Weekly Forecast October 26: Saturn Enters Libra

This could be a fairly intense week on several fronts as we continue to feel major shifts, welcome new developments into our lives, and heal old wounds. I should say upfront that this is not going to be a week for the faint-hearted!

The biggest news this week, of course, is Saturn’s entry into Libra. Saturn is far happier in Libra than he’s been in service-oriented, nitpicky Virgo. Commitments to social justice and restoring balance in government should be evident in the headlines soon.

In our individual lives, honoring our commitments in relationships will take on more importance as we come to understand that good relationship don’t happen by accident. They require diligence, compromise, and hard work.

Just so you know, Saturn turns retrograde in January and returns to Virgo from April to July. So whatever you’ve been grappling with will come back for review at that time. Likewise, societal trends might seem to change and then take a step back. It’s a given that we’ll be revisiting healthcare reform, a very Saturn-in-Virgo subject. I do believe that we’ll get a better deal next time around.

None of this is going to happen without a fight, either. As he moves back and forth through the early degrees of Libra, Saturn will square Pluto in Capricorn. There will be seemingly insurmountable obstacles to change, both in the collective and in our individual lives. Once Uranus gets in on the mix in the middle of next year, it could be a real free-for-all. But we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

This week will be like college orientation, when we get a lay of the land and learn more about what will be required of us.

Although the other shifts this week aren’t nearly as radical, they will be noticeable, starting right out on Monday and Tuesday, when the Moon is in Aquarius. Jupiter turned direct in Aquarius on October 12, and this Tuesday, the Moon will conjoin the Big Guy for the first time since he began moving forward again. The Moon is often a trigger for releasing pent-up energies, so if you haven’t noticed any changes since Jupiter went direct, keep your antennae up this week.

Also on Tuesday, the Moon conjoins Chiron, which turns direct on Friday, and Neptune, which turns direct next week. With Wednesday’s trine between Venus and Jupiter and her trine to Chiron on Saturday, there will be no doubts after this week how the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction is going to play out in your life. The handwriting is on the wall, in huge, black spray paint.

On Wednesday, Mercury enters Scorpio and sextiles Pluto, the Scorpion’s modern ruler. Typically, this combination turns up hidden motivations or activities, but since this is an easy sextile, I don’t expect that we’ll be overly shocked by the revelations. They may come via dreams or psychic flashes, even if you’re not normally prone to such insight (but especially if you are). If you need to pry information out of someone, this is a good aspect for doing so. Just make sure you’re using the information for the right reasons and not for your own power trip.

Overall, I see this week as holding a lot of potential for deep healing and higher growth. How much depends on whether you’re committed to doing the work.

Saturday’s square between Mercury and Mars is the big exception. Depending on where this aspect falls in your chart, you could end up in a stinging confrontation with someone. Since both planets are in fixed signs, neither side will want to budge, and what starts out as a trivial difference of opinion could escalate into a knock-down, drag-out fight. If someone is in your face, step to the side and wait until next week to call them on their behavior.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Justice, from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. Most of the Major Arcana have an astrological association. Justice corresponds to Libra.

Saturday Extra! Back in Business

I’d like to take this opportunity to announce that I have started taking new clients again.

As some of you know, I suffered a serious back injury in late January. It has been a traumatic ordeal, including a re-injury at the end of July. Throughout this time, I was unable to sit for very long in front of the computer, which meant I had to stop taking new clients and scale back my presence on the Web. Standing has been equally painful, if not more so.

I am still healing and will be for some time, but I feel ready to step back in, on a limited basis, to see how it goes. Many of you have written asking me to do reports, and I’ve had to refer you to Neith, who also had a backlog.

I’ll be updating my report pages over the next few days, so if you’re interested in a consultation, check out what I have to offer. The one thing I’ll have to discontinue, at least for the time being, is my comprehensive written report, which requires a minimum of two full days to prepare. I’m just not up to that amount of sitting yet, but hope to be at some point.

Thank you all for bearing with me. I look forward to being more involved in RealAstrologers in the months and years ahead.

Wishing you all much love and courage,

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Will Saturn in Libra Jumpstart My Career?

This week’s question comes from Amanda in New York:

I’m a Libra Sun, and with Saturn soon to enter Libra, I’m concerned about my choice in career. I recently made a decision to leave my career as a speech language pathologist and try to enter the field of publishing. I’ve had no luck, and I’m resigned to go back to my previous career, but I’m having trouble finding a position that would truly make me happy. Will Saturn have any effect on my career?

