Category Archives: Ask Real Astrologers

Ask Real Astrologers: What Do Empty Houses Mean?

For this week’s question, I’m answering a comment left by Alina on my weekly forecast for September 13:

Could you please explain the effect of empty houses in a chart – for instance, house 2 and house 7.

Alina, this is a great question and one I get often, especially from those just beginning to study astrology.

Since you’re asking about the second house, which rules earned income, and the seventh house, which rules marriage and long-term partnerships, I assume that you’re concerned that an empty second or seventh house could mean that you’ll never have any money and won’t ever find a suitable mate. This is very definitely not the case – at least not because of those empty houses in your chart.

I’ve had several clients ask me about this, especially in terms of relationships. Typically, they’re having trouble getting into a relationship and wonder if they’re doomed to being single forever because there are no planets in their seventh house. The other one I get a lot is whether an empty fifth house means the client will never have children.

Think about this logically. If you have an empty fourth house, does that mean you’ll never have a place to live? If your first house is empty, does it mean you’ll have no personality? If you look at it the other way, does a full seventh house guarantee you’ll get married and live happily ever after? The answers are no, no, and no.

A natal chart must be viewed as a whole, with an analysis of house rulers and patterns in the chart. There might be indications in a chart of difficulty with close relationships, poor financial judgment, finding a career late in life, and so forth. But these things aren’t determined simply by looking at whether a house is empty.

Even with a pattern in the chart of, say, all the money houses empty, I might conclude that money wasn’t your focus in this lifetime. It doesn’t mean you won’t have any and in fact could be quite the contrary. You might have so much of it that it simply isn’t a burning issue. Again, the chart needs to be read as a whole. This is one reason why a reading with a professional astrology is vastly superior to computer-generated charts … and why a professional reading costs a lot more. It takes time for the astrologer to do an in-depth analysis.

I hope that answers your question and puts your mind at ease.

In closing, I’d like to request that anyone with a question for this column submit it via the Ask Real Astrologers form. It helps me keep track of all the questions I get and also ensures that I have all of the information I need from you in order to give you the best possible answer. I decided to take Alina’s question this week, because it is one that I get so often from clients that I thought it would be helpful for others. But please, if you would, use the form.

Thanks so much. And thank you, Alina, for writing!

Pat

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact me, or I won’t get your question. I do read all of your questions, although I am sorry that I can’t answer them all. If you need immediate guidance or in-depth advice, please contact me for a private consultation. THANKS!

Ask Real Astrologers: How Do Pluto Transits Affect Children?

This week’s question comes from “Concerned Mom” in Laguna Niguel, Calif.:

My 11-year-old son has a 5 [degree] Cappy Moon and has been so stressed for some time, very emotional and bad dreams sometimes. I think Pluto is hitting it and all the action this past summer. I don’t know that much about astrology but was wondering a couple things. How long would this tension exist for him – gosh, he’s just a kid, and Pluto moves so slow. And how can I make it easier for him? Watch for transits, or ???

P.S. I love your blog!

Yes, Mom, Pluto has been hitting your boy’s Moon hard, and that has got to be tough for such a young person. Pluto on the Moon is hard enough for adults – just ask Al Gore – so it has to be almost unbearable for a poor kid.

Actually, I’ve already done a post on this transit and usually I don’t repeat a topic. But your question gives me the opportunity to point out that children often feel astrological transits more acutely than adults do, since they tend to be far more sensitive. For children, the cardinal T-square could manifest exactly as you describe. It’s so fortunate that you understand enough about astrology to know that it could be impacting your son’s behavior. I can only imagine how many kids might have been put on Ritalin this summer for their behavioral “problems.”

Because Pluto has been at the apex of the T-square, that means your son also has a square from Saturn to his Moon and from Jupiter and Uranus to his Moon. Difficult transits from Saturn to the Moon can indicate periods of depression, while Uranus-Moon transits often manifest as nervous anxiety. Your son also has cardinal signs on all four chart angles, and his chart ruler is the Moon. He must feel like an electrical wire during a power surge.

