© Liudmila Gridina for Dreamstime.com
The images are unfamiliar, and most of the other people in the dreams don’t resemble anyone I know. Typically, I thought it was just me. Within a few days, a friend mentioned she had experienced something similar, and another friend said the same thing. While I was in the city last week, I overheard two more conversations. In every case, there was a sense of bewilderment and disquiet, and of course they all thought it was “just me.”
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Fish fighting for food. © Renars Jurkovskis for Dreamstime.com
Simply put, we need conflict. Rather than trying to make it go away, we might do better to understand its role in our growth and evolution. We need to learn to make peace with conflict, as it were.
How many people think conflict is bad by definition and to be avoided? In fact, there is no avoiding conflict. We don’t all want the same things, and that, in a nutshell, is the source of conflict. There seems to be a movement these days toward trying to get everyone to want and need the same thing. We’re all supposed to hold hands, sing Kumbaya, acknowledge that we’re all part of the human family, etcetera ad nauseam. The first tactic is to try to persuade everyone to agree on what’s desirable. When that doesn’t happen (and it never will), group leaders resort to underhanded, manipulative tactics to try to coerce others to accept their worldview – the whole point being to avoid conflict. It’s comical, when you think about it. The result, however, is no laughing matter.
One of the most insidious manipulation techniques I’ve had to grapple with over the past couple of weeks is the use of pop psychology terms applied backwards. I’m reminded of a situation I encountered as a teenager babysitting two small children for the couple next door. Jody, 5, had discovered an ingenious means of getting what she wanted. She’d walk up to her 3-year-old brother, Danny, and grab his toy, often by force. When he put up the predictable protest (which typically involved hitting and pushing), she’d go to her mother and complain in her best victim voice, “Danny won’t share” or “Danny hit me.” I witnessed poor Danny getting spanked more than once. Finally, I said something to their mother, who immediately called Jody into the room and asked whether it was true that she took Danny’s toys. Of course, Jody lied, and her mother accepted her word over mine. I tried to help Danny by giving him extra special attention and care. But then Jody started making a fuss whenever I babysat. I don’t need to tell you how that turned out.
I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about how this story applies to many relationships today, be they political, social, personal, or romantic. For my part, I’ve had intimate contact with the aggressive side of Mars over the past few weeks, and I’ve finally realized with crystal clarity that it serves a productive purpose – even as it destroys. The old and unworkable needs to be eliminated in order to clear the way for the new and sustainable. The destroyer is serving a high and noble cause, but invariably, he is labeled “bad” and “negative.” It does tend to make him a bit feisty and irritable. Hopefully, under Mercury and Mars retrograde, some light will be shed on how situations and relationships devolved into irreconcilable conflict and how we can move past these obstacles to reach our goals.
Saturn retrograde in Libra with Mars retrograde is helping us to understand the role of conflict in finding balance. Balance doesn’t happen by forcing everyone into agreement – if that were even possible. We need multiple points of view. Without them, what we have is the tyranny of the majority our forefathers warned against. Have you ever noticed that when disagreements arise, people tend to try to convince others of their position and then form a group of people who think the same way? Truth isn’t determined by numbers.
As of last Friday, Mercury is in Aries, so now he and Mars are in mutual reception. As I predicted, the noise level went up immediately, and it will go up another several decibels when Mercury turns retrograde on March 12. In addition, computer problems are escalating from the merely frustrating to the absolutely ridiculous. I’ve been editing a spot for the film and video program that should have taken a week. Due to computer breakdowns, I’m now in my fourth week and counting. If any of you tried to access RealAstrolgers yesterday, you may have noticed a page of error messages. The fix took more than three hours, although I can’t fault my web host, InMotion Hosting. They were extra busy yesterday – big surprise there – and did the job as fast as they could. And they were so darn polite – a real feat, given the astrological climate. On Thursday, I received an e-mail from a client about a computer nightmare at her workplace that could turn into total chaos when her company switches over to a new system on March 12. Monday’s conjunction of Mercury and Uranus is the spark that ignites the electrical fire – literally and figuratively. I can’t say it enough: back up your computer data!
