential for arguments or, more likely, passive-aggressive behavior. I don’t think I need to lecture any of you on what not to do!

Much love to all…
Pat

Weekly Forecast February 2: Saturn-Uranus Opposition, Part II

Mountain Sounds by Ellen Hill Happy Groundhog’s Day! The days are getting noticeably longer in the Northern Hemisphere, and spring is right around the corner.

The groundhog ritual dates back to pagan cultures, which rejoiced at the increasing light. The ancient Celts marked this day as Imbolc, one of the cross-quarter days halfway between the solstices and equinoxes. According to some scholars, the feast day was so named because the longer days triggered lactation in ewes, an important milestone in the year of an agrarian people. The Christian Church adopted the occasion as Candlemas. In modern-day France, a Catholic country with wonderfully pagan Celtic roots, they eat crèpes. Trust the French to find an excuse to eat. Works for me!

Many of you know that this is also my birthday. I’ve been hibernating due to a back injury, but today I’m going to go out and look for my shadow.

Speaking of shadow, Mercury returned direct on Sunday but will remain in the post-retrograde shadow period until February 21. Still, I anticipate a big week, as activities that have been stalled since mid-January begin moving again. Events may move in fits and starts, and there may be a lot of confusion. But there will be movement.

The Messenger was in Aquarius when he went into reverse on January 11 but moved back into Capricorn. This will temporarily favor maintaining the status quo or bowing to authorities, but not for long. Once he re-enters Aquarius on February 14 and even more so when he leaves the shadow phase, it’s going to be a brand new day. Those of you who have asked for news of a better job, take heart. Aquarius is the sign of individual freedom and creative bursts. Liberation is at hand.

Of course the biggest news this week is Thursday’s opposition between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces. This is the second peak in an unusually long, two-year transit that we’ve been feeling for several months already and that we’ll continue to grapple with until the middle of next year. It’s not likely that you will get slammed by an event out of the blue, since the energy of long-term transits such as this typically don’t release all at once. That’s the good news. The bad news is that many of us are in the middle of serious situations, and there could be developments this week that require our immediate attention and tough decisions.

Venus and Mars change signs this week, and both have special significance. On Monday, Venus enters Aries, where she’ll stay for nearly four months, as she’ll be retrograde from March 6 to April 17. I have to tell you that I’m not very optimistic about this passage. Venus is in her detriment in me-first Aries, and she can behave very badly when she’s retrograde. The Mayans were wary of retrograde Venus, which a Mayan enthusiast friend of mine calls “Venus with fangs.” It’s OK to be assertive in relationships, but do make an effort to be considerate of others.

On Wednesday, Mars enters Aquarius, where he’ll join the Sun, Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune, all just in time for the lunar eclipse on February 9. There’s going to be a lot of rebelliousness in the air, and we can expect global hotspots of rebellion to get even more active. Mars is going to give a big boost to going against the grain, and Mars in Aquarius is ready to put up a fight for the exploited and oppressed.

Venus squares Pluto on Thursday, increasing the risk of sexual power struggles. Venus in Aries will not hesitate to use her sexuality as a weapon or as bait to get what she wants, while Pluto in Capricorn will overpower by any means, some of which can be ruthless. You don’t need to be an astrologer to predict the outcome of that scenario. Conscious awareness and knowing yourself are the best antidotes. Know what you want and need, and make no apologies. But leave it up to the other person to give in a way that feels right to him or her.

The Moon enters Leo late Saturday (Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere), and we’ll be within the gravitational pull of Monday’s lunar eclipse. Eclipses are wildcards, and on top of that we’ve got a comet zinging around backwards that is about to conjoin Saturn just as it reaches its closest point to Earth. I’ll have more on Comet Lulin in a few days. Meanwhile, there is simply no way to predict what’s going to happen as a result of these erratic energies (which is why I chose this abstract painting by Ellen Hill to illustrate this week’s forecast. So much of what we’re experiencing these days defies rational analysis).

