Cha Cha Change and Uranus Transits

Since April of last year, Uranus in Pisces has been trine my Ascendant on and off. I’m beginning to believe that for some of us there is no such thing as an “easy” transit of Uranus, especially those who have a preponderance of planets and chart angles in the fixed signs.

Often, Uranus transits to the Ascendant coincide with weight loss, and this transit has been no exception – I have lost over twenty pounds. This has been due to being unable to eat desserts of any kind, including pure chocolate, due to a severely stressed digestive system. The thing is, when I stay away from the trigger foods and do my best to minimize the stress in my life, I feel great. Pretty straightforward cause and effect – do this and feel like crap, don’t do it and feel good.

Transits to my Ascendant not only affect my Ascendant but also my Mars and Mercury, because those planets conjoin it from the twelfth house side. A natal inconjunct from Uranus to those three points gives a certain unpredictability to how a particular transit will manifest – and probably why Uranus transits are unusually stressful for me.

Because I gave away all my smaller pants, I am going to have to get new ones. Since I do not enjoy shopping (must be one of the few women on the planet who don’t) this is not something I look forward to. Our budget is very tight right now, so it may be time to head to Good Will to see what I can find.

One of the reasons I’m just now beginning to realize how profound the changes are is because Neptune has been squaring my Ascendant during this same time period. Right now it is past exact, and the fog has lifted for awhile (I have one more to go in late October-November of this year). This is just another confirmation of Neptune’s ability to obfuscate and confuse any and all issues by transit or natal aspect.

Uranus transits often are good reminders of what we need to do to take care of ourselves, and this one has been no exception. Sometimes we need to clear out old habits and sources of stress in order to replace them with healthier options. Usually, on some level, we already are aware of what needs to be done. I did. It’s eat healthy and stay awwaaaay from the goodies from here on out!

Just goes to show even an old dog can learn a new trick.

Libra always seeks balanceposted by Diane . . .

Weekly Forecast February 15: Venus Conjunct Jupiter, Sun Enters Pisces

Plieades

If money washed up on the beach. Sand dollars are a lovely expression of Venus and Jupiter in Pisces. I didn't realize when I took the photo that there were seven "stars," like the Pleiades.

Last week’s potent healing energy continues into this week as we sail on the wake of Saturday’s New Moon.

The word “heal” comes from the same root as “whole.” Being whole is about accepting ourselves and others, with all of our imperfections. When challenges go on and on with no end in sight, it’s hard not to let them define us. For me, it helps to understand my life as a continuum and how I got where I am.

Self-acceptance is a powerful healer, although it can be a tricky process, as many people misunderstand and use self-acceptance as an excuse not do the work required to reach their full potential, as humans in the material realm and as spiritual beings.

Confronting past traumas, unhappy memories, or parts of ourselves we don’t like can be so painful that many people would rather keep them buried in a dark corner inside. In my work with clients, I’ve observed that repressed emotions are more powerful than those that are expressed, and if they aren’t dealt with, they can wreak all sorts of havoc in one’s life, leaving the individual feeling victimized. I’m not saying this is always the cause of our misery, but it can be the case, and more often than many people realize. My job as an astrologer is getting to the bottom of these issues to help my clients feel whole.

Many people I know have gone as far as they can with their individual work, and yet it still feels like something is “broken” or missing. I’ve been writing for years about the need to have a partner or a group to continue the work. With Neptune conjunct Chiron in Aquarius, we’re finding like-minded individuals to connect with, and this is another way that we feel whole. Also, more of us are coming to understand that when we do deep healing work on ourselves, we send healing energy back into the collective. Sometimes I feel that it’s the collective unconscious that’s demanding we do this hard work.

Neptune and Chiron remain in close conjunction throughout 2010. The alignment is exact on Wednesday (late Tuesday on the West Coast of the United States).