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On the positive side – and there is one, thank goddess – Venus enters Taurus on Monday. Jupiter also is in Taurus, and these two are quite a lucky pair. They’ll form an exact conjunction next week, but they’re close enough at the Full Moon to create a positive vibe for manifesting real, concrete results, despite the tension and conflict – or perhaps because of it. Venus and Jupiter will form one leg of an earth trine with Pluto in Capricorn and Mars in Virgo. This creative configuration reinforces the notion that the destructive force of Mars is breaking down structures that are no longer serving us, clearing space for a fresh start. We’ve been traveling that road since summer of 2010 (some of us earlier), and this is a major milestone.
Again, it’s helpful to keep our sights on our long-term goals and our life’s purpose as we navigate through the rough seas of the next few weeks. Look for new developments that will blossom with the spring flowers, after Mercury and Mars return direct in the first half of April. Speaking of spring flowers, Venus sextiles Neptune on Tuesday, giving us an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature as an antidote to all the BS.
Wishing you infinite love, courage, and beauty,
Pat
I found this great visual to help understand Saturday’s “supermoon” Full Moon in Virgo and wanted to share it with all of you. Let me also take this opportunity to encourage everyone to hang in there, despite any endings you may experience in the next few days. Anything you’re forced to let go of now is in preparation for the new doors that will open for you at the powerful Aries New Moon on April 3.
Pat
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There's nothing like late-winter rain to clear the way for new growth in spring. © Pat Paquette 2011.
The one thing I find reassuring is that, as we saw during last year’s peak cardinal T-square period, events usually don’t happen on the dates when astrological aspects are exact. Often there’s a “trigger,” such as Mars passing over a critical degree, and events even can happen before the corresponding astrological signature. You’ll recall that I linked the mega-quake in Chile last February to an eclipse that hadn’t happened yet.
Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about what’s coming up, starting with this week’s Full Moon. At 29 degrees Virgo, this Full Moon is in a close square to the powerful lunar eclipse on December 21, 2010. Eclipse-related events can happen within a couple days but often are delayed by 30, 60 or 90 days. The 90-day mark is the square, 90 degrees.
A few hours after the December eclipse, the Sun entered Capricorn, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Likewise, the Sun enters Aries a day after this Full Moon, marking the spring equinox and the beginning of the astrological year. The transition from the last degree of a mutable sign to the first degree of a cardinal sign signals clearing away the old, outdated and unsustainable in order to begin a new growth cycle. This is especially true with Jupiter, planet of growth and expansion, in cardinal Aries.
Taking the week in chronological order, we begin Monday with the Moon in cardinal Cancer, the sign she rules. As she forms squares with Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn throughout the day, you may get a further glimpse into a new chapter in your life that began to unfold during last summer’s T-square.
Also on Monday, Venus and Saturn form a trine in air signs Aquarius and Libra. This combination favors coming up with solutions to old problems that are innovative – perhaps even radical – and yet balanced and realistic. If you’re facing a particular challenge in need of sound thinking and strategizing, this is your moment.
On Tuesday, Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Aries, bringing the message home that change not only is necessary but inevitable. However, it won’t come without some stops and starts, as Mercury enters his pre-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday in preparation to reverse motion on March 30. This means he’ll make two more conjunctions with Jupiter, on April 11 and then again on May 11. I don’t expect that issues you encounter on Tuesday will be new, but you may suddenly realize you have to change your approach.
On Friday, Mercury opposes Saturn, which injects a dose of reality into your thinking. Although this can be discouraging, it’s better to know what you’re dealing with so that you can plan accordingly. A solid plan might even help you get through the fits and starts of Mercury retrograde.
Saturday is the Full Moon in Virgo, which is going to be heavily laden with messages of letting go, cleaning up, leaving the past behind, and preparing for a new way of living, being, and doing. There won’t be time for long good-byes. The Sun enters Aries the following day, and again we head out on the next leg of our journey into new and unfamiliar territory.
Much love and courage to all,
Pat
Jupiter conjoins the Sun in Pisces at 9° 58′ on the Full Moon February 28, encouraging everyone to think big and sending our imaginations into overdrive. We may all be very, very thankful for the Moon in pragmatic, well-grounded Virgo by the time the influence of this lunation passes.
The Sabian symbol for 10 Pisces fits quite well, “an aviator in the clouds.” Transcendence, peace and love are marvelous ideals, but even better if applied with large doses of common sense. Otherwise we risk being lost in the clouds.
We can draw on the duality of the Sabian symbol for the Moon at 10 Virgo, “two heads looking out and beyond the shadows,” for help. But here again there is a possibility of not seeing clearly, because Mercury, Virgo’s ruler, is in Aquarius, closely conjunct Neptune and Chiron. It will not be easy to find true perspective now, so we may be better served by writing down our best ideas to implement at a later date.
