Ask Real Astrologers: Venus Needs Help!

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

I have the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction squaring my Venus/ Ascendant, whilst Uranus trines my Venus/Ascendant for the rest of 2009. I am quite confused as to how this is likely to play out. I also am dealing with the ongoing Pluto square to my natal Moon. I am hoping for a fresh and liberating start romantically (Uranus) but am weary of the Neptunian illusion that the square indicates.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Fumi, it is understandable that confusion reigns now, with Neptune & Co. sitting in your third house. Also, the sign on the cusp of your seventh house, Taurus, is ruled by Venus, and Neptune & Co. are creating a T-square with your Ascendant-Venus and transiting Mercury (retrograde for another day) conjunct your Descendant. This is not favorable for clear thinking about romance.

After Mercury makes the final square to Neptune on June 10, the Neptune fog will thin some, and Uranus will remain at 26° Pisces until the second week in August. The biggest drawback of Neptune squaring your Venus-Ascendant may not be your lack of clarity, but the expectations others are projecting on you. You can either forego romance this summer or relax and have fun with this.

Pluto in the second house squaring your Moon in the tenth has to be bringing into focus what is truly of value to you. Do you still enjoy your career? Does it bring you the emotional satisfaction it did initially? If not, are there changes you can make, even if it means living more frugally for awhile? Many times when we spend time making do with less, we find it is not the hardship we thought it would be.

Perhaps the best thing for all of us who have been struggling with Neptune & Co., including myself, is to look at the lighter side of things and to keep in mind that the fog will lift eventually.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Fumi, confusion is not always a bad thing! Or, as an old friend of mine used to say, “I don’t know” is a good place to be. How many people do you know who are quite sure of themselves … and wrong?

The key thing to remember about Neptune transits is that your ego boundaries are dissolved, and this is particularly true when Neptune squares your Ascendant. It’s also important to keep in mind that Neptune is traveling with Jupiter and Chiron — what Neith is referring to with her shorthand “Neptune & Co.” Chiron and Neptune together provide a powerful opening for healing deep and ancient wounds, while Jupiter amplifies this effect and helps us expand into greater spiritual awareness.

The combined effect for you and for many others will be to heal an internal wound that has made it hard for us to connect on a soul level with a romantic partner. There are many things that keep this from happening. Two of the biggest obstacles I see are attachment to a particular outcome and trying to control another person. It’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we aren’t controlling when we’re just doing so on a very subtle level.

Because you also have Uranus trine your Venus and Ascendant, a surprising new romance could come into your life, and this will be an opportunity for you to observe your behavior and response. I don’t believe it’s bad to become attached to someone; in fact, I totally disagree with this notion that we somehow can love with all our hearts and yet not be attached. Again, the key is to be bonded with that person and yet to resist controlling them or where the relationship goes. These are fear responses, and fear is the enemy of love.

This is not a personal judgment of you. To the contrary, I believe that we suffer from a collective wound in this regard, and I find it deeply gratifying that more and more people see it and want to work on it. Aquarius is the sign of the collective, and Neptune & Co. in Aquarius means that we have an unprecedented opportunity to do personal growth work that will have a huge impact on the collective. That is our mission, if we choose to accept it.

You, dear friend, are sitting in the catbird seat. I wish you much love and courage. Keep in touch with us, and let us know how it goes.

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!

Weekly Forecast May 25: Jupiter Conjunct Neptune, Mercury Direct

air-castles-by-maxfield-parrish.jpgBREAKTHROUGH ALERT!

I have a feeling that, for many of us, life won’t be the same after this week. Maybe you have a sense of this already.

As the week begins, Mercury is still retrograde but is heading down the home stretch. He stations direct on Saturday (Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere). In the meantime, we should start seeing the effects of the New Moon in Gemini, even though the results may be delayed by a week or so. Good news is always welcome.

On Tuesday, Mars in Aries forms a rapid-succession sextile with Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune in Aquarius, providing still more fuel for this turbo-charged three-way conjunction. Mars in Aries is a strongly masculine force and represents action, initiative, and forging into new territory. In last week’s forecast, I wrote about the unprecedented healing potential of the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. Mars helps you boldly go where few have gone before but where more and more of us are headed.

