Category Archives: General Musing

Weekly Forecast October 13: Full Moon in Aries, Mercury Direct

Mercury and Psyche, by Adriaan de Vries I won’t be so bold as to proclaim that all hell is going to break loose this week, but do be prepared for major movement.

With the Full Moon in dynamic Aries just as Mercury is stationing direct, much of the activity that has been stalled over the past three weeks could take place all at once. To get an idea of how you may be impacted personally, look at where Libra and Aries fall in your natal chart.

Neith already has written a complete report for Tuesday’s Full Moon, and I will add only that growth and change, even when positive, can be unsettling. When we seek to fulfill our heart’s deepest desires, we typically have to go through a period of testing and challenge, and we need to do the work. Rarely do we value what is handed to us on a silver platter.

On Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the Full Moon, Mercury stations at 7 degrees Libra. The Messenger passed this degree on September 3. Think back to what was happening around that time for you and what has (or hasn’t) transpired since then. This will give you a clue about what to expect this week. It may take a few days for Mercury to gather speed before you see any results. I’d give it until Friday.

As I was searching for an appropriate image for this week’s forecast, I found reference to Mercury in the story of Cupid and Psyche. Quick and dirty plot summary:

Venus, jealous of Psyche’s beauty, sends her son Cupid to foul up the young woman’s love life. He botches the job and falls in love with her, but he attempts to keep his identity secret by coming to her only at night, in the dark. Through trickery encouraged by her sisters, she discovers who he is, and he flees. She is so desolate that she wants to kill herself and eventually appeals to Venus, who makes her perform a series of tasks until she is deemed worthy of true love.

The sculpture in the photo depicts Mercury, transporter of souls, carrying Psyche to Mount Olympus, where she is granted immortality and allowed to marry her beloved.

In classical mythology, Mercury is the only god who has free passage to and from the underworld. Symbolically, this speaks to our thought processes and how our thoughts impact our lives. Libra not only is an intellectual air sign, but it is the ruler of relationships. For women especially (but not exclusively), the trials and tribulations of love are among the most painful in our lives, and they are often what causes us to grow, evolve, and attain higher consciousness.

Speaking of Venus, the planet of love leaves jealous Scorpio on Saturday and enters merry Sagittarius, where she is more light-hearted. Her downfall here is only that she may party a little too hard and overindulge herself and her friends. She also can be competitive, but as long as you keep it fun and friendly, there’s no harm in a good contest.

Love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Mercury and Psyche, by Adriaan de Vries, 1593. The Louvre, Paris. Mercury bears Psyche aloft to Olympus where, after forced to undergo many trials by a jealous Venus, she attains immortality and is reunited with Cupid, her beloved.

Ask Real Astrologers: Is There Any Hope for Me?

 This week’s question comes from Michele in Los Angeles:

I was born on [date deleted for privacy]. Is this a significant date of someone who has a certain mission? My life has been filled with roadblocks and I am getting very tired. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Michele, with several planets in Leo, your Ascendant in Scorpio, and Mars in Taurus on the Descendant, you are a strong fixed-sign person. I am, too, and so I can sympathize with where you are right now.

The fixed signs – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius – can be difficult to work with, because they are stubborn and immovable. The flip side is that they are stable, reliable, and durable. We can carry burdens that would break others. Of course, that can mean we get a heavier load in life, too.

Leo and Aquarius are being impacted heavily right now due to a series of eclipses in these two signs that began this past February and will run until August 2009. To a lesser degree, Scorpio and Taurus also are being impacted (along with Scorpio and Taurus Rising). Since you are a Rising Scorpio, you are getting hit doubly hard. I don’t doubt that you are tired. I am, too! But hang in there, because you are being offered an opportunity to transform, grow, and evolve. Unfortunately, this never happens without a certain amount of pain.

Simultaneously with the eclipses, we are experiencing an opposition of Saturn and Uranus. These two patterns don’t seem to be related, but they are linked in an indirect way. I bring this up, because Saturn currently is moving through your tenth house of career and is transiting your lunar North Node in Virgo. The North Node often indicates our “mission” in life, so I feel fairly sure that you are about to find it.

