Saturday Extra!The Healing Potential of Mercury Retrograde

Going back, reviewing, and looking through archives are always good activities when Mercury goes retrograde, as this process can help us identify unresolved issues from our past and integrate the new information.

What better way to do that, I thought, then to go back through my archives on The Pisces Chronicles (which, I’m sorry to say, is going to have to stay down for several more months). As I was browsing through my old articles, I found a post I wrote last May, when Mercury went retrograde in Gemini. Here’s an excerpt:

Mercury goes retrograde tomorrow, and while it won’t be as difficult as last February’s retrograde, it could be far more interesting.

As I noted in my latest post on RealAstrologers.com, Mercury and Neptune go retrograde within half an hour of each other, and they’re in a close trine. In addition, Chiron went retrograde this morning, also tightly trine Mercury and in conjunction with Neptune and the North Node. What does this mean? (Post continued below…)

Chiron and Achilles

Mercury rules communications, commerce, and traffic flow. When he’s retrograde, we tend to experience frustration and delay in these areas. Neptune is the planet of psychic phenomena, vision, and spirituality, but there also is an element of confusion, delusion, and being out of touch with reality. You never really know which it is until you’re out the other side.

Chiron, which was discovered in 1977 and named for the centaur in Greek mythology who mentored heroes and gods, is associated with healing body, mind, and spirit.

Putting these three energies together, I see unprecedented potential for healing our underlying energy fields, what some call the “higher mind.” Whether it comes from “above” or “below” doesn’t matter. The point is that it’s invisible energy that provides the building blocks for our material existence. When you release blockages and negative patterns from your underlying energy field, you tackle many problems at their source instead of just curing the symptoms.

Since Mercury is about communications and our thought patterns, we have an opportunity here to step back and take a look at how erroneous beliefs might be tripping us up. These beliefs may be about ourselves, others, or the world we live in. This review process falls within the category of activities that work better during retrograde periods.

The North Node is about our destiny and purpose. There’s no higher purpose right now than healing the planet, and to do that, we have to heal ourselves at the same time. This extraordinary astrological configuration is providing us with a three-week window to do just that.

This year, Mercury went retrograde in a close trine with the lunar North Node but square Neptune and Chiron, with Jupiter also in the mix. Jupiter will be exactly conjunct Chiron on May 23 and Neptune on May 27, with Neptune turning retrograde on May 28 and Chiron turning retrograde on May 30 — the day Mercury returns direct. Jupiter turns retrograde two weeks later, on June 15.

The theme I wrote about last year is still in effect, if not more so. We can use that energy for deep healing, and many people I know are doing just that. One friend has had back problems all her life and decided last month to start working with a chiropractor last month to get the constant pain and aggravation under control. I just received an e-mail from her that the effort was wildly successful. She is pain-free for the first time in many years, which is of course extremely liberating. The back is literally our “support system,” so I am sure that this development will impact many other areas of her life in the weeks and months to come.

Incidentally, I have not seen her in over a year, and we reconnected just as Mercury was turning retrograde.

I see from comments left on previous posts that some of you are going through healing processes, too. To all, I wish the positive, healing effects of the extraordinary planetary energies in play.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

P.S. Stay tuned for news of my consultation status …

Image: The Education of Achilles by Donato Creti, 1714 (Musei Civici d’Arte Antica, Bologna). The mythological Chiron was a mentor to heroes and known as a great astrologer.

Ask Real Astrologers: How Much of Scorpio Is Ophiuchus?

This week’s question comes from Rich in Boston, MA:

How many degrees of the second half of Scorpio is Ophiuchus?

Pat’s response:

This is a really great question, Rich, but unfortunately not as straightforward as it might seem. There are two separate astrological systems at work here, and we need to translate between the two. Before I can do that, I need to provide some technical background.

The zodiac is the belt of constellations along the ecliptic, the path of the Sun in the sky. Although we count twelve signs of the zodiac, there actually is a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, also called the Serpent Bearer. Continue reading →

Full Moon in Scorpio, May 8-9, 2009

Wesak Full Moon The Full Moon in Scorpio on May 9 seems pregnant with possibilities, as if we are standing on the edge of the precipice waiting for a signal to leap off. But with Mercury retrograde until May 31 and Saturn at a virtual standstill, actual movement is not likely.