Pluto went retrograde on April 6 exactly conjunct your son’s Moon, and then the T-square became more intense, until it reached peak power in early August. It has dissipated for the time being but will back next spring. In the meantime, Pluto has returned direct and will make one last pass over your son’s Moon in early January. You’re right – that’s an awful long time to be going through so much stress. The good news is that he’ll never have to deal with that again in his lifetime.

The Moon represents mother, and Rising Cancer needs the comforts of mother and home. I used to work with someone who had a Cancer daughter about your son’s age, and she had a bed full of stuffed animals that my colleague referred to as her “nest.” Every night at bedtime, she snuggled into her nest. Perhaps something like that would be comforting to your son. Extra attention from you and soothing reassurance would help, too. If he likes to draw or paint, that could help him express some of his feelings.

Keep in mind that the cardinal T-square is pushing us all to grow and evolve, and that applies to children as well as adults. Perhaps children are even more open to expanding their minds, as they are still forming what I call the “thought matrix.”

If the stress gets too much, though, I’d have to recommend professional help. Perhaps you could find a family counselor with some knowledge of astrology or, at least, a Jungian therapist who works with archetypes. Your little guy needs lots of extra support. Mom probably does, too.

Here’s a great big hug to both of you. Thanks for writing. I hope this helps.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: When Will This Pluto Transit End?

This week’s question comes from Elise in Kansas City, Missouri:

I’m a third degree Capricorn … Yes, thank you, for your sympathy. I’m actually enjoying the travels through the underworld, and I’m very thankful for my background in Western ceremonial magick, which helps me understand. Sometimes the ride gets to be a bit much, though. Since Pluto will go direct soon, I’m wondering when I can expect things to be not SO intense for me.

P.S. Thanks very much for all your time devoted to the blog!

Yes, Elise, you certainly have my sympathy – you and everyone else who has personal planets or chart points in the early degrees of the cardinal signs.

It’s not just Pluto on your Sun that’s been making life intense, although that would be plenty rough enough. With Pluto at the apex of the cardinal T-square, you’ve been getting the full force of the T-square at the very core of who you are. I imagine you are much changed from a year ago.

At the same time that you’ve had Pluto on your Sun, you’ve had a Saturn-Sun square, which made your Pluto transit all the more challenging. The good news is that Saturn has now moved on, but then he’ll briefly conjoin your natal Mars from mid-October to mid-November, and that isn’t going to be fun. At the very least, you’ll likely be very irritable and agitated.

In the meantime, Pluto turns direct next Tuesday at 2°47′ Capricorn. For all practical purposes, that is conjunct your Sun, and the transformational power of Pluto is all the more intense when he’s stationed. Using your alchemical knowledge, you can channel this energy into making deep and lasting changes in your life, but it will backfire big-time if you try to manipulate situations or people for your own selfish purposes. If you keep the common good in mind – which shouldn’t be too hard for a Rising Aquarius – then I wouldn’t be surprised if you manage to work miracles.

As to when this will be over, I’d give it until the end of November. After that, I would concentrate on testing and verifying that the changes you’ve made truly are setting you on the right course. Next spring, when Uranus re-enters Aries, he’ll be square your Sun. If you’re not heading in the right direction, you can bet that more unexpected events will happen in order to keep you on the straight and narrow.

It sounds to me like you’ve got a good understanding of what’s going on, and I think you’ll do just fine. Thanks for writing … and thanks for the kind words about my blog (I do work hard!).

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Will I Be a Famous Musician?

This week’s question comes from Chris in Vancouver, British Columbia:

Am I destined to be a famous musician or should I stick to being a nurse? Healthcare pays good, but I want more in life. What is your expert opinion? What career should I focus on and strive for? Literature, music, film, art, or just a conventional RN? Help!

P.S. I went to an astrologer and he told me I should not have a career because it will get in the way of my sex life!