Your challenge, as I see it, is that you have a lot of “self-oriented” Leo energy in your chart, while your North Node in Virgo indicates that your life’s work is about service to others. You will have to find a balance that allows you to fully express who you are while also serving humanity.

Astrology is a great tool for creating a roadmap. I strongly advise you to get a full reading to help you understand how you can channel your talents and creativity to fulfill your life’s purpose.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Libra ponders . . .
Neith’s response:

Michele, Neptune has a role in both your sense you have a mission and your tiredness and frustration both natally and by transit.

You have Neptune natally in Scorpio in the twelfth house of service square to your bright stellium in Leo of the Sun, Moon and Venus. This is an aspect that can bestow a certain amount of glamour to one and allows for others to project their expectations on you. If you have been unconsciously attempting to live up to those expectations it is no surprise you are weary. By the way, this particular aspect is frequently found in the charts of celebrities who make a living being someone other than themselves.

For the better part of the past year, transiting Neptune in your third house has been either squaring your Ascendant exactly or the ruler of your Ascendant, Mars. Neptune transits are most noticeable when they are exact by degree, other than that they fade into the background. The transit to your natal Mars also exacerbates your natal Uranus-Mars square, usually a source of energy for you but Neptune can act like as a conduit draining the energy away. The first pass of the this transit is over with two more coming next year, one in late January – early February and the final pass in October-November 2009. These will be periods when you need to take extra care of your health and get plenty of rest.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is let go of all preconceived ideas because those often prevent us from moving forward. If you do not already practice yoga, tai chi or some other form of meditative movement for calming the mind and allowing peace to enter, I highly recommend doing so.

Take time for yourself in a nurturing environment and remember to breathe!  Best of luck to you, Michele.

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Synastry of John and Cindy McCain

John & Cindy McCain With Sun signs in Virgo and Taurus, John and Cindy McCain are an earth duo. They share an appreciation for the here-and-now reality of the physical world and a generally conservative approach to life.

Although Sun signs are not necessarily that important in synastry, two people with Sun signs in the same element generally tend to understand one another. Moreover, John’s Moon is in Capricorn, the third earth sign, and Cindy’s Moon may be in Capricorn, too, depending on what time she was born. As with the other political couples I’ve written about, missing birth data makes it tough to achieve a 100-percent precise reading.

The one air element in their synastry, appropriately, is a trine between John’s Mercury in Libra and Cindy’s Mercury in Gemini – invaluable for communications. Since they have a Saturn-Mercury intra-aspect, with John’s Saturn squaring Cindy’s Mercury and her Saturn semi-sextile his Mercury, he can come across as rather authoritarian on occasion, causing her to step back and close down. Without the benefit of the harmonious trine between their Mercury signs, it would be more difficult to open the door to understanding.

They do have good chemistry, with his Leo Mars sextile her Gemini Venus and her Mars in Capricorn trine his Venus in Virgo. John’s natal Mars is square Uranus and trine Jupiter, giving him impulse control issues, so Cindy’s ability to respond to his needs with understanding has no doubt been very good for their relationship.

Because of their 18-year age difference, they both have the North Node in Capricorn, South Node in Cancer. The synastry aspects to the lunar nodes show a deep connection, with her Venus-Jupiter in Gemini forming an out-of-sign conjunction with his South Node in Cancer. This aspect may show how her wealth allows them to live comfortably with several homes around the country. Her Mars conjoins his North Node in Capricorn, providing active support for his need to serve his country and its traditions.

Chiron is another active element in their synastry, with her Venus conjunct his Chiron in Gemini and his Moon conjunct her Chiron in Capricorn. The question here is whether these two sympathetic personal planets have provided a comfort level allowing for the healing of old wounds. Chiron often shows us where we feel most insecure, and John has a square between natal Chiron and Venus, reflecting doubts about being loveable. Cindy’s Chiron is closely trine her Sun, suggesting that she experienced positive reinforcement of her self-esteem growing up, thus making it likely she has been able to help John sort through his issues in this area.