The elements are evenly balanced in this chart, underscoring the sense of stasis. Saturn in Virgo is the handle of the bucket pattern. Saturn is preparing to station direct on May 16 and will remain at 14° Virgo from May 8 until May 26. Virgo is always happy to double-check the details, and with Mercury, Virgo’s traditional ruler, retrograde, that’s about all we’ll be able to do for now. Yes, it’s frustrating!

Venus and Mars, who rule Taurus and Scorpio respectively, are both in Aries, pushing personal agendas. Venus is pulling away from her last square to Pluto on May 2, completing a rather difficult period for her. Now she just wants to have fun for a change. Taking some downtime may not be a bad idea, if you can. Mars in Aries encourages physical activities of all kinds – as in less thinking and more doing! This is a great time of year to head outside to play, since it is spring in the northern latitudes and fall in the southern ones.

Mercury in Gemini forms an awkward inconjunct with Pluto in Capricorn before moving back into Taurus on May 13. This may be a case where Mercury feels like a teenager being reined in hard by the authorities (Pluto). All those bright ideas that leapt into our heads when Mercury entered Gemini are up for intense review, so we might as well sit down and do it. The collective is still in the process of adjusting to the new tone of frugality and paying as you go demanded by Pluto in sober-minded Capricorn. This is just one more step.

A lovely mystic rectangle is formed by the Sun in Taurus, Moon in Scorpio, Saturn in Virgo, and Juno in Pisces. What this says to me is trust your intuition and your gut instincts over logic and reason, especially when it comes to committed relationships. Juno is the asteroid associated with marriage. Saturn demands that we honor our commitments, and the luminaries in fixed signs are both inclined to stay the course. Don’t be surprised if you and your sweetheart end up talking about taking your relationship to the next level – either that, or calling it off because you realize you are ready for something more serious, and the person you’ve been seeing isn’t.

The stellium of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius semi-sextile Uranus in Pisces does not seem to have an outlet of expression, but this will change at the New Moon in Gemini on May 24. For now, it is a good idea to continue working on maintaining perspective and not succumbing to fear. It is much easier to deal with a tangible problem than all the “maybes.” Stay strong and have faith in the universe.

For the Sun, the Sabian symbol is 19 Taurus, “A new continent rising out of the ocean,” with the keyword ORIGINALITY. This is Taurus, so the emerging potential is based in reality rather than speculation. We still have to wait out the Mercury retrograde period, though, so don’t get in too big of a hurry. Besides, no Taurus I’ve known ever did anything quickly.

The symbol for 19 Scorpio is, “A parrot repeats the conversation he has overheard,” and the keyword is CONVENTIONALITY. Be careful not to “parrot” what you’ve heard without taking time to determine for yourself what is really going on.

The message of this lunation is clearly one of taking time to consider all of your options carefully, choosing what works and clearing out the rest. Hauling around emotional baggage is exhausting, as most of us know. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes about practicing kindness and forgiveness, but I do so from the heart. Something else I would like to recommend is doing something nice for yourself regularly. We all deserve a treat now and again!

posted by Neith . . .

Image: This is the Wesak Full Moon, celebrating the Buddha’s birthday. This image shows last year’s Wesak Full Moon, on April 29, over Mount Everest. Photo by David Gray for REUTERS.

Weekly Forecast May 4: Mercury Retrograde, Full Moon in Scorpio

Mercury goes retrograde this week, but you knew that. Many of you have reported incidents that sound suspiciously like the trickster up to his typical mischief already.

Other than the slowdown in communications, I’m seeing positive effects, too. As I predicted, relationship issues are being revisited, although I didn’t expect it to happen this soon. I didn’t think we’d see this trend until after May 13, when Mercury returns to Venus-ruled Taurus. I certainly didn’t expect any developments before Mercury even went retrograde, but then he’s hovering exactly trine my Ascendant and sextile my Descendant, so that might explain the aberration.

Even though Mercury doesn’t turn retrograde until Thursday (late Wednesday on the West Coast of the United States), do be prepared for some frustration getting to work on Monday morning. Public transportation schedules may be messed up, and traffic jams could be worse than usual. People you need to contact may not be in, or they may not return calls when you need them. It’s par for the course.

