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

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!

Film Review: Clash of the Titans

Perseus Releases Andromeda by Joachim Wtewael, 1611

Release the Kraken! Perseus Releases Andromeda, by Dutch painter and engraver Joachim Wtewael, 1611.

The trailers for the latest box office hit Clash of the Titans leave no doubt that this is a monster FX movie, so I went with no expectations that there would be any real Greek mythology in it. But I wanted to find out just how bad it would be.

In fact, it didn’t deviate from “the book” any worse than films based on popular novels. There’s enough real mythology in it that it might create a renaissance in classical studies, especially among young people. And, in fairness, the film wasn’t intended as a true rendition of Greek mythology but as a remake of the 1981 classic by the same name.

The plot is loosely based on the myth of Perseus, the son of Zeus (Roman Jupiter) by a mortal woman. Technically, that makes him a demigod, of which there are many in mythology thanks to the philandering of the Olympian gods.

According to mythology, Perseus’s mother was a princess of the Danaans, who inhabited much of southern Greece at the end of the Bronze Age and were among the last goddess-oriented cultures in ancient civilization. Her father, in response to a prophecy that the child would grow up and kill him, has him thrown into the sea in a box. He survives and becomes king and founder of Mycenae after rescuing Andromeda, an Ethiopian princess, from being sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus. It’s a classic hero’s journey, requiring superhuman feats such as slaying the Medusa, whose head he gives as a sacrifice to Athena. The goddess of wisdom shows up often in Greek mythology as a guide to heroes.

In Clash of the Titans, Perseus gets sucked into a three-way battle between Zeus (Liam Neeson in natty sparkling armor), Hades (Roman Pluto, played by Ralph Fiennes), and the inhabitants of Argos, who decide they no longer wish to be subject to the whims of the gods and declare war against Olympus. Perseus is played by British actor Sam Worthington, whose buzz cut and olive-drab shirt make him look more like he belongs in a television commercial for the United States Marines. Then, he just played one in another FX blockbuster.

His helper is not Athena but Io (Gemma Arterton), a sexy guardian spirit who ends up as his love interest, but there’s no real love story. There is only passing mention of the Titans, a race of elder gods who were overthrown by their children, Zeus and the Olympians.

How it all ties into astrology is hinted at in the opening lines of the film as a narrator tells us that this story is far older than man and written in the stars. True enough. Perseus, Andromeda, and Pegasus are among the 88 named constellations, along with Cetus. However, in Titans, the monster isn’t Cetus but the dreaded Kraken (didn’t we just see him in Pirates of the Caribbean?), allowing Neeson to utter the best and silliest line of the film, “Release the Kraken!” “Release Cetus” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

It also was fun to see giant scorpions rising out of the blood of Calibos, sent from the underworld by Hades to kill Perseus. It’s so perfectly Plutonian!

As for the special effects, they’re not extraordinary by today’s standards, but some of them are stunning — the Pegasus is truly wondrous. The line between imagination and reality is getting thinner and thinner, and that is some kind of powerful magic. It has been my hope since the beginning of digitized filmmaking that someone would create a film filled not with terrifying monsters to fuel our fear but with higher beings and beautiful places to fuel our sense of what’s possible.

Most of all, I was intrigued by the theme of a new order overthrowing the old order. That is the way of the cosmos, and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that this film has been released just as we’re experiencing a major shift in cosmic energies. In effect, we all have the opportunity to be heroes by aligning with the forces of life, love, and freedom.

Pat

Clash of the Titans, opens April 2, 2010
Production: Warner Bros., in association with Legendary Pictures
Cast: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Alexa Davalos, Jason Flemyng, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson
Director: Louis Leterrier
Screenwriters: Travis Beacham, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, based on the 1981 script by Beverley Cross
Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Kevin De La Noy
Rated PG-13, 106 minutes

Karmic Connections in Synastry

The Abduction of Psyche, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1895.

Over the past few years, I’ve received an increasing number of questions about karmic connections in romantic relationships. It’s one of my specialties, and I’m very efficient at identifying them in synastry charts.

Synastry, for those not familiar with the term, is an astrological technique of determining compatibility between two or more people by comparing the positions of planets, houses, and other key points in one person’s birth chart to those in the other person’s chart.