They both have Juno in Leo, with Cindy’s Pluto in Leo closely conjoining them. Their idea of an ideal marriage and household is thus very similar, and this particular aspect has no doubt stood them in good stead with all the entertaining in support of John’s political career over the years. With Pluto adding his two cents, discussions about jealously and possessive behaviors had to have played a role behind the scenes.

With the strong Capricorn element in both charts and their favorable synastry aspects in general, it is easy to understand how they are both drawn to politics and serving their country in very traditional ways. They both share a desire to live within a conventional framework, and it has obviously worked for them as a couple, because John and Cindy were married for 29 years as of April.

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Verified Birth Data: John McCain 29 August 1936, Cocosolo, Panama; Cindy McCain 20 May 1954, Chicago, IL

Saturday Archives: Healing in the Now

Chiron and Achilles, by John Singer SargentWhat we bring with us from past lives is a big topic in spiritual circles. As astrologers, we often look to the lunar South Node and the fourth and twelfth houses for clues about what may have happened to us in previous incarnations and how that may be affecting us in our current tour of duty on the physical plane.

I don’t believe in past lives per se. I believe that we have an energy imprint, and that while this imprint is not uniquely our own, the way it manifests as an individual human incarnation is unique. This may seem like splitting hairs, but it’s an important distinction, because it recognizes the underlying energy (spirit) and means that through conscious awareness of this energy, we have the power to change not only our own karma, but the collective karma as well.

We have the power to heal.

A couple of years ago at a NORWAC conference, I met Kim Marie, a teacher of a relatively recent branch of astrology called evolutionary astrology, which is very much concerned with past lives. I owe to her the discovery that I was born four hours before Neptune went retrograde, which for evolutionary astrologers is a very big deal. I meditated on that concept for weeks before reaching the conclusion that it provided me a lifelong door to what’s beyond the physical plane. Indeed, my whole approach to astrology is based on observing how the invisible energies in the universe manifest on the physical plane.

In previous posts, I’ve written about the current series of eclipses in Leo and Aquarius and how the conjunction of Neptune, Chiron, and the North Node opened a pathway to deep healing. As I noted, this healing can include wounds we brought with us into this lifetime. Think about that for a moment. By healing your own deep wounds, you are in essence healing the “wounded” underlying energies of the universe.

One of the deepest wounds we face in our time is the split between the masculine and feminine. It is a deeply disturbed relationship, and I believe that the split happened several millennia ago. For us, it seems like forever, and we seem to take for granted that “that’s just the way it is.” I’ve lost count of the latest scientific studies “proving” why men want multiple sexual partners, why women cling, why women fall for jerks, and so forth. There’s nothing scientific about it, and it’s not a given. It is not what we are about, and it is not what we ultimately want.

But I digress. What I really want to say here is that we have the choice to heal, and there is no time like the present, with this astrological window wide open. We want to believe that we are somehow victims of “bad karma.” Well, each time we let an opportunity to heal pass — whether because it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient, or we’re afraid of change or afraid of whatever — we compound that wound, not only in our life and the life of anyone else involved, but the collective wound of humanity.

We desperately want to be whole (heal and whole come from the same root), we crave it. Make that leap of trust and faith. Choose to heal.

Wishing you much love and courage…

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPosted by Pat

Image: Chiron and Achilles, by John Singer Sargent, c. 1925.

The Synastry of Barack and Michelle Obama

Michelle & Barack Obama Barack and Michelle Obama, possibly the next president and first lady of the United States, bring great aspects for compatibility to their Leo-Capricorn relationship.

Although Leo and Capricorn are inconjunct, their planetary rulers, the Sun and Saturn, are in harmony in Barack and Michelle’s synastry chart. Barack’s Saturn in Capricorn is closely conjunct Michelle’s Sun, and her Saturn in Aquarius opposes his Leo Sun. Saturn-Sun aspects in synastry are often found in lasting relationships formalized in a legal way such as business partnerships and marriage. Because Saturn is happier with rules to follow, his effect on the Sun is felt as supportive rather than oppression. This Sun-Saturn intra-aspect may be the reason Barack refers to Michelle as “his rock,” and it without question has created an enduring bond for them.