On Monday, Venus sextiles Pluto and Mars sextiles Saturn, both aspects that could be very productive. How this energy plays out remains to be seen, as we have not one but two Yods in play, with Venus and Mars at the apex. You may find that one or more areas of your life are moving forward, but with a lot of irritation and major challenges, some of which could be so difficult that you don’t think you’re getting anywhere at all. Don’t give up.

On Tuesday, Venus conjoins Jupiter, an annual occurrence that is always cause for celebration. These two are known for wealth and abundance. It’s often material, but it doesn’t have to be. You might experience an abundance of love and friendship or some other intangible stroke of good fortune that is no less important just because you can’t turn it on and off with a remote.

On Thursday, the Sun enters spiritual Pisces, where it will take the place at the apex of the Yod with Mars and Saturn. Being “spiritual” may not feel very practical, and in some cases, it’s a deterrent to more worldly pursuits. Living with integrity often requires material sacrifices, and this can feel uncomfortable or scary to those for whom security lies in material wealth. Finding balance should come easier with Saturn in Libra.

Friday gets my vote for most pleasant day of the week. The Moon will be in placid Taurus, sextile Venus and Jupiter. If you’ve got a date, it could be quite a memorable evening, for all the right reasons.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Saturday Extra: New Moon Miscellany

Here is an in-depth look at the Yods in the New Moon chart and the link to information explaining how to write your Abundance Checks on the New Moon. Enjoy!

We have two very important Yods, or Finger of God, patterns in the chart of the New Moon in Aquarius this weekend and I am taking it on myself to attempt to explain them. One has Venus at the apex and the other has Mars at the apex. Both are connected to the uncompromising Saturn in Libra-Pluto in Capricorn square.

Venus Apex Yod

The base of this Yod is a sextile between Mars Rx in Leo and Saturn Rx in Libra. The apex is Venus conjoined Jupiter in Pisces.

Base: Mars in Leo already is toned down from its normally boisterous self by being retrograde and is further contained by Saturn in Libra quietly insisting he behave with a degree of decorum and manners. Airy Libra generally supports and encourages fiery Leo.

Apex: Venus is very well placed in compassionate Pisces and so is Jupiter. If things were left up to this pair we would be happy campers in the romance department, showering our friends, lovers and family with sweetness and light.

Inconjuncts: The catch with Yods is the base signs are inconjunct or quincunx to the apex sign creating a source of constant low level irritation, difficult to reconcile. Both Libra and Leo while generally approving of Pisces (what’s not to like, right?!) have some major differences with it too. Libra likes clearly defined rules to make sure everyone gets their fair share and takes exception to the Pisces tendency to give indiscriminately to all who show up with their hands out. Leo and Pisces share an appreciation for the grand gesture but Leo is also going to make sure everyone knows who made it and Pisces would rather fade into the background.

Mars Apex Yod

The base of this Yod is Venus conjoined Jupiter in Pisces sextile Pluto in Capricorn and the apex is Mars Rx in Leo.

Base: Pluto in Capricorn is the kindly but stern chaperon for the Venus-Jupiter debutante, floating around looking ethereal and lovely. All funny business will be handled with ruthless dispatch so be warned.

Apex: Long suffering Mars in Leo is further constrained and has no choice but to be on his best behavior.

Inconjuncts: Here the base signs are earthy Capricorn and watery Pisces inconjunct fiery Leo. The real party pooper here is Capricorn because while Pisces is generally tolerant of other’s shortcomings, Capricorn is not. Leo showing up with candy and flowers to ask for forgiveness after an indiscretion is likely to be met with a cold, uncompromising stare from Capricorn.

That is why I said this in my post on the New Moon in Aquarius.

“Pre-nuptial agreements will come with the engagement ring, conservative marriage vows will be back with an emphasis on respect, honor and fidelity and being less than honest in any way will be dealt with ruthlessly – all of this played out against the candle lit, rose-colored background created by Venus and Jupiter closely conjoined in romance loving Pisces.”