Neith’s response:

With your natal Moon and Jupiter in your second house of values and personal income, Amanda, I would not be surprised to learn you are emotionally invested in utilizing your talents and determination to the best possible advantage.

Saturn’s journey through Virgo and your third house over the past couple of years has to have weighed heavily on you, coinciding as it did with your Saturn return. However, that is behind you now, and I believe you will find Saturn in Libra will bring very different challenges for you. In fact, as it draws closer to the cusp of your fourth house and your Pluto-Sun conjunction, you may find your home and family concerns looming larger. But that’s still two years away.

Pluto in Capricorn has been hovering around the cusp of your sixth house this past year – the second earth house (the second house and the tenth house are the others) and the most service-oriented. This may be another factor in your desire to revamp your career. Finding a way to serve others and your community may bring you more satisfaction, too.

Please keep in mind Mars in Leo is crossing your Ascendant about the same time as Saturn moves into Libra. This transit will be very helpful for encouraging you to put your best foot forward and increase your overall energy levels. You do know how to project confidence and warmth, with both your Ascendant and Midheaven in fire signs!

I have confidence in your ability to make your own luck, Amanda, and encourage you to believe in yourself. Good Luck!

Pat’s response:

Amanda, I don’t see that anything major is going to change in your career as a result of Saturn’s entrance into Libra. That said, Saturn is indeed playing a significant role in your life right now and especially in your career, and you will notice more developments the closer transiting Saturn gets to your IC and your Libra Sun. This will happen two years from now, in October 2011.

When assessing where clients are in their career and in life in general, I look at two aspects of the Saturn cycle. The first is where transiting Saturn is relative to natal Saturn, and the second is the house position of transiting Saturn. As a general rule, you’re in an upward cycle when Saturn crosses the IC and begins to move up in your chart, and in a downward cycle when he completes his tour of your tenth house and begins to move downward.

You just completed a Saturn return, when Saturn crossed the degree of your natal Saturn. The first Saturn return is a maturing process and does bring up questions such as you are asking. Sometimes the changes happen all by themselves, and they can be radical, but that depends on where Saturn is transiting the chart. In your case, you’re finishing up the tail end of your downward cycle, so you didn’t experience this effect.

The good news is that in two years’ time, you will begin climbing upward, and for a good 15 years after that, you’ll steadily move toward a new professional peak. The next two years would be a good time to decide what you want to do — or not do — so that you can begin laying the groundwork for your new career. Don’t try to rush this process. The more patient and disciplined you are, the more successful you’ll ultimately be.

As always, I highly recommend a complete reading with a professional astrologer, although I don’t think there’s any hurry for you to do this, as it won’t push things along any faster.

Best of luck to you, and thanks for a great question!

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!

Ask Our Readers: Saturn At 29 Degrees Virgo – Painful!

Brilliant Aspens Saturn is now officially at 29° Virgo and taking what seems like forever to move into Libra on Friday, October 29, and I’m sure along with me, there are lots and lots of people ready for that to happen.

If you have any planets or Angles at 29° as I do, it feels like Saturn has made up a checklist of things that need to be taken care of and is insisting on going down the list one frikkin’ item at time. Admittedly I’m getting a slew of petty details resolved but with much grumbling because I’m feeling the seasonal cardinal push to move on to newer and potentially better things.

Anyone else have a bone to pick with Saturn’s last days in Virgo?

posted by Neith . . .

Image: I have been taking photos of these aspens almost every day, recording the changes in color and texture of the landscape. They seem to shine with their own light!

Weekly Forecast October 19: Sun Enters Scorpio

The Sun goes into Scorpio this week, and here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a time for turning inward.

The mood is set right off, with the Moon in Scorpio on Monday and Tuesday. She actually entered Scorpio yesterday (Sunday) and squared Mars, which entered Leo this past Friday. There was no mistaking it for me! With Mars sitting right on my Descendant, I got smacked but good … and by a Scorpio, no less!

Of course, we’re also still in the wake of Sunday’s New Moon in Libra, with Venus and Mercury also in the sign of reconciliation and harmony. So there’s at least a chance to talk things through, and this will continue throughout this week. Tuesday’s trine between Mercury and Jupiter should go a long way toward repairing any dings, and we can further discuss hurt feelings on Thursday, when Mercury trines Chiron. Just make sure you don’t cause more of them.