There is help available for those who wish to keep their feet firmly planted on terra firma in the form of Pluto in Capricorn. Pluto is sextile the Sun and trine the Moon, offering organizational skills and a willingness to explore all aspects, both dark and light, of any given situation or problem. In fact, the help Pluto offers can be invaluable for laying the groundwork for future projects, translating the heady atmosphere into concrete results over time.
Venus in Pisces is closing on a conjunction with Uranus in Pisces, which will be exact on March 3. Hang onto the remnants of your sanity, because this combo is perfect for “love at first sight” — or, more accurately in my opinion, lust at first sight, since genuine love tends to develop over time as we get to know and appreciate the other person. There will be even more illusions and expectations than usual hanging around on this Full Moon, because the Venus-Uranus conjunction is also semi-sextile Neptune, Pisces’ ruler. Makes me very glad to be old and very married . . . argh!
Keep in mind that Mars in Leo is slowing down in preparation to station direct on March 10, and frustration levels will be rising all over the place. Saturn in Libra, also retrograde, will offer assistance in managing increasing stress levels via a sextile to Mars. Please do your best to think before you launch attacks or get behind the wheel of your vehicle. Patience is needed over the next several weeks, and it is likely to be in short supply.
This lunation offers an interesting mix of pure, unadulterated romance and high-minded ideals, with an undertow of the deeply practical approach. My thought is this: It is a great opportunity to draw down creative inspiration and ideas and take plenty of notes for the future. Once the shine has worn off either your red-hot romance or that totally brilliant idea, then it will be possible to decide whether it is worth running with. In other words, enjoy the moment but don’t sign on the dotted line.
We need to practice patience, being kind to all we interact with and taking time to find beauty in our daily routines. Be well.
posted by Diane . . .
Image: Seeing the Full Moon against the trees is very appropriate for a Full Moon in tree loving Virgo.
Pisces 'stellium' and going for the gold. Goldfish in an aquarium at a market near Tehran, photo by Behrouz Mehri for Agence France-Presse.
The period between the New Moon on February 13 and the Full Moon on February 28 is an important one for our individual and collective healing.
Sorry if I sound like a broken record. Many people I know are doing deep healing work and, as a result, are entering new spiritual and emotional territory. It’s happening … quietly, in the background, without a lot of fanfare. But the implications are enormous, for us as individuals and for our collective society.
If you’re doing this kind of work, I know how hard it has been for you, and I know that you’ve felt like giving up many times. But I’m here to tell you to hang in there and keep working. It does appear that some rewards are on the way for your diligence.
Taking the week in order, the Sun sextiles Pluto on Tuesday, a positive aspect for getting to the source of problems in order to find real solutions. This applies especially to the collective, so watch the news headlines for breakthroughs in longstanding issues. It’s a good day for housecleaning, too, physically and emotionally. Having a clean environment supports our spiritual and emotional health. However, with Mars inconjunct both the Sun and Pluto, finding the energy to finish the job might be a challenge. Do as much as you can, do a little more beyond that, and then call it a day. If you’re embarking on a detox program, don’t be alarmed if you experience a severe energy drop.
The Moon is in her home sign of Cancer on Wednesday and Thursday. As long as Saturn and Pluto are in a square, the Moon in Cancer forms a brief cardinal T-square once a month. I wouldn’t consider this a big deal if it weren’t for the building cardinal energy this year, which will peak in July. Small changes mid-week may have deep long-term ramifications.
On Wednesday, the Moon trines the Pisces stellium of the Sun, Jupiter, and Venus, giving us a bit of sweetness and comfort. Just watch the calorie count, unless you’re one of those infuriating people who can inhale pizza and beer and not gain a pound.
The real action comes this weekend. On Saturday, Mercury conjoins Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius, all opposite the Moon in Leo. Healing often requires tears, and I suspect there will be a lot of weepy discussions and quiet grieving. You may need to set your ego aside more than once in order to break through to higher ground. This could pertain to your personal healing, or it may involve a relationship, your career, or something else you’ve been dealing with for the past several months. You probably won’t be at your most rational, and this is OK, provided you understand that.
Sunday is the Full Moon and the culmination of a process that began in earnest at the New Moon on February 14 but that has been ongoing for more than a year. I’d date it back to early February 2009, when there was a lunar eclipse opposite Neptune and Chiron.