We need to brush up on our manners and keep in mind behaving well towards others is always a good policy, Valentine’s Day or not.

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

Libra always seeks balanceposted by Diane . . .

Ask Real Astrologers: What Happens With Mars Opposite Natal Chiron?

This week’s question comes from Mary in Pennsylvania:

I’ve read that this Mars retrograde will station direct at 1 degree Leo, a point opposite my natal Chiron. Any thoughts on that particular aspect?

Libra ponders . . .

Diane’s response:

Mary, this transit may prove quite helpful to you, because your natal Chiron lies hidden away in your twelfth house and forms no aspects to your personal planets or chart angles. This means you aren’t often able to access those places within where you feel wounded.

From about March 7 to 10, not only will Mars station opposite your Chiron, your Chiron will be trine Saturn in Libra and sextile Venus in Aries (Saturn will oppose Venus), forming a Mystic Rectangle. This dynamic pattern has the potential for triggering insights in a firm but gentle way, promoting healing of old wounds you may not have been previously aware of.

I’m wondering if the recent Chiron-Neptune conjunction in Aquarius right on your Sun was responsible for prompting you to look at your natal Chiron. By the time Mars stations in March, both Chiron and Neptune will have moved past your Sun, allowing for more clarity in general. In my experience, Neptune transits in particular are best understood in retrospect.

Between now and early March, as Mars slows to a standstill in your sixth house, you have a window of opportunity to review your daily routines, how you interact with your co-workers, your health and exercise program, and the details of your daily life in general. Are any of these areas a source of frustration for you? If so, perhaps you can figure out why now.

Good luck on your road to a better place within and without, Mary.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Mary, by the time a transiting planet stations direct in aspect to a natal planet, you already have gone through the transit once and sometimes twice, so you should have an idea already of how this transit is affecting you.

Mars opposed your natal Chiron in mid-October, 2009. As he continues on his retrograde path, he will oppose natal Chiron on February 25. After he returns direct, he will make a third pass on March 24. When a transiting planet moves over a natal planet and then turns retrograde, you have an opportunity for review and possible revision. Since the twelfth house is one of the houses concerning the past, you may have gone through a period of revisiting unresolved wounds from early childhood or some other trauma buried in your deep psyche. Mars might have performed a little “surgery” to help find the source of the wound and perhaps even cut it out — figuratively speaking, of course. Re-opening wounds is painful, so if this process happened for you, it likely wasn’t very pleasant.

When Mars returns direct, it’s like sewing the wound back up, minus the “poison” (whatever that symbolizes to you), and that means the wound can heal cleanly.

Because your natal Chiron is in Aquarius in the twelfth house, your particular wound may be something that is deeply ingrained in the collective. In other words, it’s something bigger than just you. If you are able to heal, you put healing energy into the collective unconscious, and that is very powerful.

Wishing you much courage, and thanks for writing.

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!

New Moon in Aquarius, February 13-14, 2010

If there ever was a time to check our expectations and assumptions about love and romance at the door, the New Moon on February 13 is it (February 14 in the Eastern Hemisphere).

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon, at 25°17′ Aquarius, is “a garage man testing a car’s battery with a hydrometer.” This image is very descriptive of what we need to do to find our way through the pitfalls of our expectations of others and how we think our beloved should behave on Valentine’s Day. Is it so hard to simply tell our sweeties what would please us the most?

By communicating our wishes, we can reduce the possibilities of a breakdown considerably due to a dead battery in the romance department. For example, my husband knows I can’t eat chocolate anymore but that I do love flowers, and I know he appreciates a nice card and a homemade Valentine’s gift.

The stellium of the Sun, Moon, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius closely semi-sextile Uranus in Pisces puts a strong emphasis on all matters related to Aquarius, the eleventh house, the collective, and thinking outside the box. Allies, associates, peer group, and our favorite charities and organizations are the focus now.