Jupiter conjoins Neptune on Wednesday, the first of a three-part conjunction that is one of the most significant astrological aspects of 2009. The next will occur on July 10, and the third and final pass takes place on December 21, Solstice Day. Typically, the first pass of a three-part aspect coincides with a new issue or set of circumstances in our lives. The tension builds at the second pass, and often we experience an obstacle or challenge. We find resolution at the third and final pass, or sometimes the problem simply fades away.

Stories from friends and clients tell me that we are going through a subtle but very powerful shift, and we have started seeing the signs of it over the past few months. Deep changes usually don’t happen without accompanying turmoil as our body/mind readjusts to accommodate the new information. I liken it to rearranging furniture. You tend to trip over it in the dark until you get used to where it is. Once that happens, you can relax into it and enjoy the new way of being.

Many of the stories I’m hearing have to do with relationships. I don’t know what made me do it, but I gave in to one of those cheesy ads for relationship help for women and ordered an e-book. I’m sending it back, but I’m not sorry I took the chance on it in the first place. There were a couple of good points about taking responsibility for your own baggage and not attempting to manipulate or control the other person — all advice that Neith and I give consistently.

What I didn’t like about it was the implication that women have to get themselves totally together, resolve all their issues and essentially heal themselves before they can expect to get and keep a man, and they shouldn’t expect any help from men. The author described how “most men” are wired emotionally, and I guess if I were a man, I’d be insulted. It was sad, really, and I was left wondering why a woman who had herself that together would even give this type of man a second thought. The kind of man who would interest her wouldn’t be so insecure as to need to keep her in a box with so many rules for acceptable dating behavior.

The fact is that both genders have deep wounds that go back to ancient times, and we need to help each other heal (regardless of your gender preference). Just as you have to jump into the water to learn to swim, you have to dive into the emotional messiness of a relationship to learn about yourself and your partner. The key, of course, is that you both have to be willing to go there. My best advice to anyone having relationship challenges is to talk to your partner and be very clear about whether he or she wants to do the work with you. If not, you can’t force it, or you risk deepening the wound, both yours and theirs.

On Friday, Neptune turns retrograde, with Chiron following on Saturday and Jupiter just a couple of weeks from turning retrograde. For the conjunction to happen while all the players are in slow motion makes it all the more powerful. We might actually be able to see what is happening rather than experiencing it as a big blur.

Mercury returns direct on Saturday as well, which I expect will unleash a torrent of delayed activity — if not this weekend, then next week.

Last but not least, Mars enters Taurus on Sunday, which means he will be in mutual reception with Venus for a week, until she enters her own sign. I like this configuration for working through relationship issues, especially between opposite sexes. She’s in his shoes, and he’s in hers. There’s no better way to understand another person.

Wishing you all hearts with wings,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Air Castles, by Maxfield Parrish, 1903. Jupiter and Neptune may help us realize our dreams, but they might burst a few bubbles, too. It’s all part of the healing process.

Saturday Extra!When Life Hands You Lemons

Well, it’s not Hollywood calling, but we’ve received a Lemonade Award.

lemonadeaward.jpgI tried to figure out how this award originated and can’t seem to track it down. So it will have to remain a mystery. However, it is supposed to go to sites that show “great attitude and/or gratitude.” Neith is our local gratitude expert, while my expertise is in giving the Big Pitcher. Sometimes I have an attitude to go with it.

Part of the deal is that you have to nominate 10 sites to pass on the award to. Our nomination came from the mystery gal behind Out the Comet’s Ass. Now, I didn’t see anywhere in the rules where is says you can’t re-nominate the site that nominated you, so we are going to do so. There is no doubt that she would have been in our 10 picks anyway — Neith and I are in agreement on that — so to hell with the rules. We did find 10 nominees, though!

Here are our 10 picks:

1. Tseka ~ One Dance. Our dear friend, mentor, and an amazing artist. Please, if you haven’t checked out her galleries, go to her site. Unfortunately, despite the high quality of the images, you still don’t get the feeling of seeing her work in person. I have, and it has an energy that you feel in every cell of your body and every spark of your spirit. She also has started making gorgeous, reasonably priced talisman pendants. I predict that these are going to be the next big fashion trend.

2. Astrodispatch. Where would we be without Elsa’s daily astro-aggragate? She’s one of a kind.

3. Out the Comet’s Ass. She has more attitude than anyone we know, and she often is right on, in the most off-beat way. Of course this appeals to the Aquarius in me, but Neith loves her, too.

