Category Archives: General Musing

Weekly Forecast December 14: New Moon in Sagittarius, Mars Retrograde

Blewett Pass When I’m traveling by air, I hate it when the plane lands and, for an agonizing few seconds, I’m subject to the negative g-force. That’s the feeling I have this week as Mars slows down in preparation for turning retrograde.

Although there’s a lot going on astrologically this week, the impending retrograde of Mars is what we’re likely to feel the most. That’s because Mars rules our physical energy, and when he’s slowing down (that’s what it looks like from down here anyway), we tend to do the same.

Mars also rules steel and moving parts, which means we’ll see his effect on holiday traffic. With Mercury also slowing down, we can expect mall traffic to be even more of a nightmare than usual. If you find yourself in that situation, stay alert for drivers who may be inclined to take out their frustrations on the gas pedal.

In her New Moon post, Neith already mentioned the dominant aspects of this week, but I’ll run through them here chronologically.

On Monday, the Sun squares Uranus and sextiles Jupiter. Conflicting angles between the Sun and Uranus sometimes suggest accidents and disruption, and while Jupiter may amplify them and make them really big, his lucky influence also can bring happy endings to tense situations. For many people, this planetary combination may indicate an exciting break in routine for something fun and totally unexpected.

On Tuesday, the Sun sextiles Neptune, which is in a three-way conjunction with Jupiter and Chiron. Sextiles tend to be easy, and often they pass without any notice. It’s also going to be just plain difficult to figure out which planetary combination triggers which event, since there are so many planets involved … kind of like trying to determine who caused a 12-car pileup.

Tuesday’s Moon-Venus conjunction makes this my favorite day of the week for a party or for getting together with friends after work for some holiday cheer.

Wednesday is the New Moon in Sagittarius, three degrees from the Galactic Center. Be on the alert for “downloads.” They could come in brilliant flashes of insight, in dreams, while meditating, or by some other means. Be sure to record these messages somewhere so that you can contemplate them over time.

An hour and a half after the New Moon, the Moon enters somber Capricorn and immediately triggers the Saturn-Pluto square. You may feel lonely, isolated, or disempowered under this influence, but it won’t last long.

Venus trines Mars on Thursday, just as he’s close to a complete halt. She’s got a captive audience, so he’ll just have to sit there and listen to her, and then he’ll go off and think about it. If any of you are having “discussions” with a partner who’s lagging a little behind you spiritually or emotionally, be patient and give him or her some space, while continuing to be completely honest about how you feel.

Saturday’s sextile from Venus to Chiron and square from Venus to Uranus promises to bring a surprising breakthrough in healing a rift between you and someone else.

Mars finally turns retrograde on Sunday. If you’re out and about, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Keep your to-do list short and your shopping reasonable, as it won’t take much to get shopped out. The Moon opposes Mars later in the day, increasing the risk of arguments due to overstimulation and fatigue.

Fortunately, we’ll also have Venus in a lovely sextile to Neptune and Jupiter to lift our spirits and help us remember what the holidays are all about. With so much media pressure to show our love through material gifts, we often forget that the best thing we can give is precious moments truly connecting with those we love.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Pat

Image: Snow on Blewett Pass, one of the few routes through the mountains separating the Seattle metropolitan area from the vast open stretches of Eastern Washington. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Ask Real Astrologers: Seeking the Best Legal Outcome

This week’s question comes from Danielle in Michigan:

Two years ago I did something very stupid that got me in serious trouble with the law. It has been an awful two years, and in order to get it behind me, I am going to plead guilty on December 21, the date of the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. Should I try to put off sentencing for a better outcome or try and get it over with on that date?

Pat’s response:

Danielle, before I answer your question, I need to qualify that we are not legal experts, and it’s beyond the scope of this column to do the kind of complete astrological reading you would need in order to make a decision of this magnitude.

With that caveat, I will tell you that I’m not happy about the date you’ve selected, even before looking at your chart. Although Jupiter and Neptune can bring good fortune in some cases (operative word some), there are other factors present on this date that could complicate any proceeding, legal or otherwise. The Sun and Pluto are conjunct in Capricorn, representing serious conflicts with authority figures. And that’s just for starters.

Another very important factor is that troublemaker Mars will have just turned retrograde opposite Jupiter and Neptune.

Now, the cardinal T-square, which recently began building when Saturn entered Libra, is going to be very difficult for many people, especially those like you who have chart angles in the early degrees of the cardinal signs. So there isn’t going to be any ideal date for your hearing in the near future. Still, I would hold off, if possible.