This also is a wonderful time to search for original solutions to existing problems or puzzles, and perhaps we will see some innovative ideas emerge in the near future to resolve issues facing us as a whole. That said, don’t forget to double-check your facts before launching your grand crusade for the betterment of humanity, because it is easy to overlook the practicalities under Neptune’s influence.

On the Full Moon at the end of January, Venus and Mars were opposing each other aligned with the Sun and Moon. This time around, Venus has moved into Pisces inconjunct Mars in Leo, and both planets receive extra attention as the apex of two different Yods. Suggesting that there are plenty of pitfalls on the path to true love is an understatement.

Keep in mind that Saturn in Libra is still squaring Pluto in Capricorn. Saturn is sextile Mars with Pluto sextile Venus, creating little to no wiggle room when it comes to commitments. The Saturn-Mars sextile is the base of the Yod, with Venus conjunct Jupiter in Pisces at the apex. Pluto sextile Venus and Jupiter is the base of a second Yod, with Mars retrograde in Leo at the apex. I could go over this in greater astrological detail, but the essence is this: Pre-nuptial agreements will come with the engagement ring, conservative marriage vows will be back with an emphasis on respect, honor and fidelity, and being less than honest in any way will be dealt with ruthlessly – all of this played out against the candle-lit, rose-colored background created by Venus and Jupiter closely conjunct in romance-loving Pisces.

Mercury in Aquarius opposes Mars in Leo and has a role to play, too, because it falls midway between Pluto and Venus. Having Mercury as the release point of a Yod (the point directly opposite the apex) in this case suggests that the best way to handle disagreements and conflict is through very carefully worded communications. Cool, rational Aquarius will help up to a certain point, but since both Leo and Aquarius are fixed signs, if no compromise can be found, it may be wiser to wait and give all parties a chance to cool down.

My suggestions for making this a New Moon Valentine’s Day one to remember happily is to take time to talk over your plans with your sweetheart and listen closely to what they have to tell you. Listening with love, your complete attention and willingness to compromise is recommended for a happy ending.

For those who do not enjoy Valentine’s Day and prefer to ignore it altogether, this New Moon is also an excellent time to launch new projects, especially those benefiting humanity as a whole. Just apply all the above to working with friends and colleagues!

Good luck, and remember always to be kind to those who cross your path.

Libra always seeks balanceposted by Diane . . .

Weekly Forecast February 8: New Moon in Aquarius, Venus Enters Pisces

Happy Valentine's Day

All of the ingredients for a romantic Valentine's Day. Photo by Pat Paquette.

It’s Valentine’s Day next Sunday, and what a show the cosmos has in store for us. This week could be positively transformational.

However, it’s clear that we’re going to have to work for it, and there will be challenges and tests. Romantic partnerships in particular will be affected, and if you’ve been waiting to move up to the next level or to heal deep-seated issues between you and your partner, this promises to be a memorable week for love.

The week begins with a romantic conjunction of Venus and Neptune. Astrologers usually describe this as the “rose-colored glasses” aspect, and there is some risk of idealizing your partner. Well, why not? We delude ourselves about so many things when it comes to our loved ones, what’s wrong with a brief fantasy of perfection? Still, the point here is to love your partner, human failings and all. I’ll come back to this in a minute.

On Wednesday, Mercury enters Aquarius, the sign of his exaltation. If you’ve felt like life is moving too fast, hang onto your seat, because it’s going to get even faster now. Inspiration and new ideas come streaming in at the speed of light.

Also on Wednesday, Mars forms an inconjunct with Jupiter, activating a Yod with Mars and Saturn at the base and Venus and Jupiter at the apex. This is an extremely rare formation and very interesting, because Mars and Saturn are the malefics — the bad guys in astrology — while Venus and Jupiter are considered the benefics. Moreover, both Mars and Saturn are retrograde, the only two planets currently in reverse.

