Tag Archives: cardinal T-square

Weekly Forecast November 8: Mercury Enters Sagittarius, North Node Conjunct Pluto

Waning light of autumn. © Pat Paquette, 2010

The cardinal T-square is over, right? So why does it feel like the gift that keeps on giving?

There are a few different ways to answer that.

First, it’s not officially over yet. It has dissipated for a time, but it will be back in the spring, after Jupiter and Uranus are back in Aries, and then it will be activated on and off throughout 2011.

Second, a configuration like this doesn’t just happen and then “go away.” When the planets were aligned in a similar fashion in the early 1930s, a decade of economic depression followed, even though the planets were no longer aligned in a cardinal T-square. Something was initiated, which is what happens when planets are in cardinal signs. As they progress through the zodiac, the seed that was planted takes root and grows.

We are in that phase now. It’s interesting to note that economic writers who don’t follow astrology are talking about similarities between conditions in the early 1930s and current global economics.

Third – and here’s where I segue into this week’s forecast – the lunar North Node gradually has been moving toward the early degrees of Capricorn and conjunction with Pluto, who was the focus of the T-square in 2010.

As I noted in a post last week, there’s a dramatic conjunction on Tuesday of Pluto and the North Node, which at that hour (1:12 p.m. EST) is still retrograde. It turns direct two hours later, just two minutes before the Moon conjoins Pluto. The node remains direct for four days, until 11:31 a.m. EST on November 13. During these four days, the North Node will remain within three arc minutes of Pluto. For all practical purposes, that’s an exact conjunction.

As far as I know, there is no astrological record of what happens when the North Node goes direct in conjunction with the Moon and Pluto, so I am speculating here. What I think may happen is that many of us will have a fleeting glimpse of the true nature of time, and that could mean a lot of premonitions, as well as past-life recognition or feelings of being in another time and place. It may happen in your dreams or while you’re awake. If it’s the latter, you could feel disoriented. I strongly recommend keeping a notebook with you this week.

I’d like to compare notes with others to see whether we can identify a pattern. Perhaps there’s something in the collective waiting to be discovered, and we’ll all get a glimpse of it together.

Otherwise, there isn’t a whole lot going on this week, astrologically speaking. On Monday, Mercury enters Sagittarius. It’s the sign of his detriment, and yet our mental processes tend to speed up. So does traffic, commerce, and other Mercury-ruled activities – to the extent that circuits can get overloaded and break down. At the very least, our sense of humor should improve, and we should feel a bit more optimistic.

Before I conclude, I want to share with you an e-mail I received from a client last week. He described his experience over the past several months like this:

[callout][It’s] like I am at the plate, bat in hand, and God is a stud pitcher throwing all his best stuff at me – curve balls (Uranus), sliders, breaking balls, fast balls … I keep swinging, it’s what I am supposed to do. If I crowd the plate or get too aggressive or expect too much (Mars), I get creamed with an inside pitch to the side of the head (Saturn). I guess I have to accept and wait for my pitch. They say that when the big league players are on their game, the ball coming at them is huge (like Jupiter). They see it almost in slow motion, swing, and wham, it’s outa there.

I keep thinking of Kirk Gibson. In the 1988 World Series he had a stomach virus and could barely walk because of knee injuries sustained in the series before (he was literally beat to shit). He could not play his regular position. The coach put him in to pinch hit and after battling through six pitches, he connects and the ball is out of the park. I will never forget that.

Here’s to seeing the pitches.[/callout]

Sports metaphors aren’t my forte, but I know a home run when I see it.

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

Ask Real Astrologers: Is There Anything Positive About Venus Retrograde?

Looking for AnswersThis week’s question comes from Jennifer in Los Angeles:

My natal Venus happens to be both retrograde and in Scorpio. I have heard that when a person has a retrograde planet in a particular sign, that the inverted energies of the planet will reverse themselves, or “go direct,” when that planet goes retrograde in the same sign again. Sort of like two wrongs making a right.

