Category Archives: Ask Real Astrologers

Ask Real Astrologers: Am I Doomed To Be Alone Forever?

This week’s question comes from Nala in Melbourne, Australia:

I seem to make the same mistakes over and over again in relationships. Am I somehow astrologically engineered to do so? I met the man of my dreams, and after a short but very intensive relationship, we have broken up. I just feel as though I will never find anyone. Am I doomed to be alone for the rest of my life?

Nala, no one is ever “doomed” to be alone. We humans do seem to have a bad habit of repeating mistakes, though, and astrology can help identify those patterns.

Unfortunately, you didn’t provide me with a birth time, and that means we don’t have an exact degree for your Moon in Leo, and we don’t know what houses any of your planets are in. This is a handicap. If you know your birth time, I would suggest getting a full reading by a professional astrologer. Of course, I always suggest that, as this column isn’t a substitute for a thorough reading.

That said, a couple of things jump out at me right away. First, you have a tight Yod with Pluto and Neptune at the base and Venus and Mars conjunct at the apex. The planets at the base of a Yod work well with each other but are totally out of synch with the planet or planets at the apex. Venus and Mars are the love planets, and they are taking a lot of heat in your chart.

The inconjunct from Neptune to Mars and Venus tells me that you may not always be realistic in your choice of partners. It may be hard for you to take off the rose-colored glasses and see your partner for what he really is. With Pluto in this configuration, you get smacked hard when you overlook those vital signs and clues. And to top it off, you may feel a heavy burden of guilt, like you did something wrong to deserve it.

Second, your Venus and Mars are opposite Uranus in Scorpio, all square Saturn in Leo. Your Moon may be in this configuration, too, but without a birth time, there’s no way to know. This does suggest some difficulty in breaking out of habits that don’t serve you, but all that means is that you have to work a little harder. The fact that you’re asking questions is a good start.

The lunar North Node in a birth chart can tell us what will make us the most happy and give us fulfillment. In your case, the North Node is in Libra, sign of relationships. So it’s clear that you want and need to be in a partnership. However, the Universe is asking you to do a lot of work to make this happen. This is no accident, and it even may be your life’s purpose.

Put another way, relationships aren’t supposed to be easy for you, and that’s the point. The most important lessons you’ll learn in this life will be those you master through your romantic partnerships. Once you key into this, you will experience personal transformation and a powerful awakening of consciousness.

By the way, Mars has been in Leo since last October, and he was retrograde for several months. This no doubt complicated your relationship, as Mars transits tend to stir up trouble. Looking at your charts, I wouldn’t say it was the cause of the breakup, but it likely provided the trigger or “last straw.”

All worthwhile endeavors require a lot of trial and error before we get it right. Love is no different. Try to remain positive and keep an open heart, despite the pain of loss when things don’t turn out the way you think you want them to.

I hope that helps Nala.

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. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” You can also use the drop-down menu above under “About Us” to get to the question form. THANKS!

Ask Real Astrologers: Should I Build a Bunker?

This week’s question comes from Svetie in Coffs Harbour, Australia:

After three harrowing years of Saturn in Virgo, I’m dreading this retrograde transit. If I’m not mistaken, it was my second Saturn return. Will it treat me a bit gentler during this retrograde, or should I build a bunker now?

Svetie, we all may need a bunker here shortly!

Seriously, you are indeed in a challenging period, but not due to a Saturn return. That happened quite some time ago and is long past. What’s happening now is the conjunction of transiting Saturn and your natal Sun at 26 Virgo.

And that’s not all. Your natal Saturn is at 26 Gemini, so you’re also experiencing a Saturn square. To complicate matters still further, transiting Saturn and Uranus are opposite one another and formed an exact contact at 28 degrees Virgo on April 26. It was the fourth pass of this opposition, and we’ll get a fifth one later this year in Libra and Aries.

Of the five passes of Saturn and Uranus, the one that touched your chart most directly was on Sept. 15, 2009. That was a whopper, no doubt about it. Although some of the same elements are present now, including Mercury retrograde, Saturn has moved past your Sun. On his retrograde path, he will return to 27 degrees Virgo but no further. Sure, that’s way too close for comfort, but you got through the direct hit and lived to tell about it, so you’ll survive the next one.