As usual, Diane will have a complete report on the Full Moon, complete with Sabian symbols and her unique observations. Check back in a day or two.
In the meantime, wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat
There is little doubt that the Full Moon on March 10 will focus our attention on the ongoing debate between the desire to retain the status quo and the yearning for meaningful reform, in both our personal lives and on a collective level.
The Moon will be full at 20°39′ Virgo, opposite the Sun at 20° 39′ Pisces, falling in close alignment with the Saturn-Uranus opposition. [Note that if you’re in the Eastern Hemisphere, the Full Moon falls on March 11.] It may help to keep in mind Virgo and Pisces are complements, and if we take the time to slow down and breathe, we stand a good chance of finding common ground. Yes, Saturn in Virgo is very anxious to make sure all the details are correct and prioritized, and Uranus in Pisces prefers to think in terms of universal good, ignoring the details, but both are service-oriented and are often willing to compromise as long as they feel the benefits will be spread around to all.
How you experience this opposition of course depends on where Saturn, Uranus, and the Full Moon fall in your chart. Generally speaking, however, what can paralyze Saturn is fear, creating the potential to fail out of sheer funk. Here is where Uranus in Pisces can come to the rescue by keeping faith alive and supplying innovative ways to work around existing shortcomings. By reaching out with compassion – a Pisces hallmark – we can do our part as individuals to help each other through the darker days.
Because the Sun and Moon both illuminate rather than obscure, I see this Full Moon as a great opportunity to evaluate what is really happening, gather the information we need to make informed decisions, and move forward with confidence.
It is always helpful to look to the rulers of the signs of the lunation. The planetary rulers of Virgo and Pisces are Mercury and Neptune, respectively. Neptune is still traveling in close conjunction with Chiron in Aquarius, calling attention to the wounds of the collective and the means to heal them.
Mars is pulling away from Neptune, having conjoined it on March 8, so we have received our marching orders and now need to implement them. There has seldom been greater urgency for being aware of the needs of humanity as a whole and viewing our friends and neighbors with kindness and compassion.
As of the Full Moon, Mercury is in Pisces and tightly sextile Pluto in Capricorn. I see this as a clear signal to clean up our communications and take the high road rather than pointing out the shortcomings of the system and those closest to us. Pluto gives words (Mercury) great power and clarity now.
Another interesting pattern in this chart is a Yod with Saturn in Virgo at the apex and retrograde Venus in Aries sextile Jupiter in Aquarius at the base. Although being retrograde subdues Venus in Aries, the sextile to Jupiter brightens her day. We still want to have some fun once in awhile. However, Saturn in Virgo is raining on the Venus-Jupiter parade, telling us we need to pay attention and not blow the entertainment budget out of the water.
Another way of looking at this Yod is to use the discipline and boundaries Saturn wishes to impose and draw on the creative potential of the Venus-Jupiter sextile to find healthy, inexpensive ways to enjoy ourselves. This pattern reminds me of going to a health food restaurant and biting into what appeared to be a beautiful dessert only to find out it was neither sweet nor a treat. Saturn in Virgo still has the upper hand here, so we may have no choice but to eat our veggies now.
The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 21 Pisces is, A little white lamb, a child and a Chinese servant, with the keyword WHITE HOPE. This image reminds us of the importance of maintaining a purity of vision and a childlike sense of wonder in our daily lives. Perhaps we can remember to supervise with a light touch rather than micro-managing everything and everyone in our lives, exhausting ourselves in the process.
For the Full Moon at 21 Virgo, the symbol is, A girls’ basketball team, with the keyword GROUP INTEGRATION. With the majority of the planets in the last quadrant of the zodiac, it is natural to focus on working together as a team for the good of the whole. By emphasizing fair play and teamwork, the possibility of achieving our mutual goals is much greater. This is not a good time to go it alone and ignore the needs of others.
There are major problems in the world-wide economy, and to my way of thinking, the need to be considerate of others and take time to truly listen is paramount. Both Virgo and Pisces represent the desire to take the health and well-being of others into account, and this is a wonderful time for all of us to do this. Perhaps the time has come to expand our concept of who belongs to our collective.
Blessings to all.
posted by Neith . . .
**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, March 9, for her thoughts on this momentous Full Moon.
This photo of the Moon taken through the trees seemed appropriate for a Full Moon in tree loving Virgo.
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