Chris, you didn’t say whether you are male or female, but it’s hard to imagine an astrologer – or anyone, for that matter – telling a man that a career would get in the way of his sex life, especially a career as a musician! Everyone knows that musicians are chick magnets (you’re too young to remember that Dire Straits song, “Money for Nothing”).

All kidding aside, you definitely need to follow your heart. You have what’s known as a locomotive chart, with the Moon in your first house as the driver. You are drawn to the arts, music, and literature, no doubt about it. Combined with Sun, Mercury, and Mars all in Aquarius, your Gemini Moon needs lot of mental stimulation, action, and variety.

At the same time, you have Saturn conjunct your lunar North Node in Virgo in the fourth house, which strongly suggests that nursing or some other service-oriented career isn’t a bad choice for you. So you do have a dilemma.

The good news is that Moon in Gemini is well-adapted to more than one career, and that would be good for you. Why not stick with nursing for awhile and write a novel in your free time or moonlight as a musician? Almost no one gets to be famous overnight. Even the artists we think of as “overnight sensations” had to pay their dues. Many did gigs while working other jobs. You can, too.

Rather than striving to be famous, for now just work at being an accomplished artist and networking with others. And, by the way, I don’t think an empty eleventh house means that you won’t find others to work with.

As for the other astrologer’s prediction, he probably was looking at Venus in Capricorn in your seventh house. I don’t know how he arrived at that conclusion, if that’s indeed what he meant. Truly, it’s hard to imagine anyone making such a statement, so I’m wondering if perhaps you misunderstood. Astrologers sometimes forget to speak in lay terms, and all that astro-speak can get very confusing.

Best of luck to you, Chris, and thanks for writing.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: No Sex, No Money – What’s Going On?

This week’s question comes from Brigitte in Cannes, France:

I have no certainty in any area of my life. Nothing’s working. My career is at a standstill, which has put me in a financial bind. All of my other projects have stopped since April 2005, when I started living in two apartments. As for my love life … ugh. My partner and I aren’t having sex anymore. What’s with that? Is it boredom, or was this relationship a mistake to begin with? Thanks for clarifying my future.

Brigitte, I think it’s charming that you wrote to me in French. As it turns out, I do speak French, as I lived in France for eight years. It’s been awhile, though, and my French is rusty, so I might have made some mistakes in translating your e-mail. Still, I’m pretty sure I got the gist of it.

As I’ve mentioned before, I can’t address “my whole life sucks” questions in this column, as there just isn’t enough space. But I decided to take a look at your chart, because I had a feeling you might be getting blasted by the cardinal T-square. Sure enough, it’s hitting your chart quite heavily.

Your natal Moon at 4 degrees Libra in the first house is square your Mars in Capricorn in the fourth house, which means that you have transiting Saturn on your Moon and transiting Pluto coming up on Mars (he’s still a few degrees away). It’s no wonder you feel like you’re under some kind of evil spell.

The complication with your partner is no surprise, either. He has a T-square in the mid-degrees of the cardinal signs in his natal chart, and also an opposition of Mars at 4 degrees Libra – that’s right, exactly conjunct your Moon – and Jupiter at 4 degrees Aries. Between the two of you, I’d say you’ve got plenty of shared “bad luck,” and it could explain the dip in intimacy, too.

The good news is that Saturn is now moving on, so he’ll be off that sensitive Moon-Mars conjunction in your synastry chart. He’ll also be leaving your first house shortly. That may not be so good for your financial situation, but at least you’ll get some relief emotionally. If you’ve been feeling depressed, that should lighten up some, too.

This is a great illustration, by the way, of how difficult transits such as the cardinal T-square can get complicated by orders of magnitude when they hit sensitive points in our synastry chart. If anyone else is in this bind, I offer a special report for transits for couples. Please note that I have to do a complete synastry reading first.

Je vous souhaite de bonne chance, Brigitte. Merci bien de m’avoir écrit.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Will I Ever Have an Intimate Relationship?