Uranus is another story. He’ll return to 26 Pisces and will hover around that degree until January 2011. What’s more, he’ll have Jupiter in tow to amplify his disruptive nature. However, all disruption isn’t bad. Wildly exciting developments and growth opportunities can be just as destabilizing as exploding relationships and detonating careers, and they are every bit as possible … make that “likely.”

Fortunately, you’ve got a lot of mutable energy in your natal chart (mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces), and that means you are adaptable and open to change. Still, I don’t doubt that you’re under heavy stress and would like some stability. That probably isn’t going to happen for awhile. You may not need a bunker so much as an RV with all the amenties.

Best of luck to you, Svetie, and thanks so much for writing. Let us know how it goes.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Can Astrology Explain the Mayhem of the Volcano in Iceland?

This week’s question comes from Geraldine in London, England:

Any ideas what is going on astrologically that is causing the volcanic eruption in Iceland that is creating mayhem across the air space in Europe at the moment? Presumably something to do with the cardinal T-square?

Good question, Geraldine! I’ve addressed some of this in my weekly forecast and other posts, but this is a good opportunity to look at some of our assumptions.

First of all, I’m making an assumption that there is an astrological connection. That’s natural, since I’m an astrologer. If I were an Islamic fundamentalist cleric, I’d blame it on loose morals caused by women who wear suggestive clothing in public. If I were a geologist, I’d talk about the formation of magma, pressure build up, plate tectonics, and so forth.

The first point I’d like to make is that astrological aspects don’t cause anything to happen. That would be like saying that electricity causes light. Light is created by directing a current of electrons through a device that converts that energy into light. We are just beginning to discover how to direct astrological energies into consistent and reliable end results, but it’s going to take us another decade or two to figure it out.

In the meantime, these energies are converted into material reality without any intentional, direct intervention from humans, with the possible exception of Deepak Chopra.

Astrology is a symbolic language. We talk about the transformational power of Pluto, the revolutionary energy of Uranus, the structure-building nature of Saturn. If you combine these different energies, you get different end results. A T-square is formed of two squares and an opposition — a very tense combination. By looking at the charts of historical events, we can begin to form some correlations, although, unfortunately, the evidence isn’t consistent enough for us to make reliable predictions.

That said, I’ve looked at a lot of charts for volcanic eruptions, and several of them have either Saturn and Uranus in opposition or a cardinal T-square. Both of these configurations will be active this summer, so I think it’s a pretty safe bet that we’ll have more ash to contend with. I also expect there to be some serious political upheaval.

Explosions, by the way, are a hallmark of Uranus. Whenever there’s a big one, the first thing I look for in the chart is what Uranus was doing. In the chart for the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull on March 20, Saturn and Uranus were approaching opposition (exact on April 26), and there was a tight cardinal T-square with Pluto at 5 degrees Capricorn at the apex and the Sun at 0 degrees Aries opposite Saturn at 1 degree Libra. A second, more violent eruption occurred at the New Moon in Aries on April 14, with Saturn and Uranus in close opposition.

As for the mayhem in airports around the world, we also need to include Mercury retrograde in the picture. Obviously, he didn’t “cause” the problem, and retrograde Mercury typically isn’t a big player in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions — good thing, because he goes retrograde at least three times a year. It would be a real bummer if this happened every time! But it’s well known that travel delays are prevalent during Mercury retrograde periods. Let’s hope all stranded passengers will be safe at home by the time Mercury returns direct on May 11.

Thanks again for writing, Geraldine.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: How Do I Know if Taurus is Cheating?

This week’s question comes from Yolanda in Clark, N.J.:

I have been having problems with my Taurus partner, whose Venus is in Pisces. I am a Pisces with Venus in Aquarius. I’m having crazy dreams about him cheating and I would like to know how I should approach the discussion. I believe he may not be truthful, as he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings.

I feel that we do have a future, but both need to be honest about our insecurities and let go. But this may be the end of the road. Help!

