Ask Real Astrologers: New Career Path Possible?

This week’s question comes from Lise in Melbourne, Australia:

I have a blind spot big time with my career. I know what I love doing, no problem with that, but putting things into context with my career, nada. I’ve been mostly in administration for years, medical mostly though some law in earlier days. It really does nothing for me, but comfort level keeps me here. Ideas/comments much appreciated!

Pat’s response:

Lise, it’s no surprise that you’ve done administrative work, and in law and medicine. In your birth chart, the ruler of your tenth house (career) is Jupiter, and he’s in the tenth house, too. Jupiter and the sign he rules, Sagittarius, are associated with medicine, law, and higher learning. Further, your Jupiter is in Capricorn, the sign of administration and keeping order. I’ll bet you’re one of the best, most reliable admins on the planet! Not only are you comfortable in that line of work, but your supervisors no doubt love you, too.

That indeed would be hard to give up, and I’m guessing that your career really does satisfy you in some deeply important way. Based solely on your chart, I’d say it probably had to do with material comfort. This is nothing to sneeze at, especially in this economy.

That said, there is a trend in industrialized countries toward giving up lucrative careers and downsizing households in order to follow one’s heart. That’s what I hear in your question, and it’s also no surprise that you’re asking it now. As I mentioned above, Jupiter is a key career indicator in your chart, and since late December 2008, you’ve had Pluto transiting your Jupiter. Pluto transforms everything he touches, and he also demands that we dig deeply to determine whether we’re being true to ourselves.

If you feel a need to get out of admin, why not establish your own business? Your chart suggests that you would be extremely successful on your own. If you’re not ready to do that yet, you could start doing what you love on the side until you feel comfortable enough to make the switch. Or, you might just see what this Pluto transit does. Often, he takes care of the problem for us — not in a way that’s easy or comfortable, but just like you, we can rely on him to get the job done.

Best of luck to you!

Neith’s response:

Yes, Lise, it is easy to see why you choose to work within the medical system with Pisces rising and your Scorpio Sun-Neptune conjunction. Helping others in some capacity is part of who you are.

Over the past year, transiting Uranus in your first house has been inconjunct your natal Uranus in Leo in your sixth house. It is this element I suspect of agitating for a change of vocations and the need to be doing something more personally fulfilling. Uranus transits to the first house make us antsy and eager to do something new and different almost without exception.

Your sixth house Uranus in Leo is trine to Venus in Sagittarius in your tenth, connecting two of the houses relating to our career or vocational path. Because trines work so smoothly we often overlook their benefits. There is tremendous creative potential with any Venus-Uranus aspect as well as the ability to come up with new and exciting ideas on the spur of the moment. Do you have a creative hobby or interest of some type? Have you ever given thought to turning it into something more?

Ideally you can come up with a way to combine your creative abilities with your natural inclination to be of service to others. Uranus will continue to prod you to make changes through March 2010, helping overcome the natural reluctance of your fixed sign Sun to try something new.

Good luck! Remember to stay open to the offbeat and unusual ideas that pop up, Lise. You’ll break out yet.

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Real Astrologer’s Poll: Any Hopes For Jupiter Going Direct?

Jupiter is creeping to a halt this week in preparation for returning direct next Tuesday. Jupiter’s retrograde periods typically aren’t traumatic, but since he went retrograde on June 15, many of us haven’t been able to move forward in certain areas of our lives.

In this week’s poll, we’d like to explore the dreams and wishes you may have in connection with the planet that ancients called the Greater Benefic.

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Pat

Weekly Forecast October 5: Mercury Enters Libra

This should be a slow week, not without a surprise or two, but mostly we will have a chance to assimilate new information from the Full Moon and other recent events.

In terms of planetary transits, there isn’t a whole lot going on. As this week begins, we’re still in the wake of Saturday’s Full Moon in Aries. For some of us, this Full Moon may have been the culmination of a shift that has been evolving since July, when we began a new series of eclipses. If that happened to you, then the next two weeks will be an adjustment phase.