4. Julie Demboski’s Astrology. Always lots to chew on with some of the best insights into the asteroids around.

5. Astrotabletalk. Everyone loves Dharmaruci. And he’s a fellow Aquarius.

6. Ralfee Finn’s Weekly Frequency. I’ve been following Ralfee for years. She’s another Big Pitcher gal.

7. Astropol. Just what it sounds like. Astrologer Terry Lamb decided to blog on astrology and politics. Yay!

8. Love is stronger than pride. Devil Mood, author of this blog, has created a wonderful blend of images and words imbued with a deep love of music. She is also an astrologer.

9. Chrispito’s Astroturf. This is a very personal blog where Chrispito shares her thoughts, photos and images of her artwork in a real, honest way.

10. The Slow Cook. Last but certainly not least, I highly recommend The Slow Cook, hosted by master gardener Ed Bruske, whose urban garden is just a mile from Michelle Obama’s famous plot. This is one of the many blogs sprouting up around the slow food movement, a worldwide effort put fast food in its place. I don’t know how long it would take to grow the lemons to make lemonade, but you’ll sure have fun in the process, and isn’t that what life is all about? Caution: Reading this blog may make you fat. Check out his to-die-for bunless burger recipe.

The terms for the Award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to this post.

Much love to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Real Astrologers: What’s Good About Pluto?

This week’s question comes from Karen in Ireland:

Pluto is now transiting my fourth house, and I’ve become aware of how much play it seems to have in my relationships. Having come out of a very controlling relationship nearly two years ago, I now find myself attracted to another man and it feels, hey ho, powerful and obsessive again. Given that everything I read about Pluto aspects seem to say DANGER, BEWARE etc., etc., I’m wondering how to approach the matter in a more useful way. Obviously these aspects appear natally, and in synastry, because they need to be integrated in some way. So my question is, what is good about Pluto and how do I deal with its influence in my life in a way that is progressive and not based in avoidance or worry?

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Karen, there is no doubt that Pluto is very frustrating to work with, because he is the most transpersonal of the outer planets. In other words, the smooth shiny surface of Pluto gives us no openings. The more energy we pour into our obsessions, the worse it can become. Staying as neutral as possible within is still the best option, along with learning to accept ourselves as we are, flaws and all.

Yes, you do have a number of natal signatures suggesting you have a good reason for wanting answers about working with Pluto. Your Moon in Scorpio is one and the T-square with Venus at the apex, squared by Pluto opposite Jupiter as the base is another. This configuration says that you are naturally drawn to intense emotional experiences and, as usual, the Universe is always happy to supply the means.

What is good about Pluto? It can teach us so much about human nature and what is truly of value along with lessons about the reality of security. Once we realize security and control are essentially illusions, our lives can become much simpler because we are no longer expending massive amounts of energy attempting to do the impossible. Lovely, yes?!

The best advice I can offer for coming to terms with Pluto is first take a long look within, recognize and accept your dark places as part of the whole, and work on keeping expectations of specific outcomes in check. Be kind to yourself and always remember this is a process!

Best of luck on this journey, Karen!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Well, Karen, it’s no surprise that you’re asking this question now!

As you note, transiting Pluto is on your IC, which is the “bottom” of the chart and beginning of the fourth house. This is an extremely sensitive chart angle that represents your foundation. Given the long orbit of Pluto (248 years), not everyone experiences Pluto on the IC in their lifetime. To those who do, you know the feeling of being shaken at your very foundation by an irresistible force for transformation.

I don’t know that there is any way to “use” this powerful force, although you are right to ask the question. Pluto is about power and control, and one of the most important lessons we can learn from Pluto is to give up control and let our lives unfold. That doesn’t mean abdicating responsibility for our actions or choices. We have to decide what we want, set goals, and form strategies for meeting them. However, we have to do so without getting so attached to a particular outcome that we try to manipulate and control others to fit into our plan.

Looking at your chart, I see that you have some strong psychic and intuitive abilities. These gifts are being activated in a positive way by transiting Pluto, which tells me that this is an excellent time for you to identify patterns. Your chart also tells me that you have strong healing powers. You obviously have started to identify the patterns and so have taken this important first step. The second step is harder, as you have to allow the old wounds to be re-opened so that you can experience them fully and then allow that energy to dissipate. Body work such as deep massage or acupuncture can help get this process going.

