Weekly Forecast March 2: Venus Retrograde

Two major themes run concurrently through this week, which I’m sorry to say may be trying for many of you but productive as well, especially if you work with these energies instead of fighting them.

Venus slows to a station this week as she prepares to turn retrograde on Friday. Venus isn’t at her best in Aries to start with, and her power to attract will be impaired during her retrograde period, which lasts until April 17. Along her retrograde path, she’ll go back into Pisces for a bit, where she’ll meet up with Mars next month in what I hope will be a happy ending for all of us.

In the meantime, what (and who) you want may require some rethinking. How many times have you caught yourself striving blindly toward some goal or desire, not stopping to think about whether it’s good for you or even what you really want? As with so many other dilemmas, knowing yourself is key. Venus in Aries is perfect for focusing on yourself, so work it to the hilt for the next five weeks and watch for solutions to your thorny dilemmas to start presenting themselves.

Throughout the week, Mercury, Mars, Chiron, and Neptune fuse into a powerful current of healing energy. Mercury in Aquarius generates inspiration and innovative ideas. With Chiron in the mix, you may need a painful experience to call your attention to the source of a problem. As much as we might wish it weren’t so, we humans generally don’t stretch and grow when life is easy. It takes a challenge to get us to rise up to our potential.

Neptune’s role here is to bring out our highest ideals and to get us to think beyond ourselves. That doesn’t mean putting everyone before yourself, but to start practicing enlightened self-interest. A small example of this might be changing your food-buying habits to include more sustainably grown products. Action-oriented Mars provides the physical motivation.

Now, it’s true that Mars and Neptune generally don’t get along very well. That’s because Mars is all about ego — “me first” — whereas Neptune is about merging into the One, which requires losing the ego. This tug-of-war normally might be unproductive and even disruptive, but since Aquarius is the sign of the collective and humanitarian causes, I think Mars will come through as a defender of higher ideals.

Indeed I see a real possibility that this four-way conjunction will bring more people into the sphere of enlightened self-interest, and that in turn could have far-reaching implications for the planet. One way I see this energy manifesting is in the recent announcement that several labor unions (ruled by Aquarius) are in negotiations to heal a four-year rift and reunify into a potentially more powerful voice for workers. Of course, the corruption in trade unions is legendary, and this is a perfect expression of the dual nature of Neptune. The new organization can use its increased power either to improve the lives of working people or to consolidate more money and influence in the hands of the union bosses. Enlightened executives will know that their wealth and happiness depends on unerringly dedicating themselves to the good of the collective.

After he’s finished playing negotiator, Mercury leaves Aquarius on Sunday and enters dreamy Pisces. Depending on where you have Pisces in your chart, you might notice a sudden fogginess in your thinking. Shortly after that transit, the Sun in Pisces opposes Saturn in Virgo, pitting the need for creative self-expression against forces concerned only with whether the job gets done, in the fastest and cheapest way possible.

The Sun’s opposition to Saturn also is the opening salvo in a highly charged Full Moon on Tuesday, March 10 (March 11 in the Eastern Hemisphere). Neith will have more on Saturday, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Sunday is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time in the United States. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward!

Love and light to all …
Pat

Image: A Study in March, by Maxfield Parrish. Spring is just around the corner!

Saturday Extra!Documentary Film Explores Growing 2012 Debate

The latest offering in the growing 2012 craze, 2012: Science or Superstition, is intelligent enough to make it worth recommending.

The documentary film, released on DVD by the Disinformation Company (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism, Bush Family Fortunes), takes on the question of whether there is any significance to the year 2012, specifically the date December 21, which according to some scholars is the end date of the Mayan Calendar.

Does it settle the question its subtitle proposes to answer? Not really. Is it the best film on the subject to date? I don’t know, because I haven’t seen all of the others. Is it worth laying out $10 for on Amazon.com? Absolutely. Be the first in your condo complex to see it. Better still, invite your friends over and make it a party. You’ll have an evening filled with lively discussion about a topic that does matter, in the grand scheme of things.

