New Moon in Scorpio, November 16, 2009

New Moon in Scorpio at sunset. If there was ever a time for figuring out the source of difficulties in our lives, the New Moon at 24° 34′ Scorpio on November 16 is it.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is so fitting and descriptive that I am going to lead off with it this time. It is 25 Scorpio, “An X-ray photograph helps with the diagnosis.” How appropriate is that for a New Moon in Scorpio square Neptune in Aquarius and trine Uranus in Pisces? There is little doubt that if we can identify a problem, we are well on the way to resolving it, providing we apply a generous dose of compassion and diligence.

Scorpio’s penetrating vision and willingness to use a scalpel to lance the wounds it finds may not be easy or comfortable, but if we can accept the necessity of doing so, we have an opportunity to really start healing wounds long ignored. There is also little hope of being able to continue to bury our heads in the sand, because our vulnerable backsides are sticking up, just waiting to get kicked. Fortunately Uranus in Pisces trine the New Moon offers new possibilities and solutions to old dilemmas, with a nice measure of empathy thrown in.

Mars, Scorpio’s ruler, forms a square from dramatic Leo to Venus in very private Scorpio. This sets the stage for potential disagreements with friends and lovers, because both of these fixed signs tend to be somewhat possessive with jealousy as a consequence. Scorpio likes to hold their feelings close to the chest, and Leo prefers to make a public display of theirs – not a happy combination. Honesty is by far the best option, because if Scorpio finds out they have been lied to, there will be all hell to pay.

On the subject of honesty in relationships, the Saturn-Pluto square is just one day past making the first of three exact squares (the second one is January 31, 2010 and the third, August 21, 2010). At this time, we have help in the form of Mercury in forthright Sagittarius forming a sextile to Saturn in Libra and a semi-sextile to Pluto in Capricorn. Yes, the words may be blunt and to the point, but if they reflect the truth as each person understands it, progress in resolving our differences can be made. I know I sound like a broken record on the subject of being as honest as possible in our dealings with ourselves and others under this transit, but please, do your best! The rewards will be well worth the pain.

This particular New Moon falls within a degree of my Scorpio Ascendant and I find myself being terser and more focused than usual. Usually my pleasant Libra nature shows more, but with Saturn in Libra sextile my Venus now, my more serious side is coming to the fore these days. That being said, I wholeheartedly recommend taking time to really listen to your friends and loved ones with love, kindness and compassion foremost. These are difficult times for many people, and we need to feel someone really cares about our welfare and well-being.

Blessings and peace to all.

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

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

We’re Upgraded . . . For Better or Worse!

grape vine arch 525px

After beating my head against the wall attempting to do the upgrade manually and failing dismally, I decided to use Fantastico on Cpanel. Lo and behold, it worked! But there are some odd quirks like images vanishing from posts so we may be puttering around behind the scenes for awhile.

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast November 9: Saturn Square Pluto

TransitionIf you think Friday the 13th is scary, try it while Saturn is squaring Pluto. I’m shaking in my boots.

OK, not really. But this isn’t going to be an easy week. It’s not that I think anything terrible is going to happen, just that we’re shifting into the cardinal energies now, and that means big changes are on the way. For a heavily fixed-sign person like me, it means more stumbling over the rearranged furniture. Some people are just better at adapting than others.

The cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — mark the beginning of a new season, at least in Western thought. In astrology, they are traditionally associated with the four chart angles. When transiting planets cross these angles in our natal charts, we typically experience major life events, changes, and breakthroughs.

Likewise, with four out of the five outer planets heading into cardinal signs, we can expect these changes to happen on a planetary scale. Since several of these planets will be in conflicting squares with each other, we also know that powerful forces will be working at cross purposes, each trying to dominate and gain the advantage over the others. It is going to be tense, chaotic, and maybe scary.

This week, we get an advance glimpse of this trend, when Saturn in Libra squares Pluto in Capricorn. The square is exact on Sunday, but we’ll feel it all week and into next week, too. The Moon in Libra on Thursday and Friday will activate this energy, so watch for clues on those two days. Who are you with? What are you doing? What news do you receive? Even if it doesn’t seem that significant, take note, because this may be part of a growing trend in your personal life. Keep an eye on the news headlines, too, because we may catch a glimpse of the global trends.