Much love and courage to all!
Pat

Image: Mountain Sounds, by Ellen Hill, whom many of you know as Tseka. To see more of Ellen’s phenomenal work, including her new line of talisman jewelry, visit her site, Tseka – One Dance.

Saturday Extra: Two Messengers

Comet Hyakutake, 1996 Mercury, the Messenger planet, returns direct tomorrow (late tonight on the West Coast of the United States) after three weeks in retrograde motion. For the next couple of days, don’t be surprised if communications come to a dead halt, traffic is jammed to a standstill, and stores are out of whatever you’re looking for.

This Mercury retrograde period has been curious, and it’s difficult even to pinpoint what it might have brought, as there are so many other planetary energies zinging around over our heads lately that they’re all jumbled together in a big astrological casserole.

Based on my own experience, it does appear that certain issues that have been building for weeks and even months have come to a head, and now we may have a chance to resolve them once and for all as Mercury returns direct and begins to gather speed next week. Communications with authority figures may play a heightened role, with Mercury in Capricorn. Once Mercury enters Aquarius, on February 14, we’ll start hearing more about the collective, individual rights, and grassroots efforts.

Meanwhile, there is another messenger in our neighborhood, Comet Lulin (thanks to Rossa and Tseka for alerting me to its presence). I’m still researching this entity to discover where it is from and what it might be trying to tell us. This will take me some time, as I’m incapacitated by the back injury I sustained the day after the solar eclipse on January 26. The latest is that I may have a herniated disc. So the long hours I used to spend surfing the ‘Net are prohibited for now.

An initial look at this comet’s unusual behavior suggests that chaos and disorder are part of its message. Lulin is literally going against the grain, in an orbit roughly tracking the path of the planets as we see it from Earth, only it is moving backwards. It was closest to the Sun on January 10, which is another clue for the message of comets, but it wasn’t visible with the naked eye at that time. We may get only a brief glimpse of it, as it approaches its closest point to Earth in late February. From that we can conclude that the forces it symbolizes aren’t obvious and need special vision to see. Lulin comes from deep space and apparently has not visited our inner solar system before, so we might conclude that the message is something new, totally outside of our ability to imagine.

Interestingly, this is all in keeping with the chaotic energy of the planets and eclipse cycle, which I’ve been writing about here and on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles.

I will have more as I am able to research. If any of you have links and relevant information, I would love for you to drop me a line.

Much love and courage…
Pat

Image: The “Great Comet” of 1996, Hyakutake. Photo by NASA.

Weekly Forecast January 26: Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, Mercury Direct

Photo by Aaron Favila for the AP As you know from reading last week’s forecast and Neith’s New Moon report, this week starts right out on a high-energy note, with an annular eclipse of the Sun in close conjunction with Jupiter.

If you’ve got key planets and chart points in early Aquarius, you’re going to feel this event in ways that are hard to imagine right now. Other fixed-sign planets in your chart will be activated as well. Two weeks from now, there will be a Full Moon lunar eclipse in Leo. My experience is that the period between eclipses is always tumultuous. That is likely to be even more true right now, with Mercury coming out of retrograde mode between the solar and lunar eclipses.

For anyone who’s interested, I wrote a companion post on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles, about how I’m experiencing this weird, chaotic energy.
I’m an Aquarius with Aquarius Rising, so I’m being doubly smacked. Not all of you will be, and this is a great illustration of how planetary transits work. Each of us has an energy imprint that I liken to a radio frequency. When a transit is broadcasting to a certain frequency, those who are tuned in pick it up, and others don’t, or they pick it up faintly or just feel a bunch of static.

Just to liven things up a little more, retrograde Mercury conjoins Mars in Capricorn on Tuesday, increasing the risk of serious arguments. They may be due to misunderstandings, but it’s just as likely that they will emerge from unresolved issues. When we don’t confront problems head on, they pile up and eventually overwhelm us. Given Mercury’s retrograde motion, it’s not likely that reasoning is going to work too well. It may be best to just blow off steam, or let the other party do so, if necessary. Then wait a week or so, until Mercury returns direct, to see if you can find some common ground. By then, you may wonder what you were arguing about in the first place.