This week’s question comes from Dee in Maryland:

Since my Sun is in Libra, I understand that a major focus in my life is on relationships. However, intimate and romantic relationships seem to be the most difficult thing for me. I have only had about two boyfriends ever and they were pretty much incompatible, thus short-lived.

So, being a pretty much independent (solitary) person for most of my life, I’ve been recently feeling a yearning to become more partnership orientated. I’m sure that some other aspects in my chart have something to do with this paradox. Do you see anything there that could shed some light? I feel that maybe I’ve been too idealistic in my search for partners and am a little guarded in general to the possibilities.

Beautifully stated, Dee – and so perfectly Libra. Incidentally, you not only have Sun in Libra, but it’s in the seventh house, traditionally associated with Libra, in conjunction with Mercury. That’s a lot of Libra!

Your chart is not so horribly relationship-challenged that you are destined to be alone forever, but I do see a couple of difficult aspects. Fortunately, you can overcome these challenges with a bit of work.

The first issue I see is that you have Saturn in your fifth house, which rules romance and pleasure. Saturn is a limiting influence, and his position in the birth chart indicates where we are the most insecure and fearful. Moreover, he’s in Cancer, which is the sign of his detriment. Cancer is emotionally sensitive and thus tends to be cautious and protective. All of this tells me that you may feel very vulnerable in love and afraid of being hurt.

Your Saturn also is “afflicted” by a square to Uranus, which is where you get that independent streak. Taken to the extreme, you may go to great lengths to let others know how much you don’t need them in an attempt to hide just how vulnerable you feel. In your mind, showing your soft underbelly would be akin to giving them the gun and ammo and showing them exactly where to shoot. And yet, to form deep, intimate relationships, we must let others see our most vulnerable places. If you could work on this area, I think you’d see some favorable results.

The second potential difficulty I see in your chart is that Mercury, ruler of your seventh house, is retrograde. Lots of people have Mercury retrograde in their birth chart, and this alone doesn’t mean you have difficulty with relationships. But when he’s retrograde in Libra and rules your seventh house, then there’s a potential stumbling block.

In addition to doing some work to overcome your fears regarding intimacy, you might also work on understanding where others are coming from. This would help you realize that they feel vulnerable, too. We all have a dual capacity for hurting others and being hurt. The need for balance in that regard should be easy to grasp for someone with all of your Libra!

As for why you’re delving into these issues now, I’d “blame” Saturn again. He’s currently transiting your seventh house, and so your attention is being focused on relationships and the fact that you’re not finding fulfillment in this area of life, which indeed is critical for Libra.

Since you’ve started studying astrology, you might use it as a tool to help you with these issues. I’d also recommend a complete reading to help you understand more about your birth charts and current transits. I do telephone consultations, but if you’d rather see someone in person, do a search to find out who’s available in your area.

I know you will find true love, Dee. Thanks for writing.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is It Time to Address Soul-Less Sex?

This week’s question comes from Osk in Loveland, Colorado:

I’m a Libra, with Libra Rising and Mercury in Libra, too, and I’m loving having Saturn traveling through Libra. I feel now it’s my time to tell people to stop being irresponsible about their soul-less sexual behavior.

Being born in a time of sexual exploration, I am wondering if people are ready to hear, not from a religious point of view, but from an energetic point of view, what really is going on. I just feel like the whole Western world is in bottomless, hellish pit regarding sex. Now, when people are starting to see their dysfunctional money behavior, how about sex? Both are eighth house issues, right? I want to make a website about this.

P.S. I’m a girl. :-)

Osk, I about fell off my chair when I read your question. I love it! And you’re so right on! My short answer to you is a resounding “yes, absolutely!” Create that website and let’s get this show on the road.

I totally agree with you about the abuse of sex in our society. It goes hand-in-hand with the lingering inequality between men and women, which ultimately has its roots in the imbalance between masculine and feminine energies on the planet. This imbalance has persisted for millennia and has had many other pernicious side effects. So many of our Western myths and legends revolve around this separation, including the stories of the Holy Grail.