The filmmakers no doubt are hoping to capitalize on the 2012 hype, which will increase by galactic proportions with the release this summer of a big-budget Hollywood disaster film using 2012 as a theme. But hey, anything that injects some rational debate into the subject and entices mainstream audiences to think more deeply should win a public-service award.

The panel of experts featured in 2012 is impressive, but it could have done with fewer New Age writers. The film relies heavily on well-known author Graham Hancock, who makes a case for the end of civilization as we know it, and John Major Jenkins, a recognized pioneer in Mayan Calendar research. Jenkins comes across as bombastic and at times ridiculous. Maybe it was the editing, but I had a similar reaction several months ago when I happened upon an Internet debate between Jenkins and Carl Johan Calleman, another 2012 researcher. Actually, “debate” is giving it too much credit. It was more like two males egos in a cosmic pissing contest — hardly the kind of enlightened behavior one would expect from individuals claiming to have special knowledge about the evolution of human consciousness.

Among other things, Jenkins and Calleman disagree about the end date of the Mayan Calendar, with Jenkins promoting the Dec. 21, 2012 date and Calleman arguing for October 28, 2011. You’d hardly know, watching this film, that the exact date wasn’t carved in stone.

The film’s token scientist, Dr. Anthony Aveni of Colgate University, makes the predictable observation (of which he is very certain) that the world is not going to end in 2012. But at least he has a sense of humor.

Fortunately, the filmmakers also found Alonso Mendez, an archeo-astronomer and researcher at Palenque. Speaking with quiet conviction, Mendez makes perhaps the wisest observation of all: “The concept that this end date or completion date of the Mayan Calendar has some relevance to the world in a global sense I think is a fallacious thought, because this system is a particular system that was developed for and by Maya, for their particular ideology, for their particular place in the world. It would be a mistake to rally around a philosophy that has its place in its history and in its world and appropriate it as something that belongs to a global sense.”

From an astrology standpoint, the film uses fabulous special effects to explain the precession of the equinoxes, and for that reason alone should be in the library of every astrologer or serious astrology student. I’ve mentioned this phenomenon often in my writing about the coming Age of Aquarius, but explaining the reasons gets complicated and tiresome. With these brilliant visuals, you get it right away.

Pat

2012: Science or Superstition
Documentary presented by The Disinformation Company
Available on DVD
Directed by Nimrod Erez
Written and produced by Gary Baddeley
78 minutes, no rating
Featuring interviews with Graham Hancock, John Major Jenkins, Anthony Aveni, John Anthony West, Walter Cruttenden, and several other writers and leading experts.
Official site

Ask Real Astrologers: Feeling the Weight of Pluto

This week’s question comes from Manda in Naples, Italy:

I’ve been told that I’m going through some very difficult transits which will continue into 2011, and I’m certainly feeling the weight of them. Apparently, one of the most difficult transits I’m experiencing is Pluto in my twelfth house squaring my natal eighth-house Sun. As I understand it, these are the two most intense houses in the zodiac. Although I’ve been researching the different aspects independently, I’m not sure how all of the energies are working together. I would be so grateful if you could give me some insight into how my current transits are impacting each other. What I can say is that all areas in my life seem to be in dissolution, and I’ve recently started seeing a counselor because I’ve been unable to cope with all of this on my own.

Pat’s response:
Manda, this could be a case of a little bit of knowledge being dangerous. Sure, a Pluto-Sun square is a difficult transit — when taken by itself. But there is never just one thing going on at a time in a chart, and your intuition is right on to suspect as much.

First of all, I see that the current series of eclipses in Leo and Aquarius have been hitting your first and seventh houses. I am going through this right now, too, and I don’t need to tell you that it has been disorienting. A lot of changes have been taking place, and they are hard to keep up with. Moreover, your chart ruler, Saturn, is in the seventh house and has been activated by the eclipses, adding to feelings of inadequacy and inability to cope.