Yolanda, I am so glad you asked this question. It’s one that astrologers get all of the time, and I happen to feel very strongly about it.

There simply is no way to know by looking at someone’s chart whether they are cheating. Period. Any astrologer who even attempts to answer this question has no ethics, and that makes anything else they tell you suspect. Now, technically you didn’t ask whether your Taurus partner was cheating, but thanks for letting me get that off my chest. As I said, I have very strong feelings about “right use” of astrology.

What we can do is to have a look at why you believe your partner is cheating and, more to the point, what you can do about it.

People with strong Pisces in their charts do have a “nose” for finding information that eludes everyone else, and sometimes we get handed these messages in dreams. However, we have to be extremely careful in using this information.

Neptune, the modern ruler of Pisces, has two sides. One side is highly intuitive, psychic, creative, and visionary, while the other side is subject to delusion and has an over-active imagination that can come up with some pretty wild worst-case scenarios. No matter what you’re dreaming, you need to validate it with facts before presenting it to others, especially if you’re accusing them of something.

It’s very common to be attracted to someone besides our partner. We can’t help that, and it’s not cheating as long as we don’t act on it. However, this can be trouble for Pisces, because we’re strong empaths and pick up on the thoughts and feelings of those around us. So, for example, if your partner was attracted to another woman or having thoughts about someone else, you might pick up on that and then dream of him cheating. I’m not saying that’s what’s happening; only that it is a strange phenomenon we see often with Pisces people.

When a partner is seeking sex outside of the relationship, there usually are signs. Does he stay out late with no explanation? Do you smell someone else’s perfume on his clothes? Does the phone ring, and when you pick it up, the caller hangs up? If so, it’s fair to ask about those anomalies. But if you have no real evidence, then there is not any “right” way to present your fears to a Taurus or to any other sign. Until you have something concrete to go on, your fear that he may be cheating is just that.

It would be entirely appropriate to initiate a general discussion about fidelity, what it means to you, and why you believe it’s important in a relationship. Be sure to listen closely to his views. If he doesn’t share your feelings about fidelity, then you need to get that straightened out immediately. You might also want to discuss your feelings about honesty. Of course, this means you need to be prepared to hear some uncomfortable truth.

One obstacle I suspect you may be facing is that neither of you likes conflict and would rather not initiate discussions that might lead to an argument. Moreover, your boyfriend has Mercury in Taurus, which prefers a direct, matter-of-fact approach to issues but doesn’t like being pushed to agree with you. The more you try to convince him of your way of doing things, the more he’ll dig in his heels and resist you.

As for those “insecurities, I’d like to point out that transiting Saturn is moving back toward your Moon at 27 degrees Virgo. He aligned with your Moon in early October 2009, and he will stop at the same degree as he’s coming out of retrograde in late May. Fortunately, this only happens once every 28 years or so, because during this time we can feel terribly isolated, lonely, abandoned … and, yes, emotionally insecure.

I wish you lots of courage, Yolanda. Let us know how it goes.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: What’s In Store for Taurus Sun?

This week’s question comes from Jezi in Princeton, N.J.:

Taurus is my Sun sign, and I have Venus in Gemini, so I’m trying to understand what both Venus and Mercury entering Taurus this week means for me and I confess to getting a bit confused trying to sort it out!

This is a great question, Jezi, as it allows me to explain a bit about Sun sign astrology and why it can be useful in some applications but limited in others.

When you say you’re a Taurus, that means the Sun was moving through the sign of Taurus when you were born. This occurs roughly from April 20 to May 20, but the exact dates can change from one year to the next. For those who are born near the date change, or “cusp,” it’s important to get an accurate birth chart, which you can do online (more info below) or with a professional astrologer.

The horoscopes you read in the newspaper and online are written with Sun signs in mind. This technique of forecasting is called Sun sign astrology. There are a few astrologers who do it well, and more and more astrologers are adding the caveat that you also should read for your Rising sign, or Ascendant. In many ways, the Ascendant provides more information about you than your Sun sign, and it’s critically important in forecasting, as it determines the layout of your chart. To know your Rising sign, you have to have an accurate birth time. You also need to know the place of birth.