Mercury begins in earnest this week to retrace the steps of his retrograde path. On Thursday (late Wednesday in western time zones) he conjoins Saturn in Virgo, the third of three passes, and on Saturday, he makes a third and final square to Pluto.

You may have a chance to resolve a particular issue that came up in mid-August. Mercury-Saturn aspects can increase our ability to think critically, and this is especially true when the two are conjunct in Virgo. The downside is that there could be a tendency to find fault in small details, both in ourselves and others, that may not matter much. If you’re stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, just be aware of it for now.

Mercury re-enters Libra on Friday, and at that point, your point of view will balance itself out. Sometimes it’s our perception of the world and not actual events that cause us grief. If this has the case for you, you should feel a weight lifting later this week. That said, you may have to get over a bit of a hump first, as Mercury and Pluto make contact and expose an uncomfortable truth.

Friday could also be a day of surprises, when Venus opposes Uranus. This is not a heavy duty Uranus aspect. Although there is a small possibility of upsets in relationships or finances, you may just get an opportunity to get out of your normal routine and do something different, probably in the context of a close relationship.

The dominant energy of this week likely will be Jupiter’s station in preparation for returning direct on October 13. He’s in my first house, and I’ve been feeling a drag on my energy. Depending where he is in your chart, you might feel slow and heavy, too.

On Saturday, Jupiter gets a positive trine from the Sun. This is a highly optimistic combination, and you might get a clue about what’s to come when Jupiter returns direct next week. There’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in this aspect, and while we don’t want to succumb to wishful thinking, we need positive reinforcement from time to time to remind us that dreams can and do come true.

Love and blessings to all,
Pat

Saturday Archives: Pluto Transit Through The Twelfth House

Black-eyed Susans and Stargazer Lilies Donna Cunningham has written several posts recently on the twelfth house and reading those reminded me of this post from the archives.

Since most of my personal planets are found in the twelfth house, when planets transit through that neighborhood I know it!

There seems to be a lot of interest in what happens as a result of Pluto transiting through the twelfth House and since I’ve had that pleasure, I thought I would relate some of my experiences and resulting revelations.

First, it’s important to know Scorpio is the sign on the cusp of my twelfth House. And I have my Sun conjunct that cusp at 29°54′ Libra along with Jupiter, Part of Fortune, Mars and Mercury. To say this was a major transit for me is an understatement. Additionally Uranus was transiting my first House, conjoining my Venus and moving on to oppose my natal Uranus. Yes, life was interesting.

At the time Pluto was starting into the twelfth House conjoining my Sun, I moved 1,800 hundred miles courtesy of the Uranus transit to my Venus in Sagittarius. My motive was to be with a man who was considered a spiritual leader of the local Sufi community. I really didn’t know any of the people in this new community well at all, making this classic Uranus transit stuff – full speed ahead, eyes firmly shut.

This man I got involved with was 11 yrs older than I, a triple Leo with Mars in Scorpio and Uranus in Taurus squaring his Leo. He also remembered NOTHING of his childhood before about age 10! This is often a very good indicator of a really awful childhood.

In essence, the lessons I learned were not from what this man said, but from who he was. He misused kundalini energy during sex to enhance orgasms without first informing me among other things (Pluto/Scorpio/eighth House stuff). I only stayed with him for three months and was furiously angry with him most of the time. He never did understand why I was so angry either. My explanations made no sense to him at all. After I moved out, I saw him at other gatherings of the spiritual community and could not stand for him to touch me – a gut level reaction.

The months before I moved back to home base, Pluto was moving over my Jupiter and Part of Fortune. Even though the relationship I was in at the time had many good things going for it, it was damaged at the core for two reasons. One, I had thought this man loved me as I was and it turned out he was just waiting for me to change, and two, as a result of that flawed experience with kundalini energy, I just couldn’t bring myself to make love with this man. An aside: this man had Saturn in Scorpio conjunct my Mars in Scorpio – this could have been a factor too.

When transiting Uranus opposed my natal Uranus, I moved north – zip, zip, zip – and spent most of the next four years essentially living alone. During those years I also did a lot of reading on astrology, looking at charts, and thinking deeply. Liz Greene’s book, “The Astrology of Fate”, opened a door in my mind in regards to Pluto and learning the importance of accepting one’s self as a complete package.

