Ask Our Readers: Going Retro for the Holidays

As most of our readers know, Mercury and Mars both go retrograde this month, just in time to mess with the winter holidays. Although Mercury doesn’t reverse motion until December 26, he’ll be in the pre-retrograde shadow period starting on December 10. Mars turns retrograde on December 20. This combination doesn’t bode well for a smooth holiday season, and we can expect long lines for gift return.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to know whether being aware of Mercury retrograde is changing your approach to the holidays.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast November 30: Full Moon in Gemini, Uranus Direct

Cirque du Soleil, by Stu SeegerI’m writing to you this week from another planet. I don’t know yet exactly where I am. Obviously they have Internet access here, but it took some doing to figure out how to make the connection.

Not having a computer at home has been very strange. We don’t realize how much we depend on them until they’re gone. My daily routine has been totally disrupted. With other major changes happening very swiftly in my life, I really do feel like I’ve been transported somewhere else.

It looks like my laptop can be repaired, although it won’t be cheap. I got it while Mercury was retrograde, a long story I’ll relay in a Saturday Extra! post soon.

Meanwhile, a friend brought over an old desktop computer, the kind with a CRT that flickers and makes your eyeballs squeeze. The technology has got to be at least nine years old – ancient, in our swiftly advancing times. It’s strange to regress this way, and it’s also reassuring to know that these older solutions still work. I have a feeling we are going to need them more and more in the future as economic realities force us to downside and revise our priorities.

Speaking of technology, the planet most closely associated with technological advances, Uranus, goes direct this week after being retrograde for five months. Once that happens on Tuesday, we’ll have a window of nearly three weeks in which all the planets are direct, including Chiron and some of the asteroids. This is rare, and I believe we’ll all see major progress in our lives. This will be all the more true if Uranus is prominent in your chart.

On Monday, Mercury squares Uranus. This aspect can be nerve-wracking as it is, but I expect it to be all the more so with Uranus about to go direct. Events can happen suddenly under this influence, and you can forget about your plans working out without a hitch. Since both Mercury and Uranus are associated with electronics and the Internet, the fast pace we experience early in the week almost surely will involve computers, cell phones, and other gadgets we use for instant communications.

Tuesday is the Full Moon in Gemini, one of the two signs Mercury rules. Neith did an excellent post on Saturday about this curious lunation, which is happy on the surface but contains an edgy undercurrent. The handwriting on the wall is getting bigger and harder to ignore or explain away.

Earlier in the day, Mercury sextiles Neptune, a good aspect for intellectual creativity, and Uranus goes direct, which should give us all a mental jumpstart. Also, Venus enters frisky Sagittarius and is ready to party, despite the sobering energy of Saturn in Venus-ruled Libra. We can let loose temporarily and have a good time, knowing all the while that we have duties, commitments, and financial worries.

That said, we can take comfort in those same duties and responsibilities, which help provide structure and meaning in our key relationships. If you don’t identify with that statement, keep your ear to the ground on Friday, when Venus sextiles Saturn.

On Saturday, Mercury enters Capricorn. We may not feel very chatty or communicative, but we’ll want our Internet working fast and efficiently for holiday shopping. Get it all done now, because Mercury turns retrograde the day after Christmas (just in time for all the returns). Yes, another Mercury retrograde is looming. Those of us who have been experiencing major issues with our computers and telecommunications devices may have a hard time imagining how Mercury retrograde could make things any worse than they already are. For many people I know, myself included, it’s as though Mercury has been permanently retrograde for months. Mercury officially enters the pre-retrograde shadow period on December 10.

On Sunday, the Moon in Leo conjoins Mars and opposes Jupiter and Chiron. As Neith noted in her Full Moon post, it will be very easy for us to be insensitive and hurtful, so we will need to practice mindful awareness to stay kind and supportive. That’s a tall order when we’re stressed out by all the demands of the holidays, but sincere efforts will not go unrewarded.