As always, remember my caveat: Otherwise intelligent people say and do stupid things while Mercury is retrograde. It’s probably not anyone’s fault, so let it go this time, forgive, and move on.

Later on Tuesday, the Moon enters Pisces, where she’ll conjoin Uranus and oppose Saturn on Thursday. As the opposition between Saturn and Uranus creeps closer to exact, lunar transits may act as a trigger to set off events manifesting out of these energies. Just have your antennae up on Thursday and take note of any unusual situations.

Mercury goes direct on Sunday (Saturday night on the West Coast of the United States and points west). Typically, everything stops up while Mercury is stationed, so don’t expect to see any sudden effects. That will start happening next week as the Messenger gains speed. Have your seat belts fastened and hang on!

Much love and courage to all!
Pat

Image: This incredible photo of the eclipse was taken at Manila, Philippines, by Aaron Favila for The Associated Press.

Weekly Forecast January 19: Sun Enters Aquarius, Mercury Retrograde

Water Cube in Beijing This is going to be a big week for many of us and the beginning of a journey over the next several weeks that will lead us to some surprising places. Do expect some turbulence, though. For some of us, there could be quite a lot of it.

As major aspects play out this week, we’re moving closer to the second pass of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, which is exact on February 5, and this tug-of-war remains an active force in all of our lives. We want to change; we know we need it and that it will be good for us. But humans don’t give up the status quo easily. We are wired to stay on familiar ground, even if we’re not getting everything we need there. Forging ahead into unexplored territory is scary and takes a supreme act of will.

Or, more often than not, it takes a crisis or event out of the blue over which we have no control to drag us kicking and screaming.

That is likely to happen in the days and weeks ahead, with two eclipses that are bound to bring sweeping changes. If you have key planets or chart points in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius), you will feel these eclipses more than others.

I have to tell you, I am on pins and needles, with Sun and Ascendant both in Aquarius, opposite a fixed T-square. And being an astrologer doesn’t help. Aquarius and its ruler, Uranus, are so unpredictable and full of surprises that there’s no point in even trying to guess what might happen. Besides, planetary energies are so complex and intertwined right now that it’s too much for a lowly human brain to try to figure out the nearly unlimited ways they could manifest. For me, it likely will have something to do with my income or love life, but that’s an awfully broad statement.

On a day-to-day basis, here’s how our week stacks up:

On Monday, the Sun enters Aquarius, fueling the forces of change and favoring the collective. This happens just as a new president takes office in the United States — not that this is unusual; Inauguration Day always takes place with the Sun in Aquarius, and since the event is traditionally scheduled for noon, the Ascendant will always be Taurus. It is interesting to note, however, that our new leader is a Rising Aquarius, and he is evoking the words and spirit of another Aquarius, Abraham Lincoln, as he prepares to take office.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on Tuesday and then retrogrades back into Capricorn. We may experience a flurry of new ideas, only to take a step back and dismiss these flashes of inspiration as impractical, not doable, etc. Or it may be a case of cold feet. These are mixed messages we’re sending to ourselves, but the good news is that it will help you refine your concept of who you are and what you want.

On Thursday, Mars forms a harmonious sextile to Uranus, which forms an exact conjunction with Venus later in the day. Mars and Venus are both in the signs of their exaltation, so the energy they feed into the planet of change is going to be powerful, and I’m betting that we will get something we’ve needed desperately, whether it’s material object or one of those great intangibles. Start thinking now about what you need and visual that need met. If you regularly do manifestation meditations, you know that it’s best to concentrate on the need and not on the specific outcome. There are many ways to have a need met, so stay open to receiving in a way you can’t even imagine right now.