The conjunction of Venus and Jupiter is said to be the luckiest combination in astrology, and this is even more true in Pisces, as Venus is exalted in the sign of the Fishes, and Jupiter is its co-ruler. This is our call to higher love and opening our hearts to receive wealth and abundance. However, the Yod formation suggests a block of some kind, a “hump” to get over before all those good things flow to us.

Mars sextile Saturn is good for setting immediate ego gratification aside to accomplish difficult tasks. Since both planets are retrograde, we can’t expect to move mountains, but to make steady progress, a little at a time, until the job is done. It’s also likely that projects we undertake at this time have something to do with the past — clearing accumulated clutter, eliminating toxins from our bodies, and confronting tasks we’ve put off for months, if not years.

That sounds all well and good, but when we concentrate too much on work, what needs to be done, and “reality,” we shut the magic out of our lives. This isn’t intentional; indeed, I’d say it’s a negative side effect of modern industrialized societies. In order to go to work day after day and to live in crowded cities, we have to shut our sensitive, intuitive side down. After years of doing so, many people become desensitized, and it’s as though their minds have gone to sleep. Higher love can’t exist in such conditions.

There’s another inconjunct this week, between Mars in Leo and Pluto in Capricorn. This is a heavy handed combination that subjects the ego’s need for creative expression to oppressive authority. This suggests censorship to me and may be at the root of Google’s problem in China. The aspect peaks on Friday, and there will be a third and final round of it on April 10. Also on Friday, Mercury trines Saturn, a great aspect for finding a practical use for all those outlandish Aquarian ideas.

Mercury opposes Mars the following day, fueling arguments and creating breakdowns in communications. This seems like a small thing, but we need to be very careful with this one, given everything else that’s going on. Events this weekend could be overwhelming, and it won’t take much to get irritated with others. If you do get in an argument, hopefully it will be short-lived, as the New Moon is just a few hours later, and it holds much healing power.

At 25 degrees Aquarius, the New Moon will be tightly conjunct Neptune and Chiron. This is our cue to start anew by embracing our wounds. Earlier in the week, with Venus conjunct Neptune, we’re called upon to accept others, as they are. Now, we’re being called to accept and love ourselves. That’s more than just 80s Me-Decade psychobabble. Opening our hearts to love depends on it, and what better time is there to walk through the portal of love and healing than on Valentine’s Day?

Sunday’s aspect list is long, and I’ve covered most of it already. The one wildcard is Pluto. I just wrote of his inconjunct with Mars, but that means he’ll be sextile Venus and Jupiter, and that suggests an “out” of some kind. Maybe it’s about our true power as human beings, not just the illusion of power we get by sitting in the executive’s chair.

Wishing you nothing but true love,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Saturday Extra! Chasing Nibiru

Sumerian Cylinder Seal

Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal showing stars, planets, and signs of the zodiac. Note the Pleiades in the upper right corner.

Rossa’s question last week about the possibility of a brown dwarf in our solar system raised the subject of Nibiru, which, depending on whom you talk to, is the still-to-be-discovered Planet X, a planet on a doomsday collision course with Earth, or home to extraterrestrials.

In an attempt to discover how these stories started, I did a little digging and found some interesting facts about Nibiru, which is mentioned in ancient Sumerian astronomical texts. And therein lies the rub. The texts are confusing, and, of course, that leaves the door wide open to interpretation, some of them quite fanciful.

What fascinated me most was the description of Nibiru as a crossing point or gateway. This suggests that Nibiru was not an actual body, but a location in space or perhaps some kind of a time marker. Even when Sumerian astronomers refer to Nibiru as “Marduk’s star,” they simply may be noting the location of one of the five known planets (Marduk was a god in the Sumerian mythology and probably linked with one of the planets and perhaps a constellation, just as we associate Jupiter and Sagittarius).