In the meantime, find a reputable astrologer who is skilled in electional astrology to do a complete reading in order to find the best date for you. Off the top of my head, I would think that just about any astrologer would tell you to wait until after Mars turns direct in mid-March.

I wish you the very best of luck with your challenging situation and hope you get the best possible outcome for all concerned.

Neith’s response:

Danielle, I agree with Pat on changing the date if possible, but if you cannot, then there are factors I believe may prove helpful for you. I suspect you generally are good at helping yourself, since you have a very nice grand trine in fire in your chart (Sun, Saturn and Pluto).

First, the Aquarius stellium of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron will be sextile your Sun and trine your natal Jupiter in Libra. This configuration will support your ability to put your best “face” on and project willingness to be honest. Being absolutely honest is often the best defense. It throws those in the legal system off balance, as they are far more used to being lied to.

Second, the Saturn in Libra square to Pluto in Capricorn is working on reintroducing equity and justice once more into our legal system. Saturn in Libra may be stern, but it is always fair and even-handed. Pluto in Capricorn can come across as harsh and authoritative, but at this time, Saturn in Libra is demanding that Pluto remember to be just.

I also believe the timing of this coming right on the heels of your Chiron return is no accident, either. We can experience a subtle sea change in the way we view our old wounds and patterns of causing harm to ourselves at that time, often emerging with a fresh perspective and desire to avoid beating our heads against those particular walls anymore.

Be honest and direct as only those with an Aries Sun can! I wish you well and join Pat in hoping for the best possible outcome for all concerned.

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Ask Our Readers: Your Holiday Wish List

The standard astrology article for the winter holidays tells you how to pick gifts by sign. I’ve written several of those myself. So Neith and I would like to try something different.

This year, we’d like you to tell us what you’d most like for the holidays, and then sign off with your Sun, Moon, and Rising Signs. Just think: If enough of you participate, we might collectively change everyone’s approach to gift-giving. Maybe Gemini doesn’t really want gloves and Sagittarius doesn’t most want a new iPod!

Since I started this, I’ll go first…

As an Aquarius, I’m supposed to want freedom, but freedom for what? I would like Santa to bring me the freedom to do the work I love, as much of it as I want to and can do.

More than that, I’d like a bottomless pitcher of love.

My stats: Aquarius, with Aquarius Rising and Moon in Pisces.

Your turn!

Pat

Weekly Forecast December 7: Mercury Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn

Christmas in Leavenworth. © James A. Weythman, 2009.

I know I’ve written this before, but now I really, really mean it: We’re in a time of major shifts, and it’s hard to keep our bearings when the ground isn’t steady under our feet.

This can be nerve-wracking or it can be exciting, depending on your point of view. Maybe both at the same time. I concede that, as a fixed-sign person, changes are harder for me to adjust to, and that tends to color my take on what’s happening in the sky. But humans in general don’t like change, even positive changes that we know we need. And all growth requires change.

I see this week as an incubation period. Now that Uranus is direct, all the planets and even the major asteroids are direct until Mars turns retrograde on December 20. We have a short window in which we can advance by light years. That applies to personal development, relationships, career moves, domestic circumstances, and specific projects we may be working on.

On Monday, Jupiter conjoins Chiron for the third and last time, and we also are approaching the final conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune (exact on December 21), not to be repeated for another 13 years. There is a real opportunity for deep healing of old wounds, especially those that are imprinted in our energy field. This is a subtle business, though, so you will have to be very observant and pay attention to understand how this particular aspect is manifesting. If you’ve been working on your own healing for the past year, you’ll see results in the next two weeks. Finally, you can look and see how far you’ve come.

If you need help playing detective and getting to the root of matters, Monday’s Mercury-Pluto conjunction will go a long way toward increasing your understanding. What comes up may not be comfortable, but it will be the truth. We can’t solve problems if we don’t understand what’s causing them.

Because this conjunction is in Capricorn, it also should help with financial issues. Watch for news about scandals involving money. Since Mercury also squares Saturn on the same day, news stories may involve government regulation and industry efforts to avoid having to meet stricter codes. Personally, we may find that the way to resolve issues that come up this week is belt-tightening or some other form of self-discipline.