My personal analogy was called “the monster in the garden.” If we view ourselves as a garden, accepting only the pretty side of ourselves while ignoring our darker nature, it will grow like a monster weed among the lovely flowers and shrubs. Conversely, if we acknowledge and accept our dark side without prejudice, it will become fertilizer in our garden and enrich our lives even more. Pluto is more than willing to help us compost our weeds!

posted by Neith . . .

Image: Here are some of the lovely flowers in my garden – black-eyed susans and stargazer lilies.

Ask Real Astrologers: Why Can’t We Communicate?

This week’s question comes from Anita in Maryland:

I am currently in a relationship with a Cancer man who is very special. However, the last three weeks have been awful. We seem to miscommunicate and hurt each other’s feelings so easily. This isn’t the first time this has happened. We were apart for most of January of this year. I really love him and I know that he wants to take some time, but is there any insight you can give us to understand each other better?

Pat’s response:

Anita, there’s a lot going on between the two of you to explain the rough spots, but the immediate problem you’re describing has the marks of Mercury retrograde all over it.

During Mercury retrograde periods, even the best relationships can suffer from miscommunications. Relationships that aren’t on sound footing can fall apart (it has happened to me a few times in my life). This Mercury retrograde was particularly hard on your relationship, because Mercury was sitting on your Descendant, an important chart angle that is the cusp of the seventh house. The seventh house rules marriage and committed partnerships.

Mercury returned direct on September 29, and he’ll cross back over your Descendant a week from today. At that time, you should be able to discuss your most recent problems and get some clarity as to where the breakdown occurred.

Since you indicate that you’ve had ongoing issues, you likely will have to address those, too, and fortunately we’re coming up on a great time for you to do so. Not only will Mercury be in your seventh house, but there’s a New Moon in this area of your chart on October 18 that should help you get a fresh start with your sweetie.

In the meantime, I strongly advise you to get a reading with a qualified astrologer to help you understand the broader aspects between you. I encourage you to ask your partner for his permission to do this and to see whether he’d like to join you for the reading. This is the ethical thing to do, and it will help build trust between you.

I think you’re going to be just fine, but do write and let us know how it goes.

Neith’s response:

Anita, when it comes to relationships, the first thing I always do is look at the natal charts for information on behaviors and habit patterns both people bring with them. Natal aspects to the Moon and Mercury can hold the keys to our habit patterns (Moon) and the way we communicate (Mercury).

On one hand, your Mercury in Aquarius is trine Uranus, blessing you with an innovative, brilliant mind. On the other, it is square Neptune, ruler of your Sun sign, Pisces. I suspect that when emotions enter the picture, you start second guessing yourself, leading to confusion. Be thankful your Moon is generally well-aspected, giving you a high degree of emotional stability.

Your Cancer man has Mercury square Jupiter and Uranus – great for jumping to conclusions before all the facts are in. Since we don’t have a birth time for him, it is not possible to determine whether his Moon is in late Pisces or early Aries. However, in either case Uranus will oppose his Moon, increasing his need for lots of space and feeling emotionally independent.

Pluto in Capricorn conjoining your Moon and squaring his natal Moon-Uranus opposition was the likely culprit triggering the problems you two have been experiencing. Pluto has a way of introducing us to our issues with control and our little obsessions. When it comes to Pluto and Uranus, the tighter Pluto tries to hold on, the faster Uranus will run.

Does any of this sound familiar, Anita? If so, then perhaps an honest discussion about how much space you both need to really appreciate your time together is in order. You both have your Mercury in air signs, enabling you to articulate your feelings, very important for two water sign-Sun people.

Have faith in yourself, Anita, and do your best to keep your hands open, not clenched. Good luck!!

Full Moon in Aries, October 3-4, 2009

The Full Moon in Aries on October 4 (late October 3 in western time zones) likely will have more of an effect on our personal lives rather than impacting the collective, as lunations over the past many months have done.

I, for one, am thankful for that.