Natal Venus retrograde in Scorpio is INTENSE, to say the least. I would love your insight into this awkward astrological predicament, especially how it relates to re-visiting past-life relationships. In the last year, I have felt more stuck and helpless than at any other time. If you have any words of encouragement for this Venus in Scorpio retrograde time, I’d love to hear them.

Great question, Jennifer. I’ve heard that theory, too, and it makes sense on a certain level. However, I just haven’t been able to verify it in action.

In my observation, each retrograde is different, depending on the sign of the retrograde planet, the house it’s transiting in your natal chart, the aspects it makes with your natal planets, and aspects it’s making with transiting planets. This is also true of Mercury retrograde.

The most I can say with any confidence is that people with a retrograde planet or with a challenging aspect in their natal chart – for example, a fixed T-square – seem to do better than the general population during periods when that planet is retrograde or when there’s a similar configuration in the sky. The logical explanation for this is that they were born with that particular challenge and so learned early on to compensate for it. You’re in your own element in a way, while others are totally disoriented and running around unsure of what to do.

I’ve seen more evidence of difficulty when a person’s chart ruler is retrograde. That means Rising Taurus and Rising Libra may be experiencing a lot of obstacles and frustrations right now.

Beyond that, I’d say that the intensity you feel isn’t all from your natal Venus. You have Venus, the Sun, and Uranus all closely conjunct in your twelfth house, and you’re a Rising Scorpio, too! Now that is intense, and it also means that you’ve got so many things going on at once that trying to pin down what transit is behind which circumstances in your life can be nearly impossible.

That said, it’s a given that Venus going retrograde a degree shy of your natal retrograde Venus is going to have some noticeable effect, and I’d expect it to have something to do with revisiting your relationships or, even more importantly, taking a good, hard look at your general approach to love and intimacy. I have a feeling that you’re not attracting the kind of relationship that fulfills your needs, and this is a perfect time for getting to the bottom of it. If you know a good therapist, I would use these last few weeks of Venus retrograde to have a session or two and at least start exploring the possible ways you may be holding yourself back or even sabotaging yourself when it comes to love. This would be the most valuable gift you could give to yourself while Venus is retrograde.

I could also see how Venus retrograde in your twelfth house would trigger dreams and memories of past-life relationships, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you encountered someone you knew in a past-life (or, as I prefer to call them, “other lives”). I’m seeing a lot of this these days, though, and I can’t say that it’s all due to Venus retrograde. The cardinal T-square, with Pluto at the apex, seems to be awakening these memories in many people. Venus retrograde in Scorpio simply reinforces this trend.

I would advise you to get a complete transit reading as soon as you’re able. There’s a lot going on in your chart, and I simply don’t have the space here to address it all.

Keep your chin up. Things are the way they are for a reason. See if you can accept the change in your life and let it takes its course. If you fight it, you’ll only dig yourself in deeper.

Thanks for writing, Jennifer. I wish you lots of love, courage, and abundance.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact me, or I won’t get your question. I do read all of your questions, although I am sorry that I can’t answer them all. If you need immediate guidance or in-depth advice, please contact me for a private consultation. THANKS!

Under Construction

© Chad Palmer for Dreamstime.com

You’ve probably noticed a few things different around here. I hope you’re able to pick your way over the unpacked boxes and aren’t too disoriented.

I’ve had this project in the works for a couple of months and was hoping to be able to unveil it in a (somewhat) final form. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out the way we planned, and with the remnants of the cardinal T-square still playing out, life is moving so quickly that often there isn’t enough time for careful orchestration. I was planning on launching at the Full Moon on Friday, but as of today we had enough done that there didn’t seem to be much point in reverting to the old theme.

Still, there may be some things missing, so bear with us while we fill in the gaps. This theme has a ton of customizing to do. It could take weeks to get everything in order. Among other things, I’m going to have to go back through old posts and resize images. I’ll probably do a few months’ worth and then leave the older ones as they are. As it is, I’m backlogged on work for clients and have had to delay delivery dates for reports, which always makes me feel terrible.