There are a couple of other intra-aspects with their Suns, one featuring Jupiter and the other, Mars  (an “intra-aspect” is one in synastry where the same two planets from both charts aspect each other greatly increasing the influence). Mars and Jupiter bring energy and enthusiasm with a generous dose of humor and generosity. Where Saturn provides the “glue,” Mars and Jupiter help lighten the load, because partners are always happy to see each other when these two planets are well-positioned in the synastry chart.

A nice tight trine between Barack’s Venus in Cancer and Michelle’s Venus in Pisces is also a blessing. This aspect makes for a similar sense of aesthetics and in what gives them pleasure. This aspect is wonderful for bringing harmony and enjoyment of the moment.

It’s also interesting to note that Barack and Michelle have several inconjunct elements in their synastry, starting with their Sun signs and Barack’s Mercury in Leo is inconjunct Michelle’s Mercury in Capricorn. The Leo-Capricorn inconjunct is often seen as the difference between wanting to be in the limelight and preferring to work behind the scenes. What works to promote understanding between these very different signs is the powerful Sun-Saturn intra-aspect (the Sun and Saturn rule Leo and Capricorn).

Without a birth time for Michelle, we can only guess whether her Moon falls in Aquarius or Pisces. If it is in Aquarius, her Moon is trine by sign to Barack’s Gemini Moon, and if in Pisces, her Moon would square his. However, a Pisces Moon would conjoin her Venus, and that would give her a Moon-Venus conjunction with Barack’s Chiron in Pisces. I would interpret this as her ability to help Barak get in touch with his inner wounds through love and compassion.

Saturn plays one more part in this synastry, with Michelle’s Saturn conjunct Barack’s Aquarius Ascendant. It’s possible that she is the one who makes sure he is ready to step out on to the stage with no flaws in his appearance. Saturn aspects to the Ascendant are yet another indicator of a lasting relationship.

From what we have seen of this attractive couple, it is obvious that they have a solid, happy relationship with each other and with their two beautiful daughters. They have both Saturn aspects to keep them in line and great Mars-Jupiter aspects for having lots of fun together. This one looks like it will continue to grow and mature with grace, dignity, and joy, and bless all who come in contact with them.

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Verified Birth Data: Barack Obama 4 August 1961, Honolulu, HI; Michelle Obama 17 Jan 1964, Chicago, IL

Full Moon in Pisces, September 15, 2008

Pisces Moon risingThe Full Moon next Monday promises to be a real zinger at 22°54′ Pisces, with Uranus conjoining it and Pluto in Sagittarius forming a T-square. It’s “batten down the hatches” time!

By the time the Moon is full, both Jupiter and Pluto will have returned direct and started to pick up speed. Sagittarius and Scorpio folk in particular may be getting hints that matters held in stasis over the past few months are beginning to see movement, as Jupiter and Pluto rule those signs, respectively. Adding to the movement is the continuing trine from Saturn in Virgo, so look where Jupiter is currently falling in your chart to see what’s breaking loose for you. It’s entirely possible that things will fall into place smoothly and easily under the influence of the trine. Let’s hope so, anyway.

Pluto is another matter. The T-square with the Sun, Moon, and Uranus is more likely to create some dramatic effects, because any time Uranus is on the playing field, he electrifies events. Pluto asks us to let go of what is dead or dying in our lives, and if we have not been paying attention up to this point, we will have far less choice in the matter now. For some reason, the thought popping into my mind about this pattern has to do with accepting loss. In doing so, we ultimately gain, but there will be a price (mostly because human beings tend to undervalue freely given gifts). If we allow ourselves to let go gracefully in an open-handed manner and forgive ourselves for holding on so tightly in the first place, we will navigate through this fine.