Taking the week day by day, we start with a sextile between Venus and Pluto overnight on Sunday (just after midnight Monday morning on the East Coast of the United States). We all know that Venus and Pluto make a sexy pair, although there can be obsession and jealousy, too. This is all the more likely with Venus in Scorpio. If you’re willing to go into some dark places in your psyche, you can use this aspect to grow, and this could be the seed of personal transformation.

For most of the day Monday, the Moon is in Leo, and she opposes Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune. Jupiter is gaining speed now and soon will make a last exact conjunction with Chiron and Neptune. Our healing has been slow and painful, but now we’re beginning to see results. I know quite a few people (myself included) whose lives are starting to turn around.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Mercury in Scorpio squares Chiron and Neptune, making this a good time to talk about our healing process. Some wounds may never heal, but if we at least are aware of them and accept them as part of who we are, we can move forward lighter and less encumbered. For better or for worse, the Sun further illuminates our healing process this week when it squares Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune.

Mercury and the Sun also trine Uranus this week — Wednesday for Mercury and Saturday for the Sun. If you’re willing to shine the light into the dark corners of your heart and mind, you’ll probably find that what’s lurking in there isn’t so scary after all. If you’ve been going through a difficult time, remember that none of it is outside the human experience. Your responses are normal and understandable, including any discomfort you may have for feeling that way to begin with.

Sunday is the Saturn-Pluto square. Since the normal work week is Monday to Friday, I’m guessing that most of you will feel this more acutely next week. Just be aware of the buildup this week, though.

As usual, if you experience any noteworthy events that you believe are linked to any of these broad energy trends, leave a comment. Those of you who are part of the Real Astrologers community know that you’re not alone. Even though others aren’t experiencing exactly what you are, we’re on parallel paths, and often the emotions are the same, even if the names and places are different.

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

Image: A patron is reflected in a sculpture entitled “Transition,” by Satu Bushell. The work is part of the Sculpture By The Sea exhibition in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Daniel Munoz of REUTERS.

Saturday Extra! So Are We In Scorpio, Or What?

Scorpio is the sign of mysteries, secrets, and hidden things, so it’s no surprise that among its hidden attributes is an entire “lost sign” of the zodiac.

I wrote about this last year in the second half of Scorpio, so many of you already are aware that there’s a thirteenth constellation of the zodiac, Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, sometimes called the Snake Handler. There is so much rich symbolism in this sign, including its hidden nature.

Ophiuchus

As I explained previously, the zodiac is comprised of twelve constellations Continue reading →

Ask Real Astrologers: What Can We Tell from Outer Planet Transits?

This week’s question comes from Adina from Montreal, Quebec:

How will Saturn’s transit through Libra affect me (personally, professionally), taking into consideration the position of Pluto until 2024, of Neptune and Uranus and Jupiter – the slower moving planets?

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Adina, I believe you will find Saturn in Libra much, much easier to live with than when he was in Virgo for many reasons, the most important being Saturn is far more at home in thoughtful, equitable Libra.

When Saturn entered Virgo in September 2007, he started right out by conjoining your Jupiter, making you feel like you had to earn every bit of luck that came your way. Also, just before he moved into Libra, Saturn conjoined your Uranus, a transit that almost always feels extremely confining. Since this transit was through your eleventh house, those with whom you have chosen to ally yourself are probably a much smaller group than before.

The good news is that you will not be directly impacted by Saturn until he enters the second half of Libra in 2011, because he will be tucked away behind the scenes in your twelfth house. None of the other outer planets will be strongly affecting your chart for quite some time, either. So relax for now and take advantage of this time to consolidate gains and restore balance to your life – something Libras everywhere will be doing!

One note of caution that applies to you and all of the rest of us with Mercury in Scorpio: Transiting Mars in Leo will be squaring our Mercury on and off for the next several months, and we’ll be quicker to take offense than usual. This can come as quite a surprise to friends, co-workers and family members if you are generally seen as a peace-loving Libra!