Part of the problem, as I see it, is that the Sumerians often wrote in poetic language filled with symbolism, not necessarily to be taken literally. Further, Sumerian language scholars tend not to be well-versed in astrology and don’t understand what they’re reading. They can translate the words, but the resulting text makes no sense.

I would love to see a detailed study of these texts performed by someone skilled both in astrology and ancient Sumerian languages. If there is no one on the planet with that skill set, then a collaboration would be the next-best solution. But that is highly unlikely, as academics are among the first people to dismiss astrology as superstitious pseudoscience.

Think of the knowledge we’re missing because of this prejudice.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is My First House Sun in Retreat?

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

In my chart, the Sun is almost exactly conjunct the Ascendant. As this is such a close conjunction, I was wondering what this means, with the Sun just nosing into the first house, but am I really more of a 12th house person, with the Moon is in Pisces. Coincidentally, where I live is called the Retreat (it’s the name of the estate actually).

Libra ponders . . .

Diane’s response:

Geraldine, your Sun in Libra is definitely belongs to your first house, not the twelfth. If you feel like a twelfth house person, I believe you are correct in looking at your sensitive Moon in Pisces.

Even though your Moon is in the fifth house, it is linked to the twelfth house in two ways: first, the inconjunct aspect between your Moon and Neptune located there; and second, Pisces rules the twelfth house.

The inconjunct is a rather difficult aspect, linking signs with little common ground. In your case, it is Neptune in airy Libra aspecting the Moon in watery Pisces. While there is often mutual respect between Libra and Pisces, Libra prefers an intellectual approach drawing on the best available data, while Pisces is fond of intuitive leaps and can be hazy when it comes to facts.

The Moon-Neptune inconjunct may bless you with creativity but at the same time makes you especially sensitive to confrontation of any kind. Hence it makes sense you prefer to live apart from the hustle and bustle of the mainstream. May I say, as one who has Moon conjunct Neptune in Libra,  I completely understand? I have a profound aversion to yelling matches and emotional drama.

A second look at your twelfth shows you have an out-of-sign conjunction of Mercury in Virgo and Neptune in Libra located there. Mercury in the twelfth often receives information through dreams and in the moments between going to sleep and upon waking. Do you record your dreams? I would guess having your Mercury in Virgo would give you a better than usual ability to recall them.

Thanks for a good question, Geraldine, and enjoy your days in the Retreat!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Geraldine, your Sun should be considered in the first house, no question, but I know how you feel. I, too, have a first house Sun with Moon in Pisces, and I have a sensitivity to surroundings and people that makes it easier for me to be in retreat (love that symbolism!).

However, there is one important way in which your chart and mine differ. Your Moon is the “handle” of a basket, all alone on one side of the chart with all of your other planets almost entirely within one third of the chart wheel. This gives the Moon a much greater influence than it otherwise would have, so it’s hardly surprising that you feel this part of yourself more strongly.

That said, people with Sun on the Ascendant really do wish to be seen, and they often project a strong public persona, even if it’s not how they feel deep inside. I would bet that others see you quite differently than you perceive yourself. And I would encourage you to put yourself out there, even though you may feel like blending into the background at times. That’s the same advice I give myself, by the way.

Thanks for the great question, and all the best to you.

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Exploring Ceres and Vesta

Dawn on Ceres

Artist's concept of the Dawn spacecraft orbiting Ceres. Credit: McREL

While preparing this week’s forecast, I noted that the Sun sextiles Ceres on Sunday. I will admit to you that I have no idea what this means.

Many astrologers use the asteroids named for goddesses — Ceres, Vesta, Juno, and Pallas — in their consultation work with clients. For me, the jury is still out. I have never been satisfied with the explanations of their function, either in birth charts or transit readings. Since 2006, when the International Astronomical Union declared Ceres a “dwarf planet,” the same status they gave Pluto, I’ve been in quiet observation mode.