Another factor that could affect this Mercury retrograde is Saturn’s station. Retrograde since December 31, the taskmaster and lord of time returns direct at 15 degrees Virgo on May 16. Although I argue for Ceres as ruler of Virgo, the change hasn’t been made — my petition is on hold on the desk of some faceless bureaucrat god on Mount Olympus — which means that Saturn currently is stopped in a sign ruled by Mercury, who’s also stopped. So it looks like we’ll be even more frustrated than usual, especially in matters related to our daily grind, until the end of this month. Those of you with sensitive digestion need to go easy, too.

The other big astrological event this week is the Full Moon in Scorpio on Saturday. This Full Moon marks the halfway point between the lunar eclipse in Leo on February 9 and the lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 6. The eclipse in August is the last in the Aquarius-Leo series and represents a culmination of whatever issues this eclipse series brought to your door. With Mercury retrograde, it’s a good time for a review, and indeed you may have to revisit a situation whether you want to or not. Hopefully, the examination will be productive, even if there’s some discomfort attached. Saturn will play a role, too, as this Full Moon will be in favorable aspect.

I’ll leave the rest of the Full Moon analysis to Neith. Check back in a day or two for her report.

Meanwhile, the Sun trines Saturn on Tuesday, so we may well get a preview of how the Full Moon will play out. It would be nice, for once, to have some predictability. Saturn may not be the guy you want to snuggle up to at night, but you usually can count on him to be steady and reliable.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Image: A sculpture outside a Paris train station made of clocks. Imagine the confusion for anyone hoping to be able to figure out what time it is. Happy Mercury retrograde! Photo by Charles Platiau for REUTERS. p>

Saturday Extra: More On Saturn’s Role In Synastry

Neith's Parents Wedding Photo in 1944 We need Saturn! Without Saturn to teach us about boundaries, to behave responsibly and give us patience, our lives and relationships wouldn’t get off the ground – period, end of story.

There is a very good reason Saturn is exalted in Libra, the sign of relating to the “other.” When the bloom wears off the initial attraction and our partner’s habit of never cleaning up after themselves gets really annoying, that’s when having a solid Saturn aspect or two in the synastry will keep us from throwing them out the door. . . or not, if that is what’s needed.

What Saturn can provide is balance and stability, especially if there are a number of Uranus squares, oppositions, and conjunctions creating excitement and lots of adrenaline rushes. In order to have a relationship at all, you need to be able to be in the same place at the same time. It can be the difference between playing “phone tag” and sitting down for “face time.”

Neptune’s willingness to see all the unmanifested potential is best offset by a large dose of Saturn, too. No matter how creative that person is or how glamorous their appearance, can they pay their bills on time? Not to mention all the unpleasantness of dealing with various Neptune-related addictions. We can still love someone very much who does behave responsibly and is not a “bad boy.”

I have long thought that Saturn’s ability to live in the here and now and to take on challenges one step at a time in a pragmatic manner are a good antidote to Pluto’s obsessions. If you think you will die without that special someone, then check the synastry for a Pluto conjunction or opposition. Saturn can help us learn detachment, because it always emphasizes the rational over the emotional. In fact, learning to delay gratification is considered part of the maturation process, which is totally Saturn.

Saturn will move into Libra at the end of October this year, so consider this a heads up about what is in store for the collective. Between Pluto in conventional Capricorn and Saturn in Libra, I’m willing to say fidelity, commitment, and learning what constitutes a good marriage will start to make a comeback.

posted by Neith . . .

Image: My parents had been married for close to 63 yrs at the time of my Libra mother’s death. Now that’s commitment!

Ask Real Astrologers: What’s With All This Drama?

This week’s question comes from Charles in Oakland, CA:

I’m an easygoing guy and like who I am, but lately I seem to be getting more than my share of drama. A co-worker who couldn’t cope with his divorce committed suicide. My father died and left his estate in question. I haven’t a clue what’s happening with the women in my life. All I want is for things to get back to normal again. A friend of mine is into astrology and says I have a “difficult chart,” whatever that means. She suggested I check out your site and ask what’s going on. This is all new to me, but I thought I’d give it a shot. Thanks!