As I’ve written elsewhere, we are in an unprecedented healing window due to the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. It sounds to me like you are “in the flow” of this significant astrological phenomenon and may end up as one of the people who benefit from it the most.

Keep your eyes and ears open and, most importantly, your heart.

Thank you for writing.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact us, or we don’t get your question. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” Thanks!

New Moon in Gemini, May 24, 2009

New Moon in GeminiAlthough the New Moon in Mercury-ruled Gemini is always a good time to work on our communication skills, this particular one focuses more attention than usual on the fastest-moving planet.

As of the New Moon, Mercury is still retrograde in Taurus but is less than a week from stationing direct. Those of us who prefer to take our time with the decision-making process are far less likely to be frustrated than the serious multi-tasker who depends on a variety of fancy technological devices to connect with their peers. Keep in mind that slow can be good and far less stressful.

Mercury is squaring the triple conjunction of Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune in Aquarius. What this configuration says to me is pay special attention not only to what you are saying, but also to your listening skills. Jupiter and Neptune together can be idealistic to the point of insanity, and it is very easy to put our personal spin on what we hear and conveniently forget the rest of the message — you know, the part where Chiron tells us how much it’s going to hurt when the bandage is ripped off. This square also highlights the differences between our personal values (Taurus) and the dreams of the collective (Aquarius), thus opening the door to reconciling those conflicting goals, but this will take serious effort.

The bright spot for Mercury is the sextile with Uranus in Pisces, supporting compassionate and original thinking. This is the second pass of a three-part sextile. The first happened at the New Moon in Taurus on April 24, while the third and final pass will occur on June 9, just after the Full Moon in Sagittarius. The final sextile will coincide with Mercury’s return to the degree at which it went retrograde, and we will have an opportunity to start applying our ideas at that time.

Pluto in Capricorn is inconjunct this New Moon, presenting an interesting set of challenges. Gemini and Capricorn really don’t have much common ground, to put it mildly. Gemini loves to dart around collecting bits and pieces of information to play with, while Saturn-ruled Capricorn wants its data organized, with an emphasis on practical application. This aspect reinforces the same differences between the personal and the collective as Mercury in Taurus square Neptune & Co., and in a dissonant way. As much as we would like to ignore the larger universe at times, I doubt if we will be allowed to.

Venus and Mars are both still in Aries but are no longer traveling quite so close together. The only aspect Venus makes is another of those pesky inconjuncts to Saturn in Virgo, and I can hear the whining already. Just about the time Venus thinks she’s going to able to go and have some fun, Saturn will nag her about taking care of unfinished business first.

Mars in sextile to Neptune & Co. is easier to deal with, as it provides energy and enthusiasm to follow your dreams. Interestingly, Mars falls on the midpoint of the sextile between Mercury and Uranus, helping fuel manifestation of your brilliant ideas. Keep in mind the need for practicality, though.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon at 4 Gemini is, “Holly and mistletoe reawaken old memories of Christmas,” with the keyword RITUALIZATION. This represents a gentler way of looking at the richness of traditions (Capricorn) with a childlike delight (Gemini) in them. Perhaps we all need to take a moment to view our lives with a childlike sense of wonder.

As a Libra person, I am very aware of maintaining a sense of balance and proportion, so I feel it is very important to make reality checks a part of our lives now. The triple conjunction of Neptune & Co. can bring new and delightful possibilities, but my gut instinct says double-check all the facts before signing up for the magical mystery tour. If it looks too good to be true, it is. This is the perfect time to practice forgiving ourselves and others, too.

Libra is working on balanceposted by Neith . . .

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

Weekly Forecast May 18: New Moon in Gemini

Tiger TwinsThis week is about communications, whether looking backwards or forward, at the big picture or the trivial, the spiritual or the mundane. It could come as a flood of words or deafening silence that tells you everything you need to know.

If that sounds a little schizophrenic … well, we may indeed feel that way, with Mercury still retrograde, Saturn direct after several months retrograde in one of the signs Mercury rules, and a New Moon in the other sign of the Messenger. With that kind of energy filling our airwaves, mixed messages may seem like the goddess-honest truth and vice versa.