I’ve made a case for Ceres as the modern ruler of Virgo. The mythology fits. But a planet’s function in astrology also is based on its physical characteristics. For example, Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and it appears that he may protect the inner planets to some degree. In astrology, Jupiter rules the “big picture” and represents expansion. His presence in certain areas of the chart by transit can indicate where we’re being protected.

NASA’s Dawn Mission, which was launched in September 2007, is scheduled to fly by Vesta in 2010 and 2011, and it will reach Ceres in 2015. Researchers hope to understand more about how the solar system was formed by exploring these protoplanets. I’m excited by this news and believe that the information beamed back from the Dawn spacecraft will change our concept of how astrologers can use the asteroid goddesses to interpret personal charts and the charts for world events. With the Dawn Mission, awareness of these bodies will permeate the collective mind, and as that happens, our understanding of their function in astrology will continue to evolve.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast February 1: Jupiter Inconjunct Saturn, Sextile Pluto

Photo by Dmitry Lovetsky for The Associated PressThis week is the Celtic cross-quarter day of Imbolc. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are noticeably longer, trees are budding, and there are early signs of spring.

It’s been a hard winter for many, and so the return of the light is a welcome relief. We’ll get a bit of a breather this week, too, with the Moon in Libra on Tuesday and Wednesday. One of her first contacts is with Saturn and Pluto, which some of you may feel as a brief period of melancholy or alienation, but it won’t last long, and it’s also a chance to reflect on committed relationships, an ongoing theme with Saturn in the sign of balanced give-and-take. And once that’s over, the Moon trines the Sun and Venus in Aquarius, a nice aspect for seizing the moment and enjoying a small surprise.

On Friday, Jupiter forms an inconjunct with Saturn. Inconjuncts are inherently uncomfortable, and something that happens later this week could make you squirm. Just remember that discomfort doesn’t always have a “real” external source. Sometimes it’s our beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world at large that get us in trouble and hold us back.

Speaking of beliefs, it’s generally accepted in astrology that Jupiter is the Santa Claus of the solar system and that Saturn is the party pooper. Diane has written a lot about her experience with Jupiter as an amplifier, for better or for worse, and she appreciates the discipline embodied in Saturn.

We could argue that it’s Saturn who’s actually the Santa Claus. Saturn is the lord of time and the material universe and therefore has a role in everything that manifests into our lives. Saturn was revered by the Romans as a harvest deity, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Moerover, there are connections between the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia and customs associated with Christmas, including the exchange of gifts.

This is a good week to examine the process of how we can turn thoughts into reality. On Saturday, Jupiter sextiles Pluto, an aspect that contains powerful potential for wealth and abundance. For some of you, the result could be material, while others may feel it on an emotional level. Maybe you’ll experience both. I’ve often found that intense feelings attract people and material things into my life.

Also on Saturday, Mercury sextiles Uranus. The Messenger leaves the post-retrograde shadow period on Thursday, so he’ll be free to meet the planet of innovation and surprises in a new frame of mind. If the ideas seem to come in rapid-fire succession, grab a notebook or write on the back of an envelope — whatever you’ve got handy. Something you couldn’t get to work properly during the winter holidays should go smoothly now. This is especially true for electronic gadgets and anything to do with computers or the Internet. I’ve finally got the fan problem in my laptop resolved and will take another crack at video content soon. I’m also working on a short post on Nibiru (thanks again to Rossa for posing the question).

On Sunday, Venus conjoins Chiron and Neptune (next Monday in most parts of the world), paving the way for the New Moon on February 13. We’re approaching another extraordinary gateway for healing energies to enter our energy field, individually and collectively. I’m feeling it in positive ways and hope you are, too.

Much love and many blessings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: God of Ice. It’s clearly not spring yet in St. Petersburg, Russia. I’d love to know who this figure is, but it sure looks like Saturn or Neptune. Photo by Dmitry Lovetsky for The Associated Press.