This series of eclipses will continue until August 2009, but in the meantime a new series will begin that will also take place in your first and seventh houses, along with your twelfth and sixth. So you can expect more changes to come. I always tell my clients that eclipses are accelerators. The changes are often upsetting simply because they are so fast that we feel destabilized. Once the dust has settled, you’ll likely find that you’re in a new and much better place. It’s just bumpy getting there.

That said, you’ve got a lot of cosmic help right now, too, as Jupiter is also in your first house. I know Neith will have something different to say, as she and I don’t always agree about how “lucky” Jupiter is, but I do believe the Big Guy acts is a shield, and note that he’s also going to be in a trine to all of your Libra planets, which will go a long way toward easing some of the stress.

As for that Pluto-Sun square, I believe it, too, is ultimately going to be beneficial, in that you will get to know yourself on a much deeper level. Most of us have demons we don’t want to face, but going boldly into those places is always well-rewarded. This is a great time, incidentally, to be working with a therapist. I strongly encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. From looking at your chart, your work will be most productive if you focus on how you interact with others in your closest relationships.

Wishing you many blessings. Do stay in touch.

Neith’s response:
Manda, you have a lot of planets in fair minded, peace loving Libra as I do, so it comes as no surprise to me you are finding this Pluto transit challenging. Pluto always plays by his own rules and pretty much demands we face the darker aspects of our beings, something Libra is not always comfortable with.

Your Moon is flanked by Venus and Mars in Libra emphasizing your need to be surrounded by beauty and civility. However, all the transits Pat mentioned in her response have to making it difficult for you to find the tranquility you need to keep your emotional balance. When those of us with Libra Moon’s are being constantly thrown off balance, we can feel very cranky.

Something else that may be operating here is your natal Sun-Pluto conjunction. Often the initial response for a plutonian type is to attempt to control rather than to detach. Take from one who has been down this road . . . it doesn’t work and is ultimately exhausting. Every day it seems I must remind myself to stay detached from any and all outcomes.

I agree with Pat this is a very good time to be sitting down with a professional therapist. You can benefit greatly from having a neutral party to bounce your thoughts and feelings off. With a preponderance of air in your chart, you need to consciously choose to explore your feeling nature.

When you look back at this time, I believe you will find you benefited very much from these transits. Good luck and hang in there!

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Weekly Poll: What Do You Think Of Comet Lulin?

Comet Lulin makes its closest approach to Earth today, leaving many of us to wonder whether there is any astrological significance to this rare phenomenon and comets in general. What do you think?

As usual, feel free to leave us a detailed comment.

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P.S. For more about Comet Lulin, see Pat’s Weekly Forecast for February 23.

Weekly Forecast February 23: The Curious Case of Comet Lulin

As the stars came out for the Oscars last night, another “star” was making a rare debut.

Reports are trickling in of naked-eye sightings of Comet Lulin, which until last week was visible only with binoculars or a telescope. Now that we can see it, more people are paying attention, and I’ve been asked several times whether Lulin has any astrological significance.

The answer is, “I don’t know.” Throughout history, astrologers have interpreted comets as omens — and not usually good ones. That’s about all we know, but predicting disaster has fallen out of favor these days. We’re in the New Age, where being spiritual means thinking positive and collectively envisioning the new paradigm.

I say that tongue-in-cheek, of course. Those of you who regularly read my columns know that I have a unique take on being “spiritual,” which I define as being able to see the energy patterns underlying material manifestation. And by “seeing,” I don’t mean with the eye but with a different kind of vision. This concept may be one of the messages that this strange visitor is relaying to us.

What else is it saying? We might find some clues in the uncanny coincidences surrounding Lulin’s appearance this week as it makes its closest approach to Earth.

For starters, Lulin is coming out of hiding at the New Moon, and not in just any sign, but in Pisces, the sign most associated with seeing beyond material existence into other realms. (For more on this subtle but extremely powerful New Moon, read Neith’s report on RealAstrologers.com.) As if that’s not enough, on Tuesday Lulin conjoins Saturn, lord of time and the material universe, which currently is locked in opposition with Uranus, planet of electrical energy, technological innovation, and radical change.