Still, Gemini is one of the more enthusiastic and dynamic signs, and with the Sun entering Gemini on Wednesday (Mercury’s day) and the New Moon on Sunday, we won’t remain stuck in the ruts that Mercury retrograde in Taurus might otherwise suggest. That said, it may be one step forward, two steps back for the next couple of weeks. If you’re an impatient type, that may be preferable to no action at all.

On Monday, the Sun conjoins Mercury, setting the tone for the rest of the week. On Wednesday, right as the Sun is entering Gemini, Mercury squares what Neith affectionately refers to as “Neptune & Co.” Since he’s working his way backwards, he starts with Neptune, then squares Chiron 12 hours later, and then a few hours later squares Jupiter. He tops it all off by forming a sextile to Uranus, which should create a noticeable buzz. Let’s just hope it doesn’t sound like a dentist’s drill.

Jupiter himself is approaching conjunction with Neptune, but that’s not until next week. This week, on Saturday, he conjoins Chiron. Wednesday’s square from retrograde Mercury provides the set-up for an unprecedented healing opportunity. We are healing deep wounds that may go back to early childhood and perhaps even farther. Many of us have been receiving messages in many forms about what this healing involves. It’s not the same for everyone, although the recurring theme I’m seeing most is a healing of the split between male and female energies. Regardless of your gender preference, you may start to see deep changes in your relationships. Some unions will become closer and more fulfilling, while those that have outlived their purpose will dissolve. If this happens, let go and put out a conscious intent to clear that space for something new and better.

The week closes with the New Moon on Sunday, May 24, at 3 degrees Gemini. This is close to the degree at which Mercury went retrograde, and Mercury rules this New Moon, so while we generally expect new beginnings at the New Moon, positive developments may be delayed, and our patience may be tried. I also see a possibility that we will think we’ve lost something, or something may happen that causes us to give up hope, but that this will be a cover for new energy attempting to manifest into your material reality. Anytime we are in healing mode, there’s a certain amount of internal confusion, and this can temporarily distort our vision.

Check back on Tuesday or Wednesday for Neith’s New Moon report.

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

Image: These Sumatran tiger cubs were born late last summer and are seen here at six weeks old in a zoo in Krefeld, Germany. Could there be a better image for the New Moon in Gemini than baby tiger twins? Photo by Sascha Schuermann for Agence France-Presse/DDP.

Saturday Archives: Assorted Pluto Observations

The Hades Moon by Judith HallWhen I was looking for something to post from my archives, I came across this one on Pluto and found it contained another example of a chart with the generational Yod we wrote about in yesterday’s Ask Our Readers post! By the way, I highly recommend “The Hades Moon” by Judy Hall for anyone with a natal Moon-Pluto aspect. 

With Pluto on the brain, it seems like I keep running across examples of how he operates both by transit and natally these days. I’m also reading “The Hades Moon” by Judith Hall. It’s scary how much I recognize from my own life from that book!

What I’ve read so far in “The Hades Moon” is helping me see how much subtle manipulation was going in my life coming from both my dad’s mom and my mother. They both were prone to praising the absent relative in front of the present one, creating rivalries among the other family members. According to Judith Hall, this is typical behavior of those with Pluto in aspect to the Moon. I’m fairly sure my mother had a Moon in Pisces trine to Pluto in Cancer.

Here is an example of Pluto at work: natal Moon conjunct Pluto and Jupiter in Virgo, both squared by transiting Pluto in Sagittarius. This is from the chart of a relative of mine and is one point on the base of a Yod (sextile Neptune in Scorpio, with Saturn in Aries as the apex). She has a serious case of tunnel vision. Whatever course she has determined for herself is all she will allow herself to see. An analogy that occurred to me is this:  she lives in a bubble with a reflective inner surface even though it’s clear from the outside looking in. All her hopes and fears are reflected back to her amplified by Jupiter. Transiting Pluto square to her Virgo stellium has intensified her fears and caused her to withdraw even more into her nuclear family unit (husband & two children). What’s going to happen when Saturn in Virgo starts moving over that point makes me quail as I’m sure it’s going to be painful. Could it be with Saturn as the focus of her natal Yod, a Saturn transit could help her start to gain some understanding of what has happened?

One of my personal challenges has been to accept that no matter how much I wish-will otherwise, people I love must find their own path, and if that path doesn’t include growth by my definition, so be it.