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

Image: Venus in Sagittarius, expressed perfectly here by two acrobats in the Cirque du Soleil. This photo was taken by Stu Seeger, who photographed the Cirque’s Nouvelle Experience show in Las Vegas in 1994.

Full Moon in Gemini, December 1-2, 2009

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If you feel like you are about to go into orbit, it could be due to a very energetic Full Moon at 10° 15′ Gemini on December 1 (December 2 in the Eastern Hemisphere). The majority of planets are in fire and air signs for a change, but it would behoove us to remember there is a darker undertow beneath that shiny surface.

Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, is in direct, outspoken Sagittarius closely sextile to Jupiter, Sagittarius’s ruling planet. Depending on your perspective, this aspect is either extremely creative and stimulating or full of hot air. That call I will be happy to leave up to everyone’s personal judgment. However, I do recommend taking time to check facts before taking action, because it is very easy for us to get ahead of ourselves under this very Jupitarian influence.

Since Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius are also exactly sextile to Mercury, we may have a realization slip into our conscious minds from below about an old source of pain and resentment, presenting an opportunity for healing. Another possible expression is seeing slights where none were intended and responding with harsh, wounding words, effectively alienating others.

Mars in fiery, outgoing Leo is further bumping up the desire to make a big splash one way or another. It forms a supportive trine to the Sun in Sagittarius and is sextile the Gemini Moon, encouraging fire and air signs in particular to get out and take advantage of various holiday gatherings. If you are out shopping for gifts, be aware it will be easy to spend too much, especially for glitz and glittery items. Otherwise this is a great aspect for throwing a grand party and having a great time.

There is one gentle sane note in this chart and that is Venus, newly arrived in Sagittarius, stabilized by a sextile to Saturn in equitable Libra. Saturn will help Venus maintain some decorum amidst all the hype and drama being generated now.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the party poopers: Mercury in Sagittarius square Uranus in Pisces and the ongoing Saturn in Libra square to Pluto in Capricorn.

Uranus turns direct at 22° 42′ Pisces a few hours before the Full Moon and forms a jarring square with Mercury in Sagittarius. Taking in consideration the already volatile sextile Mercury makes with Jupiter, the square from Uranus further increases the potential for jumping to unwarranted conclusions. Yes, it is always possible to use these potent energies in a conscious, helpful manner, but it will take focus and discipline. In other words, take extra care to express yourself in a thoughtful manner. Shooting from the hip could come back and bite you big time.

I am beginning to see the Saturn-Pluto square taking its toll in people’s lives and relationships. It is becoming clear our relationships are being tuned up, and where one person or the other has indulged in irresponsible behaviors, there is a very good chance that those relationships will come to an end. Pluto in Capricorn makes a very good executioner, too.

Clearly the Sabian symbol for the Full Moon of 11 Gemini, “Newly opened lands offer the pioneer new opportunities for experience,” reflects the exuberant sextile between Mercury in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Aquarius. We are drawn to seek new experiences and the excitement of going off the beaten track.

For the Sun in Sagittarius, the symbol is 11 Sagittarius, “In the left section of an archaic temple, a lamp burns in a container shaped like a human body.” This is a gentle reminder to take care of our bodies and treat them as “temples” that house our spirits.

With my Libra Moon conjoined Neptune in the eleventh house, I have learned to pay attention to my intuitive sense telling me what is out of balance in the collective as a whole. Libra is the sign of the scales, and many of us with a strong Libra signature in our charts automatically do what is necessary to restore equilibrium to any given situation. With the arrival of Saturn in Libra, there is a feeling of greater urgency about this mission.

When I am writing these posts on the lunations, I follow my intuition as to what to emphasize and seek to offer a balanced perspective. Writing about this Full Moon, it would have been easy to stick to a bright and cheerful message, but my inner voice was saying, “Don’t stop there. Remind people of the dark undercurrent out there we need to stay aware of.”

It is more important now than ever to interact with others in a kind and respectful manner. Doing otherwise holds the potential to backfire on us . . . badly. Spread thoughtfulness and love, not hate and dissension.