The birth time you gave me, Jezi, makes you a Rising Cancer. You may find that you get a more accurate horoscope online if you read for Cancer. At the end of this post, I’ll give you some URLs for my favorite Sun sign forecasts.

Back to your original question, when Venus and Mercury enter Taurus, you won’t necessarily notice any effects until they actually align with your Sun. In the case of Venus, you may experience a day or two of good feelings, affection, and creativity, and you may feel like having a party or celebrating with friends. Flowers and beautiful objects will appeal to you even more than usual. Mercury on your Sun generally brings lots of communications.

Because Venus and Mercury move quickly relative to the Earth, these effects will be fleeting. However, when we look at where Venus and Mercury are moving through your chart, we can predict some longer-term trends. This is especially important right now, since Mercury is about to go retrograde in Taurus. Where you have Taurus in your chart tells us what area of your life is likely to be disrupted by Mercury’s retrograde effects.

In your case, Jezi, that’s the eleventh house, which rules friends, involvement with groups, humanitarian causes, and your hopes and wishes for the future. I’ve had some terrible misunderstandings with friends during periods when Mercury was retrograde in my eleventh house. Once or twice, the arguments were severe enough to end the friendship. You also may have an urge to examine your aspirations for the future and revise where necessary.

Venus transits to the eleventh house typically are very pleasant times when your friends assume more importance in your life. Getting together is tons of fun right now, especially if it involves good food and other indulgences, which Taurus is known for.

I hope that doesn’t confuse you more, Jezi! But there is really no way to simplify it. Astrology is a complex art and science, and attempts to make it simpler can strip it of its accuracy and power.

For a free copy of your birth chart, I highly recommend Astrodienst, the Swiss astrology site. Once you get more proficient in astrology, there are all kinds of ways you can manipulate charts for personal information. Still, be advised that this is never a substitute for a reading with a professional astrologer.

Sun sign astrology on the Web:
Soulgarden.tv. Daily horoscopes delivered in fabulous high-tech format by Christopher Witecki, an inspired and inspiring astrologer in Los Angeles.
AstrologyZone. Detailed monthly horoscopes by Susan Miller, one of the best-loved astrologers on the Web. She can be frighteningly accurate, provided that you read the best sign for you.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is There a Chance for Us?

This week’s question comes from Elena in Romania:

I broke up with my friend last autumn. I am trying so hard to be with him again but he is so cold and distant. Please, just tell me, is there a chance for us?

Elena, your words could have been written by any one of millions of women around the world. I have been among you, and my heart breaks for us all.

I have been writing about this topic for years and see this situation as an indication of a fundamental wound on our planet. Many of us are trying to heal now, just when planetary energies are shifting to bring everything and everyone back into alignment. That is the good news. The bad news is that we have to go through this painful situation and suffer as a perquisite to healing. So many people I know are going through exactly what you describe.

To put it another way, our individual suffering is mirrored in the collective and vice versa.

As to your particular situation, you’ve been affected very heavily by Mars in Leo. He has been in your first house for an extended stay, and he has crossed over your natal Sun and Mars twice already — once forward and once retrograde — and now he’s about to cross them for a third and final time. In last week’s column, I addressed some of the effects of Mars retrograde on the Sun. There’s a major difference, however, in that you’ve got Mars going through your first house, and he’s also opposite your seventh-house Moon, which can make you more emotional than usual.

Moreover, both you and your friend have a lot of fixed energy in your chart (the fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius). In fact, it’s quite interesting to note that you both were born near a Full Moon — you, with Sun in Leo and Moon in Aquarius, and your friend with Sun in Taurus and Moon in Scorpio.

Although you may have generated a lot of passion and heat in the beginning, you need to know that a long-term relationship with this person would entail ongoing conflict. It’s not impossible to make it work, but you would have to be very committed to each other, to your own personal growth, and to learning how to communicate without hurting each other. That may be the karmic lesson you need to learn, but I believe that you would eventually be happier with a relationship that isn’t so taxing and that allows your Leo personality to shine.

Thank you for writing, Elena. I really do feel your pain and hope that you soon will find peace for your troubled heart and soul.