For basic romantic compatibility, we look for close, positive aspects of the Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars. Aspects to Saturn help us determine whether the relationship will last. Jupiter aspects can inform us about children, among other things. Some aspects involving Mars, Saturn, and Pluto help us identify areas of potential conflict and power struggles.

In addition to these more obvious considerations, there are aspects that indicate so-called “karmic” or soul connections. These are sometimes immediately visible, but often it takes a lot of work to find them and even more investigation to determine what they mean for the relationship. They are not always present in a synastry chart, but when they are, it’s usually not news to the client. When we meet someone with whom we have deep karmic ties, we usually feel an immediate connection or a sense of fate.

The key to understanding these karmic connections is that they do not always indicate a long-term relationship. This is so important, that it bears repeating: A karmic connection does not automatically mean you are meant to be with another person in a romantic relationship or that the relationship will last forever.

This can be very tricky, because often, in addition to feeling a close connection, you can feel “stuck” on that person, sometimes to the point of total obsession. I personally have experienced this more than once, so I understand the urgency and also the burning need to get the other to “understand” that you’re soul mates. When he or she doesn’t see it, you may feel a sense of grief, loss, or abandonment.

I’ve seen so much of this over the past few years that I now believe it’s “bigger” than astrology. There is a cosmic signature in play, and we are vehicles for its expression in the material world. That said, the karmic indicators in a chart suggest how you will experience this phenomenon and, in some cases, why. It also can help identify the lesson you are supposed to learn.

It’s very hard for many clients to receive this information, because they are looking for validation that the object of their desire is their intended One and Only. I try to deliver my honest evaluation without any judgment; in other words, you aren’t stupid, bad, or unevolved just because you’re stuck on someone who doesn’t feel the same way about you. Nor do I see it as a sign of weakness or spiritual “failure.”

To the contrary, it can be an indication that you are nearing a spiritual breakthrough. The obstacle is a tough one, no doubt about it, and you are being challenged to surmount it so that you can climb to the next level of consciousness. This is apparent only after the fact — and sometimes quite a long time afterward.

If you are in a situation like this, consider that it may be a valuable gift from the Universe.

Here’s to fearless love!
Pat

Weekly Forecast April 5: Saturn Goes Back into Virgo

This week is for finishing up old business, taking another look at unresolved problems, and reflecting deeply on what we really want.

With Pluto turning retrograde, Saturn going back to Virgo, and Mercury in pre-retrograde shadow, it’s not time yet to make a push forward. That will come soon enough.

We’re also in the aftermath of a Full Moon, and she’s traversing the last three signs of the zodiac, indicating that one major cycle is winding down in preparation for what’s next.

On Monday, Mercury in Taurus squares Mars in Leo — a testy, stubborn pair. Expect an increase in arguments, standoffs, traffic jams, and other conflicts. Taurus isn’t the most vocal sign, so watch for body language and other nonverbal cues that someone is having a bad day, and don’t get on their case. It will help if you can distinguish between who someone is and what they have.

Mercury trines Pluto on Tuesday, just as the planet of hidden motives and animal urges turns retrograde. If nothing else, Mercury in Taurus is very matter-of-fact and can calmly deal with unspeakable things. Is there something that causes you panic and anxiety? Or something you desire deeply and are ashamed of? Repression gives power to these dark impulses, and extreme repression can lead to obsession and worse. Sometimes admitting the truth is liberating, and there is no better time to do it, since you are more consciously aware of what’s going on in your deep psyche. Do make sure you can trust the person you’re sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with.

Less than 24 hours after Pluto shfits gears, retrograde Saturn returns to Virgo and begins to move away from a close square with Pluto. This will take some of the intensity out of the cardinal T-square for now and allow change to take place at a slower, more manageable rate for the next few months.

However, Saturn will return to an opposition with Uranus in Pisces, exact on April 26, and this is where we’re going to see a lot of revisiting controversial issues. The fight over healthcare in the United States will continue. Just because the legislation passed Congress, doesn’t mean that’s the end of it. Regulations implementing the law have to be written, and that’s a long, laborious process that can be held up at any step of the way.

Other political and financial situations that developed during peak Saturn-Uranus opposition periods also may come back for another round. The opposition was exact on Nov. 4, 2008 (Election day in the United States), Feb. 5, 2009, and Sept. 15, 2009. There will be one more exact opposition, on July 26, with Saturn in Libra and Uranus in Aries. I’ll have more on that as the date approaches.