Neith’s response:

Well, Charles, you are in the midst of a very transformative period in your life and probably your best option is to relax and go with the flow. Pluto is exactly conjoining your Sun right now, and you have Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron on the cusp of your eighth house, all squaring your Moon. It doesn’t get more Plutonian than that!

Pluto-Sun transits ask us to take a long look deep within at ourselves and acknowledge our strengths and our shortcomings without bias. My philosophy is, if you’re perfect, you’re dead, and we are much further ahead to see our lives as a process. Keep your goals short-term and easily attainable, too. Plus, always practice staying detached from a particular outcome.

Neptune & Co. squaring your Moon is tough all right, because there is a lot that needs to be taken on faith (Neptune). In a man’s chart, the Moon can represent the women in our lives, from our mothers to our lovers. Right now you might feel like you have no idea what to expect from any of them. My suggestion here is to forgive them, forgive yourself, and do your best to find the humor in all of this.

You can ignore all this advice, too, because free will is part of package. These transits will pass in a year or so, and with any luck, you can pick up where you left off, but the pieces are not likely to be the same shape.

Pat’s response:

Charles, I concur with everything Neith said. She’s our resident Pluto expert, and your experiences with death around you tell me that Pluto’s influence in your chart is indeed a major factor right now.

There are two things I’d like to add. First, your friend was right about your “difficult chart,” but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Last week’s question dealt with this topic, and you might want to read what I had to say about it. I would also strongly encourage you to get a full reading to help you understand better what this all means.

Second, “easygoing” is not the first thing that comes to mind when I look at your chart. Although you are a Capricorn, you’ve got planets in all four of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), suggesting a certain amount of inflexibility. It appears that you have compensated by throwing yourself into your work and career, indicated by your Capricorn Sun on the sixth-house cusp. Suddenly, with Pluto on your Sun, you’re being asked to examine how you may be shortchanging other areas of your life by devoting so much time and energy to your work.

The “drama,” as you put it, may not be coming from others, but is a reflection of unresolved issues within yourself. This may be a hard pill to swallow, but if you have the courage to explore this hidden part of yourself, you will be empowered in ways that are hard to imagine right now.

But, as Neith says, you can choose not to look and to let all these events pass without taking advantage of the great lessons they can teach you, both about yourself and the world in general. That you came by to ask us about this tells me that you are ready for the latter.

Best of luck to you!

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. We are getting some really great questions but unfortunately can’t use many of them, as they are missing information. If you’d like us to consider your question for this column, you must include your day, month (spelled out), year, and place of birth, and time if you know it. If you don’t, indicate “time unknown.” Thanks!

Real Astrologer’s Poll: Do You Want the Bad News?

With Venus and Mars traveling together for the next two months in Aries (Mars-ruled) and Taurus (Venus-ruled), we expect a lot of activity in the realm of romantic relationships.

Experience tells us that when clients ask about synastry with a new love interest, they don’t want to hear bad news, even though we try to deliver it gently. But we’d like to hear directly from you on this point. Do you want to know or not?

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Weekly Forecast April 27: Mercury Enters Gemini

On first glance, it doesn’t look like there’s much happening this week astrologically. But the energy is decidedly different than it has been, and most of you likely are feeling more energetic.

I forgot to mention in last week’s forecast that Mercury entered the pre-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday, April 22. Over the past few years, many of you have written to say that you begin to experience Mercury retrograde in the shadow period, well before he goes into reverse. (A planet is said to be retrograde when, due to its relative orbit with the earth, it appears to move backwards in the sky from one day to the next.)

Sigh. Just when we were getting over retrograde Venus.

Still, I think this will be a good thing, as we’ll have a chance to reflect on recent events and to process all the new information. Mercury enters his own sign of Gemini on Thursday, but he won’t get even 2 degrees into it before backing up into Venus-ruled Taurus, where he’ll spend most of his retrograde phase. A good bit of what we process may have to do with issues we confronted while Venus was retrograde and, more importantly, when she was stationed at 29 Pisces. Relationship issues continue to take center stage in our hearts and minds.

Speaking of which, it was my turn to do the Saturday Extra! this past weekend, and since I’d been contemplating the meaning of the Susan Boyle phenomenon, I wrote a long post with my observations. I mentioned that Venus and Mars will remain in proximity until the end of June. At the same time, Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron will form a conjunction at 26 degrees Aquarius, just as all three are about to turn retrograde.