I believe we are in a period of correcting that imbalance, so your idea for a website on the topic is timely indeed.

I also believe there’s a connection between material greed and sex. This theme is repeated throughout the Grail legends. As you’ll recall, only the knight with the pure heart was able to find the sacred vessel. For centuries, men regarded women as possessions. This did start to change in the 1960s, when we had an incredible stellium of planets in Aquarius, followed a few years later by a conjunction between Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, and Pluto, modern ruler of Scorpio. It’s no coincidence that the subject is coming up again, with Uranus in a tight square with Pluto for the next few years. Saturn in Libra also has been square Pluto, so perhaps the balance we’re seeking is temporarily in conflict with pervasive lust and greed.

We’ve still got a lot of correcting to do, so a website devoted to the topic would be a true service to humanity. A quick look at your chart tells me that you are ideally suited to take on this important task. By the way, among your credentials, you forgot to list Venus in Scorpio.

You just had a lovely New Moon in your tenth house of career and public life, which normally would be a great time for a new project like this. However, Mercury is about to go retrograde and will be in retreat until September 12. You wouldn’t want to launch any Mercury ruled activity during this period. It would be great time to write some sample posts, research your topic, experiment with site design, and so forth. Then you can prepare to launch after Mercury turns direct. If you wanted to wait a bit longer, there will be a New Moon in Libra exactly conjunct your Ascendant on October 7. That date gets my vote! How wonderfully symbolic it would be.

Send us a note when you’re up and running so that we can check out your new venture.

Wishing you much love, courage, and the best of luck, Osk! And thanks again for sending this great question.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Will the T-Square Affect My Surgery?

This week’s question comes from Chet in Frederick, Maryland:

I’ve had several kidney surgeries since last year and have another one scheduled for August 19. I just heard about the cardinal cross and found information on your site. Now I’m worried. Should I wait?

Chet, I’ve had some similar inquiries about health problems. The first thing I have to tell you is that I’m not a specialist in medical astrology. And, of course, I’m not a doctor. I have no idea how serious your condition is, and you didn’t tell me how critical the timing of your surgery is. With those caveats, here are a few general observations.

For the timing of any matter, including surgery, astrologers cast what’s called an “electional chart.” We look at all the aspects in the chart, with special attention to the sign and phase of the Moon, as well as aspects to the ruler of the matter in question. For surgery, that would be Mars. The sign and ruler of the body part to be operated on also are important. The kidneys are ruled by Libra and its planetary ruler, Venus. There are many other criteria, too numerous to list here.

For an electional chart, we use the time and location of the surgery rather the patient’s birth chart, although I do check the individual’s transit chart just to make sure there are no obvious conflicts. The problem with this T-square is that both the electional chart and transit charts are likely to be extremely challenged, and that is why I’ve been recommending to my clients that if critical procedures such as surgery can be postponed until late September or beyond, to take that option.

The problem, as we all know, is that most people have no control over surgery dates. They have to take the date when the surgeon is available. This is all the more true if the surgery is urgent and can’t wait. Moreover, it’s extremely unrealistic – a bit ridiculous, even – to expect that all non-essential surgery will be postponed this summer to wait out the T-square.

So, what do you do? Indeed, you’ve asked a very important question, Chet.

The first thing I want you to do is to stop worrying. Surgery is stressful enough without adding the weight of “bad astrological aspects” to the mix. In an ideal world, we’d like to have the planets on our side. That goes for any endeavor. Under the T-square, it’s just not possible. So we have to carry on with our lives, with the astrological storm raging around us. When we have no choice in a matter, we have to give up control and trust in our higher consciousness.

What I can do for you and anyone else who may be interested is to cast an electional chart and provide some details about what you might expect. For example, there are indicators of whether the surgery will need to be repeated (important in your case, Chet) and whether you’ll have a fast or difficult recovery. Sometimes we can identify the likelihood of post-op infection. If you’re working with a new surgeon, we can get some important information about this person. It does appear, Chet, that the two of you are of one mind regarding this procedure, so that should help allay some of your fears.