The Moon-Uranus conjunction in Pisces is closely semi-sextile Neptune in Aquarius, emphasizing the mutual reception between Uranus and Neptune. The Moon provides access to our emotions and unconscious motivations, and at this time we may be better able to tap into the archetypes represented by Uranus and Neptune. Service to others with compassion and appreciation for what makes each of us unique is a good starting point. Taking time to consider how we may be of service is never a waste of time.

On a more mundane level, we have a nice tight stellium in Libra of Venus, Mercury, and Mars. It sure doesn’t hurt to have sympathetic Neptune, the higher octave expression of Venus, trine to this stellium. This is the perfect time to find the right words to heal the atmosphere of divisiveness possibly brought about by Mars in Libra’s tendency to use words like weapons and take the other side of a disagreement just because it can. Mars is not comfortable in Libra, the sign of his detriment. But don’t worry, because on October 4, he will enter Scorpio, the sign he co-rules with Pluto.

For this Full Moon, the Sabian Symbol for 23 Pisces is, A materializing medium giving a séance, with a keyword SUBSTANTIATION. More than anything, this connects with the mutable T -square, acknowledging the need to surrender to our higher purpose in order to become “unstuck” on our path to becoming our most authentic self. In order to manifest something new in one’s life, there has to be space available, and it’s far better to do this consciously and with awareness.

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun is 23 Virgo is, A lion tamer displays his skill and character, with keywords RESOLUTENESS and PATIENCE. This is perfect fit with the current trine between Saturn in Virgo and Jupiter in Capricorn, where earth sign persistence and willingness to tame one’s vital energies to achieve a goal is rewarded. We also are reminded to have faith and courage in our abilities.

We are standing on the threshold of a period of profound change brought about by Saturn opposing Uranus, and this Full Moon on the Virgo-Pisces axis gives us an opportunity to glimpse how this opposition may affect us personally. It is also a great time to remind ourselves that practicing kindness and behaving in a thoughtful manner to all we encounter is no bad thing, because Uranus is the biggest pot-stirrer there is!

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast September 8: Run-Up to Full Moon in Pisces

Botticelli's Mars and VenusFasten your seat belts and hang on to the handrails, because this is going to be a killer week.

It’s hard to name one dominant energy this week, as there are so many things going on astrologically. However, if I had to name one outstanding feature, I’d say it’s the run-up to the Full Moon in Pisces next Monday.

Although we’re still a week away, we’re going to start feeling this potent Full Moon by mid-week. Some of you may feel it even earlier, if you have chart angles or key planets in the mid-degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces). The Full Moon will be tightly conjunct Uranus, planet of sudden change and surprise, so there’s no telling what might happen. In situations like this, we can only lamely advise you to expect the unexpected.

As usual, Neith will have more in a day or two in one of her enlightening and increasingly popular lunation reports. In the meantime, let’s have a look at the other significant events happening in the sky this week.

On Monday, Jupiter and Pluto both turn direct. Jupiter has been retrograde since May 9; Pluto, since April 2. Give these two a week or so, and then watch to see what manifests in your life. It could be quite sudden. If you’ve been working toward a certain goal but have been getting only lukewarm results, you may see major movement now, depending on where Jupiter and Pluto are transiting your chart.

Jupiter’s return direct is all the more powerful, since it takes place in a tight trine with Saturn, ruler of manifestation on the physical plane. If you haven’t had a goal in mind, get one now and do some visualization and affirmation work on Monday. The square from Mercury in Libra to Jupiter will help you form intentions. Remember, thoughts are entities.

As if that’s not enough for one day, Mercury conjoins Mars in the middle of all this activity, which could bring an element of anger or impatience to your dealings with others and your approach to life in general. The energy of Mars in Libra can be passive-aggressive, so monitor your words and actions to be sure that you’re saying what you really mean. For example, rather than lashing out at someone because you’re hurt, try just saying, “That hurt,” and take it from there.

The Moon, meanwhile, conjoins Pluto on Monday before entering Capricorn and interacting with Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury, all within a five-hour period on Tuesday (roughly 1 to 6 p.m. on the West Coast of the United States). Events during this period should provide you with plenty of clues what to expect as a result of the Jupiter-Saturn trine and also the upcoming Venus-Mars conjunction.