The third exact opposition of Saturn and Uranus is behind us, and Mercury is now direct, picking up speed. Hopefully most of us will begin to see a lightening in the atmosphere and make better choices about where we need to go next. Just being able to get on with our daily lives with less drama would be very welcome.

At 11°10′ Libra and Aries, neither the Sun nor Moon forms close aspects to other planets. This will allow us to focus on the classic Venus-Mars relationship of Aries and Libra. It is much easier to see how the dynamic of “do it my own self” Mars-ruled Aries works with Libra, which is ruled by graceful Venus and focuses on the other.

I live with this every day, because I’m a Libra Sun-Moon woman married to an Aries Sun-Moon man. We have learned the fine art of compromise over the years – essential to any good relationship. The key is understanding what is important to us as individuals (Aries) while recognizing when to place the needs of the other first (Libra).

It is through their rulers, Mars and Venus, that the luminaries are connected to the outer planets and the big picture. Mars in Cancer forms an inconjunct (or quincunx) with Neptune in Aquarius, and Venus in Virgo is inconjunct Jupiter in Aquarius. Even though Jupiter is no longer close enough to be considered conjoined with Neptune, this is still a powerful point in the sky.

On one hand, Mars is just not a happy camper in watery, often insular Cancer, and being drawn into dialogue with Aquarius via the inconjunct makes him even unhappier. Cancer and Aquarius need a mediator to find common ground, because their immediate concerns are so different. Cancer is the sign most involved with home and family matters, while Aquarius represents the collective and what is best for the many. We may find ourselves wrangling over these very issues if either or both of these signs are prominent in our charts.

On the other hand, Venus is not all that comfortable in earthy Virgo, either, compromising her normal enthusiasm for getting together with Jupiter. Practical Virgos everywhere are going to be having long discussions with progressive Aquarians about the bottom line. Jupiter in Aquarius is often the author of the unfunded mandate, both personally and collectively. It can go like this: “Just how do you expect to pay for that??? Yes, I understand it will benefit the majority in the long run . . . but!”

Mercury in Virgo is opposing Uranus in Pisces on the Full Moon while gaining on Saturn for one last meeting before moving back into Libra on October 9. We may get another not-so-gentle reminder to take care of details we’ve been procrastinating about since the beginning of September. We’re not going to get away this time, so buckle down and do it!

Uranus in Pisces is tightly semi-sextile Neptune in Aquarius and for many people around the world, being connected to the Internet in one way or another is part of our daily lives – a clear demonstration of the mutual reception between Neptune and Uranus. Of course, the greatest challenge is often sorting fact from fiction, always an issue when Neptune is present.

Pallas just entered fair-minded Libra and promptly squares Pluto in Capricorn at the Full Moon. Take advantage of this moment of enforced clarity to look around for harbingers of what’s to come in the months and years ahead. The big eye-opener will come with Uranus moving into Aries at the end of May 2010.

I find it curious that the Sabian symbol for 12 Aries is “A flock of wild geese,” with the keyword COSMIC ORDER. I see this more as a reminder of the very Libran idea of everyone taking a turn being the leader. Aries can get so caught up in the notion that if they don’t take charge, nothing will get done. They can forget how different leadership styles can successfully motivate different individuals.

The image of “Miners emerging from a deep coal mine” for 12 Libra is equally powerful. We can use the meaning of the keyword, EXTRACTION, to understand the importance of bringing new realizations from the depths of our inner selves. This Sabian symbol can also mean we have earned a respite from striving.

Sitting down with our significant others, friends and partners of all kinds is a good way to take advantage of this particular Full Moon, because our differences as individuals are highlighted. Sometimes it takes recognition of those differences to see our commonalities in a new way and accept the idea we don’t always have to agree to get along. Here’s to gaining greater understanding of the importance of agreeing to disagree – a very Libra concept.

posted by Neith . . .

Image: Full Moon over Mount Baker, October 2007. Photo by James A. Weythman, reprint by permission only.

Weekly Forecast September 28: Mercury Direct, Full Moon in Aries

Mercury returns direct this week, and while this didn’t seem to be the worst-ever retrograde period, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and get on with life.

