The Lone Astrologer

Barn fire at my childhood home in Unadilla Forks, N.Y., March 1968.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Diane saying she is leaving RealAstrologers. I asked her to write a notice for our readers. Here it is:

Something that has become clear to me as a result of the doctor visits and tests, is leading a simpler, less stressful life with fewer distractions, commitments and minimal deadlines is now a must. So regretfully I am leaving Real Astrologers in Pat Paquette’s keeping. Please encourage her to keep Real Astrologers going with her great weekly forecasts and many interesting posts. Keeping up with Libra Seeking Balance is enough for me at this time in my life.

This is a pretty abrupt change, but that is how things are happening these days with the cardinal T-square. You see, just because we’re astrologers (and even when we see things coming), we are not immune to the same forces that are shaking up everyone else. I’m scrambling to pick up the pieces, but will make every attempt to post regularly, as we have been. The Friday Q&A column will continue, along with weekly forecasts, lunations (I’ll have a post up tomorrow on the coming Full Moon), and perhaps some new features.

That said, I’ll be rearranging pages on the site in the days and weeks ahead to reflect that RealAstrologers is now just me. I would very much appreciate your support, and please join me in wishing Diane well in her Libra quest for a more balanced life.

Pat

Name That Sign! Astrology Photo Game

Photo by Tauseef Mustafa for Agence France-Presse

A member of the Jammu and Kashmir Police takes part in an event commemorating Indian Independence Day. Photo by Tauseef Mustafa for Agence France-Presse.

If you didn’t play the game last week, there’s no time like the present to start! Here’s how it goes:

Each week, I’ll post a photo, and you get to comment on what planet and sign or what aspect you think it best represents. There’s no wrong answer; this is all about learning astrology through visual cues.

If you’ve got a photo you think would be good for this column, please drop me a line! (Include photo credit and copyright information.)

Thanks to everyone who participated last week. It was a fun change of pace!

Pat

Weekly Forecast March 22: Sun Square Pluto

March sunrise over West Seattle. I took this photo on an early morning trip across Puget Sound last week. Photo by Pat Paquette.

For the past year, astrologers have been writing about the potential for upheaval as the planetary focus shifts to the cardinal signs. This week, we get major clues as to how these energies might play out.

On Monday, Mars in early Leo sextiles Saturn in early Libra. Mars is slowly beginning to creep forward again after being retrograde for more than three months, while Saturn continues moving in “reverse” and will make a return visit to Virgo in a couple of weeks. This will remove him from the cardinal buildup. In the meantime, this week’s Mars-Saturn sextile helps restrain the egocentric nature of Mars in Leo and helps us get our work done.

Saturn continues to form a square with Pluto, indicating standoffs between competing powers. I’m not sure who I’d root for here but probably would place bets discreetly on both sides, kind of like a multinational corporation contributing to both political parties in a close race.

The rubber meets the road on Tuesday, when the Moon enters Cancer. The cardinal T-square formed by the Sun newly in Aries, plus Pluto and Saturn, becomes a grand cross, even if just for a day. Activity will be fast and furious, and if you aren’t careful, you could cancel out your initiatives by acting on too many fronts at once. Likewise, groups of people may cancel out positive change through competing interests. Emotions are going to run high, too. For some, they may be totally out of control.

Ironically, the release valve and key to getting tangible results is Mars in Leo. For once, looking out for yourself first may be the answer. “Ego” is not always a bad word. If we didn’t have one, we’d be doormats subject to getting walked all over by everyone. A healthy ego that knows how to balance its own needs with the needs of others will get you through. If you want to know where to assert your ego, look at where 1 degree Leo falls in your chart.

Whatever happens this week will reverberate into early August, when we’ll experience another cardinal grand cross with Saturn in Libra.

After Tuesday, it’s back to the cardinal T-square, with an “arm” left empty after the Moon moves past early Cancer. If you have personal planets or chart angles in early Cancer, the area of your life represented by that point could come under intense pressure. That will be true off and on into the summer, so make sure you pay extra attention to developments this week, as they will be ongoing themes for you. The United States chart (Sibly) has 1 degree Libra on the Midheaven, with early Cancer in the seventh house. Expect more news of open enemies and conflicts with allies.

Thursday is a potentially difficult day for everyone, when the Sun squares Pluto. Notwithstanding what I just wrote about your ego, do exercise good judgment in how you stand up for yourself. Before you put yourself in a compromising position, be sure you’re right and that the reward is worth the potential consequences. Spraying graffiti all over the county courthouse and defending it as your right to free speech would not be a good idea right now.

The weekend is fairly quiet and best spent getting things done around the home and office. Tidy up as much as you can before next Monday’s Full Moon. As usual, Diane will have a full report later this week on what else you can do to prepare.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Saturday Extra! International Astrology Day

Today is spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of the astrological year, when the Sun enters the sign of Aries.

Not only is Aries the first sign of the zodiac, but the first of the four cardinal signs. Think of the force of shoots pushing through the heavy earth toward the sun or of a bear coming out of hibernation, and you understand the nature of Aries. You’ll also begin to understand the forces that are at work on the planet and the breadth of the changes in store for us all.