The Sun enters Scorpio on Friday, which also has happens to be Neith’s birthday, so please join me in a big birthday wish for my cherished friend and business partner.

On Saturday, the Sun forms a sextile with Pluto in Capricorn, which should help us repair situations with authority figures, be they supervisors, parents, or the government bureaucracy. You’ll have to make a case for yourself and won’t get any favors you don’t deserve, but it’s still an opportunity that’s there if you need it.

Later on Saturday, Mercury trines Neptune, a nice aspect for writing poetry or doing any kind of work that requires creative imagination. It’s a good time to tell someone how much you appreciate them, too.

Meanwhile, Jupiter continues to yawn and stretch, giving us a little extra luck in one or more areas of our lives. I’ve noticed some improvements here and there and am hoping for more.

Lastly, Saturn is moving through the final degrees of Virgo before entering Libra next week. He’s not done yet, as he’ll turn retrograde in January and return to Virgo for a few months next year. So whatever you’re working on now, you’ll probably have to revisit later, but do your best. Even the stern taskmaster can’t require any more of us than that.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Right on cue, the wet, rotting time begins here in the Pacific Northwest. Our winters may not have a lot of snow, but they are very Scorpionic nonetheless. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Saturday Extra: Libra and Leo – No Problems, Right?

For a change of pace I decided to do a short post on synastry in response to a reader’s question. She is Libra Sun and her boyfriend is a Leo – very fitting, with Venus having just returned to her home sign and Mars arriving in Leo yesterday.

Ms. Libra asks why her Leo boyfriend has her so baffled all the time when their synastry seems quite good at first glance. Fiery Leo is usually very appreciate of charming Libra.

This is a good example of why it’s important to move past Sun signs for understanding how we relate to others. For those with either Libra Sun or Ascendant, the placement of Venus is particularly important. In Ms. Libra’s chart, Venus is in Scorpio square Saturn in Leo, where both planets are in their detriment. What this means is neither are at their best and brightest. Venus can be obsessive and possessive in Scorpio while, dour Saturn greatly diminishes Leo’s sense of fun.

Mr. Leo’s Sun is conjunct his Venus in Leo, increasing his warmth and charm, but both are square his Jupiter in Scorpio. This has me wondering if perhaps he likes to spread all the charm around a little too much for Ms. Libra’s comfort?

Her Venus conjoins his Jupiter, squaring his Sun-Venus. Venus square Venus in synastry shows a disparity between each individual’s ideas of what constitutes a good time. Scorpio prefers to be alone with their lover and Leo wants to show them off at every party in town.

Another potential source of differences is Mars, his in detached Aquarius and hers in passionate Scorpio. This can lead to heated discussions about how to get things done, because the way they get from ‘A’ to ‘B’ is very different. Scorpio is noted for getting an amazing amount accomplished with a minimum amount of discussion, while Aquarius wants to set up a study group before taking one step.

Is there any workaround for them? Possibly, but they need to be honest with themselves and each other first and foremost. If Ms. Libra has questions about her lover’s fidelity, those need to be addressed ASAP, because with as much Scorpio as she has, anything less than total fidelity is not going to work.

When it comes to their differences about what’s enjoyable (Venus square Venus), finding a compromise probably won’t be that difficult, but the square between her Mars and his, both in fixed signs, may be more challenging. It all depends on how attached each of them is to being right. Sometimes the best solution is to take turns instead of attempting to work together!

With Saturn about to move into Libra, we all will be learning the fine art of compromise when seeking to improve our relationships.

posted by Neith . . .

Ask Real Astrologers: Will Mars in Leo Bring Emotional Upheaval?

This week’s question comes from Anne in Fort Worth, Texas:

Just as I am coming near the end of the Saturn in Virgo number, I read that Mars is going to be in Leo for seven months. My Moon is in Leo and my Pluto is in Leo! Does this mean that after undergoing the rigors of Saturn that I must face emotional upheaval for seven months? I just want to scream, “Enough! Enough!” Any insight would be deeply appreciated.

Neith’s response:

Thankfully, Anne, Mars is very, very different from Saturn in expression. He represents the action principle and encourages us to get moving – a welcome relief after Saturn in Virgo’s cautious nitpicking.

Transiting Mars in Leo will be triggering your natal fixed T-square of your Moon opposing Mars and both square your Sun-Saturn. I’m guessing change is not your favorite thing and you much prefer life proceeding as uneventfully as possible. As someone who also has a fixed sign preponderance in their chart, I quite understand!