Mercury’s retrograde phase will be an important part of the deep healing process that will continue to work its magic on us for the next two months. Susan’s burst into the collective conscious was just the beginning.

Even though the activity level has shot up and you’re probably going to be too busy to stare out the window with a cup of coffee, do take time for quiet contemplation this week. The Moon in Cancer on Tuesday forms a cardinal T-square with Pluto in Capricorn and Venus and Mars in Aries. Events Tuesday and Wednesday may be the kick in the pants you’ve needed to tend to projects you’ve been putting off. There’s no point in sulking; just do it.

Mars squared Pluto last week, and Venus has her go on Saturday. Venus-Pluto squares can be very sexy, and Venus in Aries certainly can be fiery. But I think Pluto in Saturn-ruled Cap is going to make her cool her heels, and this could lead to the darker side of Venus-Pluto squares, where power plays and manipulation take over. Remember that sex is sacred and not to be used as a weapon.

Love and blessings,
Pat

Image: Morning, by Maxfield Parrish, 1922.

Saturday Extra! Susan Boyle: Prepare To Be Transformed

Susan Boyle's magic moment on Britain's Got Talent. Official photo from ITV.

How did Susan Boyle skyrocket to global superstardom overnight?

At last count, the various Internet versions of her heart-stopping three-minute performance on the reality TV show Britain’s Got Talent had been viewed well over 100 million times. So the first explanation was that new media made her famous. Then why didn’t other talented contestants, notably the precision dance troupe Flawless and 12-year-old singing sensation Shaheen Jafargholi, achieve similar results? Was she that much more accomplished than they?

Most of the commentary on Susan’s performance and the response to it emphasizes the disparity between her appearance and her angelic voice. There are theories that we all love the ugly duckling and root for the underdog. Her plain looks, age, and background all make her an unlikely celebrity, and that alone has mass appeal. Some economists explain the phenomenon as a reaction to tough financial times.

Of course, astrologers weighed in, too, starting with her birth chart and examining transits and progressions. I was amused by the confusion over Susan’s birth data. Tseka and I saw a lot in the April 1 chart, and when the Sunday Times reported that her birthday was June 15, we were left scratching our heads. It now appears that the April 1 chart was correct and that the newspaper got it wrong.

Before I comment on her chart, I’d like you to see the complete lyrics of her song. She didn’t sing the whole thing, presumably due to time restraints. The words are key to understanding what this is really about:

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he’ll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

In all the analysis I’ve read, there hasn’t been much mention of the song she chose, other than that it was about a dream that died, how this strikes a chord in many people, and so forth. Sure, it fits her life: a difficult birth, learning disabilities, bullied by other kids, later giving up her career to care for sick parents and winding up as an unemployed church worker, living alone with her cat. So the theory goes, we’re touched that her dream didn’t die, and that means there’s still hope for us, too.

I won’t discount that. But it’s still not the whole story. Need another hint? Let’s look at her choice of songs for her interview with Larry King, “My Heart Will Go On,” from the film Titanic, and the song she recorded 10 years ago for a charity fundraiser, “Cry Me a River.”

These songs are about lost love and the wound that results. I’ve been writing about this theme for years, and I’ve felt a growing awareness that we are in a period of deep healing. The separation between the divine masculine and the divine feminine is one of the deepest rifts in the human heart, and it’s so much a part of us that most of us don’t even realize it. Susan is singing about a wound that is many millennia old, that dates back to the time “when men were kind.” And yes, something went terribly wrong.

If astrologers need to stretch to find indicators in her chart of her great success, it’s because this isn’t just about her. It’s about all of us, and it’s about a karmic moment in time. Susan was just the vehicle. That is what angels do. They bring us messages, and these messages can change the world.

There’s a lot I could say about her natal chart, but I’m going to confine my remarks to her lunar nodes, which are one of the leading markers of destiny. With Pluto on the North Node in Virgo, her role is to serve as a transformer. Chiron on the South Node in Pisces speaks of the ancient wound that pervades the collective conscious. She carried it into this incarnation and has lived it for all these years. Her voice came not from her but through her and went straight to the depths of our being. That is why we cried.