As I mentioned in last week’s forecast, Mercury is slowing down in preparation to turn retrograde later this month. That means that all aspects this week involving Mercury will have more impact than they normally would. The Messenger enters his pre-retrograde shadow period on Thursday, so start wrapping up all your shopping and mailing. It would be best not to purchase any expensive items or electronic devices after this date.

Fortunately, the Sun is still in fun-loving Sagittarius, and on Thursday, it trines Mars in Leo, another party sign. Early season holiday parties will be lively. If you’re planning one, include lots of music and a place to dance, as well as strings of colorful holiday lights.

Do take advantage of this chance to have a good time, because Mercury and Mars retrograde are going to take their toll this holiday season, in ways that you may not be able to foresee right now. The healing work we do this week will be much more effective, too, if we laugh and have fun.

Wishing you all much love, joy and laughter,
Pat

Saturday Extra! Holiday Planning with Mercury Retrograde

Blizzard in the UK As most of you know, another Mercury retrograde period will be upon us soon, just in time to mess with the best-laid holiday plans.

With Mars also about to go into reverse, the typical delays and frustrations that vex us while Mercury is retrograde could cause temper tantrums and emotional meltdowns everywhere. The holidays are stressful enough as it is, and I’m sorry to have to report that this season may be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Fortunately, since you know about this in advance, you can take some measures to mitigate the worst effects of Mercury retrograde. Indeed, all of you seem to be aware of this already. According to our Wednesday poll, the majority of you are planning to get your shopping and mailing done early, before Mercury and Mars go retrograde and turn all the UPS trucks into pumpkins.

As for holiday shopping and other daily activities, the usual caveats apply and then some. Be absolutely sure to buy all big-ticket items early this month. Hopefully, you even took advantage of all those Black Friday specials and have most of your major shopping out of the way. Electronic devices in particular need to be purchased while Mercury is direct. Watches, a popular gift item, also should be purchased now, as should cars and auto accessories – anything that has to do with transportation.

Most companies don’t make hiring decisions at this time of year, and they may put off important new business until after the first of the year. That will be problematic, as Mercury will be retrograde until January 15. If you get a new job opportunity, hopefully you’ll be able to stall signing the contract until then.

The effects of Mars retrograde are a bit harder to deal with and will take some mindfulness to counter. First of all, we all will need to make a sincere effort to communicate clearly, and when the inevitable breakdowns occur, we will have to resist the urge to blame the other person. Even if it seems like the other person was insensitive or not paying attention, respond with love and kindness, and be willing to forgive and forget. If the person in question really is malicious or intentionally showing you disrespect, that will come out again later, and you can deal with it then.

I’ll have more on Mercury in my weekly forecast on Monday. In the meantime, I wish you all much love and abundance.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Does the Saturn-Pluto Square Affect My Chart?

This week’s question comes from Timothy in Berlin, Germany:

Is it possible to get a short overview of the Saturn-Pluto square regarding how it influences my natal planets, please … or at least how I’ll get on?

Neith’s response:

Timothy, with your natal Saturn trine your Sun and Venus blessing you with a natural understanding of how to deal with responsibilities, Saturn in Libra is not likely to cause you problems.

Saturn in Libra will not actually reach your natal Saturn until October 2010, though I’m sure you will be aware of its affects via the trine to your natal Venus. Perhaps you will be reminded of why you choose to respect others’ boundaries and generally behave respectfully towards your family, friends and lovers.

Pluto in Capricorn will probably start affecting your chart in 2011, when it will square your natal Saturn and inconjunct your Sun. This past year Pluto was inconjunct your Venus, giving you a taste of this inconjunct. Capricorn tends to feel Gemini is just a little too flighty, and Gemini finds Capricorn stuffy. Often the best route to handling these disparate energies is the old “agree to disagree” option.

Even if you will have little difficulty with Saturn squaring Pluto, Timothy, do be prepared for others around you complaining about their relationships. One of the differences between Saturn and Pluto in mutable signs (Virgo and Sagittarius) as compared to cardinal, is that people will be willing to take extreme action instead of just talking about it. It is worth noting the relationships that fail probably were seriously flawed.

Enjoy the remainder of this year’s Sagittarius season, Timothy!

Pat’s response:

Timothy, as you probably know, your natal Saturn is in early Libra, which means, first of all, that you are about to experience a Saturn return – that is, transiting Saturn is about to return to the degree it occupied in your natal chart. Saturn returns happen in our late 20s, late 50s, and late 80s. This is an important milestone in your life, even without the square between transiting Saturn and Pluto.

