Tag Archives: cardinal T-square

Ask Real Astrologers: Can Astrology Explain the Mayhem of the Volcano in Iceland?

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

Any ideas what is going on astrologically that is causing the volcanic eruption in Iceland that is creating mayhem across the air space in Europe at the moment? Presumably something to do with the cardinal T-square?

Good question, Geraldine! I’ve addressed some of this in my weekly forecast and other posts, but this is a good opportunity to look at some of our assumptions.

First of all, I’m making an assumption that there is an astrological connection. That’s natural, since I’m an astrologer. If I were an Islamic fundamentalist cleric, I’d blame it on loose morals caused by women who wear suggestive clothing in public. If I were a geologist, I’d talk about the formation of magma, pressure build up, plate tectonics, and so forth.

The first point I’d like to make is that astrological aspects don’t cause anything to happen. That would be like saying that electricity causes light. Light is created by directing a current of electrons through a device that converts that energy into light. We are just beginning to discover how to direct astrological energies into consistent and reliable end results, but it’s going to take us another decade or two to figure it out.

In the meantime, these energies are converted into material reality without any intentional, direct intervention from humans, with the possible exception of Deepak Chopra.

Astrology is a symbolic language. We talk about the transformational power of Pluto, the revolutionary energy of Uranus, the structure-building nature of Saturn. If you combine these different energies, you get different end results. A T-square is formed of two squares and an opposition — a very tense combination. By looking at the charts of historical events, we can begin to form some correlations, although, unfortunately, the evidence isn’t consistent enough for us to make reliable predictions.

That said, I’ve looked at a lot of charts for volcanic eruptions, and several of them have either Saturn and Uranus in opposition or a cardinal T-square. Both of these configurations will be active this summer, so I think it’s a pretty safe bet that we’ll have more ash to contend with. I also expect there to be some serious political upheaval.

Explosions, by the way, are a hallmark of Uranus. Whenever there’s a big one, the first thing I look for in the chart is what Uranus was doing. In the chart for the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull on March 20, Saturn and Uranus were approaching opposition (exact on April 26), and there was a tight cardinal T-square with Pluto at 5 degrees Capricorn at the apex and the Sun at 0 degrees Aries opposite Saturn at 1 degree Libra. A second, more violent eruption occurred at the New Moon in Aries on April 14, with Saturn and Uranus in close opposition.

As for the mayhem in airports around the world, we also need to include Mercury retrograde in the picture. Obviously, he didn’t “cause” the problem, and retrograde Mercury typically isn’t a big player in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions — good thing, because he goes retrograde at least three times a year. It would be a real bummer if this happened every time! But it’s well known that travel delays are prevalent during Mercury retrograde periods. Let’s hope all stranded passengers will be safe at home by the time Mercury returns direct on May 11.

Thanks again for writing, Geraldine.

Pat

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The Cardinal T-Square of 2010 and 2011, Part II

A peaceful day at the foot of Mount Rainier, an active volcano on the Pacific Rim of Fire. © Pat Paquette.

With the coming astrological shift into the cardinal signs, we can expect dramatic developments in the world. But what, exactly, is going to happen? Is there any way to know in advance or at least to make some educated guesses?

In Part I of this article, I explained what a cardinal T-square is and gave some examples of world events in years when cardinal energy was activated. In this post, we’ll explore the cardinal alignment in 2011 and how it differs from this year’s configuration.

This summer, the action takes place primarily in the earliest degrees of the cardinal signs, which are the most volatile, and we’ll be in the midst of an eclipse pair in cardinal signs Capricorn and Cancer. This is the highest-risk period for extreme disruption, be it natural or manmade.

By summer of 2011, Jupiter will have advanced to Taurus, Saturn will be out of range of a square with Pluto, and the eclipses will start shifting into Sagittarius and Gemini. The last eclipse of the Capricorn-Cancer series is a partial solar eclipse at 9 degrees Cancer on July 1, 2011. With Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto in a T-square, the addition of the eclipse forms a grand cross. This configuration is more like a dog chasing its own tail — a lot of activity, but it may tire itself out before any real damage is done.

After that eclipse, Saturn moves past the mid degrees of Libra. While technically still in a cardinal sign, he’s at too wide an angle from Uranus and Pluto to bring heated conflict.

However, Pluto will remain in a tight square with Uranus in Aries, and this is where we’ll see continued upheaval. The square between Uranus and Pluto won’t be exact until 2012, but it will be close enough next year for us to feel its effects.

The last time Pluto and Uranus met was a conjunction at 16-17 degrees Virgo in 1965 and 1966. In September 1965, toward the Full Moon with the Sun, Pluto, and Uranus in a tight conjunction opposite Saturn in Pisces, Hurricane Betsy made landfall twice on the southern coast of the United States and was the first tropical storm to cause more than a billion dollars in damage.

Other developments around that time were the racially motivated Watts riots in Los Angeles, the eruption of the Taal volcano near Manila, a sweeping regime change in Indonesia, and the escalation of demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan were at war, with China stepping in on the side of Pakistan.

As I wrote in my last article, past events linked to the cardinal T-square and to Uranus-Pluto aspects are so broad that it’s hard to know whether the coming alignment signifies natural catastrophes, war, social upheaval, environmental disasters, or other crises. Further, whenever Uranus is involved in an aspect, the outcome is wildly unpredictable. Still, I think it’s a safe bet that “all of the above” will happen again in the next two years.

One of the biggest threats, in my opinion, is war between India and China as they compete for resources to fuel their rapid growth and development. The entire region is already destabilized, a powder keg just waiting for a cosmic spark to ignite a third world war. The Pacific Rim of Fire also appears to be vulnerable. If history is any indication, hot spots will intensify during these astrologically volatile periods.

I’ll keep you informed in my weekly forecasts and other posts along the way. Meanwhile, if you see news stories that indicate which way the cosmic wind is blowing, please leave a comment with a URL.

Pat

Weekly Forecast April 19: Sun Enters Taurus, Venus Enters Gemini

The Bull from the Sea. Monotype by Vashon artist Brian Fisher, 2009. Images of bulls were prevalent during the Age of Taurus, which was roughly 4525-1875 B.C.

The Saturn-Uranus opposition isn’t exact until next week, but its effects are strong enough now that they’re overpowering everything else.

First, let’s have a look at this week’s lineup …

We start out on Monday with Mercury newly retrograde in Taurus. Traffic and communications will be all snarled up, so do whatever you must to maintain your blood pressure. The Messenger squares Mars in Leo on Sunday (April 25), but the mood could be icky all week, with a higher-than-average risk of arguments. With both planets in fixed signs, neither side will want to back down. Mercury in Taurus will win by saying as little as possible to avoid fueling the temper of Mars in feisty Leo.

On Tuesday (Monday on the West Coast of the United States), the Sun enters Taurus. Do I hear a collective sigh of relief? Taurus may have a reputation as stubborn, but the Bull also is placid and steady. We’ll welcome this new energy after the nonstop activity of Sun in Aries.

In honor of the Sun in Taurus, I’ve chosen this beautiful image by Brian Fisher, one of Vashon Island’s best-loved artists. Brian’s inspiration was the famous fresco of the bull leapers from the Palace of Knossos on Crete. He has a fascinating history of artwork from this era on his blog. Check out his online gallery, too. After all, art appreciation is a very Taurus thing to do!

Also on Tuesday, Chiron enters Pisces, where he’ll stay until August. We’re not likely to notice any immediate effects of this transit, so I’ll deal with it in a future post.

Thursday could be especially difficult, when the Moon in Leo conjoins Mars and squares Mercury. Despite what I wrote about saying as little as possible, you may not be able to contain yourself. There will be meltdowns and temper tantrums everywhere. Try to maintain your decorum.

On Friday and Saturday, Venus squares Neptune, sextiles Uranus, and trines Saturn within a 12-hour period. If you lose grip on reality, especially in romantic situations, you’ll come back to your senses before doing any real damage. You might even find that reality isn’t so bad, after all. It could end up including a very nice surprise — one that doesn’t disappear when you wake up out of a dream.

On Sunday, the planet of love skips into chatty Gemini, and then she’s in mutual reception with Mercury. The danger here is that communications will come fast and furious, but the risk of misunderstandings is high. Be prepared to set records in the number of volleys of phone tag before you finally make your connection.

Also on Sunday, the Sun trines Pluto. Normally, trines are pleasant and easy, but Pluto has been in the hot seat lately at the apex of a T-square, and he needs somewhere to vent his pent-up energy. It’s always a dicey prospect to predict earthquakes, but I won’t be surprised if there’s another big one this weekend.

The cardinal T-square is still several weeks away, but Saturn and Uranus have been going through an opposition in the mutable signs of Virgo and Pisces since late 2008. When outer planets are in aspect, we don’t need to wait until the exact date to feel the effects, but begin to notice developments a few weeks and sometimes months in advance. This opposition is all the more powerful given that Saturn is “receiving” from Pluto in Capricorn, the sign that Saturn rules.

On April 14, a volcano erupted under Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland. The plume sent ash over northern Europe and delayed air travel on six continents. I stumbled on an article in The Guardian by Greg Neale, who noted that a similar event in 1783 disrupted weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to crop failures and famine. Many historians believe this was a major factor in the French Revolution, he wrote.

Uranus was discovered between the American and French revolutions, which is how he became associated with rebellion. As it so happens, when the Laki volcano erupted in June 1783, Saturn and Uranus were in opposition in Capricorn and Cancer, both square Neptune in Libra — in other words, a cardinal T-square.

These are perfect examples of how astrological energies manifest into reality. It’s safe to predict that we’re going to get lots more reality between now and the end of the summer. In the meantime, watch the news headlines now for signs of change bumping up against the status quo.

Next week is the Full Moon in Scorpio. I’ll have more later this week, so check back.

Much love and courage to all,

Pat

Saturday Extra! The Cardinal T-Square of 2010 and 2011

For years, astrologers have been predicting sweeping global change in 2010 and 2011, based on a shift in planetary alignment into the cardinal signs.

The signs of the zodiac are divided into three qualities, or “quadrulplicites.” The cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — are dynamic and initiate action. The fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — are persistent and, just as the name suggests, solid and unmoving. The mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — are adaptable, flexible, and open to change.

A T-square occurs when planets occupy three signs within one quality. Put another way, it is comprised of two squares (90 degrees) and an opposition (180 degrees), which denotes extreme tension and conflict. The planet or planets at the point, or apex, take on great significance. If all four signs are occupied, then it’s called a grand cross, which is comprised of four squares and two oppositions.

Such alignments are rare, and when they happen, dramatic events take place on the world stage. That will be all the more true in 2010, because the eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer are part of the picture. Eclipses are often enough on their own to herald life-changing events.

The shift into cardinal influences began slowly, with Pluto’s entry into Capricorn in early 2008. He slipped back into Sagittarius on his retrograde path over the summer and then re-entered Capricorn in December that year. When Saturn entered Libra last October, he formed a conflicting square with Pluto. The resulting tension is similar to pressure that builds up at the juncture of two tectonic plates. When the pressure releases, we get an earthquake.

It starts getting a little complicated here, because Saturn currently is retrograde and back in the final degrees of Virgo for a few months. That means he’s no longer part of the cardinal T-square, although he is going to form an opposition to Uranus at the end of this month, and we’ll briefly experience a mutable T-square. I’ll have more on that in my weekly forecast.

The big news comes in late May and early June, when Uranus and Jupiter enter Aries, followed by a pair of eclipses in Cancer and Capricorn on June 26 and July 11. On July 21, Saturn returns to Libra, where he’ll stay until October 2012. From late July to mid-August of 2010, there will be a tight T-square involving Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto. We’ll have a few days in there when the Moon in Cancer transforms the configuration into a grand cross.

The last time we had this kind of powerful buildup in the cardinal signs was in 1989. The Berlin Wall fell when Uranus, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune were all closely aligned in Capricorn, opposite Jupiter in Cancer (Ceres and Chiron were close by, too). At the moment the announcement was made, the alignment was on the Ascendant and Descendant. This was one of the defining moments of the 20th century, and the T-square we’re about to experience is in many ways an extension of that event.

Other startling events happened in 1989, including the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, the Loma Prieta earthquake, and the protests in Tiananmen Square.

The most extreme example of a cardinal T-square I’ve been able to find is the chart for the Tunguska explosion in 1908. It’s a mindblower, with all but two planets aligned in Cancer, Capricorn, and Aries. The blast felled trees and knocked residents several miles away off their feet. Researchers still don’t know what caused it, but the prevailing opinion is that a meteor exploded several miles above the earth’s surface.

Other events that year, while not outstanding in and of themselves, fueled tensions leading up to World War I.

Unfortunately, there is no clearly identifiable pattern to provide us clues for what could happen in the next couple of years. Natural disasters, environmental crises, and political upheaval are all possible — and, I would add, likely. But some of the changes, while disruptive, may ultimately be beneficial. After all, the fall of the Berlin Wall was an amazing breakthrough.

Jupiter and Uranus slip back into Pisces this fall, and then we’ll have another reprieve until late spring of 2011. We’ll explore these developments in depth in Part II of this article.

Related post: T-Squares Past and Present

Pat

Weekly Forecast March 29: Full Moon in Libra, Venus Enters Taurus

Starting right out with the Full Moon in Libra, this week is the beginning of a critical period of saying goodbye to what is comfortable, familiar … and totally not working.

It’s a truth universally accepted in astrology that the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are the most likely to fight change. Regardless of whether you’re predominantly fixed, cardinal, or mutable, you are a human being, and our brains are wired to stick with what we know. Sure, your Venus in Gemini might go for a different hairstyle every day of the week, but you know what I’m talking about.

Many of you have written to me in the past couple of years complaining that you’re stuck in a boring, dead-end job but don’t want to break out. A couple of readers have admitted outright that they never would make the same kind of money in a more interesting profession. Many of you are stuck in dead-end relationships but can’t let go.

On some level, you may want to stay where you are — better the devil you know than the one you don’t know. But I also know that many of us fit my analogy of flies beating against the glass. They can see the light out there but just don’t know how to get there. Their fly brains don’t understand the concept of glass. The only way they get out is with the help of a higher being, one that is sympathetic enough to free them rather than swatting them dead.

Those higher forces are kicking in now, thanks to the increasing intensity of the cardinal T-square, which peaks at various times between now and 2012. Today’s Full Moon in Libra is a stepping stone to the next turbulence zone, which occurs around the Full Moon lunar eclipse on June 26.

Remember, cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) are characterized by initiating change. They are the movers and shakers of the zodiac, the pioneers, the drill sergeant screaming, “Move your ass!” We might not like it, but that’s how we get stronger and more confident … if the stress doesn’t kill us first!

This week, I reckon we’ll all come to the conclusion that we’re not dead, despite seriously scary g-forces. Literally, I’ve been struggling just to stay standing since my back injury a year ago, but with a new and very talented therapist, I’m beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I won’t elaborate on the Full Moon here, since I posted a detailed report on Saturday. The rest of the week should be fairly calm by comparison, allowing us to catch our breath. Mars is picking up speed, too, which is helping us to get the energy and motivation we need to accomplish all the tasks we’ve let fall by the wayside since the beginning of the year.

Better still, Venus leaves Aries on Wednesday and enters Taurus. You’ll immediately feel the difference as the planet of love and symbol of the divine feminine goes from the sign of her detriment to the sign she rules. It’s time for chocolate, roses, good food, good wine, and every other sensual pleasure known to humanity. I sometimes joke that the only reason to incarnate on the material plane is for sex and chocolate. Otherwise, I’d be happy as a disembodied being of light in another quadrant of the universe.

Thursday is April Fool’s Day and time for some much-needed laughs. Just take care that you don’t joke at someone else’s expense. With Mercury square Chiron that day, there’s a high risk of hurting someone’s feelings, and that defeats the whole purpose of this light-hearted tradition.

Mercury joins Venus in Taurus on Friday, and the weekend could be somewhat tense as both Venus and Mercury square Mars, with Venus trine Pluto just as the planetary symbol of underworld forces is stationed to go retrograde. If you’re romantically involved with someone, expect to experience a conflict between sexual attraction and emotional disconnection. Pluto typically gets what he wants, so you’ll probably give in to the physical urges. That’s OK, as long as you address your emotional needs when conditions are more favorable.

Even in non-romantic relationships, you may feel an emotional tug-of-war beneath the surface. I’m usually in favor of being open and direct, but this weekend, hold back a bit and wait for a more suitable time to talk. With Pluto turning retrograde, the potential for deep insight is very high. My best advice to you is to let go of attachment to any particular outcome, because what you get instead could be vastly superior.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Full Moon in Libra, March 29-30

One month ago, just before the Full Moon in Virgo, a mega-quake struck Chile. There have been aftershocks daily as the Earth adjusts to the new alignment.

Our personal lives are undergoing a series of shifts and aftershocks, too. Monday’s Full Moon at 9 degrees Libra is the culmination of a cycle of readjustment as we leave behind old ways of being and doing so that we can move ahead into new territory.

This Full Moon and the New Moon in Aries on April 14 mark the halfway point between eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer, and we’re at a critical turning point. With the Moon in Libra opposite the Sun in Aries, our main focus will be on how we balance our own needs with those of others. This is never easy, particularly if you have been raised to put others before yourself.

Many of us are rethinking the load we’re carrying and how much additional weight we can support when others don’t do their part. How willing are we to keep doing a job that’s not ours? This could apply to picking up someone else’s dirty socks, constantly bailing out financially irresponsible relatives, or, for that matter, bailing out banks with our tax dollars. At some point, we just can’t do it anymore.

Women of my generation were raised to put husband, kids, boyfriends, boss, and everyone but themselves first. Old patterns don’t change overnight, but there will be some reckoning on this count, thanks to Venus, the ruler of the Full Moon, in me-first Aries. Admittedly, she’s not at her best in Aries, precisely because the divine feminine she represents is expected to be soft, sweet, conciliatory, and other-oriented. Well, forget that!

At the same time, Mars, ruler of Aries, is in ego-centered Leo. Now, Leos, don’t take offense. As I wrote in my weekly forecast, there’s nothing wrong with a healthy ego, and that’s part of my point here. A strong sense of self is prerequisite to so many things in life, and it can make relationships a lot easier when you directly tell others what you want and need. That doesn’t mean you’ll get it, but at least you’ll be clear about why you’re fighting. People often don’t want to be direct about their needs because they fear confrontation.

You probably won’t be able to avoid conflict right now, so you might as well speak up for yourself. The Sun and Moon are in a cardinal T-square with Pluto, and retrograde Saturn is part of this configuration, too. I’ve written a lot about the changes coming as a result of this T-square, and change simply can’t happen without conflict. Globally, conflicts are heating up and moving toward a boiling point in the next few months.

For now, though, we’re attempting to restore some semblance of balance after being knocked off our feet. Make that your goal between now and the New Moon in Aries, when new directions will be more apparent. We’ll need to be ready to hit the ground running and change on a dime.

One last consideration is that Venus and communications planet Mercury are in a close sextile with Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius, reinforcing the message that the way to deep healing is by communicating your needs and desires. Again, it doesn’t mean you’ll get everything you want, but you certainly won’t get it if you don’t ask.

The Sabian symbol* for the Moon at 9°17″ Libra is a canoe approaching safety through dangerous waters, with the keyword COMPETENCY. Simply put, the more you go through challenging situations, the better you get at handling them.

For the Sun at 9°17″ Aries, the Sabian symbol is a man teaching new forms for old symbols, with the keyword INTERPRETATION. Ancient wisdom isn’t written in stone, but is subject to continual reinterpretation as humanity evolves and expands in conscious awareness. And what we believe deeply impacts how we connect with the world and everyone in it. Changing our fundamental beliefs is part of the global shift that’s taking place.

Wishing you all fearless love,
Pat

* From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmond Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in the early 1920s. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

The Lone Astrologer

Barn fire at my childhood home in Unadilla Forks, N.Y., March 1968.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Diane saying she is leaving RealAstrologers. I asked her to write a notice for our readers. Here it is:

Something that has become clear to me as a result of the doctor visits and tests, is leading a simpler, less stressful life with fewer distractions, commitments and minimal deadlines is now a must. So regretfully I am leaving Real Astrologers in Pat Paquette’s keeping. Please encourage her to keep Real Astrologers going with her great weekly forecasts and many interesting posts. Keeping up with Libra Seeking Balance is enough for me at this time in my life.

This is a pretty abrupt change, but that is how things are happening these days with the cardinal T-square. You see, just because we’re astrologers (and even when we see things coming), we are not immune to the same forces that are shaking up everyone else. I’m scrambling to pick up the pieces, but will make every attempt to post regularly, as we have been. The Friday Q&A column will continue, along with weekly forecasts, lunations (I’ll have a post up tomorrow on the coming Full Moon), and perhaps some new features.

That said, I’ll be rearranging pages on the site in the days and weeks ahead to reflect that RealAstrologers is now just me. I would very much appreciate your support, and please join me in wishing Diane well in her Libra quest for a more balanced life.

Pat

Weekly Forecast March 22: Sun Square Pluto

March sunrise over West Seattle. I took this photo on an early morning trip across Puget Sound last week. Photo by Pat Paquette.

For the past year, astrologers have been writing about the potential for upheaval as the planetary focus shifts to the cardinal signs. This week, we get major clues as to how these energies might play out.

On Monday, Mars in early Leo sextiles Saturn in early Libra. Mars is slowly beginning to creep forward again after being retrograde for more than three months, while Saturn continues moving in “reverse” and will make a return visit to Virgo in a couple of weeks. This will remove him from the cardinal buildup. In the meantime, this week’s Mars-Saturn sextile helps restrain the egocentric nature of Mars in Leo and helps us get our work done.

Saturn continues to form a square with Pluto, indicating standoffs between competing powers. I’m not sure who I’d root for here but probably would place bets discreetly on both sides, kind of like a multinational corporation contributing to both political parties in a close race.

The rubber meets the road on Tuesday, when the Moon enters Cancer. The cardinal T-square formed by the Sun newly in Aries, plus Pluto and Saturn, becomes a grand cross, even if just for a day. Activity will be fast and furious, and if you aren’t careful, you could cancel out your initiatives by acting on too many fronts at once. Likewise, groups of people may cancel out positive change through competing interests. Emotions are going to run high, too. For some, they may be totally out of control.

Ironically, the release valve and key to getting tangible results is Mars in Leo. For once, looking out for yourself first may be the answer. “Ego” is not always a bad word. If we didn’t have one, we’d be doormats subject to getting walked all over by everyone. A healthy ego that knows how to balance its own needs with the needs of others will get you through. If you want to know where to assert your ego, look at where 1 degree Leo falls in your chart.

Whatever happens this week will reverberate into early August, when we’ll experience another cardinal grand cross with Saturn in Libra.

After Tuesday, it’s back to the cardinal T-square, with an “arm” left empty after the Moon moves past early Cancer. If you have personal planets or chart angles in early Cancer, the area of your life represented by that point could come under intense pressure. That will be true off and on into the summer, so make sure you pay extra attention to developments this week, as they will be ongoing themes for you. The United States chart (Sibly) has 1 degree Libra on the Midheaven, with early Cancer in the seventh house. Expect more news of open enemies and conflicts with allies.

Thursday is a potentially difficult day for everyone, when the Sun squares Pluto. Notwithstanding what I just wrote about your ego, do exercise good judgment in how you stand up for yourself. Before you put yourself in a compromising position, be sure you’re right and that the reward is worth the potential consequences. Spraying graffiti all over the county courthouse and defending it as your right to free speech would not be a good idea right now.

The weekend is fairly quiet and best spent getting things done around the home and office. Tidy up as much as you can before next Monday’s Full Moon. As usual, Diane will have a full report later this week on what else you can do to prepare.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Saturday Extra! International Astrology Day

Today is spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of the astrological year, when the Sun enters the sign of Aries.

Not only is Aries the first sign of the zodiac, but the first of the four cardinal signs. Think of the force of shoots pushing through the heavy earth toward the sun or of a bear coming out of hibernation, and you understand the nature of Aries. You’ll also begin to understand the forces that are at work on the planet and the breadth of the changes in store for us all.

We’ve been experiencing a slow build-up of cardinal energy over the past two years, ever since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008. Then Saturn entered Libra last year, and Jupiter and Uranus will enter Aries in late spring, creating a cardinal T-square. Now, with the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all in Aries, we’re in for a brief taste of how the cardinal forces will play out. Keep your antennae up for critical information.

I’m advising my clients to stay mobile and flexible, as anything could happen, and our lives could change on a dime. Where you have cardinal energy in your chart is where you are most likely to experience new developments.

I’ll have more in my weekly forecast on Monday, so stay tuned …

Happy Astrology Day!

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is This a Good Time to Launch a Business?

This week’s question comes from Rossa in the UK:

I’m in the process of doing market research for a new business and product. It is early days but so far the feedback I’ve had has been positive. However, I have been out of work for over two years and have tried out various ideas and explored other employment avenues without success. I am a little wary that this may be yet another dead end and I’m going to end up disappointed again. Is there anything astrologically that would signify a change in my working life that you could share with me?

Diane’s response:

Rossa, it really is no surprise you are thinking about business ventures and working to improve your financial situation in general with all those transiting planets in your second house of “accounts receivable.” I would encourage you to continue doing your homework and making sure you understand exactly what you are getting into.

Natally, Jupiter is in your tenth house opposite Mars in your fourth, and transiting Neptune forms a T-square with those from your second house. This raises a red flag in my opinion, because it is so easy to overlook important details under this influence. Keep that old adage about “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” firmly in mind.

Jupiter in Pisces will be squaring your Moon in Sagittarius very soon. Since Jupiter rules Sagittarius, your emotions are probably all over the place, going from one extreme to the other. One day you are over the top when you think about your plans, and the next you could find yourself feeling way in over your head.

Saturn in Libra is transiting your eighth house and squared your natal Saturn last December. If you have felt like you have been walking through deep mud every time you spoke with your bank or other lending institutions about borrowing money, Saturn transiting the eighth is likely the cause. However, when Saturn moves back into Virgo and forms a sextile with your natal Jupiter in April and May, you may have a window of opportunity to exploit.

Best of luck with your new venture, Rossa! Just check and double-check all those pesky details before signing the dotted line.

Pat’s response:

Rossa, you are in a favorable period for money and business, no doubt, and recent planetary transits have triggered your mental processes, so it’s no surprise that you have been getting a rush of ideas.

With so many planets transiting your second house, this is a great time to increase your income. However, transiting Saturn is retrograde in your eighth house of “other people’s money” and moving toward opposition with Uranus in late April, creating an ongoing tug-of-war between working for an employer versus striking out on your own. This process has yet to play out, and I believe you will experience major developments this summer, when Jupiter enters Aries and when we have another pair of eclipses. The solar eclipse on July 11 will be closely conjunct your Descendant, suggesting a sudden, radical shift.

As you point out, this is a cardinal year, and big changes are on the way for all of us. It’s too early to tell how things will pan out, so any moves we make right now are exploratory and subject to change on a dime.

I would not discourage you from researching your idea and exploring how you can make it happen, but I do think you should remain as detached as possible from the idea itself. It is quite possible that, given upcoming planetary activity, this idea itself is not the answer, but that pursuing it will lead to a series of events that will put you in the right place at the right time.

Also keep in mind that before launching your new business, it’s a good idea to get a professional astrological reading to guide you with timing and other factors, such as who you will be working with.

Thank you for writing, and do keep us posted!

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