Although Lulin was just discovered in July 2007, it has been inside our inner solar system since the mid-1990s. Throughout that time, it remained in the sign of Pisces, and from an astrological perspective, we might say that Lulin came from Pisces. On September 11, 2001, it was very close to the degree of Pisces that Uranus is now occupying in its opposition to Saturn. Lulin moved into Aquarius in August 2007 and remained there for about a year before gathering speed in its trajectory around the Sun.

The most curious thing about Lulin is that it is moving backwards, unlike any comet observed in human history. It also is displaying two tails. Past and future, meeting in the present?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, nominated for 13 Oscars, is about a man who lives his life in reverse. A defining moment in the story is the “conjunction” of the hero and his love interest as their ages converge, he moving backwards and she moving forward. The trailer includes the tagline, “Life can only be understood backward; it must be lived forward.” Coincidence?

It is not too far-fetched to believe that Comet Lulin will force conventional science to reexamine its limited view of material reality. Indeed, there is a new theory that comets aren’t balls of rock and ice, but bodies of pure energy with powerful electromagnetic fields. Lulin’s appearance also may herald a change in how we view time. We’re told that time isn’t linear, and while we understand that concept intellectually, most of us haven’t assimilated the greater truth of time.

And so, dear ones, that is what I see as the biggest news in the sky this week, although its meaning is beyond the scope of astrology and takes us into new territory that may take years to fully explore and comprehend.

Looking at this week’s planetary movements, Mercury is out of his post-retrograde shadow period and also is entering unfamiliar territory, a land of innovative ideas and new possibilities. On Monday, the Messenger conjoins Jupiter, perhaps aiding in the dissemination of Lulin’s gift of knowledge. He sextiles Venus on Wednesday, facilitating the communication of love and friendship. Get it while you can, because the conjunction of Mercury and Mars on Sunday threatens to unleash quite different sentiments. Make a commitment beforehand to speak from the heart. If the truth hurts, so be it, but don’t say anything deliberately hurtful.

The only other aspects worth noting this week are Tuesday’s New Moon, followed by the Moon’s opposition to Saturn and conjunction with Uranus on Wednesday. Do pay attention to what comes up on this day, as it will provide you with hints of what to expect at the Full Moon on March 10. Neith and I will have more about that soon.

Wishing you all much love and courage …
Pat

Image: Comet Lulin on Feb. 21, 2009. Photo by Conrad Pope of Kelly, NC.

Saturday Archives: Reversed Nodes in Family Synastry

me and my grandad We have a family get together today, so I decided to pull this article based on family birth data going back a generation or two.

Whenever I wish to do some astrological research I have my family birth data to draw upon going back a couple of generations. In this instance, I was curious to see what the patterns were within the family for reversed Moon’s nodes for couples and their children.

My personal experience of relating to another person who has the opposite nodes suggests proximity is an important factor. I have several cyber-friends with north node in Sagittarius very close to my south node in Sagittarius and there are no problems at all. It seems to take the day-to-day interchanges to up the irritation factor – like working with someone or living with them.

What I found after looking up all my extended family’s birth dates was very interesting. Out of all the couples in both my parent’s generation and mine, only one had reversed nodes! In fact, only a few parents and children had reversed nodes, and most of the time it was the mother, not the father, involved. These were children that left home at the first opportunity, usually going off to school halfway across the country.

It is my aunt and uncle who live closest to us who have the reversed nodes. They will have been married for fifty-five years this year and it has been a stressful relationship most of that time. My uncle is ten years older than my aunt, who is my mother’s youngest sister; and they have five children, the oldest of whom is nine years younger than I. I don’t have birth times for either person so I will just review the astrology using the shorthand method.

My aunt is an Aquarius Sun, Capricorn Moon and my uncle has a Taurus Sun and very likely an Aquarius Moon. If this is the case, the luminaries form a trine and conjunction by sign – very compatible! Their Moons would be semi-sextile (Capricorn to Aquarius) and that does seem to fit. My aunt is extremely well organized and always had neatly written lists of chores for her kids posted about. =grin=

Their Mercury’s are trine too. Her Mercury is in Capricorn and his in Taurus and they are both practical sorts and can take care of business when they need to.