Mars transits are good for helping us stand up for ourselves and learning to express our anger. If you have been suppressing your unhappiness about the way things are done in your work place, this transit could help clear that up.

Your twelfth house Moon in Leo will be getting a jolt and your family may be in for a surprise when your normally mild-mannered self speaks out and tells them how you really feel.

Mars transits to the Moon are also ideal for getting in touch with our anger and resentments, so this extended transit may be an ideal time to explore this. The stress resulting from not acknowledging anger and resentment in particular can manifest in any number of health problems.

You have some time yet before Mars starts to affect your chart in mid-November, Anne, to mull things over. For now, you may wish to make an appointment to get a relaxing massage or take a quiet stroll through the most beautiful natural setting you know of to unwind.

Take care and be well.

Pat’s response:

Anne, your question is very timely, because Mars just entered Leo this morning. And you are right, he is going to remain there for a long time! Normally Mars stays in a sign for six weeks, but when he goes retrograde (every other year), he stays in a sign for nearly eight months.

Mars has had a reputation as a troublemaker since ancient times. Wherever he is in our charts, we tend to experience difficulties. There are a couple of exceptions, but everyone feels tension when Mars is retrograde. His retrograde period this year is going to be compounded by eclipses and Mercury retrograde. We’re all going to need to hang onto our seats.

Because Mars is in a fixed sign, those with a lot of fixed sign energy in their charts will be especially affected. That’s Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. As Neith noted, all of your planets except Neptune are in fixed signs, so yes, you probably are going to experience some upheaval, especially since Mars turns retrograde in very tight aspect to your Moon-Saturn square. I have the Moon and Saturn square in my chart as well, and so I know that whenever this challenging aspect is triggered, emotional upsets do tend to occur. The “good” news there is that the upsets typically aren’t due to any real external circumstances but are due to internal conflicts. That doesn’t make them any easier to deal with on a day-to-day basis, but at least it’s not a “world falling apart” thing.

Since Mars will turn retrograde in your twelfth house, the biggest concern is that you could get physically run down and be more susceptible to colds and flu. It wouldn’t hurt to get a flu shot now, and then make sure you take all your vitamins and supplements between now and January, in addition to eating a sensible diet and getting enough rest.

Best of luck, Anne, and do keep us posted.

New Moon in Libra, October 17-18, 2009

New Moon in Libra
The New Moon offers us an opportunity to renew our understanding of the sign it falls in, and this month’s New Moon, at 24°59′ Libra, is no exception.

Libra is noted for being fair-minded, well-mannered, and loaded with charm, thanks to Venus, Libra’s ruling planet. In general, those with a strong Libra presence in their charts are better than most at concealing their cardinal natures behind a smokescreen of reasonability and sweetness. Don’t be fooled, because once all the options have been carefully weighed and a decision has been made, these natives can implement their decisions with ruthless dispatch. We’re talking cardinal air here – the intellect rules, not emotions. That said, you will usually get your “medicine” served up with a generous dose of Venusian sugar.

The New Moon in Libra is closely trine Neptune in Aquarius. While issues before the collective could be dealt with fairly, equitably and compassionately, this also could mean that our ability to get caught up with potential rather than actual is ratcheted up.

I know I have a somewhat jaundiced view of Neptune and am very wary of all the high-minded attributes often attributed to the nebulous one. Nonetheless, it never hurts to do a reality check any time he’s in the room. There is a very good reason most cultures and belief systems have stories or sayings meant to teach the importance of being grounded in reality before taking a leap of faith. One such saying that comes immediately to mind is, “Trust in Allah, but tether your camel first.”

The inconjunct, or quincunx, between Uranus in Pisces and the New Moon in Libra offers us opportunities to be of service in unique ways, if we can get anything done. Libra and Pisces have a very different dialogue than Virgo and Aquarius. At the very least, they are both polite and prefer a non-confrontational approach. The trick here is getting them to come to any conclusions! It can end up with Libra saying “you first” and Pisces saying, “no, you first” ad infinitum! Add in the exact semi-sextile between Uranus and Neptune, and we can end up totally sidetracked – not the most favorable atmosphere for launching new projects.