We’ve been experiencing a slow build-up of cardinal energy over the past two years, ever since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008. Then Saturn entered Libra last year, and Jupiter and Uranus will enter Aries in late spring, creating a cardinal T-square. Now, with the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all in Aries, we’re in for a brief taste of how the cardinal forces will play out. Keep your antennae up for critical information.

I’m advising my clients to stay mobile and flexible, as anything could happen, and our lives could change on a dime. Where you have cardinal energy in your chart is where you are most likely to experience new developments.

I’ll have more in my weekly forecast on Monday, so stay tuned …

Happy Astrology Day!

Pat

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!

Name That Sign! Astrology Photo Game

Cinderella, by Joana Vasconcelos. Photo by Nacho Doce for REUTERS.

This sculpture was created by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos out of stainless steel pans and concrete covers. The work is part of her exhibition currently running at Belem Cultural Centre in Lisbon. Photo by Nacho Doce for REUTERS.

If you’re a regular reader of RealAstrologers, you know that I like to scour the news headlines and online art galleries for photos that symbolize a particular astrological aspect. So, we thought, why not let you participate and make it game?

Each week, I’ll post a photo, and you get to comment on what planet and sign or what aspect you think it best represents. There will be no right or wrong answer. I expect that some of you will be very creative, and the differences in thinking will be part of the fun!

Here are a couple of examples from past posts to give you an idea of how it goes:

For Venus in Aquarius, I chose a photo that combined the theme of beauty with innovation and technology. When Mars was in Pisces, I selected an image expressing the aggressive side of Mars in an ocean environment, with the added feature of an optical illusion, illusions being a specialty of Neptune, ruler of Pisces.

So, are you ready? Leave a comment telling us what planet and sign combination or planetary aspect you think this photo represents, and why.

Pat

P.S. If any of you come across photos you think would be appropriate for this column, drop me a line! Remember, if it’s not your own work, you need to send the photo credit and copyright information.

Weekly Forecast March 15: New Moon in Pisces, Sun Enters Aries

Painting by Ferdinand Kulmer, 1993. Kulmer, a Croatian artist, was an Aquarius, born in 1925. When I first saw this work, I thought of the action of Aries coming out of a Pisces dreamscape, a fitting description of this week's shift.

The warp drive is about to engage, so fasten your seatbelts and hang on!

The New Moon in late Pisces is followed by the Sun’s entry into Aries, the beginning of a new astrological year. Mars, ruler of Aries, has just returned direct, freeing up the dynamic cardinal energy of the Ram to charge forward with urgency into new territory.

The week starts right out with the New Moon at 25 degrees Pisces, closely conjunct Mercury and Uranus, the planet of surprise and abrupt change. If you have personal planets or chart angles at this degree, an event out of the blue could change your life radically. This will be “bad” only if you tend to fight change and try to keep things the way they are. Otherwise, events could be disruptive but ultimately to your benefit.

Even if this New Moon doesn’t hit a sensitive spot in your chart, you probably will experience some form of quick change, although not as sweeping. The window for new opportunities will be wide open from Monday’s New Moon to the Sun-Uranus conjunction on Wednesday.

The Moon enters Aries on Tuesday and paves the way emotionally for Mercury’s entry into the sign of the Ram on Wednesday and the Sun’s arrival on Saturday, which is the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and International Astrology Day.

With Saturn and Pluto square in early degrees of Libra and Capricorn, planets in early Aries form a cardinal T-square, the astrological configuration most conducive to action and swift change. Diane and I have written quite a bit about the cardinal energy that is building in 2010 and 2011, and we’re all on the edge of our seats waiting to see how this will play out, both in our individual lives and in the collective. Keep a close eye on what happens this week, as events now may provide some clues about the future.

Of course, the ongoing square between Saturn and Pluto also points to difficult challenges, but with the shift from contemplative Pisces to action-oriented Aries, we should have more energy to deal with the obstacles that block our path. This is all the more true given that planets in early Aries will trine Mars in the first degree of Leo. Mercury makes contact on Wednesday, and the Sun follows on Sunday. Moreover, the Sun and Mars will be in mutual reception (when each of two planets is in the sign ruled by the other).

New beginnings are springing up all over the place, and I think most of us will be happy with developments this week.

Wishing you all much love and joy,
Pat

Saturday Archives: Neptune in Libra’s Romantic Expectations

With all the planets in Neptune ruled Pisces at this time, I decided to pull out this post on growing up with a natal Neptune in relationship oriented Libra.

During the time Pluto was in Leo, Neptune was in Libra from 1942 until 1957, approximately fifteen years and the most quintessential Boomer years. Being born fairly early in that cycle when Saturn in Leo conjoined Pluto, I have observed this generation from the inside and we are a mixed bag – especially when it comes to romantic ideals.

As most people who have read my blog know I am not a fan of romance with a capital ‘R’ and the reason I’m not is due to my own experiences living with a Moon conjunct Neptune in Libra. Neptune’s natural inclination to romanticize is exacerbated by being in Libra. I wasted more time and energy on men who had amazing potential – unmanifested but amazing. Many of them had major problems with drugs and alcohol, sometimes related to PTSD from crawling through the jungles of Vietnam. I was so convinced I could “rescue” them and we could live happily ever after. WRONG!