His Mars is in Libra trine her Venus in Aquarius and her Mars in Capricorn is trine his Venus in Taurus. However, with their Mars square by sign, they have a difficult time agreeing on how to work together. And their Venuses are square giving them very different ideas of enjoyment. Once their children were grown they quit attempting to vacation together at all, and my uncle would go hunting with my dad, his friend since childhood, and my aunt would fly off to Europe by herself.

Saturn plays a role here too with Saturn-Venus intra-aspects, always a good indicator of durability. Plus his Mercury-Venus conjunction in Taurus are exactly conjunct her Chiron-North Node in Taurus. He has his Sun conjunct his South Node in Taurus and is quite comfortable living in home he was born in and grew up in . . .

I believe it is the combination of very compatible elements, the Saturn-Venus intra-aspect and the tidy synastry stellium in Taurus, noted for staying with the known quantity, which has contributed to them staying together. They are both fixed sign types too and the nodal axis here is Taurus-Scorpio, noted for tenacity. But I know first hand how bitter things are and how unhappy they have been for much of their married life.

Based on my own experiences and this example, I have to say if I saw reversed nodes in a couple’s synastry, I would caution them to really consider carefully what type of relationship they wish to have.

posted by Neith . . .

Image: This is an old family photo taken on a camping trip when I was ten years old. What a different world it was.

Ask Real Astrologers: A Direct Hit from Neptune-Jupiter

This week’s question comes from Jan in Brisbane, Australia:

The triple conjunction of Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune is happening on my Ascendant at 25 degrees Aquarius. What do I need to do?

Pat’s response:

This is a great question, Jan, as it allows us to talk a little bit about this year’s Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. The Saturn-Uranus opposition has been getting all the press, but this very important conjunction — which, as you note, also includes Chiron — has some serious implications, and with your Ascendant at the hub of the activity, you are going to witness the effects firsthand.

Like most outer transits, this one will have three parts. The first pass occurs on May 27 at 26 degrees Aquarius. The second falls on July 10 at 25 degrees, and the third and final pass is on December 21, the Winter Solstice, at 24 degrees. The first conjunction occurs just as Neptune and Chiron are turning retrograde, making this conjunction all the more powerful and far-reaching. The second two passes occur with the Moon also in conjunction, so their energies will be further amplified as well.

How this conjunction will affect individuals depends on where it falls in their charts and whether it forms aspects with key natal planets. In your case, I see no cause for concern and every reason to be hopeful. I’ve written a lot about the conjunction of Neptune and Chiron being a powerful healing agent, both for individuals and the collective. Jupiter’s energy promotes expansion and growth, so we can expect that deep healing will lead to personal growth. In your case, there even may be opportunities to help others heal and grow.

I see two ways that you can take advantage of the positive side of this conjunction. First, if you have any unresolved issues from childhood or from your family’s past (we do carry these in our energy field), you can work on them during this time with a minimum of disruption. Those of you who have undertaken deep healing work know that it can interfere with your normal day-to-day activities. I see less chance of this happening with Jupiter in the mix.

Second, this is an ideal time to help others. If you are in a healing profession, you could have an extraordinary influence on your patients or clients. If you aren’t in a healing profession, find some way to do community service work. This could be anything from donating food or time to organizations that help the poor, to tutoring students who are behind in their studies. Or, find some other way to use your skills and talents to help others along.

This also is a great time to study astrology and other metaphysical subjects. Just take care that you don’t get involved with any groups that promise results such as money and love without having to do anything to earn it. Sitting on the couch visualizing money won’t cause any great harm to anyone in the long run, but it would be an unfortunate waste of the good you can do with this powerful energy that will be channeled directly into you.

Stay in touch and keep us posted!

Neith’s response:

Hi Jan, what I see as the greatest challenge with this transit is keeping some perspective because Jupiter is likely to inflate Neptune’s wonderful ideas for the betterment of all, and your Taurus Sun likes consistency with solid, well thought out plans.

Neptune transits to the Ascendant can be tricky to navigate due to a lack of clarity about how others see us, and how we see others. Projections and expectations can crop up unexpectedly and leave all parties shaking their heads and wondering what the heck just happened. Frankly I don’t believe Jupiter will be of much help with these issues and may even add to them. I’m of a mind Jupiter acts more as an amplifier than as a beneficent.

Chiron’s role here may have to do with bringing to the forefront the uncomfortable differences between who you are at home (your Taurus Sun in the fourth house) and the way others see you out in the world (Aquarius rising). Once those issues are highlighted, then healing is possible. You have already experienced your Chiron return, and during July 2009 when Chiron is conjunct your Ascendant, Venus will be conjunct your Chiron by transit – sounds favorable to me!

As someone with a preponderance of earth and water, Jan, staying calm and focused in the moment may be the ticket. The rulers of your Ascendant and your fourth house, Uranus and the Moon, are trine in earth signs giving you a natural sense of how to handle the unexpected.

Hey, please let us know how this transit goes for you! We always love feedback on the real world events in people’s lives because that is how we all learn more about the inner workings of astrology.

Good luck!

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New Moon in Pisces, February 24-25, 2009

Moon Rising Mist Descending by Steve Outram What struck me when I looked at the chart for the New Moon in Pisces on February 24 was Saturn in Virgo sitting all alone on one side with everything else on the other side. This says we are best served by remembering to behave in a caring and responsible manner, because all else hinges on doing so.

We still have Aquarius strongly represented in this chart, continuing the themes from the two prior lunations but tempered by the gentler influence of the Fishes. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and the one most given to being inclusive rather exclusive. In fact, some think Pisces can be a little too inclined to forgive and forget, but not this astrologer.

I treasure the compassionate spirit of this powerful but subtle sign. It is easy to underestimate the immense strength of Pisces, because these are often unassuming, occasionally spacey types who would rather not confront life and people directly. But if we consider the inexorable power and weight of the ocean, or even the force created by a small stream flooding its banks due to an excess of rain or snowmelt, we can begin to get a glimmer of what Pisces is capable of behind those gentle eyes. The concept of Oneness running like a thread of pure light through most of the major belief systems is the heart of the twelfth sign.

The Sun and Moon at 6° 34′ Pisces are not closely aspected by any major planets, but they are in a tight opposition to Ceres in Virgo. Ceres recently was elevated to dwarf planet status, and many astrologers feel she is a good candidate to rule Virgo, including Real Astrologer Pat Paquette. There is little doubt Ceres is very comfortable in earthy, practical Virgo, and the opposition with the New Moon blends the tangible with the intangible, taking us back to the idea that we are all part of everything and all life is cyclical.

Even though Jupiter has moved past the North Node in Aquarius, it is still close enough to amplify the Aquarian message of working together as a collective to benefit humanity. Mercury exactly conjoins Jupiter the day before the New Moon and is happy to aid in articulating this message. We are drawn to exploring innovative ideas and technology and are eager to try them out. It is possible we will see some breakthroughs in technological applications for alternative methods of communication.

Mars in Aquarius has passed Jupiter (they were conjunct on February 17) and is not yet within range of Chiron but it is still in a sextile with Venus in Aries. While this sextile between Aquarius and Aries is not a wildly romantic pairing, it is very good for encouraging friendship between men and women. Venus in Aries is forthright and likes a challenge, while Mars in Aquarius is about as egalitarian as Mars gets.

The ongoing conjunction of Neptune with Chiron in Aquarius recedes into the background for now unless you have planets or angles at 22° to 24° in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius). Then this pair is continuing to clue you in about your sensitive places, usually in a roundabout way, because neither of these two bodies is noted for hitting you over the head to get your attention. They leave that method to Mars and Uranus!

Speaking of Uranus, I just want to give you a heads up about the upcoming Full Moon in Virgo on March 10, because the Full Moon axis is conjoining the Saturn-Uranus opposition. Perhaps we will find that matters set into motion with the first Saturn-Uranus opposition last November will reach a point of resolution on this lunation. It will be worth noting, that’s for sure.

The Sabian symbol for 7 Pisces is, “Illumined by a shaft of light, a large cross lies on rocks surrounded by sea mist,” with the keyword SELF-ASSERTION. Have we taken too much on faith or not enough? That may be the question. The ongoing semi-sextile between Chiron in Aquarius and Uranus in Pisces may be enough of an irritant that we cannot be comfortable falling back into old ways of believing but must look in new places or try on new belief systems (Neptune in Aquarius) to find our way back to the light. Whatever the case, it would appear that it is up to us to initiate action and take the first step on the path leading to the rest of our lives.

Be strong like water and yield from a position of strength, and practice kindness every day. Think about it!

[Note: The New Moon in Pisces falls on February 25 in some places in the Eastern Hemisphere. Likewise, parts of the Eastern Hemisphere will experience the Full Moon in Virgo on March 11.]

posted by Neith . . .

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, February 16, for her great take on the mythology in the sky right now.

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

This wonderful painting is “Moon Rising Mist Descending” by Steve Outram. To see more of his works, visit here: Fairfax Gallery – Steve Outram

Weekly Forecast February 16: Mars conjunct Jupiter, Sun enters Pisces

Jupiter and Juno, by Carracci Does anyone else feel like the past week contained several weeks compressed into one? Eclipses will do that. I’m still reeling from this latest pair.

Although the dust still hasn’t settled, it does feel like we’re getting a better idea of where events are headed. We still don’t know why or to what ultimate ends, and this could remain a mystery for some time to come. That said, we should get some clues this week, with Mercury back in Aquarius and out of the post-retrograde shadow as of Saturday. But I’m getting ahead of myself — typical Aquarius!

An energetic three-way aspect between Venus, Mars, and Jupiter begins on Monday, with a sextile from Venus in Aries to Jupiter in Aquarius. Mars and Jupiter conjoin on Tuesday, and then Venus forms an exact sextile to Mars on Wednesday. Rather than taking these aspects individually, I’m looking at them as a whole, and I’m going to stick my neck out here and throw the asteroid Juno into the picture, too.

Juno is one of the bodies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Many astrologers use the asteroids in individual chart readings, especially for women. The only one I routinely use is Ceres, who is no longer classified as an asteroid but is in the new category of dwarf planet, along with Pluto. I’m going to make an exception this week, though, because Juno is just a degree from Jupiter (the exact conjunction was last Wednesday, with the lunar North Node at the exact degree and minute as well), and she’ll be crossed by Mars this Friday.

It’s hard enough to make predictions anymore based on one aspect alone, but when you’ve got three or four planets involved, it gets even trickier. In order to make some guesses about how these energies might interact, I decided to go back to the mythology and examine the relationships between these two couples. You have to give the ancients credit for making up stories about gods and goddesses. In our ignorance, we say they were superstitious, but anthropomorphizing hidden energies and then creating stories to describe their interactions was a quite ingenious way of helping us understand how they play out in our lives.

In classical mythology, Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and he had an adulterous affair with Venus. It’s interesting to note that in the Greek version, Ares was hated by his parents because of his blood-thirsty temperament, but his reputation in Roman mythology was much better, probably because the Romans expanded their vast empire through bloody conquest.

So we might imagine Jupiter and Mars as swaggering father and son, off to conquer a neighboring territory. Or maybe they’ve decided to have a little boys’ night out of drinking and philandering. They’re full of themselves and expect that they are invincible, women will swoon at the very sight of them, and they will get anything and anyone they want.

That, in a nutshell, describes the exuberance and exaggerated self-confidence of a Mars-Jupiter conjunction. If you are faced with a seemingly impossible task, this energy is just the extra boost you need. Depending on where this aspect is hitting your chart, it may give your self-confidence a much-needed lift, and that in turn could translate into achieving a goal. The potential downfall in this mix is hubris and a sense of entitlement.

That is where the ladies come in. I expect this testosterone-laden pair to be tempered by the close presence of Venus and Juno. After their little escapade, Mars is going to have to face his mother, and heaven forbid he should be implicated in any of dad’s shenanigans. If, on the other hand, their hunt or conquest was with their women in mind, mom will be mightily pleased. The moral of the story, then, is to contemplate your purpose as you sail on these strong and swift currents. There is no higher calling than love, be it love for a romantic partner, friend, or family member, or for generic love of one’s fellow humans (the collective, a keyword for Aquarius). Remember, too, that there is a difference between selfishness and enlightened self-interest.

After that big bang of Aquarius energy, the Sun enters Pisces on Wednesday, leading up to a new lunar cycle and interaction with Uranus and Saturn. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel more emotional or intuitive, maybe both. In the watery realm of Pisces, a lot of things don’t make sense on an intellectual level, and it’s better not to even try. That won’t prevent me from making up stories about our new cast of characters, though!

Speaking of which, newcomer Comet Lulin is still out there and about to make an appearance, probably next week. I’m working on that article, honest, and will post as soon as I can.

Much love to all…
Pat

P.S. You might have noticed that my personal blog is down. It may be off-line for several weeks, but I’ll posting here regularly.

Image: Jupiter and Juno, by Annibale Carracci, part of a massive fresco in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, completed in 1608. Not surprisingly, images of his philandering were much easier to find than this rare depiction of him with his wife.

Saturday Extra: Tragic Love Stories

Hermia and Lysander, by Julius Simmons, 1870. Hermia and Lysander are lovers in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, from which we get the famous line, "The course of true love never did run smooth."

Libra Neith is usually the one who writes about synastry, so you might have expected that she would do our Valentine’s Day post. Well, Libra also is religious about taking turns, and this week it’s my turn!

I started thinking about the greatest love stories of all time and then ran across a Live Science feature in the news headlines that began like this:

Nothing celebrates Valentine’s Day quite like a good love story. And by good, we mean tragic, of course.

How true! When you think of the greatest love stories of all time, do you remember the ones with the happy endings? Of course not. We remember those where the heroine poisons herself, the hero dies after one night of passion, or someone betrays the lovers, dooming them to remain separated forever.

The Live Science story cites five tragic tales from the history books, but fiction is just as tragic, if not more so. When we think of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet come immediately to mind. In Celtic mythology, we have Tristan and Isolde, and we might think of Lancelot and Guinevere as well. In contemporary film, there’s Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, Nicole Kidman and Jude Law in Cold Mountain, and Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman in Dracula. Indeed, in Francis Ford Coppola’s rendition of that age-old tale, the hero is cursed with becoming a monster through betrayal that results in the death of his true love.

As an astrologer, I’m always looking for the astrological angle in these stories. Are there markers to indicate a tragic love? Unfortunately, our fictitious lovers don’t have birth charts, nor do we have precise data for couples from ancient history. However, I’ve seen enough charts to make some observations.

Venus rules love, while the Moon rules emotional attachments. For sexual desire and passion, we look at Mars and Pluto. Any of these planets in conflicting aspect to Saturn in a synastry chart between two individuals can mean trouble, as Saturn limits and also carries karmic implications. So, for example, a conjunction of Saturn and Venus might indicate a love affair that is hindered in some way. Likewise, a Moon-Saturn square could indicate great emotional suffering, while a Mars-Saturn square might indicate a violent breakup.

It’s also useful to look at the lunar nodes and chart angles, including the Vertex. For chart angles and also for the exact degree of the Moon, we need a birth time. The nodes and the Vertex in particular give us an indication of karmic connections; in other words, whether these two are soul mates.

As I’ve commented many times before, having a soul mate may sound romantic, but it’s hard work. Add to that the potential for a tragic ending, and you may start wishing that you never meet yours!

Happy Valentine’s Day.
Pat
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Happy V Day from Neith
Happy Valentine’s Day from Neith