Mercury went retrograde on September 7 at 6 degrees Libra, and he slipped back into Virgo, which is where he’ll return direct on Tuesday. As usual, it will take him a few days to get back up to speed, and that means we could experience a lot of delays this week, especially in transportation and anything that has to do with computers.

At the same time, we’re approaching the 90-day mark from the July eclipses, with Mars solidly in eclipse territory. I wrote a special post on this effect on Saturday, intended to be a heads up that this week could be powerful for many of us, especially those who didn’t experience any significant events in July. If you did, then you may get a “booster” this week, or Sunday’s Full Moon could pass without notice.

Mercury remains in a close sextile with Mars this week, with exact contact on Thursday and Sunday. We’ll likely be very busy, and we may have more family obligations than usual. Or we may have a lot of work around the house or home improvement projects. Mercury in Virgo can be hypercritical, so if you’re around family, resist the temptation to nitpick. A little effort will make your visit much more pleasant. Another possibility is that you will resent doing favors for people you think should do it themselves. Remember that your loved ones are special and worth a little aggravation from time to time.

Both Mercury and Mars make aspects to Uranus on Sunday, and this could bring an element of surprise to your plans and projects. It also could speed up events considerably. If you’ve been lamenting a lack of movement, you’ll be pleased with the increase in activity. Otherwise, you may have to concentrate on slowing down.

Speaking of slowing down, the nights are getting longer and colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, and we’re well into the fall harvest season. Sunday’s Full Moon promises to be bold and beautiful. This is the time of year when I switch from cold salads to hot soup — which really is just a cooked salad, right? I also like to bake, since it’s no longer too hot to have the oven on.

Neith will have more about the Full Moon later this week, so check back. Meanwhile, I hope everyone is settling into the shift that is taking place. Some of you have told me that the changes in light and sound vibrations are somewhat disturbing. Hopefully, with the Sun in Libra, the rebalancing will be without a lot of drama and fanfare.

Love and blessings to all,
Pat

Image: Lengthening shadows of fall. I took this photo in my backyard this morning.

Saturday Extra!Eclipse Cycle Mile Markers

We’ve been in a new cycle of eclipses since early July, although you’d hardly know it. A few people I know experienced notable events in July, but for many, it was strangely quiet.

The “Big Event” solar eclipse of July 21 was a degree shy of my Descendant, so you’d think I’d have been one of the people to feel it. If it made a blip on my radar screen, I’ve forgotten already. Eclipses often take 30 days to deliver results, but I didn’t notice any major developments then, either. What gives?

Well, it appears that these eclipses either are late bloomers or need some time to build up steam. And that seems to be happening now.

To refresh your memory, the eclipses were in Aquarius and Leo starting in February 2008. The last in this series occurred on August 5. Meanwhile, the new series, in Capricorn and Cancer, began with a lunar eclipse on July 7, followed by the total solar eclipse at 29 degrees Cancer two weeks later.

Two key astrological events are acting as triggers that may set the energy of this new eclipse series in play. So if, like me, you didn’t feel much of anything, you may start feeling the delayed reaction soon, if you haven’t already.

Mars, which often acts as a trigger when he passes key degrees, currently is in Cancer. On September 20, he crossed the degree of the lunar eclipse on July 7. On October 12, he’ll activate the second eclipse. This is an important date, as it’s also the day that Jupiter returns direct. Individually and collectively, we can expect major movement around this date.

We likely won’t have to wait that long, though, because there’s a Full Moon on October 3, the 90-day point, or square to the July 7 eclipse. Mercury will be direct by then, too, and things tend to get moving again when the Messenger comes out of a retrograde phase.

Personally, I’ve felt a shift this summer. Externally, it’s barely detectable, but the picture is coming into greater focus. Inwardly, there has been an enormous change. Whether it’s related to the new series of eclipses, the old one (more likely), or other factors doesn’t seem to matter. In many ways, it seems that the changes taking place over the past several months are part of a bigger trend that began many years ago — in other words, just details.

But these details make all the difference in the world.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Image: Port After Stormy Seas, an allegorical work by Pre-Raphaelite painter Evelyn De Morgan, 1905.