Libra always seeks balanceposted by Neith . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I can take pictures too
This year I am most thankful for a couple of small things in my life, the granddaughter I never dreamed I would have and my new puppy – both of whom shower love like rain on me.

As a childless person, I had given up on the idea of being a grandmother until I married a man with two daughters when I was in my forties. My older stepdaughter and I both have our Saturn’s in Leo and on her first Saturn Return (and my second) she had a daughter whose Gemini rising is exactly conjoined my Gemini North Node and perhaps not so coincidentally also has her Saturn in Leo. I fell in love with her from the get go.

my tater at 5 wks

A couple of years ago my old dog died and even though I have looked for another dog, it wasn’t until just recently the right dog showed up. Some friends of ours had a Border collie give birth to a single pup. I know for sure my new puppy has her Sun in Libra like me but I have not yet confirmed whether her Moon is in Libra or Scorpio. Either way it’s a good match and I promptly fell in love with her too.

I’m really looking forward to introducing the puppy and my granddaughter. They are both small, very active and LOOOOVE being outside! It will be fun to watch.

Here wishing everyone a wonderful T-Day!

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast November 23: Sun and Mercury in Sagittarius

Pat's tart tatin with organic applesIn the United States, it’s Thanksgiving week, when many people take two or more days off to eat too much, watch too much football, and shop ’til they drop.

You’ll be happy to know that the planets are obliging on all fronts. For the most part, this week’s astrological energy is much lighter and more fun. With the Sun and Mercury in the travel-loving sign of Sagittarius, it’s also a good week for being on the road or in the air.

Fortunately, we get the Venus-Jupiter square out of the way on Monday, well before we’re at a table overloaded with turkey, gravy, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams with miniature marshmallows, and five different kinds of pie. Hard Venus-Jupiter aspects are notorious for overindulging, and this will be all the more true with Venus in Scorpio.

On Tuesday, the Sun forms a happy sextile with Saturn, and hopefully this will help us get past some of the issues raised when Saturn squared Pluto a week ago. That square is still active, but with illumination from the Sun, we may be able to understand how to work around seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Trying to see the bigger picture is always a good strategy, but it will be especially effective now.

Wednesday is our day for surprises, hopefully of the happy kind, when Venus trines Uranus, both in deep-feeling water signs. It’s a perfect day for showing up on the doorstep of friends and family, with your homemade specialties and other gourmet treats in hand.

On Thursday, Mercury in Sagittarius trines Mars in Leo, a great day for driving, lively conversation, and sports. Sagittarius is very competitive, and Mars the warrior is all fired up in playful Leo. I’m not into football myself, but for those who are, today’s games will be particularly dramatic and entertaining.

Also on Thursday, Venus squares Neptune. Among other things, this is the classic “eyes bigger than your stomach” aspect. Start with small helpings and go back for seconds if you’re still hungry. If you’re drinking or using other mind-altering substances, take some care, as you’ll be tempted to overdo it.

Sunday is another excellent football day, with Mercury in a spirited sextile with Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius. Later in the day, Mercury sextiles Chiron, the wounded healer. Let’s hope this is a sign of injuries averted and not an indication that your favorite player gets carried off the field.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: My attempt at a tart tatin, a French apple pie baked upside-down with the crust on top, then flipped onto a plate. The photographer is none other than our own dear Tseka, who dropped by last week for a wonderful visit. I’m wearing one of her new talismans, which are selling out everywhere she takes them.

Saturday Archives: The Jupiter Effect – Positive or Neutral

winter rainbowToday the Sun moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius and I thought a post from the Archives on Jupiter would be fun.

As we approach the transition of Jupiter from the yang fire sign of Sagittarius to the yin earth sign of Capricorn on December 18, 2007, I find myself considering Jupiter’s effect.  In traditional astrology, Jupiter and Venus are called “beneficent” and when they show up in charts and by transit, they are said to bring all that is good.  That sounds wonderful but this has been not been my personal experience or that of others whose charts I’ve read.