Whether or not we are aware of this influence, we typically begin examining our priorities and determining what we value. What has no value or purpose in life, we throw overboard, whether it’s material possessions, unfulfilling relationships, or life circumstances. What weighs us down or holds us back has to go. If we don’t make a conscious effort to get rid of what we no longer need, situations may arise that take these things away from us, and this can seem really random and cruel.

I believe that the Saturn-Pluto square is going to have this same effect on a broad scale. Many people are downsizing, buying less, and getting rid of extraneous possessions. For some, this will be a necessity due to widespread economic hardship. The effect for you may be amplified … or not. There’s a real possibility that you may not notice any significant effect at all. Transiting Pluto makes a happy sextile to your natal Mars and a supportive trine to your Moon in practical Virgo. This combination will make it easier for you to make changes, and to do so in a logical, matter-of-fact way.

Thanks for the timely question, Timothy, and best of luck to you.

Weekly Forecast November 30: Full Moon in Gemini, Uranus Direct

Cirque du Soleil, by Stu Seeger I’m writing to you this week from another planet. I don’t know yet exactly where I am. Obviously they have Internet access here, but it took some doing to figure out how to make the connection.

Not having a computer at home has been very strange. We don’t realize how much we depend on them until they’re gone. My daily routine has been totally disrupted. With other major changes happening very swiftly in my life, I really do feel like I’ve been transported somewhere else.

It looks like my laptop can be repaired, although it won’t be cheap. I got it while Mercury was retrograde, a long story I’ll relay in a Saturday Extra! post soon.

Meanwhile, a friend brought over an old desktop computer, the kind with a CRT that flickers and makes your eyeballs squeeze. The technology has got to be at least nine years old – ancient, in our swiftly advancing times. It’s strange to regress this way, and it’s also reassuring to know that these older solutions still work. I have a feeling we are going to need them more and more in the future as economic realities force us to downside and revise our priorities.

Speaking of technology, the planet most closely associated with technological advances, Uranus, goes direct this week after being retrograde for five months. Once that happens on Tuesday, we’ll have a window of nearly three weeks in which all the planets are direct, including Chiron and some of the asteroids. This is rare, and I believe we’ll all see major progress in our lives. This will be all the more true if Uranus is prominent in your chart.

On Monday, Mercury squares Uranus. This aspect can be nerve-wracking as it is, but I expect it to be all the more so with Uranus about to go direct. Events can happen suddenly under this influence, and you can forget about your plans working out without a hitch. Since both Mercury and Uranus are associated with electronics and the Internet, the fast pace we experience early in the week almost surely will involve computers, cell phones, and other gadgets we use for instant communications.

Tuesday is the Full Moon in Gemini, one of the two signs Mercury rules. Neith did an excellent post on Saturday about this curious lunation, which is happy on the surface but contains an edgy undercurrent. The handwriting on the wall is getting bigger and harder to ignore or explain away.

Earlier in the day, Mercury sextiles Neptune, a good aspect for intellectual creativity, and Uranus goes direct, which should give us all a mental jumpstart. Also, Venus enters frisky Sagittarius and is ready to party, despite the sobering energy of Saturn in Venus-ruled Libra. We can let loose temporarily and have a good time, knowing all the while that we have duties, commitments, and financial worries.

That said, we can take comfort in those same duties and responsibilities, which help provide structure and meaning in our key relationships. If you don’t identify with that statement, keep your ear to the ground on Friday, when Venus sextiles Saturn.

On Saturday, Mercury enters Capricorn. We may not feel very chatty or communicative, but we’ll want our Internet working fast and efficiently for holiday shopping. Get it all done now, because Mercury turns retrograde the day after Christmas (just in time for all the returns). Yes, another Mercury retrograde is looming. Those of us who have been experiencing major issues with our computers and telecommunications devices may have a hard time imagining how Mercury retrograde could make things any worse than they already are. For many people I know, myself included, it’s as though Mercury has been permanently retrograde for months. Mercury officially enters the pre-retrograde shadow period on December 10.

On Sunday, the Moon in Leo conjoins Mars and opposes Jupiter and Chiron. As Neith noted in her Full Moon post, it will be very easy for us to be insensitive and hurtful, so we will need to practice mindful awareness to stay kind and supportive. That’s a tall order when we’re stressed out by all the demands of the holidays, but sincere efforts will not go unrewarded.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Venus in Sagittarius, expressed perfectly here by two acrobats in the Cirque du Soleil. This photo was taken by Stu Seeger, who photographed the Cirque’s Nouvelle Experience show in Las Vegas in 1994.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This year I am most thankful for a couple of small things in my life, the granddaughter I never dreamed I would have and my new puppy – both of whom shower love like rain on me.