If you can, Adina, take time to refresh yourself in beautiful surroundings, always important for the Venus-ruled. Best of luck to you!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Adina, I concur wholeheartedly with Neith regarding Saturn in your twelfth house. It’s not inconsequential, but it’s a more subtle influence that doesn’t manifest outright as other house transits of Saturn tend to do.

This is a time for finishing what you started, not a good time for starting new projects, relationships, careers, etc. This would be true regardless of what aspects transiting Saturn and the other outer planets are making to one another. If a new job does come along — a real possibility after Uranus moves into your sixth house in late March — then of course you shouldn’t reject it out of hand. But in general, you should be focused on completing what you’ve already started rather than looking for something new.

Beyond that, understanding how the complex energies create by the T-square (Saturn in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus and Jupiter in Aries) will affect you personally exceeds the scope of this column. You’d need to have a complete reading by a professional astrologer to explore all the ins and outs. In general, I think it’s safe to say that all of us are going to experience sudden shifts and sweeping changes. How much depends on our individual charts and unique circumstances.

Thanks for writing, and I hope you’ll join the discussion on our blog. Our readers often leave comments about how astrological aspects are affecting their lives. It’s all information we can use to better understand how these complicate transits involving multiple planets work.

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!

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Any Effects Of Neptune Going Direct?

Neptune stations today in preparation for returning direct. Typically, when Neptune changes directions or forms significant aspects with other planets, we dream more vividly and have more psychic experiences, premonitions, synchronicities, and so forth.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to know whether you are feeling any effects, courtesy of the planet of dreams and illusions.

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Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast November 2: Full Moon in Taurus, Neptune Direct

Scorpio DaysWe’re heading into dreamtime now. With the Sun in Scorpio and Neptune at a standstill, preparing to go direct, we’re all more open to psychic phenomena and “downloads” from the universe.

I forgot to mention in last week’s forecast that Sunday was the Celtic cross-quarter day of Samhain. In earlier times, Samhain was the beginning of the new year. In the industrialized West, we tend to view night and the dark part of the year as negative and undesirable, but to the nature-centered Celts, light grows out of darkness, so their days began at sunset, not sunrise, and their year began with the descent into winter. The seeds have all been planted for what will be born again in spring.

This also is a time of year when many people feel the veil thinning between the worlds of the visible and the unmanifest. So the tradition goes, the veil lifts very briefly on Samhain, which evolved into our modern Halloween. Still, as with many of our traditional holidays, we’ve retained the rich symbolism, even if we’ve lost touch with its meaning.

Because of this week’s Full Moon and Neptune’s change of direction, the window will remain open a little longer this year for us to travel into unseen realms. Your dreams may be very vivid this week, and they may contain important messages. Keep a journal by your bed, and don’t let those images get away!

We begin the week with the Full Moon in Taurus. Most of you probably have read Neith’s post from Saturday, but if not, don’t miss it. She has a lot of interesting insights, especially for us change-averse fixed-sign types (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius).

Even if you don’t have a lot of fixed energy in your chart, it’s human nature to fight change, and the changes are going to come fast and furious as we head into next year’s cardinal cross. Now is the time for us to take inventory, keep what serves us, and get rid of everything else. We’re going to need to travel light in the times ahead, both materially and spiritually. In my experience, it’s always best to make the necessary sacrifices, rather than waiting for someone or something to take away the things you’re attached to.

Neptune turns direct on Wednesday. We may feel sleepy and slow for much of this week, and concentration will be more difficult than usual. If you don’t have a mentally demanding job, or if you have a lull and can turn off your thought processes for a few days, you can get some amazing insights. Because Neptune is in Aquarius, the sign of the collective, the messages that come to us now may be about how we fit into the unfolding story of our time. We may get glimpses of the future, too. If a booming voice tells you to build an ark and gather the animals two by two, let me know!

The Sun and Mercury conjoin on Thursday, and it’s another day for profound insights and deeper understanding of how the universe works. New ideas may come into our minds as images or even feelings rather than thoughts, and they may need time to process before you understand them. It could take days or even months.