In our individual lives, this opposition is having an unnerving effect, like flooring the gas pedal with one foot and slamming on the brakes with the other. So, for example, you might be going through radical personal changes while trying to stay committed to a long-term relationship. Or, you may have an opportunity to relocate for a great new job, but family obligations are keeping you tied down. It depends on where these two are transiting your natal chart.

The rest of this week is fairly uneventful. Mars makes a third and last inconjunct with Pluto on Saturday, which we may feel not as any specific event but a vague sense of heaviness or a “disturbance in the Force.” If possible, observe your impulses, but refrain from acting on them until you know more about what they signify.

Next week is the New Moon in Aries, and our lives get busier once again, so rest while you can. Also, wrap up all your paperwork this week. Absolutely do not wait until next week to file your tax returns! The lines the post office will be interminably long, and filing online could be filled with glitches. I’ll have more on the New Moon later in the week, so check back.

Until then, wishing you much love and courage —
Pat

Saturday Extra! Almost Two

RealAstrologers is coming up on its second anniversary — a bittersweet moment, since I’ll be blowing out the candles alone.

On the bright side, the site had one of its best days ever with my first Full Moon post on Monday. It was a nice reward for all the late nights rewriting pages and shouldering a double load of posts.

Since RealAstrologers is an Aries, and we just had a Full Moon in Libra, I thought it would be interesting to look at our birth chart and see if there was any correlation. For our “birth,” I used the time of our inaugural post, which was published at 4:01 a.m. on April 6, 2008. That gives us both Sun and Moon in Aries, with 5 degrees Aquarius on the Ascendant. Aquarius, incidentally, is the sign of astrology. Mercury and Venus are also in Aries, with Mars in Cancer and Jupiter in Capricorn.

It is the Sun and Moon, however, that aspect Mars and Jupiter to form a cardinal T-square, which favors action and change. The planet or planets at the apex of the T-square take on special significance in the birth chart. We launched the site few hours after the New Moon in Aries, which is a great time for starting a new venture. That said, three planets are in their detriment fall in this chart, which isn’t so good, and the T-square is potentially challenging, as it isn’t the most stable of chart configurations.

And now here we are, in a build-up toward an intense cardinal T-square (which will become a grand cross at times over the next year), with a pivotal Full Moon in Libra. Remember, the Full Moon often signifies endings. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the original partnership dissolved at this time. Mars, meanwhile, had been retrograde since December in the seventh house, which rules relationships, and he’s been hovering around the Descendant since early February. Mars in the seventh house can wreak havoc with partnerships.

At some point, companies take on a life of their own and starting “living” their charts. I think it’s a good bet that a new partnership may come into existence. If so, it would be a big relief. Keeping the site going is almost a full-time job, with no pay. This never was intended to be a one-woman show, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep it running without some kind of divine intervention. That said, I’ve got some ideas to take the site into the future, and I’m hoping that they will make the venture more viable in the long run.

As they say, there’s only one way to find out…

Pat

Image: The RealAstrologers logo was created by StarBlue for Dreamstime.com. We’ve used several of her designs in the past two years. Do check out her inspired and magical astrology portfolio.

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.

Neptune and Chiron Transiting Chart Angles

My childhood home in Unadilla Forks, N.Y.

About a month ago, I had a sudden urge to check out my childhood home in upstate New York on Google maps. With the new “on-the-ground” feature, it was as though I were standing right in front of the house!

Two days later, I discovered a new online history of the village. The author had been in the 4-H Club chapter started by my father, whose name was mentioned in the registry of previous inhabitants. There was a link to some old photos, two of which showed my former home. This photo was taken before my parents moved to the farm in the 1950s. The other, which I posted last week, showed what was left of the barn after a tragic fire.

As an astrologer, I tend to look at everything through the lens of astrology, so of course I wanted to know why I suddenly got all of this information about my early childhood. I lived on the farm for less than seven years. Then, upon reflection, I realized how important these formative years are for us … and how wounding it was when my family was forced to leave this idyllic location. What’s more, all of my photos from my childhood have been lost or destroyed. Seeing these images was a shock, but it also opened a window for some deep healing to take place.

