Tag Archives: inconjunct

Weekly Forecast September 1: Mercury Enters Libra, Venus Enters Virgo

The Defenestration of Prague, wood cut by Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593-1650).

The Defenestration of Prague, wood cut by Matthäus Merian the Elder (1593-1650).

It seems like everywhere I go these days, I get asked, “What’s going on up there?” and “When will it be over?”

My canned response to the first question is that the planets are in a difficult alignment that hasn’t happened since the beginning of the Great Depression. That’s a bit of an oversimplification, but I’ve learned that if I explain in detail as I do on my blog, most people’s eyes glaze over in less than 20 seconds.

There’s no quick answer to the second question. First we have to define “it.” Then we have to figure out which astrological signature is behind “it.” This is tricky, and astrologers all seem Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast August 11: Mars Sextiles Pluto, Mercury Enters Virgo

Party Like a Leo

View from the patio. The party’s behind me. © Pat Paquette, 2014.

As I write, the sun is setting, and a huge patio party is just winding down next door. It was a scene right out of a movie, with lively music and food fit or a king. My neighbor, as it turns out, is a Leo. That guy really knows how to throw a party.

This is a fitting image for the week ahead. As the week begins, we’re still in the wake of an astrologically challenged but beautiful super moon. Despite the continuing trouble spots, the charts are actually encouraging (a good Leo word). Many of you have been struggling lately or, at the very least in a pattern of constant irritation, like fleas biting at your Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast July 13: Everything Inconjunct

MantattanhengeNot only are we in a disorienting period between eclipses, but there are several inconjuncts this week that could present anything from annoying frustrations to major challenges.

The inconjunct, more correctly called the quincunx (try saying that three times fast), is a 150-degree angle between two planets or chart points. Inconjuncts can be problematic, because the signs involved have little in common. It’s like putting an Army lieutenant and a ballet student in the same room and expecting them to find something to talk about. I don’t normally include inconjuncts in my forecasts, but in some circumstances, they can be very powerful, and they are indeed the dominant theme for this week.

The week begins with a conjunction of Mercury and the Sun in Cancer on Monday. Normally I’d say this would be a good time to talk about feelings, but you may find yourself all over the map emotionally as the week progresses, and then you’ll have to back pedal or exhaust yourself trying to explain what you really meant, but in fact you’ve changed your mind since then anyway. You get my drift. You’ll be better off just sitting with your feelings and taking note for future reference. Write in your journal or talk to a trusted friend.

Then we go right into inconjunct territory, starting with Mars in Gemini and Pluto in Capricorn. Whatever you’re trying to move — whether it’s furniture, packages, paperwork, your car, your physical body, or a point of view — you may get that “trying to herd cats” feeling. Moreover, when Mars and Pluto make contact, the ensuing power struggles can get ugly. If you’re up against any kind of authority, do your best to keep a low profile.

The next set of inconjuncts, which is active from Wednesday through Saturday, involves the Sun and Mercury in Cancer inconjunct Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius (what Neith affectionately refers to as “Neptune & Co.”). I don’t even know where to start sorting this out. All I can say is that we may have to deal with a disparate jumble of information, events, situations, and people, with no idea which end is up. I suspect this might end up feeling something like Mercury retrograde. It wouldn’t hurt to apply those rules this week. Be sure to confirm, clarify, repeat back what you think you just heard, and, above all, forgive. Everyone is on stress overload.

That said, we may get a pleasant surprise when Mercury trines Uranus on Wednesday and the Sun trines Uranus on Saturday. In the middle of all that confusion, something good will come through that will put a smile on your face.

Mercury enters Leo on Friday and immediately forms another inconjunct involving Pluto. Mercury in Leo is not a lot different than Mars in Gemini, perhaps just a bit less forceful. No matter how badly your ego is bruised, if you’re dealing with someone in a position of power, be it the judge in traffic court or the grandmother who’s paying your college tuition, bite your tongue. If you need something, remember that you’ll catch more flies with honey.

The Moon enters Cancer late Sunday, and then we’ll be in the final countdown to the total eclipse of the Sun at 29 degrees Cancer on July 21. I’ll have more in next week’s forecast, and Neith will post a report on Saturday, if not before. Check back often.

Lots of love, and chins up!
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The sun sets on July 12 during a biannual phenomenon dubbed “Manhattanhenge,” when the setting sun aligns with the east-west grid of Manhattan’s streets. At least something is lined up this week! Photo by Mike Segar for REUTERS.

Ask Real Astrologers: Yods

This week’s question comes from Coco.

Please explain about Yods (also called the Finger of God) and how that relates to an astrological chart. Is it common for someone to have three Yods? I have three in my chart, I have been told, but I don’t know how to utilize them. Ideas?

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s Answer:

A Yod is comprised of two inconjuncts (150° aspect) with a sextile as the base as you may know. The planet sitting on the point or apex of a Yod is the obvious focus of the energy.  Yods are not a particularly common pattern in charts and only occur when during periods when the planets are spread across many signs.

The inconjuncts are the key to Yods, in my opinion, and create a state of tension with erratic release. In very simple terms, the planet at the apex of a Yod is often like a sore thumb sticking out and whenever it’s conjuncted by transits you feel it. In fact, you may learn more about how your Yods function by tracking the times when the Moon conjuncts the apex planets.

Good luck!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s Answer:

Although astrologers refer to the Yod as the “Finger of God,” the letter Yod in the Hebrew alphabet is a symbol for “hand” or “consciousness” (according to some texts, it’s the male organ, which could lead to an interesting interpretation). But we’re pretty much in agreement that it is a pointer, and that the thing being pointed to is the planet and house at the apex of the Yod, as Neith suggested. The two planets in sextile, rather than interacting only with one another, are manifesting their energy through that third point, which can be interpreted as a destiny point in the chart. You might think of it as the “hand of God.”

In calculating Yods, I look at only the eight planets (including Pluto), Sun, and Moon. Depending on the chart, I might include Chiron, but only if there’s a compelling reason to do so. Chart points, lunar nodes, asteroids, Arabic parts, and so forth, can’t form a Yod.

To determine the meaning of a Yod in the chart, it is essential to get a reading from a real astrologer and not a computer-generated report. I don’t know of any computerized reports that include Yods anyway, but even if there were, it wouldn’t give you the holistic interpretation that a Yod requires. This is all the more true if you’ve got more than one Yod. I don’t do traditional birth chart readings, but any of our exclusive forecasts would examine a natal Yod and transits that could propel its energy into play in your life. 

I join Neith is wishing you the best of luck!

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