Here is another example of a natal Pluto aspect, in this case Pluto exactly conjunct Ascendant. This individual lost a close friend to suicide in high school, and a year or so later was the first person on the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident of another friend. The rider almost completely decapitated himself on a guy-wire and died within minutes. She told me she moved the head closer to a natural position to prevent others at the scene from seeing how devastating it was. I was seriously impressed by her courage under fire as she was 19 years old at the time. This young woman just finished a Masters degree in hospital administration and was hired by the State to evaluate how well state-funded health care is working. All I can say is watch out!!!

Astrology has been an excellent tool for myself and many others to sort out family dynamics and start healing old wounds.

Libra, relationship specialistposted by Neith . . .

Ask Real Astrologers: Do Transits Trigger a Yod?

This week’s question comes from Mari in Lawrence, Kansas:

I have read that transits can activate Yods. What effect would you expect that a generational transit like a Uranus opposition would have on a Yod with a Uranus-Neptune sextile inconjunct Saturn?

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Mari, this particular Yod is one you share with many others making it a generational pattern, and an uncomfortable one at that.

Let’s face it, Saturn is just not happy in Aries, and as the apex of this pattern, Saturn is the focal point. Aries is all about action, the more direct and uncomplicated the better, and Saturn’s favored approach is slow and steady. Frequently those with Saturn in Aries will choose between passive or aggressive behaviors instead of being firmly assertive.

Virgo and Scorpio are the signs on the base of the Yod, and in this case, these two may actually be more supportive than is typical of inconjunct signs. Both of these signs prefer to work quietly but effectively behind the scenes, often in service oriented healing professions. A mature expression of Saturn in Aries is very similar to Saturn in Capricorn; self-directed, well organized and willing to do what is necessary to keep everyone on task. The Saturn-Uranus opposition in Virgo and Pisces has been, and will continue to help those of you with this Yod shed some of your old self-defeating behaviors and step forward as the gifted leaders you are.

In your chart, Mari, you have no personal planets conjunct any of the points of the Yod but your Moon does fall close to the mid-point between Pluto and Neptune, opposing the apex planet, Saturn. Since the Moon also rules your Sun sign, it is a key factor here. Following your feelings and intuitions closely will help you figure out the best path to take over the coming months.

There is a great deal more going on in your chart but this is not the format to discuss it. I recommend contacting either Pat or I for a more in-depth response, if you wish.

Hang on tight and do your best to stay grounded during this time, Mari! Best of luck!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Mari, I don’t know that there is any special magic to transits activating Yods. Of course you are going to feel a Yod more if any of the planets forming this configuration are being transited, especially by an outer planet that may stay near a particular degree for weeks or months at a time.

I suspect that you are strongly feeling the current Saturn-Uranus opposition, which is being compounded by the conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune, with Neptune and Uranus in mutual reception. As Neith noted, you actually have two Yods in your chart, and both of them are being directly impacted by this complex set of transits.

Further, in your birth chart, Saturn and Neptune, both of which are at the apex of a Yod, are inconjunct, and transiting Saturn and Neptune currently are inconjunct, or will be this fall. I expect that this will have deep karmic significance for you and that this will be a transformational year, both internally and in your external circumstances. If there’s a big disconnect between your dreams and wishes and what has materialized in your life so far, you should be able to get these two sides of yourself working in tandem. Just be prepared for some turbulence, as radical change typically doesn’t happen without it.

Wishing you the very best.

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: Vanity Check

The Bridesmaid by Sir John Everett MillaisVenus recently went through a retrograde period, and while we wrote a lot about the effect on relationships and finances, we’re wondering whether anyone noticed any of the lighter effects of the planet of love and beauty.

Neith started it all by musing about whether the mode of Venus in the natal chart affects a person’s choice of hairstyle and how often they change looks. Does it matter if Venus is in a fixed, mutable, or cardinal sign? Or do other influences in the chart overrule this factor?

“Me, I have Venus in mutable Sagittarius in the first house, so my hair style has changed frequently over the years,” Neith says. “It’s gone from very long to very short and everything in between. I’ve played with curls, straight, different shades of blonde and highlights only.”