Ask Real Astrologers: When Can I Make a Move?

This week’s question comes from Zana in Bosnia:

I would like to go somewhere and find a job but don’t know where to start. I am thinking to come back to [the U.S.], if I sell my condo then I will have money to start. If you could see in my chart what is going on with selling that condo, that would be nice. We got an offer three months ago and since then we are waiting.

Pat’s response:

Zana, when it comes to real estate questions, we look for transits to the fourth house, which rules home and family, and to the eighth house, which rules income from sources other than what you earn on the job. Real estate profits fall in this sector.

Saturn, the planet of limitation, currently is moving through your fourth house, suggesting that you may be “stuck” at home, which may be hindering your attempts to find a job. However, with Uranus opposite Saturn in your tenth house of career, it’s possible that you may find a sudden opportunity soon. Uranus currently is retrograde, but he returns direct on December 1. That’s not so far away.

At the same time, we are in a series of eclipses that is affecting your eighth house, along with your second house, which concerns earned income. There is a solar eclipse on Jan. 15, 2010, in your eighth house that could signal some real estate income, although that is not the only potential outcome of that eclipse.

Since you are talking about relocating to a new country, we also can look to the ninth house, which is associated with long-distance travel. Neptune, Chiron, and Jupiter are stacked up in this area of chart. Of the three, Jupiter is the best indicator of expansion and good fortune. The Big Guy is retrograde right now, which lessens his beneficial influence, but you may get some leads on work or living arrangements after he returns direct on October 13.

Your chances for everything lining up look best around the first of the year. But of course we’ll keep our fingers crossed that it happens sooner.

Hang in there, and keep us posted!

By the way, Zana gets major points for following our instructions for submitting questions. She gave us full birth data, her current location, and a specific question. Even after our column last week, we continue to get questions with no birth data. We’re astrologers, not psychics!

Neith’s response:

Zana, my feeling is that Uranus transiting over your Moon, ruler of the fourth house, in the spring of next year will bring new direction and possible relocation. Uranus transits encourage us to do what is best for us as individuals, a good thing for those who tend to put the needs of others before their own, to their detriment.

Another celestial event coming up in December is Mars in Leo going retrograde for a couple of months. Mars will be going back and forth over your natal Uranus, triggering a square to Venus, ruler of your Sun in Taurus. You may want to keep in mind that you will be feeling much less patient with things than you usually do.

As the fourth Saturn-Uranus opposition grows closer in late March and April 2010, prepare to feel an increase in tension, because this one will exactly conjoin and oppose your Moon. Having several options as to what you want to do would be a good idea. Uranus is noted for last-minute changes due to unexpected events.

I know fixed-sign Sun people like you with lots of earth in their charts prefer to take their own sweet time and don’t like to be rushed! That’s why having a plan with many flexible options is extra important.

Good luck, Zana, and I wish you smooth transitions to your new home wherever that may be!

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Recovering from Saturn-Uranus and the New Moon?

The third Saturn-Uranus opposition is history, along with last week’s New Moon in Virgo. We’re wondering how that went for you.

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For me, the third pass of the Saturn-Uranus was much less dramatic in terms of external events than the one on November 4, 2008, and February 5, 2009 – and believe me, I am very grateful for that. We have roughly six months until the next exact pass on April 26, 2010 at 28 degrees Virgo-Pisces before this show moves into Aries-Libra. Now that will be exciting!!

posted by Neith . . .

RealAstrologers

The astrology of world affairs, human evolution, the future, and the state of the universe.

Ask Real Astrologers: New Career Path Possible?

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Any Hopes For Jupiter Going Direct?

Weekly Forecast October 5: Mercury Enters Libra

Saturday Archives: Pluto Transit Through The Twelfth House

Ask Real Astrologers: Why Can’t We Communicate?

Full Moon in Aries, October 3-4, 2009

Weekly Forecast September 28: Mercury Direct, Full Moon in Aries

Saturday Extra!Eclipse Cycle Mile Markers

Ask Real Astrologers: When Can I Make a Move?

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Recovering from Saturn-Uranus and the New Moon?