I believe I owe my recovery from an addiction to romance to Saturn because it was my first Saturn return when the illusions started coming apart and reality came crashing in. My Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Leo is sextile my Moon-Neptune, giving Saturn an opening to work with. Unlike others of my generation who managed to return to a blissful state of denial after their Saturn returns, I also had a Pluto transit conjoining my Moon at the same time and the combination stomped on expectations hard.

An alcohol and drug counselor introduced me to the concept of co-dependency and reading Anne Wilson Schaef’s books, “When Society Becomes an Addict” and “Women’s Reality” furthered my education. I was able to spot my mother’s co-dependent behavior patterns showing up in mine and in true Plutonian fashion, excise them slowly over time. Donna Cunningham’s gem of a book, “An Astrological Guide to Self-Awareness” opened my eyes to the astrology of what was going on and gave me some simple but effective tools to use in this process.

What didn’t help was growing up reading romance novels. Because while the prototype for today’s romance novels has been around for a long, long time, it took Neptune moving into Libra sextile Pluto in dramatic Leo to turn this genre into the multimillion dollar business it is today. Neptune in Libra folks grew up reading these, convinced we had a soul mate out there somewhere who would sweep in and rescue us from our boring mundane lives. Sad to say, there are plenty of wonderful, kind men and women who were passed over because of the expectations raised by this genre.

One other thing . . . I consider myself very, very fortunate to have managed to come across the right information at the right time which I attribute to a strong twelfth house chart with Jupiter in Scorpio conjoining my Libra Sun-Chiron. This gives me some ability to navigate through Neptune’s illusions, pretty as they are. Pluto transits taught me lessons on the realization all change must come from within.

I am a firm believer in love and the wonderful changes loving another can make in us. Treating ourselves in a loving manner is one of the keys to being able to genuinely care for others too. It is just the nebulous concept of Romantic Love that leaves me cold. The upside of Neptune is the ability to feel compassion and take a genuine interest in other people’s comfort and well being – no small thing. Neptune is marvelous source of inspiration but it sure helps to have Saturn backing him up!

posted by Diane . . .

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.

New Moon in Pisces, March 15, 2010

The New Moon at 25°10′ Pisces on March 15 is a critical moment to focus on doing what is necessary to bring old ways of thinking and being to closure before stepping forward onto a new path.

The Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus are all in the last sign of the zodiac. Neptune, ruler of Pisces, is closely semi-sextile Mercury and Uranus, adding its subtle and compassionate influence. The period between this New Moon and the New Moon in Aries on April 14 is an excellent time to get serious about our internal and external housecleaning.

The Sabian symbol for this lunation dovetails in an amazing way, because it includes the image of a New Moon: “Watching the very thin moon crescent appearing at sunset, different people realize that the time has come to go ahead with their different projects; a keen appreciation of the value of individualized responses to any challenge of life.”

This symbol obviously underscores and amplifies the usual New Moon timing for launching new projects in a significant way. However, it would appear we also need to recognize the possibility that we may need to strike out on our own or with new partners.

The Mercury-Uranus conjunction in Pisces is the ultimate tool for helping us come up with a new way of looking at the baggage most of us are still lugging around, holding us back from achieving our full potential as human beings with open hearts and souls. Pisces is naturally inclined to view life in an inclusive manner, and we desperately need help to do this in today’s polarized atmosphere. I am a firm believer in always looking for solutions that benefit the greatest number of people rather than those that pit “us” against “them.”

Saturn is still in Libra, but it is also moving closer to returning to Virgo and the next opposition to Uranus in Pisces, which will be exact on April 26. Between this strengthening opposition and the ongoing square to Pluto in Capricorn – and the fact Saturn is still in Libra – it is likely to be our one-on-one relationships feeling the most pressure. If there are already stress fractures and it is time to let go of the relationship, you may find the courage to move on at this time.

Mars is finally direct in Leo — a day some of us Mars-ruled types thought would never get here! Aided by the sextile to Saturn in Libra, Mars can get cracking on the backlog of projects put on hold last December. Saturn’s influence will help him steer a steady course forward, step by step. Impatient people will be frustrated by the pace, but please hang in there, as Mars will eventually get back up to speed.

Jupiter’s conjunction with Venus is Pisces on the New Moon in Aquarius has now become a far less exciting semi-sextile between Jupiter in Pisces and Venus in Aries. The bloom is off those red-hot romances of a month ago, but things still are not looking all that bad. It is important to respect each other’s need for space and keep expectations in check when Venus is in impatient Aries, because she knows where the door is and will use it if pushed.

Please remember the lessons we can learn and apply from compassionate, caring Pisces. We don’t have to agree on every point to treat others with respect and kindness each and every day. It is never a waste of time to seek out commonalities over our differences. Be well, and live each moment fully.

posted by Diane . . .

Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.

Image: This photo seems to imply possibilities emerging from the mist on the water. Perfect for a New Moon in watery Pisces.