The cosmic lovers finally meet on Thursday, although after the activity early in the week, it’s almost anticlimactic. Hopefully, the dust will settle for a few hours, and you’ll get to enjoy the sweetness of this moment. The image I chose for this week, Botticelli’s Mars and Venus, is in honor of this aspect. There’s a fascinating entry on this painting on Wikipedia. Note especially the comments attributed to philosopher Marsilio Ficino on the capacity of Venus to placate Mars but his inability to master her. That would especially be true of Venus and Mars in Libra!

By Friday, the you-know-what starts hitting the fan, as the Sun opposes erratic Uranus. This is the opening act for the Full Moon, and I can’t even begin to predict how it will manifest.

From Friday through Sunday, Mercury, Venus, and Mars trine Chiron, creating an opening to heal through words, love, and physical intimacy. With everything else that’s going on, we may miss this subtle cue, but if we remain aware of it, we can draw on it to improve our closest relationships. This includes your relationship with yourself.

I am definitely on pins and needles, but I’m trying to muster my courage to handle whatever life throws my way. I wish the same for you, in spades.

Love and blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Venus and Mars, by Sandro Botticelli, c. 1483. National Gallery, London.

Ask Our Readers: How Do You Handle Conflict in Relationships?

After writing the post on Libra’s approach to fighting fair, I decided to pursue this topic a little further and see how others feel about this. Maybe you prefer to a more visceral interaction than I, with all my Libra. If so, please tell us about it.

Thus, this week’s question:

How much tolerance do you have for conflict in relationships, and how is this shown in your chart?

I’ll go first:

I believe it’s my Libra Moon-Neptune conjunction making me particularly sensitive to someone yelling harsh words at me. It feels like I’ve been punched in the solar plexus when that has happened. It is having Mars conjunct Mercury in Scorpio that gives me the means to edit my speech before it emerges.

It’s also possible the North Node in Gemini, another air sign, pulls me towards communicating my anger in a more civilized manner. The Sagittarius South Node in my first house is not nearly as good about choosing the right words.

At any rate, that’s what I see in my chart encouraging me to express my feelings, especially anger, in as non-threatening a way as possible.

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Musings from a Libra Perspective

Libra by KagayaWith Venus, Mercury, and Mars all now in Libra, this Libra person’s thoughts have turned to the astrology of relationships and what we can do to keep our relationships running smoothly.

I have Chiron conjunct my Libra Sun natally and consequently have given a great deal of thought to how to avoid wounding both my partner and myself. Much of what I’ve learned was done the hard way but not all, thankfully. I actually paid attention to different concepts I came across in books on managing one’s relationships.

One of the keys to a lasting partnership is to choose one’s battles wisely. I have natal Mars in Scorpio square Pluto in Leo, which gives a tendency to bring the nuclear option to the battlefield. Obviously this was not a great idea, so it was necessary to walk away more often than not. In the process I found out that most issues we fight over are minor in the bigger picture, and simply calling a time out for a day or two will usually be enough to let the matter slide. The really important issues – the deal breakers – don’t go away and require a different strategy.

We have so few role models on how to fight fairly. Books, movies, and TV shows all portray couples saying very hurtful things to each other, storming around, sometimes actually being physically abusive, and then making up like none of that happened. We can reprogram ourselves to not go down that road. It’s possible to disagree without saying things like “you are wrong.” If we claim our feelings and use “I” instead of pointing the finger by saying “you,” it is easier to keep anger and resentment from escalating.

Libra is all about equity and justice and, often as not, given to compromise. While we have a strong Libra influence in the sky, it is a good time to take a look and see if we are practicing compromise and fairness in the way we interact with our nearest and dearest. Practicing moderation, another Libra favorite, never hurts either. Another idea I’m personally fond of is attempting to behave in a manner so I’m not running around apologizing all the time. Everyone benefits from hearing a kind word and receiving a thoughtful gesture.

I know I’m such a Libra, but we’re pretty good people on the whole.  :::grin:::

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .