Tag Archives: cardinal grand cross

Weekly Forecast August 22: Mercury Direct, New Moon in Virgo

© Lijuan Guo for Dreamstime.com

Mercury returns direct this week, but it’s going to be a nail-biter of a finish.

Many of you have written to me with reports of how difficult this Mercury retrograde period has been. I predicted that this month would be among the most challenging of the year, not only because of Mercury’s retrograde phase, but also the position of Mars and the very close square from Uranus to Pluto. Although we’re through the worst of this stormy astrological weather, the coming week is potentially rough, so we can’t let our guard down just yet.

You may be in a bit of a fog as the week begins, with the Sun opposing Neptune on Monday before entering Virgo on Tuesday. Normally, the Sun in Virgo favors precision and attention to detail. However, Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is retrograde, so the risk of miscommunications and errors is even higher from Tuesday on. If you’re in a situation at work where someone (maybe you) overlooks details or has a misunderstanding with a boss or colleague, don’t freak out. Next week will be much better, and you’ll have ample opportunity for correction and resolution.

Wednesday and Thursday are potentially the most difficult days this week, with the Moon in Cancer mirroring the eclipses of the past two years in rapid succession, just as Mars is crossing the degrees of eclipses of Jan. 4, 2011, and July 7, 2009. The eclipse in July 2009 was the first in the Capricorn-Cancer series. Most of you can time sweeping changes in your life with that eclipse, and it’s likely that you’re still adjusting. Mars often acts as a trigger for eclipses and outer planetary transits. Be prepared for a major reminder midweek of difficult circumstances that began around summer 2009. At the same time, pay attention to how things are different now – starting with yourself and your response.

Complicating matters, the Moon conjoins Mars on Thursday just as both form an exact square to Saturn in Libra. This is where personal growth and self-discipline are the most evident. Astrology helps us understand energies over which we have no control, but it also indicates where we do have choices and how making a different choice can manifest as a different outcome. Keeping that in mind this week can lead to a big breakthrough, perhaps even a leap in consciousness. You might also ask yourself whether the changes you’ve gone through since July 2009, no matter how challenging, have restored balance to some aspect of your life.

Also on Thursday, Venus trines Pluto. This earthy combination is a classic aspect for physical love, but it also can be good for your bank account, depending on where these two are transiting your natal chart.

I also should mention that both Venus and the Sun oppose Chiron this week – Venus on Wednesday and the Sun on Friday. If nothing else, we may get a strong reminder about how physical and mental health are inseparable.

Chart for New Moon

Click on image to enlarge

At last, on Friday, Mercury returns direct, and then we have a lovely New Moon in Virgo on Sunday in conjunction with Venus and trine both Pluto and Jupiter, just as the Big Guy is poised to turn retrograde. It’s a whole new world next week, with new opportunities and doors opening in several directions. Because the previous New Moonoccurred right before Mercury went retrograde, the goodies had to wait. Now we get them all at once! I’m betting that you’ll think it was worth the wait.

So, although this week is difficult, there’s a bright, white light at the end of the tunnel. We just need to hang in there a bit longer.

Wishing you extra love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. In last week’s forecast, I mentioned an article in the August/September issue of The Mountain Astrologer and failed to mention that you have to buy the magazine to read it. Sorry about that … but I also want to tell you that the article is well worth the $7 price of one issue, which you can order from the TMA site.

Weekly Forecast August 8: Mars Square Uranus, Opposite Pluto

© Imrich Farkas for Dreamstime.com

I sure have felt the angriness floating around this past week. Have you?

With Mercury retrograde and Mars moving through the T-square degrees, rush hour traffic on Friday was hell. People were doing crazy things, cutting in front of each other without signaling, flipping each other off, and yelling obscenities out the window. A pedestrian who witnessed one of these maneuvers yelled out, “Idiots!” Seattle isn’t particularly known for road rage, so I can only imagine how it was in other locales, especially since many of you also are still suffering under intense heat waves.

The dreams are weird, too. Friends who normally don’t even remember their dreams are commenting on it. Mine have been schizophrenic, to say the least. For that, we can look to Mercury’s continuing opposition to Neptune, planet of sleep and dreams. The two make another exact contact on Monday, right after Mercury re-enters Leo on his retrograde path. If you can steal away for a vacation, do it now!

The rough sailing has already started, but the waves get higher on Tuesday, when Mars squares Uranus in Aries. This is an extremely volatile combination that calls to mind the scene from the 1976 film Network in which masses of people shout out their windows, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” If you don’t know what I’m referring to, check out the clip on YouTube. It’s eerily relevant for our current economic crisis and especially relevant this week.

The Mars-Uranus square is amplified by the Moon in early Capricorn, which squares Uranus, opposes Mars, conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn – all in less than 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the Moon is a fleeting influence, her journey through these degrees and contacts with the T-square planets provide a strong reminder of where we’ve been since last summer and how our lives changed as a result. It may not be all bad, but most of us likely will be unsettled in some way.

Peter Finch is 'mad as hell' in Network. © MGM.

On Wednesday and Thursday, depending on where you are, Mars opposes Pluto in the big standoff. Staying out of the crossfire may not be possible, but at least don’t go looking for trouble. It’s one thing to protest corruption and injustice, quite another to do so in an area where security forces are armed and waiting for any excuse to fire into the crowd.

The Moon enters Aquarius on Friday, and then we have the Full Moon on Saturday. The Full Moon typically brings results to projects or situations that began at the New Moon, but we’ll probably experience delays and possibly setbacks due to Mercury’s retrograde phase and the challenges represented by Mars in conflicting aspect. If you feel like you’re losing ground, hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. The New Moon on August 28 is brilliant, and the new territory indicated by the New Moon in Leo on July 30 will come into view as well. If you want to know where these lunations fall in your chart, you’ll find it your Starguide Monthly Forecast for August.

Now, there is something really exciting happening this week. NASA’s Dawn mission is scheduled to go into orbit around Vesta, one of the so-called “asteroid goddesses.” Photos already are streaming back of Vesta’s pockmarked surface.

What can we read into a spacecraft called Dawn orbiting an asteroid named after a Roman goddess? It’s no accident that Vesta, like Ceres before her, has entered the collective consciousness – or, I should say, re-entered, as both goddesses were revered in various forms in ancient times and then forgotten, swallowed by time. As usual, we can turn to mythology for possible clues about the greater significance in this event.

The planets are named after Roman deities, most of which were adapted from the Greeks. Vesta, goddess of hearth and home, was highly revered. Her symbol was an eternal flame, which was kept burning in the holiest ground of ancient Rome and in every home. Among other things, it was a reminder that community is extended family. As it turns out, Vesta currently is in Aquarius, the sign of community and the “family of man.” If nothing else, the global debt crisis is hammering home the reality that we’re all connected, and in the most personal way.

Vesta’s Greek counterpart, Hestia, was one of the 12 Olympians, the most important of the gods and goddesses in ancient Greece. She was the first child of Cronus (Roman Saturn) and Rhea, who were Titans – the elder gods. Cronus, who himself had led the overthrow of the first generation of Titans, ate his children to prevent them from doing the same to him. However, Rhea plotted to save Zeus, who in turn instigated the overthrow of the Titans and forced Cronus to spit out his older siblings. As the eldest, Hestia was the first to be swallowed and the last to be disgorged; thus, she was said to be both the oldest and the youngest of the new race of gods that replaced the old cosmic order.

The War of the Titans lasted 10 years and ended the Golden Age, a period of peace and abundance, when manmade law was unnecessary because everyone lived in their integrity. This notion of a celestial war didn’t originate with the Greeks but also can be found in older cultures. There’s even a version in the Christian Bible. Likewise, the story of an earthly paradise is found in many ancient traditions.

I’ve often mentioned a planetary energy shift, which is just another way of describing this war. It’s common to believe that our ancient ancestors were superstitious, because they believed in gods, demons, and other human-like entities. However, I see their belief system as an ingenious way of putting a human face on disembodied energies, taking them out of the abstract so they could be understood by the human mind.

In that vein, Hestia represents initiating fire or spirit, an attribute astrologers assign to Aries, the first of the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The cardinal T-square, which at times has formed into a grand cross, was the astrological configuration that led to predictions that great change would occur from 2010 to 2012, with political upheaval continuing into 2015, as indicated by the long-term square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. It’s no accident, then, that we’re visiting Vesta in the midst of this cardinal buildup.

Dawn will spend a year observing Vesta and then will head toward Ceres, with a scheduled arrival date of 2015. The Greek counterpart of Ceres was Demeter, Hestia’s sister, who also was among the Olympians. I’ve written a lot about Ceres, who came back into the collective awareness when she was “promoted” to dwarf planet in 2006.

At the very least, the mission to find out more about celestial objects named after goddesses tells us that the planetary energy shift is restoring the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Of course, this isn’t news, but just confirms what many of us have felt intuitively for several years.

As an addendum, I’d like to mention Juno, NASA’s new mission to Jupiter. Juno was launched into space last Friday, August 5, and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in July 2016. In Roman mythology, Juno was Jupiter’s wife and queen of the gods. Asteroid Juno currently is at 4 degrees Libra, directly opposite Uranus, which means that she is intimately involved in this week’s cardinal configuration.

How’s that for synchronicity?

I leave you with this awe-inspiring full rotation of Vesta, courtesy NASA/JPL.

Wishing you all an abundance of love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast August 1: Mercury Retrograde, Mars Enters Cancer

Waiting in line. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

As if the dog days of August aren’t hot enough, astrological aspects in the first three weeks of the month add to the frustration and irritation.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday and will stay in “reverse” until August 26. If you’ve got a teaching position or some other job that allows you take this month off, I strongly encourage you to get out of town and go on a nice, long vacation. That is one of the things Mercury retrograde is good for, especially in fun-loving Leo, where he’ll spend most of his retrograde phase.

If you have to stay at your desk or shop and slog away, be prepared for tasks to take longer and possibly require revision. The exception is editing, which is another activity that can be more efficient during Mercury retrograde. Transiting Mercury’s position in your chart indicates what areas of your life will be most affected this time around. If you’d like more information, I recommend my StarGuide Monthly Forecast for August. Not only will it tell you where Mercury is retrograde in your chart, but you’ll get an idea of how the Full Moon and New Moon will affect you.

You’ll also know where Mars is transiting your chart, which may turn out to be even more significant, as he’ll trigger cardinal T-square and grand cross points. You may know what those are already, since they’ve been active for more than a year.

Mars is cranky enough in Cancer without the conflicting aspects to Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. I suspect we’re going to see a lot of events in the headlines based on anger, paranoia, and an excessive need to protect loved ones and personal property, although that’s more likely to occur next week and the week after.

Other aspects this week reinforce conflict, but there are a couple of mitigating influences that hopefully will help keep the peace, at least for now. Taking the week chronologically:

Venus forms a trine with Uranus on Monday (late Sunday night on the West Coast of the United States). Unexpected opportunities come up for love, money, and a good time – again, depending on where these two are transiting your chart. Just keep in mind that sudden developments may be temporary. The Sun’s square with Jupiter could lead to inflated expectations about how big the opportunities are or what they mean in the long run – in other words, don’t start planning your wedding just because the cute guy down the hall asked you out. The Moon is in Virgo on Monday and conjoins stationed Mercury, so I think we can avoid getting carried away, and we might even come up with some good ideas for how to take advantage of new opportunities toward the end of the month.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday, but we’ve been experiencing the effects since late last week. I woke up on Thursday to news reports that I-5 South out of Seattle was completely blocked due to an overturned semi-truck that spilled its load of fuel all over the roadway. The driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Mercury was in an applying opposition to Neptune, which rules petroleum. Both Mercury and Neptune play a role in sleep.

On Wednesday, Mars enters Cancer, with the Moon entering Libra less than an hour later and immediately forming a square with Mars and crossing the cardinal T-square points. Minor irritations throughout the day provide hints about what’s to come, so keep your antennae up. Mars also trines Neptune, who retrogrades back into Aquarius on Thursday. More extreme weather may occur, although it would be hard to pin it to astrological phenomenon.

Speaking of weather and stars, did you know that the term “dog days” has its roots in the night sky? In ancient times, the hottest days of the summer coincided with the rising and setting of Sirius with the Sun. Sirius, also called the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky and one of the stars forming the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog). The Romans believed that the earth received heat from Sirius, which appeared even brighter in those times due to lack of city lights and air pollution. (Thanks to James Weythman for the link on Wilstar.com.)

Continuing with our week, Venus squares Jupiter on Friday, fueling a tendency toward pie-in-the-sky dreams and overindulgence. Then, I’m not against going overboard with food, drink, sex, or the substance of your choice once in a while, especially if it relieves unbearable tension. Invite your co-workers to happy hour after work on Friday and have some fun. Just be sure to agree in advance who’s going to pay, and make sure you have a calculator.

Friday through Sunday, the Sun and Venus form a happy sextile to Saturn in Libra. Love and commitment can progress, despite Mercury’s retrograde motion. Again, just be clear in your communications. If you have to, repeat your words back to each other three or four times so that you’re sure you understand. Otherwise, intentions could be badly misinterpreted, leading to embarrassment or worse.

Next week is tough, so have fun while you can and take time to make some backup plans, to the extent possible.

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

Weekly Forecast July 4: Mars at Eclipse Degree, Uranus Retrograde

© Sheli Spring Saldana for Dreamstime

The eclipses of June and July continue to reverberate into our lives this week as we find closure to old issues and move farther into exciting new territory. The fireworks midweek could be better than the Fourth of July.

Getting right into the week … On Monday, Venus enters Cancer and immediately begins another round of the cardinal grand cross. But first, she forms a sweet, romantic trine to Neptune, just as Mercury in light-hearted Leo trines Uranus. Magic happens when our hearts and minds are open. If you want love, abundance, inspiration, creative genius and just plain fun, you have to be open to receive. With Uranus stationed to go retrograde on Saturday, you could surprise even yourself by what flies into your world.

A square from Mercury to Jupiter makes Tuesday a great day for coming up with a plan to make your vision a reality. Everything starts with a dream, but without action, the dream stays in your head and never sees the light of day. Figuring out how you’re going to get from point A to point B requires seeing the big picture but not overlooking details, which can happen when we rush into action without thinking things through first.

Wednesday gets my vote for the biggest day of the week, when Mars crosses the degree of the June 1 eclipse at 11 degrees Gemini. As I wrote in my post on that eclipse, it was for the most part positive and productive, but eclipses don’t always play out right away. Eclipse energy can take 30, 60, or 90 days to manifest – or, it can release when another planet crosses the degree of the eclipse and acts as a trigger. Mars, the action planet, is the most powerful trigger there is. So, if you didn’t notice any new developments at the beginning of the June or at the lunar eclipse on June 15, you could get the “news” this week.

As it so happens, Mars also makes a productive trine to Saturn on Wednesday. You’ll recall that Saturn’s favorable angle to the Sun and Moon was one of the main reasons astrologers predicted happy results for the June 1 eclipse. Saturn in Libra is especially beneficial for committed relationships, but the Mars-Saturn trine is positive overall for talking the talk and walking the walk.

On Thursday, Jupiter trines Pluto in earth signs Taurus and Capricorn, supporting growth, expansion and positive change, particularly in finances or material assets. Later in the day, Venus squares Uranus, who’s sitting at a near standstill – a powerful moment. Romance, money, or a lavish gift could appear out of the blue.

Friday is “Venus day,” and she’s the star of the show, making contacts with Chiron, Pluto and Jupiter (Saturday in some parts of the world). Because Venus also is associated with wealth, this is another possible “lucky” day for material gain. However, the Venus-Pluto opposition may be challenging for some – again, depending on where these two are transiting your chart.* If you’re normally prone to obsessing, you may get an intense twinge of it toward the end of the week. This pair is sexually charged as well.

Mercury sextiles Saturn on Saturday, another aspect supporting planning, good mental concentration and the ability to see a project through. Marketing, PR, and any form of communications are favored. If you work weekends (like yours truly), spend some extra time applying butt to chair.

To my readers in the United States, have a safe and happy Fourth of July – no blowing any fingers off, OK?

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

* Your StarGuide Monthly Forecast for July will tell you whether Jupiter and Venus also are making contacts to your natal planets, which would give this aspect a further boost.

Weekly Forecast June 27: New Moon Solar Eclipse in Cancer

Dawn Crossing

© Anatoly Tiplyashin for Dreamstime

Imagine that the moving van is gone with all your belongings, and you’re spending one last night in your old home, empty of everything but a small suitcase. Tomorrow at daybreak, you head out for your new destination.

Each of us has experienced the past two years in a different way. The common thread is that the circumstances were so challenging that we didn’t know how we’d survive. Yet here we are, exhausted and perhaps saddened by how things turned out, but still alive and ready to close this chapter of our lives.

Most of the major aspects this week tie in to Friday’s solar eclipse, the last in a series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer that began two years ago. Throughout the week, there may be reminders of the hardest and most painful moments of your particular situation. If nothing else, the memories may trigger intense emotions. It’s all part of moving on, and it won’t be long before you can get really excited about what comes next. Trust me on this.

I wrote about the eclipse in a detailed post on Saturday, with a chart so you can get a visual idea of how dramatic this event is. You don’t have to be an astrologer to know that a big red square in a chart must be important. There are a lot of dire predictions floating around about this eclipse, but as I mentioned in my post, I think it’s going to be more about closure. The hardest part may be dealing with the loss. Even if the changes you experienced were positive, the adjustment was probably quite difficult. Kate and William, the Capricorn-Cancer couple, come immediately to mind. She won her prince, but we can only imagine what she had to go through to become a member of the royal family “firm.”

Looking at the week chronologically, Monday starts out on a bright note, with an energetic sextile from Mars to Uranus. If anything unusual transpires, make a note, because it likely will come in to play in your new venture.

Tuesday brings a heavy dose of cardinal grand cross energy (it may start a few days before and last a day or two after), with the Sun opposite Pluto. The usual interpretation of difficult Sun-Pluto aspects is that they represent power struggles, things breaking down, and intense experiences with other people that may leave you with a bruised ego. This is all possible, but in keeping with my “wrapping it up” theme, it’s just as likely that you find the wherewithal to detach from the past and take concrete action to head in a new direction – which, incidentally, is probably clear by now.

The Moon enters Cancer on Thursday and makes contacts throughout the day with Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, Chiron and Pluto before aligning with the Sun on Friday. A few hours later, she squares Saturn. There is no denying the heaviness in these aspects, and much of it likely will be felt emotionally. Again, don’t try to repress how you feel and keep plodding along. Stop and acknowledge your feelings. Pay them your respect.

The Sun squares Saturn on Saturday, fueling a sense of exhaustion and carrying a load that’s too heavy. Fortunately, this will pass in a day or two. If there really is something you need to do to resolve a situation, it could happen at the end of the week. It won’t be easy, but it must be done. After that, your load will feel lighter.

Speaking of lighter, Mercury enters fun-loving Leo on Saturday. It’s probably not going to help too much over the weekend, given the heavy energy surrounding the eclipse. Then, nothing says we can’t have a party to celebrate the victory of having made it through. We may be limping to the punch bowl, but by golly we’re still standing!

The two weeks following the eclipse will be a “clean-up” period, so we’re not entirely out of the old home situation yet. And then, of course, there will be boxes to unpack and furniture to arrange and exploration of the new neighborhood.

Wishing you all much love and courage – hang in there!
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. If you haven’t checked out my new monthly and seasonal forecasts, please take a moment to do so. When you’re traveling in a new place, it sure helps to have a roadmap!

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Cancer, July 1

This image of the total eclipse of the Sun on July 11, 2010, was shot in French Polynesia by Terry Evans of Exmoor, UK, whose birthday was that day! The July 1 eclipse will be partial.

Another week and we’ll be out of the inter-eclipse Twilight Zone. It has been a strange trip indeed.

You’ll recall in a previous post that I said big changes were on the way for me, but I was going to wait until after the July 1 eclipse to take definitive action. Well, less than 24 hours after the June 15 eclipse, my plans for this fall totally fell through … or so I thought. A few hours later I received news that the original message had been an error. So it looks like everything is on track. Still, I’m waiting to make a final commitment until after the eclipses are well behind us.

At 9 degrees Cancer, the New Moon solar eclipse on July 1 is the last of the Capricorn-Cancer eclipse series and represents a wrap-up or resolution of a difficult situation that began in mid-2009. You may have another couple of weeks of “cleanup” to do – until the Full Moon on July 15. But overall, the challenge you’ve faced for the past two years will fade away in the rearview mirror, and not a moment too soon! Everyone is exhausted and ready for a break.

Tennis diva Serena Williams is a perfect example. With her Sun at 3 degrees Libra in the sixth house (health), Serena suffered one debilitating health problem after another, starting with a leg injury in April 2009. Last July, just as the cardinal T-square was approaching a peak directly on her Sun, she stepped on glass in a restaurant and required surgery. While in rehab earlier this year, she was treated for blood clots in her lungs. After a year of not being able to compete, she returned to Wimbleton last Tuesday, won her opening round, and broke down in a flood of tears.

“It definitely was so emotional for me because, you know, throughout the last 12 months, I’ve been through, a lot of things that’s not normal,” she said on her website. “So it’s just been a long, arduous road. To stand up still is pretty awesome.”

That pretty much says it all! Most of us have had a harrowing two years, complicated by the eclipses in cardinal Capricorn and Cancer. And while the last one forms a tense grand cross with Saturn, Uranus and Pluto, I still feel that it’s going to be a relief for us, and that the tears we shed will include tears of gratitude that we’re still here and still standing.

Chart for Eclipse

Click on image to enlarge

I have to admit that the chart for this eclipse is intimidating, dominated by a bright red grand cross. However, I remain optimistic, because there are two very clear “outs” – paths where blocked energy can flow and be put to positive use.

The first out is a trine between Pluto and Jupiter. This easy aspect supports transformation and positive change. Finding solutions to wicked problems (as a friend of mine calls them) requires expanding the mind. We can do that now. Both planets are in earth signs, suggest tangible, material results.

The second out flows between Saturn and Mars, the planet of action. In Gemini, it’s speedy action, too, although there’s a risk that there may be more talk than action. Still, with Saturn recently returned direct and Mars in an air sign, we can put on our thinking caps, come up with realistic plans, and do the hard work necessary to get the results we want. And it will be hard work. The inconjunct between Mars and Pluto suggests that acting without thinking things through could end up a total waste of energy.

The real difficulty I see here is the square from the Sun and Moon to Saturn. For many of us, moving in a new direction required leaving something or someone behind. Even though we may feel confident that we made the right decision, loss is sad and painful. Cancer is the sentimental sign of the zodiac, so we could be very emotional for a day or two on either side of the eclipse.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Weekly Forecast. In the meantime, if you want a look ahead at what July will bring for you personally, I highly recommend StarGuide Monthly, my new transit forecast. Or, if you prefer, order StarGuide Seasons and get three months rolled into one at a discount of nearly 15 percent. Although I’m not writing reports from scratch anymore, I designed these forecasts to be 100-percent personalized, using your exact birth data. To see what you get with this report, check out my samples for George Clooney and Julian Assange.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast June 20: Mars Enters Gemini, Sun Enters Cancer

No palm trees, but it's a beach. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

Summer is here, and along with it, the activation of the cardinal grand cross.

Actually, the grand cross started last week, when messenger Mercury entered Cancer and immediately squared Uranus. What a mess! My DSL went dead on Friday, and I found out later it was a problem with CenturyLink that affected the whole state. The lines at our supermarket yesterday were like the day before Thanksgiving. The store’s credit card system works through CenturyLink and was malfunctioning, and they’ve been told it won’t be fixed until Monday. Fortunately, mine came back, or I wouldn’t be posting this forecast!

Meanwhile, United experienced a computer crash that virtually shut down the airline for five hours Friday night and early Saturday, when the Mercury-Uranus square was applying within 2 degrees. And then there was this bizarre headline, about a dead deer in a power line. Uranus rules air travel, power lines, and unpredictable events.

Events such as these help us understand how astrology can be an indicator of the myriad ways cosmic energies manifest in the physical world. On a more mundane level, the Messenger is reminding us in no uncertain terms how dependent we are on computers.

In the more immediate term, we’re starting to get an idea of how the July 1 eclipse might shake out. I’ll have more on this topic in a post on Saturday. For now, let’s look at this week.

On Monday, Mars enters speedy Gemini after spending an agonizing six weeks in laid-back Taurus. Mars, the action planet, is debilitated in Taurus. For us, that has meant a lot of frustration as we’ve tried to accomplish something and kept meeting with obstacles. With the grand cross at a peak, we’re still going to bump into obstacles, but it will be entirely different. This is more like having the gas pedal all the way to the floor and running into a roadblock at high speed. All I can say is, do your best to stay alert and be on the lookout for the detour signs.

Tuesday is the big day this week, when the Sun enters Cancer. This is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, winter for all of you on the south side. Mercury forms an exact square with Saturn less than two hours later.

Fortunately, we’ve got a couple of the “outs” I always look for in difficult configurations like this. The first out is a positive sextile from the Sun to Jupiter, who’s also in a strong applying trine to Pluto. It’s cliché to say that challenges build character, but this is one time when we’ll get an opportunity to transform and grow with less pain than normal under a Pluto transit. The catalyst to your ah-ha moment may be a run-in with an authority figure, such as your boss or parents. Setting aside your pride and ego is key.

There’s a second out, a trine from the Sun to Neptune, but I’m ambivalent about this one. Easy energy paths like this make it possible for Mother Nature to channel her pent-up energies. With the Sun, Mercury and Neptune all in water signs, I don’t like the sound of this. Neptune also is in a trine with Jupiter – although it’s past peak – with Jupiter in Taurus, the “earthiest” of the earth signs.

Before I continue with the rest of the week, I’d like to take a moment to promote a new report I’ve put together to complement my weekly forecasts, which are general and pertain to everyone. For specific transits, I highly recommend StarGuide, a written report based entirely on your own birth data, not your Sun sign! I’m offering it as a monthly or, if you’d like to save a little money, as a three-month forecast starting at the beginning of each season. The StarGuide Summer 2011 edition is now available, so don’t wait too long! It may take me 2-3 days to compile your report, so if you want it this week, you need to place your order now!

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this report! The transit interpretations are by Gina Ronco, who is wonderfully positive and provides suggestions for handling any difficult transits you may be experiencing. The really cool thing, though, is a graph that I created that shows your best days for love, career, and social life. This required some advanced programming to customize the parameters for my personal approach to astrology. The result is a wonderful planning tool that helps you make choices about where to put your energy and focus – so, for example, if you’ve got a great day for love coming up, you don’t want to be on the couch watching reruns of Dancing with the Stars. If you’d like to see what it looks like, check out the sample for Julian Assange.

As long as I’m in advertising mode, I’d also like to put in a plug for the wonderful folks at Cosmic Patterns Software, creators of Kepler and Sirius. They made themselves personally available when I ran into programming issues. I couldn’t have created these reports without their excellent tech support.

Back to this week (thanks for indulging me), Wednesday brings a square to Neptune from Mars and a sextile to Neptune from the Sun. Creativity is enhanced – and that includes finding creative solutions to current challenges. The Mars-Neptune square is not so helpful, as it suggests outright lies and intentional deceit. If something sounds too good to be true, don’t take the bait.

The weekend is a bit schizophrenic. On one hand, the Sun-Jupiter sextile with support by a lovely Taurus Moon suggests appreciating the comforts of home and material pleasures. Setting aside our worries for a few hours and appreciating what we have sends out a positive vibe that can ping back to us in surprising ways.

On the other hand, there’s a Sun-Uranus square later in the day, and the surprises we get may not be of the pleasant variety. If you’ve been feeling stuck, it might be a good idea to intentionally do something different on Sunday – something that in some way reflects what you would do if time and money were unlimited. You may not be able to jet off to Hawaii, but you could slice up a pineapple and do a barefoot dance in your living room. The Sun and Uranus are nothing if not creative. Let your imagine run wild.

Wish you all limitless love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast June 13: Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius, Venus Trine Saturn

© Pat Paquette, 2011.

This week is dominated by the lunar eclipse at the Full Moon on Wednesday.

The eclipse in the middle of the week brings us to the halfway point between the inter-eclipse period of June 1 to July 1. It’s hard to predict what will happen at eclipses, except to note that they often bring sudden and unexpected change.

It seems to me, though, that we pretty much know the nature of the changes, if not the specifics. Also, the last eclipse in a series tends to mark the wrapping up of an issue that has been the main focus of your life for the past couple of years. So, what I think we’re going to see between Wednesday’s Full Moon eclipse and the solar eclipse on July 1 is a new path coming into view, with a clear message that it leads to a very different place than where we’ve been for the past two years.

That said, eclipses aren’t a time to initiate new ventures or start a new relationship. We’re in a state of disorientation and adjustment. What feels right to you now may not seem like such a good idea in a few weeks. If an opportunity arises, go for it. But don’t try to force something to happen that isn’t unfolding naturally on its own.

Planetary aspects that occur at an eclipse provide us with additional information about how things might shake out. As I mentioned in my eclipse post, there’s a trine from Venus to Saturn, who has just turned direct – a powerful moment. The trine is exact on Saturday, so it will be in the dynamic applying stage at the Full Moon. Saturn is in Libra, the sign of relationships, and Venus rules Libra. So, Saturn is sending his structuring capacity to the planet of love. Commitment among equal partners is a theme here, and I sure hope it spreads.

Mars, unfortunately, is sitting on malefic fixed star Algol, and he’s in an irritating inconjunct with the Full Moon. The planet of war isn’t very strong in Taurus, which also is ruled by Venus. I see this theme playing out in the Weiner scandal. The congressman surely is going to find out that being in a committed relationship with a woman who by all accounts is extraordinary beats the pants off screwing around on the Internet. Men on this planet are learning that their power isn’t diminished by a powerful woman, and women are learning how not to give away their power to “save” the relationship.

Much of what goes on in relationships happens under the surface, and it’s hard to resolve differences if one or both people suppresses their true feelings. On Monday, Venus squares Chiron, signifying painful exchanges. Often this is what it takes to break through to higher ground – and there’s every indication that this is possible now. The inconjunct from Venus to Pluto on Tuesday suggests that sex may be a major source of resentment and will have to be addressed.

Mercury enters Cancer on Thursday and forms favorable aspects to Jupiter and Neptune on Friday. Here’s our chance to connect on a soul level by speaking from the heart about what we want and need. And be sure to listen to what your partner, friend, or family members say they need. You may have to compromise, but at least everything’s above board.

Over the weekend, Mercury forms a cardinal grand cross with Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto. Sunday is Father’s Day, and it’s probably not a good idea to get in a discussion with dad or anyone else about politics. As it is, someone else may confront you about an unresolved issue or a secret you thought no one knew. Fortunately – at least for the coming week – Venus remains the “out” via the trine with Saturn. Love may not conquer all, but it sure goes a long way. It doesn’t take an astrologer to tell you that.

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

Weekly Forecast August 2: Jupiter and Mars Square Pluto

Sometimes the way out is up. © Judy Ben Joud/Dreamstime

This is it, kids. It’s peak week for the cardinal T-square — the astrological “week from hell” we’ve been anticipating — with a one-day grand cross thrown in for an additional increase in blood pressure.

I’ve written a lot over the past few months about possible manifestations of the T-square, based on events associated with similar configurations in history, notably in 1989 and, even more prominently, in the early 1930s. The events in 1989 for the most part were well-defined, one-time occurrences, even though some had far-reaching consequences that are still in play.

Conversely, in the early 30s, developments unfolded over several years. In many ways, it was the worst of the two. It almost makes me wish the economy would collapse with an eardrum-shattering sonic boom so we could get it over with, rather than being dragged deeper and deeper into economic depression and worldwide totalitarianism.

If you had a choice, which would you choose? What about in your personal life? Would you rather bite the bullet, suffer acute pain, be done with it, and move on into new territory? Or would you rather suffer low-level background pain continuously over several years, perhaps with an option to numb it until things turned around?

Not that I think we have much choice right now. Under the cardinal T-square, our options are limited. We’re pretty much being forced down a certain path, the only one that’s not blocked. Still, I’m a big believer that there’s always another way out that we just don’t see. When you’ve got four walls closing in on you, sometimes you forget to look up for the escape hatch.

Hopefully you took my advice last week and began confronting the major issues that are standing in the way of your growth and progress. Sometimes all it takes is a new awareness, especially regarding the source of the blockage. Until we identify the source of a problem, we can only treat symptoms and not the root cause.

Getting to the source is this week’s theme, thanks to a high-tension square between Mars and Pluto. Be forewarned that you may have to sit with some discomfort, but if you can stick with it, your chances of getting out of a rut and moving forward are much better.

We’re already hot in the middle of the action as the week begins, with Mars still in close conjunction with Saturn in Libra. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ll have a tight T-square with Mars opposed to Jupiter and both square Pluto. If I had to pick the most difficult day during the 2010 T-square, this would be it … although this past weekend was a close second.

The truth can be uncomfortable, which is why many people choose to wear rose-colored glasses or keep their heads buried in the sand. Put another way, waking up can be a painful experience. In my observation, most people wake up to pain first, and then they experience joy and happiness. It’s seldom the other way around.

On Friday, the Moon enters Cancer and closes the open end of the T-square, so that it becomes a grand cross. Emotions could be so intense that some of us might think we’re losing our minds. Some may experience a continuous feedback loop of thoughts going ’round and ’round in their heads. If this happens to you, try to wait out the storm. It will last for several hours, and then it will be gone. Speaking of storms, this also is a prime period for high winds and tropical cyclones.

Later on Friday (Saturday in the Eastern Hemisphere), Venus enters Libra and adds her voice to the cardinal T-square. Venus rules Libra, so she is a very strong voice for beauty, peace, and harmony. We’re in need of these gifts now more than ever, not just in our personal partnerships, but also in the collective and in international relations.

Alas, we may have to fight for them, as the first aspect Venus makes is a testy opposition with “got to be me” Uranus in Aries. You can stand up all you want for your freedom, but you may want to ask yourself, “freedom from what?” The Marlboro man is free as a bird … and alone.

That message will become abundantly clear on Sunday, when Venus conjoins Saturn. For a committed partnership to work, there has to be bona fide give and take. That said, there are imbalances in most relationships I’m observing these days, with one person carrying more than their share of the load. This may be necessary, as we can only carry according to our ability.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are glad to let others carry their load for them, and they always seem to find those who believe it’s their duty. Hopefully Venus and Saturn in Libra will put a stop to that. The willing pack animals among you may need to drop your load in order for your lazy loved ones to step up to the plate. Trust me, you’ll be doing them a favor.

I leave you with this quote by R. Buckminster Fuller, author, inventor of the geodesic dome:

Don’t fight forces, use them.

That’s our mission this week, if we choose to accept it.

Wishing you all the love and courage under the Sun,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Real Astrologers: What’s Ahead for Us Cardinal People?

Looking for AnswersI’m addressing two questions together this week, since they essentially are asking the same thing.

Libra is in my ninth and tenth house, and my first house is Capricorn. Over the past 15 months I have fallen on hard times and in the past few weeks things have picked up. What I don’t understand is this T “zone” and what it means. I was hoping that you could explain a little. — Kaye, Las Vegas, Nev.

I read about all the T-squares and cardinal stuff occurring. I am concerned and confused about my whole life — relationship, business, etc., because I am primarily cardinal. How does this affect individuals like me with all this square stuff during this timing? — “Henry,” Cotopaxi, Colo.

Kaye and Henry, before I answer your questions, let me clear up some of the confusion by explaining what a cardinal T-square is.

The 12 signs of the zodiac are divided into three qualities: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. A T-square occurs when planets occupy three signs within one quality. If all four signs are occupied, then it’s called a grand cross.

Since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008, there has been a build-up of planets in the cardinal signs. We are approaching a powerful T-square in 2010 and 2011, with Pluto at the apex. Uranus and Jupiter are about to enter Aries, and they will oppose Saturn in Libra this summer (Saturn is currently retrograde back in Virgo). There will be some periods this year and next when the early degrees of Cancer also are activated, and so the T-square then becomes a grand cross.

As I wrote in a recent article on the cardinal build-up of 2010 and 2011, such alignments are rare, and when they occur, dramatic events unfold here on Earth. The nature of cardinal energy is dynamic and very active, which is why astrologers are warning of sweeping change ahead.

Anyone with personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars) or chart angles (Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven, and IC) in the early degrees of the cardinal signs will be particularly touched by this planetary pattern in the sky. And that may be just as well, because cardinal people need action, and you haven’t been getting nearly enough in the past several years. To the contrary, many of you have been feeling very stuck.

Kaye and Henry, you are among the many “cardinal people” who will be heavily affected by this configuration. Some of what develops for you will be surprisingly positive, even though the breadth of the changes may cause you a lot of stress.

Kaye, as you correctly stated, your Ascendant is not Capricorn, but as a late Rising Sagittarius, you have a first house that is almost entirely Capricorn. That means your seventh house is Cancer. As you noted, you have Libra on the Midheaven. The apex of the T-square, Pluto, currently is moving through your first house. I’m guessing that things started to break down in your life when Pluto crossed your Ascendant in late 2006. You are going through a sweeping transformation.

A big factor in this year’s cardinal buildup is the eclipse series in Capricorn and Cancer. When they fall in our first and seventh houses, as they do for you, Kaye, it may suddenly feel as though something or someone else has taken control of our lives and is pushing us in a particular direction. While this may seem like too much disruption all at once, it gets you to a new place a lot faster. You just have to grit your teeth and withstand the G-force.

Believe it or not, you are approaching a career peak, which will happen toward the end of this year or the middle of 2011.

Henry, as a late-degree Rising Cancer, you won’t feel the deep personal impact that Kaye is experiencing. Rather, you will notice this buildup most in your career and home life. With Uranus and Jupiter about to cross your Midheaven, there is the potential for a sudden professional opportunity.

However, at the same time, you may face restrictions in your home life, or a situation with your home and family may come into direct conflict with your career. These constraints will continue for a couple of years, so you may have to put up with less-than-desirable living arrangements in order to advance your professional standing. Try to keep in mind during these challenges that you are working toward building a more-solid foundation under your life.

Thanks you both for writing. Have courage, and let us know how it goes.

I’d like to add that just about everyone is going to feel the effects of this T-square, even if it’s not as disruptive as the changes that people like Kaye and Henry are going through. While I am able to answer some of your questions in this column, it can’t be a substitute for a complete reading. If you are facing serious challenges that affect all areas of your life and need guidance, please contact me for a private consultation. Others have taken the leap and were very happy they did.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

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