I hope that helps. Thanks for writing, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: How Can I Create My Own Transit Chart?

This week’s question comes from Dan in North Carolina:

Although I’m a fairly recent subscriber, I was drawn to a number of your interpretations. I do have a question for you. I can’t quite understand how to do “overlays” of recent events on my natal chart, such as Uranus in Aries or the more recent solar eclipse. Any quick way I can reach my own understanding of how I interpret various astrological events based on my natal chart would be appreciated. Perhaps this is a complicated question…?

Dan, this is a great question, and I’m sure many readers would like to know how they, too, can do some of their own chart interpretation. It is a bit complicated, but it’s well worth making the effort, so I’ll walk you through the steps to create your own transit chart.

First, I should explain to those not familiar with the term what a “transit” is. At the moment you were born, the planets were in a specific pattern in the heavens. This “freeze-frame” of planetary motion is your birth chart. As the planets continue to move over time, they form mathematical relationships to the planets in your birth chart. By overlaying the transiting planets onto your birth chart, we create a transit chart, which we can use to tell us how cosmic forces are playing out in your life.

By far the best site on the Internet for getting your chart is Astrodienst. You’ll need to register and create an account, but it’s free. They also offer a limited amount of interpretation (with a paid subscription, you get a bit more), from some of the world’s best astrologers.

To get a transit chart on Astrodienst, click on the “Free Horoscopes” tab at the top of the page, and then scroll down to “Extended Chart Selection” on the right. A page will come up with chart selection options. Under “Methods,” you get to choose a group. The default is “Circular Charts,” which is the style most people are familiar with. I prefer Pullen, because it’s easier to read. But for the purposes of this tutorial, we’ll stay with Circular Charts.

Right under “Circular Charts,” you’ll see a drop-down menu. The default chart is “Natal Chart Wheel.” If you click on the arrow to the right, you’ll see lots of other options. Under the heading “Prognostic Methods,” you’ll see “transits.” Click on “Natal chart and transits*”. The asterisk on some of the options means that you have to select a date. To select a date, keep going down the Extended Chart Selection page to “Options.” You can enter any date you wish there.

This is where it gets a bit complicated. All of the dates used on this site give the transits for midnight, Universal Time. The East Coast of the United States is five hours behind UT, so you have to take this into account. Usually, if you want transits for a certain date, entering the following day for the transit chart works. For example, to get your transits for the solar eclipse on July 11, you would type in July 12. Then click on “show chart.” You’ll see the transits on the outside of the wheel, in green.

The process is similar for Pullen; there are just fewer options to choose from (less confusing!). On the Pullen chart, your natal planets are toward the inside of the wheel, and the transits are toward the outside.

When I write my weekly forecasts, I often recommend that you check your natal chart to see which houses the aspects I’m writing about fall in. Many of you have written specifically to ask how the cardinal T-square will affect you. Well, now you can do a little of your own astrological analysis!

I would like to issue one word of caution, though, about using the interpretations on Astrodienst. Although I rate them the best on the Internet, they take each aspect and transit by itself. What you end up with is a cookbook approach that doesn’t give you a whole picture and in some cases even gives you conflicting information. The only way to get an accurate big picture is by consulting a professional astrologer. If anyone is having this issue, please contact me for a personal reading. I offer half-hour consultations by phone, which should be plenty enough to help you clear up any confusion you might encounter when you use these online resources.

You also could study astrology, as many of you already are doing. Of course, you have my wholehearted support there!

Speaking of support, I’d like to thank you again, Dan, for sending a generous donation to RealAstrologers, especially since you only recently found the site. To everyone else who sent contributions, I also remain grateful. To those who haven’t donated yet, would you please consider taking a moment to click on the “Donate” button to the right? It will take you to a PayPal page where you can make a secure payment. With your contributions, I’ll be able to make some changes to the site that will make it even more interesting and useful. I’m working on a couple of ideas and hope to have news for you soon.