Once I catch up on my consultations, I have several other ideas for adding new features in the future, so keep checking back! In the meantime, it’s sort of like moving into a new home and having to put up with the mess for a bit.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast October 18: Full Moon in Aries, Sun Enters Scorpio

Apples, symbol of the underworld. © Pat Paquette, 2010.

If last week’s planetary aspects represented a holding pattern, this week we come in for a landing.

Be prepared to hit the ground running, with Mars in Scorpio making dynamic trines to Jupiter and Uranus, just as the Full Moon takes place in Mars-ruled Aries. And that’s not all.

Monday is still a bit slow, with the Moon in dreamy Pisces and Mercury in a trine to Neptune, Pisces’ ruling planet. Neptune and Chiron are still tracking fairly closely in Aquarius, an energy pattern suggestive healing on the collective level.

One of the ways we heal is by connecting with our tribe, which we sometimes call kindred spirits. I’m seeing a growing trend in this regard, and some individuals even are making connections across time-space boundaries. If you’ve been experiencing this phenomenon, stay open to messages brought to you by Mercury, planet of communications, in synch with Neptune, dissolver of boundaries.

The channel remains open through Tuesday, when Mercury forms an inconjunct (technically, a quincunx) with Uranus. Uranus is back in Pisces until March, meaning that Neptune and Pisces remain in mutual reception. Aspects to one planet feed into the other. Healing on an individual scale affects collective healing and vice versa. You can’t have one without the other, which is why so many of us who have been working on our personal healing for so many years seem to have bumped up against an invisible glass ceiling.

The Sun in late Libra, only a few degrees behind Mercury, repeats these same aspects on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing clarity to what you’re picking up. I often caution against hanging out on the astral plane, as what you see there may be real, or it may be an illusion. If you have any doubts, seek to be enlightened mid-week. Heck, you may not even have to seek it. It may come whether you look for it or not.

Also on Tuesday, Ceres conjoins Pluto. Although they tracked very closely this past spring, the conjunction was never exact. Since the IAU revised its definition of “planet” in 2006, putting Ceres on a par with Pluto, astrologers have been working more closely with her in an attempt to fully understand her role in both personal and mundane astrology. We already know from mythology that Ceres and Pluto are connected, but there also is a theory going around that they came from the same area of the solar system, and Ceres somehow migrated inward. Think about the implications of that!

Ceres is coming into the collective awareness, and I believe this will lead to a global transformation on many levels. Her exact alignment with Pluto this week may well be her breakthrough role.

We’ll feel a shift on Wednesday, when the Moon enters Aries and Mercury enters Scorpio. The Moon in early Aries squares Pluto and triggers the cardinal T-square points, and we’ll likely get a quick review of the last the Full Moon, which fell at 0 degrees Aries. Mercury in Scorpio brings deep insights we may have missed before and that give new meaning to recent events.

You won’t get a lot of time to ruminate, though, as the second half of the week could bring opportunities very quickly and totally out of the blue, thanks to Mars aspecting Jupiter, Neptune, Chiron, and Uranus, all in quick succession. Then there’s the Full Moon, which peaks at 9:37 p.m. Friday on the East Coast of the United States. Everything comes full circle, and we could be in for a very busy weekend!

On Saturday, the Sun enters Scorpio, the sign of going “underground” for death and regeneration. In a way, we’ve been doing that all summer, so it’s anyone’s guess how this Plutonic energy will manifest. Remember, Venus also is in Scorpio, and she’s retrograde. We’re rethinking what we want, at the same time as Mars in Scorpio helps us go get it. To those who wonder whether they really want what they thought they did, I advise doing whatever it takes to get clarity in a real hurry. Otherwise, those opportunities might fly by you at head-spinning speed.

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

Full Moon in Aries, October 22

Moonrise in Indian Cove, Joshua Tree National Park. © Michael Thompson for Dreamstime.com

The Full Moon on Friday, October 22, is at 29 degrees Aries and is the second in a row in the sign of the Ram. Other than that, they have little in common.

A month ago, on September 23, the the Full Moon at 0 degrees Aries activated the early degrees of the cardinal signs and represented an “early harvest” of changes that began to sweep through our lives during the cardinal T-square. The changes we envisioned were held back, like water behind a dam, as long as Saturn was in tight formation with Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto.

When Saturn began to move on, the obstacles started to clear, and the changes we could only glimpse back then began materializing. This Full Moon brings it all full circle and lights the way for us to move confidently down a new path, perhaps with new goals and a totally new perspective.

This past week, we witnessed the dramatic rescue of 33 Chilean miners who had been trapped half a mile underground since August 5, the peak date of the cardinal T-square. Several astrologers have commented on the undeniable connection between the collapse of the mine and the cardinal T-square, and the symbolism of death and rebirth – literally coming up out of the earth – when Ceres returned to a conjunction with Pluto.

All of the interpretations I read were excellent, but among them one in particular stood out, by Christina Rodenbeck in Oxford, England, who wove astrology into the mythology of the indigenous people. It was short, simple, and to the point.

But why mention all of this after the fact, in a post on the Full Moon?

The lunar cycle has been an important timing indicator as we’ve moved through the T-square and beyond. The miners were rescued on Wednesday, with the Moon in early Capricorn conjunct Ceres and Pluto. I mentioned in my forecast last week that Wednesday would be a T-square flashback day, and so it was. And not just for los 33.

The ordeal of the Chilean miners was a very literal interpretation of the T-square – going down into the underworld and returning to a new life. Many of us are experiencing a similar pattern on a more subtle, energetic level, but it is every bit as powerful. I’m seeing more and more deep changes, with individuals emerging in a “new, improved” state that will allow them to live more richly and fully and to be who they were meant to be.

The chart for this Full Moon says it all – every planet except Saturn is contained within the axis of the Sun at 29°33′ Libra and the Moon at 29°33′ Aries. The restraining influence, the Lord of Time, is out of the picture. Between the rest, there is a connection and a flow.

The Sun and Moon are in a lovely sextile and trine with Pluto and Ceres, forming an easy path for all of that Plutonian stress that built up over the summer. The easy manner in which the miners ascended to the surface is a fitting metaphor. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had an elevator to bring us up out of our worldly trap? Then … maybe we do. As I’ve written many times, sometimes the way out is up.

The Sun and Moon also make a sextile and trine to Neptune and Chiron, although it’s separating. That suggests to me that the deep healing we needed in order to move past the obstacles has taken place, and now we’re assimilating it into our lives. The more whole we are inside (whole and heal come from the same Latin root), the better we’re able to manifest what we want and need, without the glitches and gremlins that often appear as part of the process.

Mars and Jupiter also are in a separating trine, which will be exact on Wednesday, two days before the Full Moon. Jupiter is retrograde and could use an energy boost from Mars, who’s very powerful in Scorpio, the sign he co-rules with Pluto. Mars will trine Uranus two days after the Full Moon, which could be a big release point for new opportunities that are exciting and perhaps unexpected.

Mars also is in a square with Neptune and Chiron, which seems negative on the face of it. However, Neptune and Uranus are in mutual reception, and so I believe that the healing that’s taking place will feed into the new opportunities and vice versa. Difficult Mars-Neptune combinations can sometimes sap your energy – it depends on where Mars is transiting your chart – and you may be challenged to let go of some preconceived notions of what you need. The ego has a way of defending itself that isn’t always in our best interest, and when it has to be forced into another way of being – even a better one – the result can feel a lot like pain and suffering!

Just remember, there is no growth without change, and change by definition can be very painful, especially when you’ve invested so much in maintaining the status quo.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Moon at 29°33′ Aries is, A duck pond and its brood, with the keyword RELIABILITY. As with the previous Full Moon in Aries, this symbol is about self-discovery and finding your place in the cosmic order. Everyone has a special gift, and it’s up to you to discover it and to be true to your highest, best self. Once you do that, you can relax into your groove and just go with the flow.

For the Sun at 29°33′ Libra, the Sabian Symbol is Three mounds of knowledge on a philosopher’s head, with the keyword PRESCIENCE. This symbol is about recognizing how cosmic energies manifest in your own personal life. Once you start seeing the patterns, you start to develop the capability to see how things will turn out.

Amen to that! It pretty much sums up my approach to astrology, and it couldn’t be a more timely message.

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

** From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmond Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in 1925 with the help of Elsie Wheeler, a gifted psychic. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

Libra and Heidi Klum’s New Clothing Line for New Balance

I was about to hit the delete key on the e-mail from Amazon announcing Heidi Klum’s new line of clothing, but when I saw it was for New Balance, I decided to take the bait.

“Balance,” of course, is the keyword for Libra, and the new line was launched on October 7, the day of a very fine New Moon in Libra. Makes you wonder whether Klum has a personal astrologer. Or maybe they do at Amazon, because somebody hit that launch right on the money. Then, it could be just something in the collective, channeling through Amazon and superwoman Klum, who has made millions as a supermodel, businesswoman, television personality, working mom, and goddess knows what else.

These clothes fill a need for women who don’t want to spend a lot of time fussing about their appearance but want to look pulled together and chic while they run back and forth doing daily errands. Is that not what Libra is all about? Balance, balance. I’m not one to fall for advertising gimmicks, but I just love this look. I think it’s great that Heidi Klum has put her stamp on clothing that is modern and functional. It’s like living in your jammies, only more sophisticated … the best thing since Gloria Vanderbilt created designer sweats for air travel in the 1980s.

Now, you’re asking whether Klum has Libra in her chart. We don’t have a birth time for her, so we don’t know her Rising Sign. Libra might be a good guess, but I won’t speculate. Otherwise, she has a stellium in Gemini – Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn, which are being favorably aspected by transiting planets in fellow air sign Libra.

Like everyone born in 1973, she has Pluto in early Libra, which means Saturn recently crossed her natal Pluto, and transiting Pluto is square her natal Pluto. In other words, her chart was hit strongly by the cardinal T-square. The ad campaign on Amazon for her new clothing line features Klum bouncing on a trampoline. Her life no doubt felt like that for most of the summer! As she put it, the trampoline was meant to symbolize “energy and activity.” Again, we could have lifted those two words right out of an astrology text, as they’re significant keywords for the cardinal signs.

I also found it very interesting that Klum’s new line, called HKNB, is being sold exclusively on Amazon.com. The company was incorporated on May 28, 1996. At noon on that day (the time we use as a default when we don’t have an exact time), the Moon was at 13 degrees Libra – a degree shy of last Thursday’s New Moon.

Coincidence? You be the judge…

Meanwhile, check out some of HKNB’s styles, even if you’re only “Windows shopping.” I normally don’t feature anything but books in on my site, but I went ahead and created a slideshow with a few of my favorite looks. Just ignore the silly high-heeled boots. They must have confused Libra with Venus retrograde in Scorpio.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

UPDATE October 31: Well, apparently launching at the New Moon in Libra couldn’t overcome launching during Venus retrograde. Reviews are coming in, and for the most part the feedback is negative. Judging from the comments, the fabric is nice, but the workmanship is shoddy, the fit is poor, and the clothes are way overpriced. I should have predicted this…

Amazon.com Widgets

Weekly Forecast October 11: Sun Conjunct Mercury

Fresh crop of pears in Leavenworth, Washington.
© Pat Paquette, 2010.

You know it’s a fairly slow week when the only major aspect is a conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, which happens often enough (several times a year) that it’s not a big deal.

But it’s not likely to be a boring week. With Venus newly retrograde in Scorpio, there’s drama simmering under the surface. At the same time, the waxing Moon and three planets in cardinal Libra ensure that we continue to move forward, despite Libra’s ruler being in retreat, and there’s a chance of a brief T-square flashback mid-week.

Other than your own personal fallout from retrograde Venus, if you are indeed experiencing any effects, things should be pretty quiet until Wednesday, when the Moon enters Capricorn. Within a few hours, she’ll conjoin Ceres and Pluto and square Saturn. By now you should know where Pluto is transiting your chart, and you probably have a good idea of how the cardinal T-square is shaking out for you.