Since I have a natal Sun-Jupiter conjunction, albeit out-of-sign, Jupiter plays an important role in my chart.  He is also closely square to Saturn.  So it’s like I have Jupiter revving up the engine while Saturn has the brakes on.  Fun, huh!  This is one of the reasons I tend to see Jupiter as an amplifier of existing aspects and energies rather than a planet that bestows blessings on all he touches.

Another example of Jupiter as a neutral amplifier is the effect he has by transit.  The last couple of years saw Jupiter transiting out of my 12th House and into my first.  Now this transit didn’t particularly bring me luck or make me wildly optimistic.  If anything it exacerbated what was going on in other parts of my life. Plus I put on weight eating chocolate and candy to boost my flagging energy due to feeling weighed down by my second Saturn Return.  In that instance, it was more of a vicious circle and I am very, very happy to have Saturn now in health conscious Virgo to counteract Jupiter.  The closer Jupiter gets to the cusp of my second House, the less interest sweets hold . . . nice!

That being said, a case can be made for Jupiter in the first house giving me the push I needed to get out of a day job that was becoming increasingly difficult for me. I was making no progress bringing positive changes there.  As Jupiter winds up his stay in Sagittarius he will be sextile my Sun in Libra.  I do see Jupiter-Sun aspects as more positive because the Sun is our heart and the core of our being.

Just for the record, here is a very brief summation of Jupiter’s affect on the other planets.

  • Jupiter-Moon:   intensifying mood swings and emotional issues
  • Jupiter-Mercury:  making someone prone to exaggeration
  • Jupiter-Venus:  lots of fun but not so good for the budget
  • Jupiter-Mars:  increasing the desire to take risks and forge ahead blindly
  • Jupiter-Saturn:  classic case of conflict between caution and blind optimism
  • Jupiter-Uranus:  shudder . . . do anything on a dare
  • Jupiter-Neptune:  hallmark of extreme righteousness or enlightenment
  • Jupiter-Pluto:  amplifies Pluto’s natural tendency towards obsession

Yes, some of this is a bit tongue-in-cheek but there is evidence to support these broadly written concepts.  It makes more sense to me to take a more cautiously optimistic position when Jupiter is involved.

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

Image: A winter rainbow is apropos for the first day of Sagittarius.

Ask Our Readers: Uranus Stationing Heebie Jeebies

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Uranus is at a virtual standstill preparing to go direct on December 1, 2009 at 22° 42′ Pisces and if you have a planet or Angle between 21° and 23° as I do, you may be feeling jangled and twitchy.

When calm did not return after an intense New Moon on Monday, I started checking and realized Uranus was the culprit because it is exactly trine my natal Mercury triggering a natal Mercury-Uranus inconjunct.

Uranus often has the most immediate impact of all the outer planets by transit because of its electrical, dynamic nature. If it forms aspects to your personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) or your chart Angles (Ascendant, Nadir, Descendant and Midheaven), you will be particularly sensitive to its transits over those degree points.

Anyone else experiencing the Uranus affect by transit?

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

Out of Commission

My computer is dead! Or at least, it’s in a deep coma. The computer doctor is out, so I will have to wait to find out the prognosis.

I am posting this notice using the free computer service at the King County Library, which gets my undying support forever.

Until my computer gets well or I get a new one, my presence here will be limited. I’ll miss you all. And OMG, do I miss my computer. We rely on them so much, we don’t realize it until they’re gone.

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

Weekly Forecast November 16: New Moon in Scorpio, Sun Enters Sagittarius

The Rotting SeasonDevelopments that began unfolding last Thursday or Friday continue to play out in what promises to be another intense week. There likely will be another surprise or two, and it’s anyone’s guess whether it will be pleasant or of the other variety.

The week begins with a powerful New Moon in Scorpio. You’ve probably read Neith’s complete report, but if not, it’s a must-read. This New Moon comes fully loaded with six out of ten planets in fixed signs, virtually guaranteeing some sort of conflict.