No discussion of a Libra lunation is complete without seeing what her ruling planet, Venus, is up to. Venus is overjoyed to be back in her home sign of Libra and is further comforted by a lovely sextile to Mars in party loving Leo. But, and it’s a big one, Venus is just recovering from an exact square to Pluto on October 15 and a conjunction with Saturn on October 13.

Jealousy and obsessive behaviors can crop up whenever Pluto aspects Venus. What Venus sees as being mildly flirtatious and just her normal charming self, Pluto can see as potentially threatening to their relationship. Honest, open dialogue can help head off problems with an emphasis on honest – Pluto is exceeding good at nuance and detecting lies.

While Saturn is great for being responsible and dependable, he doesn’t do romantic worth a darn. Since Venus is pulling away from the dour one quickly, this will soon feel like a bad dream and she can enjoy life for awhile anyway. When Saturn moves into Libra, everyone is going to be reminded about the importance of responsible, dependable behaviors in their relationships. Pat and I will be writing more about this big change soon.

The waxing trine from Mercury in Libra to Jupiter in Aquarius makes it easy to come up with ideas designed to benefit the collective as well as take an upbeat approach to problem-solving. Between now and October 20 is the best time to take advantage of this energy.

Ceres, mistress of cycles and seasons, is now in Scorpio and sextile Pluto in Capricorn. Add in the Sabian symbol for 25 Libra, “The sight of an autumn leaf brings to a pilgrim the sudden revelation of the mystery of life and death,” and we have a potent reminder to pay attention to endings, beginnings and all cycles of death and rebirth. The leaves fall to the earth, rotting over winter to provide nutrients in the spring, when the sap rises for the tree to bloom anew. In our own lives, we need to pay attention and release what we have outgrown, to make way for something new. If we don’t, we take the risk of having Pluto rip it away . . . and don’t think he won’t.

In honor of Libra season, please take a moment to say “please” and “thank you,” the more heartfelt the better. Expressions of appreciation never go out of style, and seeing another’s face light up when receiving those is a reward in and of itself.

posted by Neith . . .

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

** Neith is still not accepting new clients and is not sure when she will be able to, thanks to Uranus transits. **

Weekly Forecast October 12: Jupiter Direct, Mars Enters Leo

Had enough rest? I hope so, because we’re in for a busy week!

Mercury is back in Libra, picking up speed, and leaves his post-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday. Just as he’s entering new territory, Venus enters Libra. Relationships will benefit enormously from this double dose of Libra, especially after weeks of Venus and Mercury in nitpicky Virgo. If you and a loved one have been getting on each other’s nerves, you can both relax!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s have a look at this week’s lineup, one day at a time.

On Monday, Mars sextiles Saturn, just as both are about to enter a new sign. The Mars force is suppressed in watery Cancer, but even though our physical energy hasn’t been the most vibrant, it should pick up early this week so that we can finish up projects that have been on our plate for awhile. If those projects involve paperwork and mental concentration, so much the better.

On Tuesday, Jupiter returns direct at 17 degrees Aquarius. He’ll need a few days to yawn and stretch, but once he does, many of us are going to see major movement. How much depends on where he’s currently transiting your chart, but with the New Moon this weekend favorably angled to Jupiter, you should see at least a small obstacle clearing. The Big Guy is in my first house, so I’m expecting significant news. I’ll keep you posted.

Also on Tuesday, Venus conjoins Saturn in Virgo and sextiles Mars. Venus-Saturn aspects aren’t the happiest, especially for romantic relationships. Talk about a bucket of cold water. The inclusion of Mars in this configuration should mitigate that effect somewhat, though, and hopefully the outcome will be embers that glow for a long time rather than a flame that flares up but dies out just as quickly. I’ll be interested to get feedback on how you experience this three-way energy.

Even if you do suffer a little setback or temporary disconnect, all that should change when Venus enters Libra on Wednesday. This is her territory, and with Mercury and the Sun also in the sign of harmonious relations, people everywhere should be feeling more courteous and conciliatory. While Venus is in Libra, it’s also a great time for haircuts, manicures, and beauty treatments of all time. Goddess knows, I should have waited. I had my haircut last week during Venus in Virgo and I’m not at all happy with it. Yes, as an astrologer, I should have known better!