Keep your antennae up on Wednesday and Thursday for signs that reinforce the theme that has dominated your life over the past several months. Watch for some subtle shifting, too. I’ve sensed some movement lately, and while opportunities may have to wait until Venus and Jupiter return direct on November 18, the handwriting on the wall is becoming more clear.

On Saturday, the Sun conjoins Mercury at 23 degrees Libra. This is a great day for communicating rationally and fairly, with a good amount of give and take. A lot can be accomplished when both parties express their thoughts and feelings with clarity and then listen to what the other person has to say. This is not about positioning, manipulating, or otherwise trying to talk your way into what you want without any regard for others.

Since Venus is retrograde, this also would be a great time to address unresolved issues that have been bothering you and perhaps getting in the way of a close, satisfying relationship. Before you talk it out, though, I suggest that you have a very clear idea of what’s in your own heart. What do you really want from that other person? If it’s a fair and equal relationship, then any attempt to get a certain outcome because it’s what you want will backfire.

And guess what? It’s OK to admit that, if only to yourself. We all do it. It’s just a question of being mindful. There’s nothing like a Sun-Mercury conjunction in Libra to help you do just that.

Ultimately, this week is great for catching up and doing a little planning. Next week, things could start moving very fast. You’ll be able to respond to upcoming events better if you clear your plate … and your mind.

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

Weekly Forecast October 4: New Moon in Libra, Venus Retrograde

October sun reflected in the Wenatchee River on Stevens Pass. © Pat Paquette, 2010.

In our fast-paced world, time is the one thing we don’t seem to have enough of. So when we have to go back and rethink our plans or re-do something, we often think of it as wasting time.

Likewise, we tend to think that going back means we’re losing ground and not moving forward.

This week’s aspects will dispel those notions and may even help us perceive a different concept of time itself.

The New Moon in Libra just as its ruler, Venus, is going retrograde seems like a mixed message. On one hand, we begin a new cycle, while on the other, we have to go back for something we missed. I don’t see these two paths as contradictory at all. Retracing our steps is part of the process of growth and moving forward – if we view the process as a whole, as part of a cycle. As we progress along this time-space continuum, alternative routes open to us.

Moving through the summer’s cardinal T-square – or trying to, anyway – many of us were able to see where we needed to go, but we just couldn’t get there. Rather than stopping and waiting for the opening to appear, we kept moving, but without a vital piece of information or a critical event that needed to happen before everything else could fall into place.

Before I take the week chronologically, let’s have a look at the interplay between Venus, Pluto, and Saturn, who are in a powerful three-way reception. Venus, planet of love and desire, is in the sign ruled by Pluto, planet of transformation. Pluto, meanwhile, is in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, lord of time. Saturn is in Libra, ruled by Venus. And so we have the “circular path” that is the Sabian symbol for Thursday’s New Moon.

Saturn and Pluto are both karma planets. Pluto represents the “underworld,” or what I prefer to call the “otherworld.” This is where the underpinnings of our physical universe live, and it’s where we can work to transform. As lord of time, Saturn represents manifestation on the physical plane. Once we transform our energy underpinnings, what manifests in our physical world changes, too. With Venus in Scorpio, we need to be especially mindful of what we’re attempting to manifest. If we try to control the results for gratification of our immediate physical desires, we remain stuck in fear and attachment.

Venus retrograde in Scorpio is asking us to release ourselves from those attachments. You know you’re attached when you’re obsessing about someone or something.

So, that’s a rather long introduction, but it’s important to keep these concepts in mind this week as we take advantage of this exceptional New Moon to put all the pieces together and move into the new territory we’ve been exploring for most of this year.

On Tuesday (late Monday in far western time zones), Mercury squares Pluto, which may bring those obsessive thoughts to the surface. If this happens, don’t fight it. Those thoughts that keep spinning ’round and ’round in your head are trying to get your attention. Work on figuring out the message, which will contain invaluable information about what you need to work on to achieve your goals.

The Moon enters Libra on Wednesday and begins its monthly journey over the degrees of the cardinal T-square. On Thursday, she conjoins Mercury and Saturn and then carries that energy forward to the New Moon, which occurs at 2:45 p.m. on the East Coast of the United States.