Now, as I’m so fond of saying, not all conflict is bad. Sometimes we need it to push us out of a rut. If nothing else, we are forced to decide what we really want. If we don’t make a point of setting priorities, life sometimes hands us a situation to get our attention. That has happened to me a couple of times already in the past week, and I’m expecting more of it this week, with the New Moon dead on my lunar North Node and Midheaven.

If for some reason someone or something has you feeling cornered, look to the sign opposite the apex of the T-square for direction, which would range from about 11 degrees to 25 degrees of Taurus. In my chart, 25 degrees Taurus is my South Node and IC, so for resolution I might look to home, family, or memories from childhood. Or, if I come against a problem I can’t get a handle on, the source might be behavior I’m not aware of that no longer serves me. That’s what I would tell a client, anyway.

The New Moon can represent powerful new beginnings, so keep that in mind, too. Sometimes in order to make a fresh start, we need to leave something or someone behind for good.

On Tuesday, Mercury sextiles Saturn. Positive Mercury-Saturn contacts typically help our concentration. In this case, we may get some clarity regarding a long-term relationship, and we’ll be able to discuss matters frankly and honestly with the other person.

Venus squares Mars on Thursday, and this often can manifest as conflict in love relationships, especially involving issues of jealousy, possessiveness, and dominance. If you’re attracted to someone and are prevented from acting on it, one or both of you could end up frustrated and irritable. This is all the more true if you’re unaware of your feelings or deliberately suppressing them. But this aspect also represents the tension in an intimate relationship that leads to unbridled passion.

Also on Thursday, the Moon conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn. I wrote about this influence last week, when the Moon conjoined Saturn and squared Pluto. If you got a blip on your radar screen last Thursday or Friday (I did), it may grow into something more this week.

Relief from all this intensity comes on Saturday, when the Sun enters Sagittarius. The Archer is a centaur, a mythological creature who is half man, half horse. Except for Chiron, the centaurs were a wild bunch and loved playing around, in all senses of the word. But hey, we all have to cut loose once in awhile and have fun, damn the torpedoes. Just don’t do anything you’ll regret in the morning.

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

Image: We’re seriously into winter here in the Pacific Northwest, with the relentless cold rain that leads to the most impressive composting and rot I’ve ever seen. Scorpio is the sign of death, rebirth, and transformation, and here we are, in the uncomfortable dying out phase. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Ask Real Astrologers: What Location Should I Use for a Solar Return Chart?

This week’s question comes from Kerrie in Washington State:

I was in Paris, France, on my birthday, and it changes the house placement [of my Solar Return chart]. Is it appropriate to use my birthplace, which puts Libra on the Ascendant, or Paris, which moves it to Capricorn?

[NOTE: Neith is taking a much-needed rest after three harrowing days of upgrading our site. She will be back for next week’s Q&A.]

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Excellent question, Kerrie. Before I answer, let me briefly explain what a Solar Return chart is for those who have never heard of it.

In astrology, a “return” occurs when a transiting planet moves back to its position in your birth chart. Many people have heard of the Saturn return, which happens to everyone in their late 20s and late 50s.

The Solar Return chart is cast for the exact moment when the Sun moves over the degree of your natal Sun. This may be on your birthday or a day or two on either side. Thus, the Solar Return is sometimes called a birthday chart.

The Solar Return chart is used as a predictive tool to determine the dominant themes in your life from one birthday to the next. The sign on the Ascendant is a key indicator and therefore very important. And yes, it changes depending on where you are.

That said, there is a big debate among astrologers as to whether you should cast your Solar Return chart for your primary place of residence or where you’re physically located on your birthday. Some go so far as to plan on being somewhere else on their birthday in order to influence the coming year!

I would say that if you were taking a short vacation to another place, it probably isn’t that significant, and you should use your primary residence. Conversely, if you were on an extended trip abroad, I would use your temporary location. I know there will be other astrologers who radically disagree with me, and that’s perfectly OK. You might want to look at both charts and then when your birthday rolls around in 2010, determine which was more accurate.

Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous year, Kerrie!

Please note that Neith and I both do Solar Return charts. You can find more information on our forecast page.

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.” Thanks!