And therein lies the answer to my question.

I’ve written a lot here and on my former blog about the healing potential of the Neptune-Chiron conjunction. For the past couple of months, it has been in an exact square to my Midheaven and IC (fourth house cusp). Transits to the Midheaven typically show up as obvious events or situations, while transits to the IC may be felt internally and often relate to our early childhood experience or our genetic and spiritual roots — what some call “past lives.”

With Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius, much of the healing is taking place in the collective mind, but the collective is composed of individuals. Where this conjunction falls in your natal chart can tell you where you are doing the deepest healing work now. If it falls on a chart angle or conjoins personal planets, the healing potential is extremely powerful. A dear friend has 27 degrees Aquarius on the Ascendant, and you can bet that she is feeling this transit intensely. Her self-image is undergoing a radical change. It is a portrait of a healer being healed.

Hard aspects of Neptune to the Moon or IC are especially likely to bring up memories of the distant past. And to those memories, I now return…

We left the farm in 1963. Four years went by, and then two weeks before my birthday, my mother died of Hodgkin’s disease. A couple of months later, near what would have been her 45th birthday, the barn burned to the ground. I learned later that the entire herd of dairy cows perished in the blaze. I was fond of those cows and spent a lot of time in the barn “talking” to them. In the years following my mother’s death, I used to have recurring nightmares of her burning up in a fire, calling for help. Could there be a connection?

I’ll never know, but I do know that revisiting my childhood home via the Internet has been a powerfully healing experience, and that, too, fits with Neptune in Aquarius, sign of technology.

You see, there are many ways to heal.

Pat

Weekly Forecast March 29: Full Moon in Libra, Venus Enters Taurus

Starting right out with the Full Moon in Libra, this week is the beginning of a critical period of saying goodbye to what is comfortable, familiar … and totally not working.

It’s a truth universally accepted in astrology that the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are the most likely to fight change. Regardless of whether you’re predominantly fixed, cardinal, or mutable, you are a human being, and our brains are wired to stick with what we know. Sure, your Venus in Gemini might go for a different hairstyle every day of the week, but you know what I’m talking about.

Many of you have written to me in the past couple of years complaining that you’re stuck in a boring, dead-end job but don’t want to break out. A couple of readers have admitted outright that they never would make the same kind of money in a more interesting profession. Many of you are stuck in dead-end relationships but can’t let go.

On some level, you may want to stay where you are — better the devil you know than the one you don’t know. But I also know that many of us fit my analogy of flies beating against the glass. They can see the light out there but just don’t know how to get there. Their fly brains don’t understand the concept of glass. The only way they get out is with the help of a higher being, one that is sympathetic enough to free them rather than swatting them dead.

Those higher forces are kicking in now, thanks to the increasing intensity of the cardinal T-square, which peaks at various times between now and 2012. Today’s Full Moon in Libra is a stepping stone to the next turbulence zone, which occurs around the Full Moon lunar eclipse on June 26.

Remember, cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) are characterized by initiating change. They are the movers and shakers of the zodiac, the pioneers, the drill sergeant screaming, “Move your ass!” We might not like it, but that’s how we get stronger and more confident … if the stress doesn’t kill us first!

This week, I reckon we’ll all come to the conclusion that we’re not dead, despite seriously scary g-forces. Literally, I’ve been struggling just to stay standing since my back injury a year ago, but with a new and very talented therapist, I’m beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I won’t elaborate on the Full Moon here, since I posted a detailed report on Saturday. The rest of the week should be fairly calm by comparison, allowing us to catch our breath. Mars is picking up speed, too, which is helping us to get the energy and motivation we need to accomplish all the tasks we’ve let fall by the wayside since the beginning of the year.

Better still, Venus leaves Aries on Wednesday and enters Taurus. You’ll immediately feel the difference as the planet of love and symbol of the divine feminine goes from the sign of her detriment to the sign she rules. It’s time for chocolate, roses, good food, good wine, and every other sensual pleasure known to humanity. I sometimes joke that the only reason to incarnate on the material plane is for sex and chocolate. Otherwise, I’d be happy as a disembodied being of light in another quadrant of the universe.

Thursday is April Fool’s Day and time for some much-needed laughs. Just take care that you don’t joke at someone else’s expense. With Mercury square Chiron that day, there’s a high risk of hurting someone’s feelings, and that defeats the whole purpose of this light-hearted tradition.