However, she knows a woman who hasn’t changed her hair style or color since she was in college . . . over 30 years ago. She has Venus in fixed Taurus. Both of Neith’s sisters have Venus in a cardinal sign, one in Capricorn and the other in Libra. They seem to have consistently chosen attractive but low-maintenance styles.

“I wouldn’t exactly call my style low-maintenance, and I am willing to work a little — mostly because I have to, with this baby fine hair,” Pat says. The keyword for Capricorn is, “I use,” and Pat is definitely all for using the help of technology, provided it comes from responsible companies that don’t harm the environment or test on animals.

To refresh your memory, the cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn; fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius; and mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

So is there a link between the mode of Venus and hairstyles? What do you think?

Image: The Bridesmaid by Sir John Everett Millais, 1851. We’ve seen hair like this in the 80’s as well as the late 60’s, early 70’s. Many a Venus in Leo would die for hair like this!

Weekly Forecast May 11: Saturn Turns Direct

The Golden Age, Lucas Cranach the ElderAs Mercury continues on his retrograde path, everyone I know is experiencing missed phone calls, faxes that don’t go through, traffic jams, appointment mix-ups, and all of the other typical effects.

An outing I took on Saturday turned into a comedy of errors, but fortunately I was able to laugh about it. Better still, I had lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in more than a year, and we had a great time catching up on the news.

Among other things, she told me a story about a community meeting she went to last Wednesday, just as Mercury was stationing retrograde. The director went off on one of his usual insensitive tangents, and for the first time since she has been involved with the group, she interrupted and told him how hurtful his remarks were. He was mortified and apologized profusely, and there were tears all around as everyone kissed and made up. Mercury turned retrograde just a few degrees into my friend’s first house. Moreover, she’s a Taurus, and Mercury will be returning to her sign this week.

So you see, there are benefits to Mercury retrograde, too, and we needn’t worry about opening our mouths at all for fear of offending someone or being misunderstood, even when there’s a risk of conflict. I suspect that after Mercury re-enters Taurus this Wednesday, we’ll have more opportunities to address unresolved issues and heal old rifts.

Even the square from Mercury to Neptune and Chiron could end up producing positive results, despite traditional interpretations that this aspect brings confusion and misunderstanding. That might well be the case initially, but with Venus in Aries, taking the initiative to clarify and speaking from the heart may be just the right approach, as my friend discovered.

On Sunday, May 17, the Moon conjoins Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune and squares Mercury. All of the above notwithstanding, I wouldn’t choose this day to have a heavy discussion. If someone else corners you into it, make the best of it by thinking before you open your mouth. The clearer you are with yourself about how you feel and what your motivations are, the better you’ll be able to express it to others in a way they can hear.

By this time, Saturn will be direct as well, and that could help matters enormously. Saturn turns direct on Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere, late Saturday here on the western side of the world. It will take him some time to stretch and wake up, but we still should feel some positive effects fairly quickly. Saturn’s return direct, along with the New Moon in Gemini at the end of next week, might help mitigate some of the more annoying effects of Mercury retrograde.

Saturn’s return direct in Virgo is a good time to contemplate his role in Roman mythology as ruler of the Golden Age of Man. Many cultures and religions around the world have different versions of this tale. Christians describe it as the Garden of Eden. According to the Greeks and Romans, this was the earliest age of humanity, a period when the gods came and went among mortals, when everyone was happy and had everything they needed without working. Humans died, but without pain. They simply went to sleep, and their spirits became higher beings, which we might call angels.

It all fell apart when Jupiter overthrew Saturn and took over as father of the Olympian gods.

This might come as a surprise, since Saturn in astrology is not considered a symbol of ease, harmony and abundance. To the contrary, he is considered a limiting influence under which we have to learn painful lessons and work extra hard to get ahead. It’s almost as if they had the roles of Saturn and Jupiter flipped. But it does make an odd kind of sense, when you consider that Saturn is lord of the material universe. Without structure and order, there can be no abundance.

The ancient Romans revered Saturn as a god of the harvest, much as we think of Ceres, who I’d like to see elevated to modern ruler of Virgo. Maybe we’ll hear more about this as Saturn and Ceres approach conjunction in late June.

In the meantime, much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image:  The Golden Age, by German painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1530. Given the dour religious climate at the time, this is a remarkably happy and light-hearted scene — and hardly what we’d imagine of a world ruled by Saturn.