Looking at transits, the Jupiter-Neptune Chiron conjunction, boosted by Uranus in mutual reception with Neptune, gives us a clue about the healing power in this moment. The weekend that Susan burst into the collective conscious, Mars was about to conjoin Uranus.

But the biggest factor I see here is Venus retrograde in the last degree of Pisces, the “weeping degree.” Although it’s hard to know the circumstances of the original separation, mythology and religion inform us that the divine masculine abandoned the divine feminine. Now the divine feminine is returning to the world, and with her she brings love. We might think of it as the Second Coming, the opening of the heart.

Susan opened millions of hearts, and the world is going to be transformed as a result. Many of us have felt it coming, but did we ever imagine it would happen this way?

Over the next couple of months, as Susan advances in the competition, Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron move toward exact conjunction and then go retrograde together. At the same time, Venus and Mars will move together toward yet one more conjunction, the third in less than a year. It’s a fair bet that a lot more healing is going to take place.

Meanwhile, the discussion has turned to her makeover. I can understand wanting to preserve that karmic moment, but it can’t stop there, and we can’t and shouldn’t control it. Let her blossom. Even if our heartstrings are being played by marketing experts, she is a real woman and a real healer. Let yourself be transformed.

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Worst Chart Ever?

This week’s question comes from Jacy in North Carolina:

I pretty much know I have one of the worst natal charts ever: Ascendant, Sun, Mercury and Venus in Libra all square my Saturn in Capricorn, and Midheaven in early Leo in the twelfth and first houses. Pluto in Scorpio in the first. Moon in Sagittarius opposite my Mars in Gemini in the eighth. Saturn is also the ruler of my third house. Oh, the irony. I try to come off friendly, but I feel it’s all in vain. People just feel that I’m cold and indifferent. I personally feel the twelfth house and Saturn squares the strongest. How do I deal with such a strong Saturn and twelfth house influences?

Neith’s response:

Jacy, first I want to say welcome to Libra’s world of scrambling from one end of the see-saw to the other. And second, it’s not that uncommon for a person with a combust Mercury (closely conjunct the Sun) to have a difficult time understanding how they come across to others.

I would place all your Libra planets in your first house rather than any in the twelfth. If a planet is within five degrees of the cusp of the next house, its influence is felt in that house especially when it is the Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven, and Nadir. In your chart, all your Libra planets and Ascendant are within three degrees of each other, creating a stellium and can be treated as if they were one.

Yes, Saturn squares in the natal chart can be a pain, but if you follow Saturn’s rules and behave responsibly, you will be rewarded – always. The most frustrating part of working with Saturn is there are no shortcuts. Something to consider is that even though Libra and Capricorn are square, they do understand each other. Capricorn appreciates Libra’s fairness and analytical approach, while Libra admires Capricorn’s sensible, matter-of-fact attitude.

This format doesn’t allow for a more in-depth look at your chart and I suggest you find an astrologer you like and work with them. There is lots of information available in books and online, but pulling it all together and making sense of it is the challenge!

Keep studying and asking questions of yourself and others, Jacy!

Pat’s response:

Jacy, please pardon my saying so, but this is far from the worst natal chart ever!

I’ve seen many more-challenging ones, starting with my own, which stumped even Rob Hand, arguably the greatest living astrologer on the planet. Not only do I have a fixed T-square in a sensitive spot, but I’ve got a Moon-Saturn square that has manifested in some most unpleasant ways. And just when I thought mine was the “worst ever,” I met a man with not one but two fixed T-squares, one of which virtually ensures that it will be nearly impossible for him to find a fulfilling, intimate relationship with a woman unless he is willing to do a ton of work … and we all know what people with a lot of fixed energy in their charts think about that!

Looking at it another way, “easy” charts aren’t necessarily desirable, either. Typically, people without some challenges in their charts (squares, oppositions, or difficult conjunctions) end up totally overwhelmed in a crisis and can’t cope. People with difficult charts learn to cope early and often, and if we are willing to do the work it takes to overcome these handicaps, we end up much stronger and wiser.

The square between your Libra planets and Saturn is what will do this for you, and I concur totally with Neith’s evaluation. It’s wonderful that you are starting this introspection so early in your life.

You are going to be just fine!