As a childless person, I had given up on the idea of being a grandmother until I married a man with two daughters when I was in my forties. My older stepdaughter and I both have our Saturn’s in Leo and on her first Saturn Return (and my second) she had a daughter whose Gemini rising is exactly conjoined my Gemini North Node and perhaps not so coincidentally also has her Saturn in Leo. I fell in love with her from the get go.

A couple of years ago my old dog died and even though I have looked for another dog, it wasn’t until just recently the right dog showed up. Some friends of ours had a Border collie give birth to a single pup. I know for sure my new puppy has her Sun in Libra like me but I have not yet confirmed whether her Moon is in Libra or Scorpio. Either way it’s a good match and I promptly fell in love with her too.

I’m really looking forward to introducing the puppy and my granddaughter. They are both small, very active and LOOOOVE being outside! It will be fun to watch.

Here wishing everyone a wonderful T-Day!

posted by Neith . . .

Saturday Archives: The Jupiter Effect – Positive or Neutral

Today the Sun moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius and I thought a post from the Archives on Jupiter would be fun.

As we approach the transition of Jupiter from the yang fire sign of Sagittarius to the yin earth sign of Capricorn on December 18, 2007, I find myself considering Jupiter’s effect. In traditional astrology, Jupiter and Venus are called “beneficent” and when they show up in charts and by transit, they are said to bring all that is good. That sounds wonderful but this has been not been my personal experience or that of others whose charts I’ve read.

Since I have a natal Sun-Jupiter conjunction, albeit out-of-sign, Jupiter plays an important role in my chart. He is also closely square to Saturn. So it’s like I have Jupiter revving up the engine while Saturn has the brakes on. Fun, huh! This is one of the reasons I tend to see Jupiter as an amplifier of existing aspects and energies rather than a planet that bestows blessings on all he touches.

Another example of Jupiter as a neutral amplifier is the effect he has by transit. The last couple of years saw Jupiter transiting out of my 12^th House and into my first. Now this transit didn’t particularly bring me luck or make me wildly optimistic. If anything it exacerbated what was going on in other parts of my life. Plus I put on weight eating chocolate and candy to boost my flagging energy due to feeling weighed down by my second Saturn Return. In that instance, it was more of a vicious circle and I am very, very happy to have Saturn now in health conscious Virgo to counteract Jupiter. The closer Jupiter gets to the cusp of my second House, the less interest sweets hold . . . nice!

That being said, a case can be made for Jupiter in the first house giving me the push I needed to get out of a day job that was becoming increasingly difficult for me. I was making no progress bringing positive changes there. As Jupiter winds up his stay in Sagittarius he will be sextile my Sun in Libra. I do see Jupiter-Sun aspects as more positive because the Sun is our heart and the core of our being.

Just for the record, here is a very brief summation of Jupiter’s affect on the other planets.

Jupiter-Moon: intensifying mood swings and emotional issues
Jupiter-Mercury: making someone prone to exaggeration
Jupiter-Venus: lots of fun but not so good for the budget
Jupiter-Mars: increasing the desire to take risks and forge ahead blindly
Jupiter-Saturn: classic case of conflict between caution and blind optimism
Jupiter-Uranus: shudder . . . do anything on a dare
Jupiter-Neptune: hallmark of extreme righteousness or enlightenment
Jupiter-Pluto: amplifies Pluto’s natural tendency towards obsession

Yes, some of this is a bit tongue-in-cheek but there is evidence to support these broadly written concepts. It makes more sense to me to take a more cautiously optimistic position when Jupiter is involved.

posted by Neith . . .

Image: A winter rainbow is apropos for the first day of Sagittarius.

Out of Commission

My computer is dead! Or at least, it’s in a deep coma. The computer doctor is out, so I will have to wait to find out the prognosis.

I am posting this notice using the free computer service at the King County Library, which gets my undying support forever.

Until my computer gets well or I get a new one, my presence here will be limited. I’ll miss you all. And OMG, do I miss my computer. We rely on them so much, we don’t realize it until they’re gone.

Much love and many blessings,
Pat

RealAstrologers

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