Venus turns retrograde on Friday morning, but you’ll likely start feeling the effects early in the week, if you haven’t already. With Mercury in Venus-ruled Libra, you might even be experiencing some low-level effects of Mercury retrograde.

Mercury conjoins Saturn on Friday as well, which can help us get a grip on reality. Reality can be depressing sometimes, but it’s a lot easier if you work toward aligning your goals with your true purpose in life. If you don’t know what that is, I strongly recommend an astrology reading or some other method, such as Tarot.

Also on Friday, Ceres re-enters Capricorn. She was part of the cardinal T-square back in April when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, and then she went retrograde and returned to Sagittarius for four months. As I noted in my New Moon post on Saturday, Ceres is now moving toward conjunction with Pluto (exact on October 19). This reinforces the theme of venturing into your deep psyche to reclaim something you need in order to advance. Be attentive for the next few weeks to fleeting memories of your past. In some cases, they may not be so brief but could be right in your face.

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

New Moon in Libra, October 7

Evening Mood, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1882.

I have high hopes for this New Moon. In many ways, it starts a new cycle and builds on the foundation of the cardinal T-square.

If you’ve been confused about how the T-square was redirecting your life – or if you didn’t see it at all – the message will be readily apparent now. All of those blocked energies, the frustration, the obstacles … Libra is the sign of balance and harmony, and with this New Moon, you can arrive at a new understanding of how crisis after crisis pushed you into a new direction or a different way of seeing the world.

With that understanding, it’s easier to relax and let go of trying to control events, people, and situations. Your life has been on track all along, even if it didn’t seem like it.

I see this trend in the kinds of clients who are contacting me now and in the nature of their questions. Many are beginning to realize their special healing gifts, while others need guidance or confirmation as their lives take off in new directions that are more in harmony with their inner being. A surprising number are asking about past lives and karmic relationships. This is all evidence of a brilliant awakening in human consciousness. I’ve seen this coming for several years. It’s amazing to see it actually manifesting!

Right after this New Moon, all of the inner planets will be contained within the boundaries of the T-square. The Moon will venture beyond for half of every month, but as of this lunation, it’s on the inside. This tells me that we’re going deep into T-square territory, living the changes that took place within us over the summer, both individually and collectively.

The Sun and Moon at 14 degrees Libra make no close aspects to other planets, although they are in a wide conjunction with Saturn at 8 degrees Libra and Mercury at 7 degrees Libra. The Mercury-Saturn conjunction allows clarity of thought, which in turn leads to realistic planning and a balanced approach to achieving your goals.

With four planets in Libra, there’s also an emphasis on relationships. If you’ve been paying attention to how material circumstances manifest in your life, chances are, you understand that your biggest manifestation “successes” have come through positive relationships with others. We can manifest through troubled relationships, too, but those are the ones that tend to come with all the unwanted “side effects” and gremlins.

The relationship theme is reinforced by Venus, the ruler of this New Moon, who is at a dead stop in preparation for returning retrograde the next day. Further, she’s still in close conjunction with Mars, her lover. Venus in Scorpio craves deep intimacy and merging with her soul mate, but he’s starting to move away. This could lead to widespread feelings of abandonment and isolation. It won’t last, but it could be difficult while we’re in it. Another thing to watch for is past-life experiences. More of us may have dreams or fleeting visions of life in other time spaces, with glimpses of a soul mate.

Jupiter and Uranus remain closely conjunct in Pisces, with Uranus and Neptune in mutual reception and Jupiter in a near-exact semi-sextile with Neptune and Chiron. Throughout the cardinal T-square period, there has been an inherent message of healing. It may be so subtle that you don’t realize it’s happening, but if you stop to think about it, you’ll see where the deep healing is taking place in your life.

Healing, remember, comes from the same Latin root as “wholeness.” Connecting with our essential core brings us into awareness of limitless time and space and how we fit within the whole. With that awareness, we more easily see where our path lies and what our purpose is in this particular incarnation. With this awareness, a lot of things start making sense.