The Sun conjoins Jupiter on Friday, adding still more fuel to creative change. Ancient astrologers considered Jupiter a lucky influence, and my experience is that he usually is. However, the caveat is that you have to do something to get the most out of this energy. It will not deliver the goods to you on a silver platter. And yes, sometimes Jupiter acts as an amplifier, bringing too much of a good thing. Looking at the chart for this aspect, though, I think it reflects a largely positive influence.

On Saturday, Mars is trine Saturn and Venus is in opposition. Part of the difficulty making changes is that we need to leave people and places behind. When we love those people, it’s that much harder. But sometimes we resist leaving even when these attachments are not all that good for us. If you are in such a situation or relationship, be prepared for a disruption, and keep in mind that it will be better for you in the long run.

The Moon conjoins Mercury on Sunday right before entering Aquarius, and we’re well in the wake of the solar eclipse by this time. Eclipse-related events can take place a few days before or after the eclipse and sometimes are delayed by weeks or a few months. With Mercury retrograde, it’s possible we may have to wait until the Full Moon to see any real action, but given what else is going on in the sky this week, that traditional interpretation may get blown to bits. The eclipse takes place just before midnight Sunday here on the West Coast of the United States, but it will be Monday by then in most places in the world. As usual, Neith will have a full report. I can’t wait to read her interpretation, and I’m sure you can’t, either, so stay tuned!

Wishing you much love and courage…
Pat

Image: The National Aquatics Center in Beijing, also known as the Water Cube. Although Aquarius is an air sign, I thought this was a fitting image because of the futuristic look of the building and also because Uranus, planetary ruler of Aquarius, currently is in Pisces. Photo by Frederic J. Brown for Agence France-Presse.

Saturday Extra: Observations on Retrograde Mercury

Tiepolo's Mercury Appearing to Aeneas Mercury went retrograde a week ago, and while many of us didn’t experience any effects right away, now that he’s gaining momentum on his reverse course, a few springs are starting to pop.

We can start with the bizarre airplane accident in New York on Thursday, which apparently was the result of a collision with a flock of birds right after take-off. Air travel is ruled by Aquarius, the sign in which Mercury currently is retrograde. It was interesting that the jet went down in water. Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, currently is in Pisces. Jupiter, meanwhile, is also in Aquarius, with Mercury only a few degrees away. Jupiter typically is a lucky influence, and it was nothing short of a miracle that there were no fatal injuries.

Yesterday, my ferry was 15 minutes late leaving the dock because the captain missed the boat! He had to catch the next one, which wasn’t scheduled to dock at Vashon and had to make an emergency stop to deliver him. Of course, that meant all the boats on our route were behind schedule for the rest of the day.

U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama is making his way to Washington for his inauguration on Tuesday, and while I haven’t read about any delays or incidents on his historic train trip, his first days in office will be spent cleaning up big messes left by the previous administration. For that matter, retrograde Mercury in the inauguration chart suggests that he may spend his entire term in office that way. Mercury retrograde actually should help him in this regard, as retrograde periods are great for research, review, and revision.

Mercury is retrograde in my first house and will cross back over my Ascendant twice. The events I’m experiencing are a bit too personal to recount here, but one of them involves a grievance before a labor union, and unions are ruled by Aquarius. A couple of old friends also resurfaced after months of silence. Aquarius is the sign of friendship.

On Tuesday, right after the inauguration, Mercury retrogrades back into Capricorn. This may temporarily tip the balance back in the favor of authoritarian rule, or it could frustrate those forces even more, as Saturn, Capricorn’s ruling planet, also is retrograde. By this time, the Sun will have entered Aquarius, and we’ll be only days away from a solar eclipse. I think it’s safe to say that many unpredictable events and surprises are in the works.

I’ll have more on the eclipse in my weekly forecast on Monday. Until then, much love and many blessings…
Pat

Image: Mercury Appearing to Aeneas, by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1696-1770.