Venus enters Scorpio on Saturday, intensifying Scorpio themes of money, sex, and power. To the undeveloped mind, this translates to greed, lust, and the need to control. But the evolved mind knows that desire is a means to an end and that there is real power in being able to desire with an intensity that could kill us, and then releasing attachment to those desires. That kind of power is a bit scary to think of, and maybe that’s why we have a simultaneous fear and fascination with Pluto and Scorpio.

On Sunday, Mercury sextiles Pluto. The downloads just keep on coming, and we stumble on information that opens our eyes and may even be scandalous. If you need to talk to someone about your deepest feelings, this is a good time for it.

With all this intensity, it’s not going to be an easy week. But with some effort on your part, it will be an amazingly productive week. Be sure to leave comments and let us know what’s going on with you!

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

Image: Wet dawn in the Pacific Northwest. Off daylight saving time, with the days shortening, and rain, rain, rain. It’s weather for going inward, and so very Scorpio. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Full Moon in Taurus, November 2, 2009

Full Moon in TaurusThe Full Moon in Taurus on November 2 puts the focus back on the fixed signs, if only temporarily, reminding us what’s worth hanging onto and what we need to release as we head into a period with so much change.

At 10°30′ Scorpio-Taurus, the Sun and Moon form a tight T-square with Mars in Leo. Using a wide orb, we get fixed grand cross with Jupiter in Aquarius, underscoring the hazards of taking an ideological stance come what may.

The Sun in eagle-eyed Scorpio conjoins Mercury, and both are square Scorpio’s co-ruler, Mars. This can translate into potential explosions due to information being revealed by Scorpio’s innate ability to sniff out hidden secrets and nastiness.

The Moon is usually very comfortable in earthy Taurus, but here again, the square from Mars pushes buttons. While Taurus is generally known as easy going and good-natured, when the Bull gets mad, it takes a looong time to cool down. Keep in mind that all three of these signs are on the possessive side and given to occasional bouts of jealousy. In other words, this is a very bad moment to prod these folks, because you could find yourself amputated from their lives.

Thankfully, Venus rules this Full Moon, and she’s still in her other home sign, Libra, closely trine Neptune in Aquarius. We can use all the help we can get finding the compassionate compromise to smooth troubled waters. Venus is also trine Chiron in Aquarius, making it possible to see areas of vulnerability in others and stepping around them. Now is not a good time to use Mercury in Scorpio’s ability to pinpoint other’s weaknesses and exploit them.

Venus is also part of a Yod with Uranus in Pisces at the apex and Vesta in Leo as the other leg of the base. There is a purity of creative expression with Vesta in fiery Leo joined with Venus in Libra’s eye for balance and beauty. The challenge is channeling this through Uranus in Pisces. Pisces is very creative but in a Neptunian way – lovely, ethereal and none too focused. It may be better to write your inspirations down at this time and implement them when the fog lifts . . .

Perhaps the single most important astrological event in recent days is Saturn’s move into equitable Libra. The drawback is Saturn’s approach to an exact square with Pluto in Capricorn on November 15. We’re all going to need to play by the rules and be scrupulously honest in all our dealings. Any and all negotiations or mediations (Libra) that fail to meet these standards may result in unpleasant legal consequences (Saturn) – and we are just in the opening phase of this influence! The sooner this realization hits home, the better our chances will be of avoiding being brought to task by this dynamic pair. Make every effort to be open and fair in your dealings with partners, both personal and professional. Consider this your first warning!

The lovely trine between Venus and Neptune can be further illuminated by the Sabian symbol for the Moon at 11 Taurus, “A woman watering flowers in her garden,” with the keyword CULTIVATION. By nurturing the virtues of this trine – patience, tolerance and compassion – we stand a better chance of improving our relationships with others rather than destroying them.

The Sabian symbol for 11 Scorpio is both a warning and a solution – “A drowning man is being rescued,” with the keyword RESUSCITATION. The fixed grand cross is a deeply static pattern, and if we cling to a certain way of thinking and being, seeing it as the “only way,” we run the risk of drowning. In order to be rescued from ourselves, learning flexibility and staying open to other options may be required.