Mercury joins Venus in Taurus on Friday, and the weekend could be somewhat tense as both Venus and Mercury square Mars, with Venus trine Pluto just as the planetary symbol of underworld forces is stationed to go retrograde. If you’re romantically involved with someone, expect to experience a conflict between sexual attraction and emotional disconnection. Pluto typically gets what he wants, so you’ll probably give in to the physical urges. That’s OK, as long as you address your emotional needs when conditions are more favorable.

Even in non-romantic relationships, you may feel an emotional tug-of-war beneath the surface. I’m usually in favor of being open and direct, but this weekend, hold back a bit and wait for a more suitable time to talk. With Pluto turning retrograde, the potential for deep insight is very high. My best advice to you is to let go of attachment to any particular outcome, because what you get instead could be vastly superior.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Full Moon in Libra, March 29-30

One month ago, just before the Full Moon in Virgo, a mega-quake struck Chile. There have been aftershocks daily as the Earth adjusts to the new alignment.

Our personal lives are undergoing a series of shifts and aftershocks, too. Monday’s Full Moon at 9 degrees Libra is the culmination of a cycle of readjustment as we leave behind old ways of being and doing so that we can move ahead into new territory.

This Full Moon and the New Moon in Aries on April 14 mark the halfway point between eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer, and we’re at a critical turning point. With the Moon in Libra opposite the Sun in Aries, our main focus will be on how we balance our own needs with those of others. This is never easy, particularly if you have been raised to put others before yourself.

Many of us are rethinking the load we’re carrying and how much additional weight we can support when others don’t do their part. How willing are we to keep doing a job that’s not ours? This could apply to picking up someone else’s dirty socks, constantly bailing out financially irresponsible relatives, or, for that matter, bailing out banks with our tax dollars. At some point, we just can’t do it anymore.

Women of my generation were raised to put husband, kids, boyfriends, boss, and everyone but themselves first. Old patterns don’t change overnight, but there will be some reckoning on this count, thanks to Venus, the ruler of the Full Moon, in me-first Aries. Admittedly, she’s not at her best in Aries, precisely because the divine feminine she represents is expected to be soft, sweet, conciliatory, and other-oriented. Well, forget that!

At the same time, Mars, ruler of Aries, is in ego-centered Leo. Now, Leos, don’t take offense. As I wrote in my weekly forecast, there’s nothing wrong with a healthy ego, and that’s part of my point here. A strong sense of self is prerequisite to so many things in life, and it can make relationships a lot easier when you directly tell others what you want and need. That doesn’t mean you’ll get it, but at least you’ll be clear about why you’re fighting. People often don’t want to be direct about their needs because they fear confrontation.

You probably won’t be able to avoid conflict right now, so you might as well speak up for yourself. The Sun and Moon are in a cardinal T-square with Pluto, and retrograde Saturn is part of this configuration, too. I’ve written a lot about the changes coming as a result of this T-square, and change simply can’t happen without conflict. Globally, conflicts are heating up and moving toward a boiling point in the next few months.

For now, though, we’re attempting to restore some semblance of balance after being knocked off our feet. Make that your goal between now and the New Moon in Aries, when new directions will be more apparent. We’ll need to be ready to hit the ground running and change on a dime.

One last consideration is that Venus and communications planet Mercury are in a close sextile with Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius, reinforcing the message that the way to deep healing is by communicating your needs and desires. Again, it doesn’t mean you’ll get everything you want, but you certainly won’t get it if you don’t ask.

The Sabian symbol* for the Moon at 9°17″ Libra is a canoe approaching safety through dangerous waters, with the keyword COMPETENCY. Simply put, the more you go through challenging situations, the better you get at handling them.

For the Sun at 9°17″ Aries, the Sabian symbol is a man teaching new forms for old symbols, with the keyword INTERPRETATION. Ancient wisdom isn’t written in stone, but is subject to continual reinterpretation as humanity evolves and expands in conscious awareness. And what we believe deeply impacts how we connect with the world and everyone in it. Changing our fundamental beliefs is part of the global shift that’s taking place.

Wishing you all fearless love,
Pat

* From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmond Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in the early 1920s. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

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!