On Thursday, Venus squares Pluto. One of the problems with this aspect is that the heat can be too intense and judgment can fly out the window. This also is one of those energy combinations that can feed into manipulation. Venus uses sex and charm to get what she wants, while Pluto uses money and power. Age-old story, isn’t it? But whatever works between consenting adults…

Friday could be a hot date night, as the Moon enters Libra and amplifies the Venus-Pluto square. The real news, though, is the entry of Mars in fiery Leo. We’ll have more on this planet-sign combination in the weeks and months ahead, as Mars will be retrograde in Leo from December 20 to March 10. I’m already on the edge of my seat for this one. In the meantime, we should all feel a bit more energetic.

The weekend will be dominated by Sunday’s New Moon at 25 degrees Libra, in a close trine with Neptune and Chiron and a wider trine with newly direct Jupiter. The energy of the New Moon still will be very active early next week, so next week could be even busier!

I’m looking forward to some lovely new beginnings and wish the same for you.

Much love to all,
Pat

Image: The Bulgarian theatre group Temp performs their show ‘Wings in the Fire’ in Skopje earlier this year. What could better express the energy of Mars in Leo than a live performance with fire? Photo by Robert Atanasovski for Agence France-Presse.

From the Archives: How Life Should Be

I posted this article last summer on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles. The situation I was writing about is behind me now, but I was struck by how strongly it connects to current circumstances. The messiness of the past year and a half has all been feeding into a healing process. If my life is any indication, then we’ve been in a flow. Sometimes we can only see it when we look back and realize how far we’ve come. If you keep a journal, go back a year or so, and let me know whether you feel this phenomenon, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve just had a life-changing experience that has had me more than a little distracted. This is not something I can write about on my blog, as it’s far too personal, but I already have learned some lessons and gained some valuable insight, and this much I’ll share with you. It definitely ties in with the themes of enlightenment and other issues we’ve been discussing here.

The experience initially was one of intense joy, a taste of how life should be, followed by implosion and a few days of intense pain. A body that isn’t used to so much positive emotion would react like that! And, as I’ve said so many times here, sometimes you have to grit your teeth and bear the pain of reopening an old wound in order to heal. Put another way, you may have to blow yourself apart in order to put yourself back together in better order.

My acupuncturist in California many years ago introduced me to the concept of receiving a taste of something. An event happens, or someone comes into your life, and it seems like a miracle. But it’s fleeting or gets ripped away. Initially, you curse the cruel twist of fate and wonder what you did to deserve this. But as Beth put it, it’s a glimpse of the reward you’ll get for meeting a challenge and passing the test. This almost always requires change. The few times it has happened to me, a new degree of enlightenment was part of the process.

An anonymous reader left a comment on my previous post to the effect that there’s no such thing as enlightenment, “unless we mean just absence of thought altogether or some big but probably useless psychedelic blowout.”

This is the myth of enlightenment. It is not some blissed-out state you reach, and suddenly that’s it, you’re “enlightened.” It happens in successive stages, and it never ends. You can slip backwards and have to repeat some of the steps. Evolutionary astrologers would say that you even may have to reincarnate to go through “skipped steps.”

It’s also a myth that once you’re enlightened, pain and suffering cease. The pain is even more intense. Why? Because you no longer try to avoid it by deliberating numbing yourself with drugs, alcohol, or other means of escape. The difference between “enlightened” pain and the other kind is that it runs a natural course. You don’t stay in it. It flows through you, it transforms you, and then it’s gone.

Now, you might rightly ask, “If enlightenment is going to bring me even worse pain, why would I want to be enlightened?” I don’t know that there’s a good answer to that, except that, like true love, there is no reason for it. You can’t say “I love John because he’s tall, handsome, smart, and kind.” You love him because there is an irrepressible bond between you that defies all attempts to explain or control. Like love, enlightenment finds you, and not the other way around.

As for the astrology, Pluto’s fingerprints are all over the scene. My natal Pluto is retrograde at 29 degrees Leo, and transiting Pluto currently is retrograde at 29 degrees Sagittarius, in a perfect trine. In my natal chart, Pluto is square my nodal axis. Noted evolutionary astrologer Kim Marie told me a couple of years ago that this was a powerful indicator of a “skipped step.” Kim says that Pluto represents the soul, both individually and collectively, and that his passage through Sagittarius “shakes our foundations, crumbles them in order to create larger, more natural foundations, both physically and spiritually and everything else in between. Evolution takes place one way or another.”

It’s still too early to tell, but it feels to me like my recent experience has connected me with my Plutonian power and that my challenge, in order for that taste of joy to become an all-you-can-eat buffet, is to use it and use it wisely. I’m working on it.

Much love and many blessings,
Pat