Ceres is edging closer to conjunction with Pluto, which I’ve previously written about as symbolic of an underworld journey to reclaim something we’ve lost. If Pluto represents other lives (the term I prefer to “past lives”), then connecting with this broader energy is another path to becoming whole. Put another way, seeing events, relationships, and even ourselves as part of a broader cycle is incredibly healing.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Sun and Moon at 14°24′ Libra is circular paths, with the keyword CONGRUITY. “Man and his world may seem completely at variance with each other at some point of crisis, but inevitably everything falls into place,” writes Marc Edmond Jones, who channeled the symbols in the early 1920s.

Again, I couldn’t imagine a more fitting symbol for these extraordinary times.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. Don’t forget to write your abundance check!

** From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmond Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in 1925 with the help of Elsie Wheeler, a gifted psychic. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

Ask Real Astrologers: The Mother of All Pluto Transits?

Looking for AnswersThis week’s question comes from Ivi in Serbia:

One loss after another … I’m overwhelmed with the intensity of my emotions and thoughts. I truly feel I have lost the sense of faith in life and love and the sense of direction and purpose. I don’t know what to do, how to help myself out of this. Please have a look at all the squares and oppositions Pluto and Saturn are making. Any piece of advice would mean a lot.

Ivi, you’ve been hammered by the cardinal T-square, no question. In your natal chart, you have the Sun, Mercury and Saturn all on your Ascendant in early Cancer, tightly square Pluto in early Libra. Anyone born from late 1973 to mid-1974 may be experiencing similar obstacles, although you’re getting an extra heavy dose.

Your short description of what you’re going through well expresses the anguish of having so much happening in your chart all at once. I could well imagine how you might feel overwhelmed.

If you can find a good astrologer in your area, I highly recommend getting a complete transit reading. I can’t touch on everything here, since there isn’t enough space, and anyway, this column isn’t intended as a substitute for a complete reading. However, I can tell you a couple of things that you and others born around the same time may find helpful.

First, anyone with natal Pluto in early Libra has been experiencing a Saturn-Pluto conjunction. This transit happens about once every 29 years and is a real bear. No one I know has gotten through it without extreme difficulty, mostly in the form of insurmountable obstacles. It can feel like you’re getting slammed from all sides at once, with no mercy.

The good news for you is that this transit is over. Those born in 1975 will get their turn in the next couple of months. So you should at least get some relief from that feeling that nothing is ever going to go your way.

However, Pluto is approaching your Descendant, and that means he is opposing all of the planets on your Ascendant as well, just as Uranus is approaching a square with them. The opposition between Pluto and Saturn is especially difficult, and it often corresponds to losses. These losses can be a maturing event. Further, when losses occur during Pluto and Uranus transits, it’s sometimes a sign that you need to let go of those things. If you’re trying to hang onto relationships, a job, money, or anything else that needs to change, you’ll likely suffer even more.

Ironically, giving up may be exactly what you need to do. If you admit defeat, your life suddenly may take a very different course, because you will be opening yourself up to new possibilities that you may not have thought of. It’s very hard to hang out in that state of uncertainty and not knowing where to go next, but if you can keep your nerve and tough it out, I expect that your life will change in very powerful ways. Only after you get to your new place will you understand why all of these changes needed to happen.

I also want to point out that loss of a loved one can result in an episode of depression. That is outside the scope of astrology, and I would strongly advise you to see a professional therapist to help you work through your grief and pain. Indeed, you may find just such a person when Pluto crosses your Descendant again. He or she may have a lasting impact on your personal growth and spiritual transformation. Ultimately, that is what Pluto represents.

Before I close, I’d like to repeat my request that anyone with a question for this column submit it via the Ask Real Astrologers form. Otherwise I have trouble keeping track of all the questions I get, and I don’t get the information I need to cast an accurate chart for you. Ivi left a comment on a post, but she followed up by submitting her question with the form. Thank you for that, Ivi.

And thank you for writing. You will get through this, and you will be transformed by it.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact me, or I won’t get your question. I do read all of your questions, although I am sorry that I can’t answer them all. If you need immediate guidance or in-depth advice, please contact me for a private consultation. THANKS!