For anyone who is interested, I do synastry readings, with a special gift for finding your karmic connections. I should warn you, though, that karmic connections aren’t always easy, nor do they necessarily mean that you were made for each other for all time. Many people I know are working through karmic relationships right now and are enduring a lot of pain in the process. What I can do for you is to help you identify the issue you are working on so that you can focus on that and get through your lesson as efficiently as possible.

Ask Real Astrologers: Hammered by Mars in Leo

In my most recent weekly forecast, I wrote about Mars in Leo and the need for asserting your ego. To know how to go about it, I advised looking at where 1 degree Leo falls in your natal chart. That prompted a question from Renick in Tokyo, who writes:

For me, that’s dead-on conjunct my natal Sun, along with my Saturn and Mercury and opposed my Moon. This kind of complex arrangement is beyond my interpretive skills. What does it mean when a big-deal conjunction occurs on top of a natal chart pattern like that? More broadly, I never really know how to interpret that chart pattern: a stellium opposing one planet. I’d like to hear your thoughts. Thanks for writing your blog! It’s always enlightening.

Renick, if it makes you feel any better, Mars has been sitting exactly on my Descendant, with predictable results for my close partnerships!

Yes, having Mars on your Sun can be a challenge, but it’s actually one of the more positive Mars conjunctions. Mars and the Sun are both “ego” planets, and so their energies work quite nicely together. This is all the more true when the conjunction occurs in Leo, since the Sun is Leo’s ruler.

Normally, you would be bubbling over with energy under this transit, but with Mars stationed and just sitting there like a heavy lump, I’ll bet you’ve been dragging. That makes it hard for you to put this energy to its best use, which would be some good, hard physical work. If you’re feeling the need for strenuous activity but can’t get moving, the resulting frustration could make you very irritable. I also wouldn’t be surprised to hear that you got some kind of nasty infection or hurt yourself. That can sometimes happen under this transit, and Mars is in your sixth house, which rules health.

If you don’t have the energy to throw yourself into late nights at the gym, then late nights at the office might work, too. The only problem there is that sitting in a chair all day might make you fidgety and irritable, and it’s back to being in a fighting mood.

As for Saturn and Mercury, I wouldn’t worry too much about Mars affecting them, as they are far enough away and not in the same sign. I’d be more concerned about the eclipses in July if I were you, but that’s another question for another time.

In general, though, you are right that it’s much harder to interpret a chart when a planet hits a natal stellium or, conversely, when a transiting stellium falls near a natal planet. It definitely complicates things, and I’ve admitted a few times in the past year that I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. When there’s that much going on, there are just too many variables.

That said, the house position gives us major clues. In your case, you have a lot going on in the sixth house, which is associated with health, the workplace, and your daily routine. It also can indicate issues with small pets.

I hope that puts you at ease. Thanks for writing, and thank you for the kind words!

Ask Real Astrologers: Is This a Good Time to Launch a Business?

This week’s question comes from Rossa in the UK:

I’m in the process of doing market research for a new business and product. It is early days but so far the feedback I’ve had has been positive. However, I have been out of work for over two years and have tried out various ideas and explored other employment avenues without success. I am a little wary that this may be yet another dead end and I’m going to end up disappointed again. Is there anything astrologically that would signify a change in my working life that you could share with me?

Diane’s response:

Rossa, it really is no surprise you are thinking about business ventures and working to improve your financial situation in general with all those transiting planets in your second house of “accounts receivable.” I would encourage you to continue doing your homework and making sure you understand exactly what you are getting into.

Natally, Jupiter is in your tenth house opposite Mars in your fourth, and transiting Neptune forms a T-square with those from your second house. This raises a red flag in my opinion, because it is so easy to overlook important details under this influence. Keep that old adage about “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” firmly in mind.

Jupiter in Pisces will be squaring your Moon in Sagittarius very soon. Since Jupiter rules Sagittarius, your emotions are probably all over the place, going from one extreme to the other. One day you are over the top when you think about your plans, and the next you could find yourself feeling way in over your head.

Saturn in Libra is transiting your eighth house and squared your natal Saturn last December. If you have felt like you have been walking through deep mud every time you spoke with your bank or other lending institutions about borrowing money, Saturn transiting the eighth is likely the cause. However, when Saturn moves back into Virgo and forms a sextile with your natal Jupiter in April and May, you may have a window of opportunity to exploit.

Best of luck with your new venture, Rossa! Just check and double-check all those pesky details before signing the dotted line.

Pat’s response:

Rossa, you are in a favorable period for money and business, no doubt, and recent planetary transits have triggered your mental processes, so it’s no surprise that you have been getting a rush of ideas.

With so many planets transiting your second house, this is a great time to increase your income. However, transiting Saturn is retrograde in your eighth house of “other people’s money” and moving toward opposition with Uranus in late April, creating an ongoing tug-of-war between working for an employer versus striking out on your own. This process has yet to play out, and I believe you will experience major developments this summer, when Jupiter enters Aries and when we have another pair of eclipses. The solar eclipse on July 11 will be closely conjunct your Descendant, suggesting a sudden, radical shift.

As you point out, this is a cardinal year, and big changes are on the way for all of us. It’s too early to tell how things will pan out, so any moves we make right now are exploratory and subject to change on a dime.

I would not discourage you from researching your idea and exploring how you can make it happen, but I do think you should remain as detached as possible from the idea itself. It is quite possible that, given upcoming planetary activity, this idea itself is not the answer, but that pursuing it will lead to a series of events that will put you in the right place at the right time.

Also keep in mind that before launching your new business, it’s a good idea to get a professional astrological reading to guide you with timing and other factors, such as who you will be working with.

Thank you for writing, and do keep us posted!

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact us, or we don’t get your question. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” NEW: You can also use the drop-down menu above under “About Us” to get to the question form. THANKS!

Ask Real Astrologers: Can Moon Square Moon in Synastry Work?

This week’s question is adapted from Diane’s personal blog, Libra Seeking Balance. Pat is taking a personal day but she will be back next week to add her thoughts to your questions.

My partner’s Moon is square my Moon in our synastry chart. Can a relationship with this aspect survive? This would seem to spell death for any kind of meaningful emotional connection.

Diane’s response:

A couple of my loyal readers on Libra Seeking Balance generously sent me more information enabling me to take a deeper look at the synastry with their partners, both instances with Moon in Leo square Moon in Scorpio. Naturally, the results were quite interesting, at least for this Libra astrologer.

In the first case, I was amazed to see ten conjunctions between personal planets and angles in their synastry. It has always been my contention we need a conjunction or three between the charts to provide enough common ground on which to build a relationship. Trines and sextiles add harmonics, squares and inconjuncts add dissonance, and oppositions can bring balance as well as tension. But without conjunctions tying the whole composition together, the relationship will often gradually (or abruptly) fall apart.

Perhaps the most significant aspects are Moon conjunct Mercury and Mercury conjunct Moon. This set of aspects is an “intra-aspect,” where the same two planets from both charts aspect each other, in this case forging a direct link between thoughts and feelings. Even though one partner’s Mercury is square the others by sign, indicating very different styles processing information, when they sit down to talk about how they feel, understanding quickly emerges.

Venus conjunct Venus is another winner, as is Mars sextile Mars. Both of these aspects contribute to their mutual happiness by indicating similar ideas of fun and the ability to work together on projects as a couple.

The second couple with a Moon in Leo square Moon in Scorpio is shy on conjunctions but does have several other very favorable synastry aspects. Among them is an alignment of one partner’s Ascendant with the other’s Descendant, which creates a sense of natural partnership. Underscoring this is an abundance of one person’s planets, including both the Sun and Moon, in the other person’s seventh house.

A very nice intra-aspect for them is Sun trine Saturn and Saturn sextile Sun. Harmonious Sun-Saturn synastry aspects provide a solid foundation for lasting relationships and often indicate a marked difference in age. A lovely Moon-Jupiter intra-aspect says they can be emotionally generous and supportive to one another, making it much easier to overlook points of contention.

In this case, Venus is trine Venus by sign and Mars sextile Mars by degree as well as sign – great aspects for planning outings and pleasant weekends together or just getting together to prepare good food at home. Many times it is the small things that can make or break a relationship.

An additional thought on Moon square Moon in Leo and Scorpio has to do with the both being fixed signs. Fixed signs tend to hang onto the status quo, for better or worse, out of a dislike for change. For these two couples, that tenacity has enabled them to move past the rough spots and explore other, more pleasant aspects of their relationships.

It really did help having good, complete birth data (date, time and place) for both parties, because of the importance of the chart wheel and angles in synastry.

Ask Real Astrologers: What Is My True Purpose in Life?

This week’s question comes from Helena in Florida:

I currently work in insurance, and the job is stable but dreadfully boring. I’m trying to figure out what my purpose is. Do I need to go back to school? I’d really love to study astrology, but the few astrologers I’ve spoken to say you can’t make a career out of it. I thought about psychology, but spending the next three years or longer in school seems daunting. I feel so impatient. Any advice?

Pat’s response:

Helena, as you noted, transiting Pluto is sitting on your Ascendant, and Saturn is transiting your ninth house. You also have a very lovely trine from transiting Neptune and Chiron to your Midheaven, which is the cusp of the tenth house of career.

I love this combination for you and feel very positive that you will find the right career move very soon. Saturn transiting the ninth house is especially wonderful news. It means that you are moving toward a new career high. The next couple of years are ideal for going back to school, and while it might seem daunting to you now, there’s nothing like Saturn in the ninth house to bring you the discipline you need to get through.

That said, the square between transiting Pluto and Saturn does suggest challenges in finding the right career move, so it’s no surprise to hear that you are experiencing some uncertainty and confusion. Also, you are going to be heavily impacted by the cardinal energy that’s building over the next couple of years. At some point, the changes in your life may start snowballing out of control, taking you toward your new career faster than you may be prepared for.

In the meantime, my advice is to go with your heart, and the rest will follow. Your “boring” job may be just the ticket to allow you to pursue a career that, admittedly, is not going to rake in the bucks. You might want to check out Kepler College (www.kepler.edu), which is mostly an online program. There are other online astrology courses as well. If you view your day job as supporting your eventual move to a more fulfilling vocation, you may find it less of a drag.

Best of luck to you, and let us know how it goes.

Diane’s response:

Helena, with Jupiter in Scorpio natally in your tenth house, it is no surprise to see you working in the insurance business and doing very well, but all of us need to make a change once in awhile. Your natal stellium in Taurus is going to make sure if you do set off down a new path, you will have the wherewithal to do it.

I always like to look at the sign on the Midheaven and aspects to the ruler of the Midheaven in helping to determine the best fit for career choices. For you, this is Libra, which is ruled by Venus. Now your Venus is very happily placed in Taurus, closely conjunct your Mercury, Moon and Saturn, but this stellium is about a strong preference for staying with the known.

However, your Venus is also the apex of a Yod, or Finger of God, with Neptune in Sagittarius sextile Uranus in Libra as the base. This configuration might be the reason you are drawn to astrology, which is associated with Uranus. The conflict inherent in this particular Yod is between Taurus, who always prefers the status quo and its comforts with the outré, adventurous energy of the base planets and signs. Sagittarius is often found pursuing something new and different, especially in aspect to eclectic Uranus in Libra located in Sagittarius’ home base of the ninth house.

While Venus in Taurus enjoys working in the financial world, you may want to consider Libra vocations related to making life more beautiful in some way. Do you enjoy making improvements around your own home? Are you interested in designing gardens or home interiors to make other people’s lives richer through beauty?

Please remember you have a very strong emphasis in your chart on the fixed signs, so change of any kind is not exactly a walk in the park. Not only that, but earth is far and away the dominant element. Take your time and explore all your options carefully before initiating your next move, but once you have chosen your new course, jump right in. Fixed signs do best getting changes over as quickly as possible so they can settle into their new routines.

As Pat noted about your Saturn and Pluto transits, Helena, you are a good place to set your new course. Best of luck to you!

RealAstrologers

The astrology of world affairs, human evolution, the future, and the state of the universe.

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