Thanks for writing, Dan, and best wishes for a wonderful, abundant future.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: How Will the T-Square Affect My Sign?

As the cardinal T-square approaches its peak, I’m receiving many questions from readers wanting to know how it’s going to affect them personally.

How will the grand cross, August 6th timeframe, affect my astrological sign and therefore me? ~ Stephanie, Manhattan, Kansas.

Can you give your insight about what the current planetary transits mean to me? I also know a little about astrology. I am a Cancer with Mercury in Cancer as well. I have three planets in Libra and, not to mention, I am an Aries Rising. My life is in total mess right now. I lost my job, and my relationship with my parents and family is in chaos. I am in huge debt. Even my love life is in total huge question.
~ Ann, United Arab Emirates

Stephanie, you are a Virgo, but you didn’t supply a birth time, so we don’t know what sign is on your Ascendant. This makes it impossible to know what houses in your natal chart are being affected by the cardinal T-square, which briefly will become a grand cross on August 6, when the Moon is in Cancer.

Still, I thought your question was worth taking, because it allows me to explain a few things about Sun sign astrology and why knowing your birth time can change chart interpretations considerably.

First, there is no way to say that “all Virgos” will be affected the same way by the T-square/grand cross. Although many popular horoscopes make predictions by Sun sign, the degree of your Sun is very important. Early Virgos will not be affected in the same way as late Virgos.

In your case, you have the Sun in the early degrees of Virgo, so on Aug. 6, the Moon-Pluto opposition actually will be quite nicely positioned relative to your Virgo Sun, and this could turn out to be advantageous for you. It’s a great time to make positive changes in your life, and if you are facing serious challenges, you should be able to summon the strength, motivation, and resources to push through them.

With a birth time, we not only would have the house positions of the planets, but we would know what other planets and key chart points were being activated by the T-square. Then it would be possible to determine which areas of your life are most affected and where you could apply your efforts to make the best use of this cosmic wind to your back.

Ann, you have six planets and all four chart angles in cardinal signs, so one might think you would be getting slammed on all sides by this planetary configuration.

However, as I pointed out to Stephanie, degree counts. As it turns out, your chart angles are in the later degrees of the cardinal signs and so will not be activated by this T-square, and the only planet you have in the early degrees of the cardinals signs, where the T-square is taking place, is Mercury at 0 degrees Cancer.

That’s plenty difficult enough, though. It means that all of the T-square planets are in conflict with your natal Mercury, which rules communications and some social interactions. When Pluto is opposite Mercury, we can get into situations in which we try to subtly or not-so-subtly pressure others into thinking as we do. Naturally, this meets with resistance, and it can be severe enough that relationships break down entirely.

As with most Pluto transits, it is necessary to learn detachment and to relinquish control over others. In some cases, the tables are turned, and we feel constantly pressured to think like someone else. If this is what you’re facing, then you have no choice but to stand up for yourself and not give in, but it sure can wear you down.

Saturn square Mercury is in some ways even more troublesome, as you tend not to be able to communicate very well, and then you end up feeling lonely, isolated, and unloved. It’s probably not true, but that’s how you feel, and for Cancer, feeling is believing.

Aside from the T-square, it’s important to note that you are approaching your first Saturn return, which everyone experiences around 28 or 29 years old. If you have been moving in the right direction in life, this milestone transit can be validating. If you’re off course or on the wrong track entirely, everything in your life can break down at this time, and you might meet severe hardship and locked doors everywhere you turn. It’s all important information to tell you that you need to follow another path toward fulfillment of your life’s purpose.

My first Saturn return was hell; I experienced all of the issues you list and then some. But it made me realize that I had to make significant changes in my life. Once I did that, many doors opened for me. I truly hope this will be the case for you, too.

Thank you both for writing. Wishing you much love and courage.
Pat