This is an excellent lunation for examining our belief structures and learning about those places where we are most emotionally invested in being right. Long experience with Pluto’s little ways of teaching us about letting go of expectations and detaching from outcomes leads me to encourage all those with planets and chart angles in the early degrees of the cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn – to use this time well. It is always better to get a jump on Pluto because if it’s left up to him, the lessons can be quite painful.

Libra loves beautyposted by Neith . . .

Ask Real Astrologers: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Saturn-Pluto Square?

This week’s question comes from Karin in Amsterdam, Netherlands:

The upcoming Saturn/Pluto square is becoming tighter now. Can you tell us anything about it? And how will it affect the lucky ones with the conjunction in their natal charts? Mine has been sizzling for weeks now, scaring the hell out of me.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Karin, I think what you have been noticing is Saturn moving through the final degrees of Virgo, and once he is firmly established in Libra, you will find the effect less harsh for the next few months.

Saturn promises to be easier to live with in fair-minded Libra, even with the square to Pluto in Capricorn. Honest, equitable behaviors, especially in relationships, will stand us in good stead. You have your Moon conjunct Neptune in Libra as I do, and we lived through this transit in the early 1980’s. Think back to what was happening in your life at that time and that realize all you’ve learned in the intervening years will serve you well. Saturn is always much kinder to those of us who have seen a couple of Saturn returns.

You are also in the midst of another major life cycle transit, Uranus square Uranus. Because this transit triggers your natal Sun-Uranus square as well as your Ascendant and Midheaven, the period from May 2009 through January 2011 will be filled with intense moments of introspection about who you are, what you are doing in your career, and how you wish to be seen by others. Partners, both business and personal, may challenge you, too. The best thing about transits is they pass . . . so says someone who managed to live through her Uranus square Uranus transit.

My recommendation, Karin, is to live as much as possible in the present. Expectations, projections and good old-fashioned worrying are all stress producers. Dig out a copy of the serenity prayer and remind yourself daily you are making the best decisions you can based on the information you have – my mantra for Saturn in Libra!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Great question, Karin. A square between Saturn and Pluto does sound kind of ominous, doesn’t it? But honestly, I don’t see any relationship between your natal Saturn-Pluto conjunction and the square between transiting Saturn and Pluto.

The bigger issue for you is going to be the conjunction of transiting Mars on your natal Saturn-Pluto. Mars just entered Leo and will stay there for several months, since he’s retrograde from Dec. 20 to March 10. During this time, you may feel frustrated by circumstances out of your control, or you may encounter a person who is totally overbearing and attempts to have control over you. This could be a friend, or perhaps someone in an organization to which you belong. If you have children or grandchildren, there could be an issue there.

As for transiting Saturn and Pluto, they are hitting two key angles in your chart, the Ascendant and IC (fourth-house cusp). If I had to guess, I’d say this is the source of that “sizzling” feeling you describe. Saturn crosses our Ascendant once every 29 years, and we typically feel it as a heaviness, increase in responsibility, or major change in life circumstances. With Pluto on your IC at the same time, you likely will experience some radical changes involving your home or family, perhaps a change of residence.

Although these changes will be significant, there is no reason to fear this aspect or any other astrological influence, for that matter. As with bad weather, we just need to take proper precautions and not doing anything to invite trouble. If you’re really worried about it, consider a transit reading with an experienced astrologer.

Wishing you much courage, and thanks for writing.

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Real Astrologer’s Poll: Saturn in Libra’s Effect On Relationships.

Saturn enters Libra tomorrow, the first time since September 1980. Some of you weren’t even born yet!

Since Libra is the sign of relationships, and among Saturn’s attributes is commitment, we think there will be a renewed emphasis on commitment in all kinds of relationships, from domestic and business partnerships to relationships between citizens and governments, and governments and the rest of the world.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to know whether you are thinking about relationships any differently lately as a result of Saturn’s imminent shift into Libra.

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Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat