Tag Archives: Jupiter in Aries

Weekly Forecast March 14: Full Moon in Virgo, Sun Enters Aries

There's nothing like late-winter rain to clear the way for new growth in spring. © Pat Paquette 2011.

In light of the unimaginable devastation in Japan, it’s hard to write a forecast about the intensity of the next couple of weeks. One wonders how things could get any worse.

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transition from the last degree of a mutable sign to the first degree of a cardinal sign signals clearing away the old, outdated and unsustainable in order to begin a new growth cycle.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

Weekly Forecast February 14: Full Moon in Leo, Sun Enters Pisces

Winter light in Seattle. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

It’s a different world this week, in more ways than one.

The big news, of course, is the revolution in Egypt. They have a long way to go – goddess help them – but the event created a “disturbance in the Force,” and it will have ripples into the collective consciousness for years, if not decades.

Whenever something this momentous happens, we have to look at what the outer planets are doing. I’ve written before and continue to believe that this public rebellion against a dictator is a manifestation of the Uranus-Pluto square. The trouble with this theory is that Uranus is still several degrees shy of an active square, so how can we explain this?

I see two possibilities. First, Jupiter in Aries is within striking distance of a square with Pluto, and he’s “carrying forward” the energy of Uranus. The two danced back and forth in conjunction for the second half of 2010. The first pass occurred at 0 degrees Aries on June 8. Then both planets went retrograde. The third and final meeting was on January 4, in Pisces.

What’s more, when Mubarak stepped down last week, Jupiter had just passed the degree at which he went retrograde last summer. In other words, we entered new territory. Jupiter rules Sagittarius, the sign of the explorer, and Aries is the pioneer. We might think of him as the scout for Uranus, who follows him into Aries on March 11. Uranus will pass last year’s station on March 22, and then we’ll be even deeper into new territory, with all of our bridges burned.

Another possible explanation – and the two aren’t mutually exclusive – has to do with the lunar nodes. The nodes, which are mathematical points in space, move retrograde, counter to the movement of the planets. However, they are direct from time to time. There seems to be something special and fated about these periods, which can last a few hours to a few days. At the moment of Mubarak’s resignation, the nodes were direct, at 1 degree Capricorn and Cancer. Again, these degrees are “hot spots” following last summer’s cardinal T-square.

If you think of what was happening in your own life last Friday, you may discover that there were connections to events during the peak of the T-square last July and August.

On to this week, the Moon in cardinal Cancer on Monday sends another little ripple into the early cardinal degrees. At the same time, mentally sharp Mercury in Aquarius trines Saturn in Libra. With both planets in the sign of their exaltation, this is a great day for mental activity. If your job requires a lot of concentration, this should be a nicely productive day for you.

On Thursday, the Sun conjoins Neptune as he moves through the final degrees of Aquarius. Friday is the big day, when Sun and Moon oppose each other in the final degree of Aquarius and Leo. Because of my full schedule, I’m limiting my blogging to one post a week (the weekly forecast), which means I won’t be doing the new and full moon reports until I get caught up. In the meantime, here’s a quote from Stephanie Austin, who sets the standard for interpreting lunations in her column for The Mountain Astrologer:

[callout]The Sun’s placement between the ongoing Neptune-Chiron conjunction highlights the need for a spiritual revolution – a change of heart, as well as a change of mind. Einstein noted that a problem cannot be solved at the level at which it was created. Our current social, economic, and environmental crises cannot be resolved from the mindset that generated them. We are being forced to think and live out of the box, as the centuries-old structures supporting patriarchy, materialism, and “might makes right” topple around us. There is no going back. We have passed the eleventh hour, and this Full Moon, with five planets in the eleventh sign, illuminates where each of us is being called to make a difference.[/callout]

I certainly couldn’t have said it any better myself.

Lost in all that boisterous Aquarius energy on Friday is a quiet Venus-Saturn square. Hard Venus-Saturn aspects usually don’t bode well, and yet I like this one, because the two planets are in mutual reception. Venus is in Capricorn, the sign ruled by Saturn, and Saturn is in Libra, the sign ruled by Venus. Love isn’t always easy. Committed relationships are hard work. Compromises are necessary, and yet it’s hard to judge just how much we can give up without losing our integrity. These two know how to negotiate and to do so fairly. Look at where they fall in your chart for clues about how you might use this energy to so some heavy lifting in your relationships.

Later on Friday, the Sun enters Pisces and conjoins Chiron the following day. Healing requires shedding light on internal wounds, some of which may be quite old and not even inflicted in this lifetime.

Sunday brings a triple conjunction of Mercury, Mars, and Neptune in Aquarius. If you’re fighting for freedom and higher ideals, go for it. Carry your picket signs and shout slogans: “Down with the Tyrant!” “Workers of the World, Unite!” United, We Stand!” Otherwise, this aspect requires delicate handling. Needless to say, stay away from politics at Sunday dinner … unless you want to end up wearing it.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast January 17:Full Moon in Cancer, Jupiter Enters Aries

Detail from The Deluge, by John Martin, 1834.

My head hurts. I think it’s going to implode. And somehow I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse this week.

I’m picking up on something chaotic, disruptive, and all very messy. E-mail I’ve received over the past week from friends and clients confirms what I’ve been feeling. My initial thought is that it’s the force of Jupiter and Uranus blasting through the collective unconscious. But it also could be the energy of the solar eclipse on January 4 gathering steam as we approach the Full Moon in Cancer on Wednesday.

Whatever it is, I was torn between which image to use for this post: The Tower struck by lightning, or the biblical flood. Since I’ve already used The Tower recently, I decided on The Deluge, by John Martin. I chose this painting over other more grim versions, because I am sensitive to those in regions of the world that are experiencing horrific flooding. Perhaps some of what we’re picking up is their fear and distress.

This is what happens when we become more psychically connected.

I’m convinced more than ever that the Great Awakening is under way, and I suppose I should have foreseen that it wouldn’t be all angels and rainbows. It’s as though something is f$%*ing with our heads, and we’re all discombobulated. Scattered. All over the place. Unable to get ourselves together.

Last week’s astrology fiasco is yet another symptom. I’m still shaking my head at the irony of astrologers trying to convince an unwitting public that they’ve been had by a scientist. And no matter how much we try to correct the misconception, no matter how reasonable or logical our explanations, it’s as though everyone is holding their hands over their ears, saying, “La, la, la, la.” I read one follow-up news report asserting that astrologers are “defying science” and “poo-pooing the new discovery.” Truly, the whole world has gone stark-raving mad.

OK, I’m taking a deep breath …

The two main astrological events this week are the Full Moon in Cancer on Wednesday and Jupiter’s entry into Aries on Saturday. I’ve covered both topics in detail already, but I’ll note again here that these two events together are indicative of a lot of action happening all at once. Since Jupiter is in the last degree of Pisces this week, and the Full Moon occurs in the last degrees of Capricorn and Cancer, we ought to be able to wrap up some matters that have been hanging around for awhile. Or, perhaps some issues will finally resolve, outside of our control.

Although the energy has felt chaotic and perhaps a bit menacing, I do believe that we’ll be pleasantly surprised by some of what transpires this week, thanks to the positive angle from the Sun and Moon to Uranus and Jupiter. The flip side is that the natural world is unrestrained. It has stuck in my head ever since Katrina that trines can indicate a clear path for violent earth energies to take their course. Let’s hope that’s not the case this week.

On Tuesday, Mercury conjoins Pluto for the third and final time in his most-recent retrograde phase. More revelations from WikiLeaks? Other state secrets revealed? We’ll find out soon. In our personal lives, this aspect correlates to deep introspection and close encounters with our inner demons.

Wednesday is the Full Moon, with both Sun and Moon closely aspecting Jupiter. One thing I failed to mention in my Full Moon post is that the inclusion of Juno in the chart creates a mystic rectangle. Jupiter and Juno, symbols of husband and wife, are in opposition. One way this might play out is through the resolution of challenges in marriages. You’ll need to see where they are in your chart to know whether this could apply to you.

By the way, in light of the current spotlight on the validity of astrology, I need to insert my usual caveat that the movement of the planets does not cause anything to happen on earth. The connection is more subtle than that, “As above, so below.” We look to the planets to inform us about energy patterns and trends, and we can make some educated guesses about how they might manifest into physical reality. Energy taking form is not a “cause.” It’s so tedious to explain this every time that I sometimes use the shorthand language. But we mustn’t be confused.

Saturday is the biggest day this week, when Jupiter enters Aries. Many of you will embark upon new and exciting adventures, depending on where Jupiter is transiting your chart. This is a rugged pioneering spirit, one who finds opportunities in every challenge. We’re heading into new territory, and this time we’ll stay there and reap some of the rewards.

On Sunday, Venus sextiles Saturn, a somber but usually positive aspect. Relationships may not be hot and sexy, but you can still derive a lot of satisfaction out of running errands together, learning something new, working as a couple to help your neighbors, or taking a road trip. While you’re at it, pick up some take-out from your favorite ethnic restaurant (Thai gets my vote).

It’s going to be a crazy week, so do whatever it takes to stay centered, focused, confident … and sane!

Wishing you all much love, courage, and sanity,
Pat

Jupiter in Aries

Jupiter is about to return to Aries, and this time he’s going to storm through like a charging elephant.

This is huge, and it’s pretty much a given that we’re going to make up for a lot of lost time after last year’s blockages. The planet of growth and expansion will be hindered here and there in the next few months, but not for long. He simply is moving too fast and has too much momentum behind him.

Normally, Jupiter spends a year in a sign, but because he went retrograde last year in early Aries, he did most of his retrograde time in Pisces. When he returns to Aries on January 22, he’ll blow through the entire 30 degrees in just over four months before entering Taurus on June 4. Aries is impulsive, pioneering, and very fast.

Of course, Jupiter isn’t actually moving faster than usual; it just looks like it from down here. “Speed” is an illusion created by the relative orbits of the earth and other planets around the Sun. Nevertheless, symbolism is a big part of astrology, and if it looks like he’s speeding, then we interpret it that way. Think of a bull elephant charging at the speed of a cheetah, and you’ve got the picture.

During his first two months in Aries, Jupiter squares Pluto (February 26) and opposes Saturn (March 28). This means we’ll be back in cardinal T-square territory, but the configuration will be wider than it was in 2010, with fewer planets involved. Also, Saturn will be retrograde as of January 25 and won’t return direct until after Jupiter enters Taurus. That means the moderating influence of Saturn will be weakened, allowing Jupiter’s energy to expand with few constraints.

Wherever Jupiter is in your chart is where you can expect to expand, grow, and experience major breakthroughs. Depending on how he interacts with other planets in your chart, you may experience this influence as external events — for example, you may get a big raise or promotion or move to a larger home – or you could feel it more internally, as a spiritual awakening. If that’s the case for you, external changes will follow as your outer world shifts to match your inner landscape.

Although there are still plenty of surprises and plots twists in store, you should know by now the general direction in which you’re headed, and you won’t encounter as many obstacles as you did last year.

In terms of the collective, the general direction is also is pretty clear at this point, although I’m not sure I could name even one collective “goal.” There is still a great deal of polarization everywhere, even in matters of life and death. Especially in matters of life and death. A small group of people benefit from war and economic instability, and those few currently wield a large amount of power. I have to think that their goals are quite different from those who want to see more equitable social systems, and yet, they, too, are part of the collective.

The one thing we can count on is that the landscape will continue to shift as the cardinal T-square continues to play out in 2011 – starting with Jupiter’s arrival in Aries on January 22.

Pat

New Moon in Gemini, June 12

The New Moon in Gemini on June 12 is all about communications, ideas, and bigger bandwidth.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communications, intellectual exchange, and business negotiations. Not only does Mercury rule this New Moon, but all of the other planets send their energy to the Messenger. That’s a lot of concentrated focus! So if you’ve got something to talk about, an idea to pitch to the boss (including your request for a raise or promotion), or a contract to sign, this is the time to do it!

We may start seeing developments related to this New Moon as early as Thursday, when Mercury enters his home sign of Gemini. He has been in Taurus since early April, favoring slow, deliberate thinking. Enough of that! It’s time to get those neurons firing and brainstorm new solutions to old problems. In Gemini, Mercury’s first order of business will be to contact Uranus and Jupiter in Aries and give them some ideas for speedy action.

A few hours after Mercury enters Gemini, the Moon follows, creating the setup for the conjunction with the Sun, exact at 7:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday. Whereas Mercury’s aspects to other planets provoke thought and discussion, the Moon puts feeling behind those thoughts.

Unfortunately, both the Moon and Mercury square Mars on Thursday and Friday. Mars in Virgo looks at everything with a critical eye. If honest feedback upsets you, you might want to stay out of the line of fire for a few days. Likewise, if you’re too attached to your ideas, you can assume that the other guy is, too, and one or both of you could end up bruised if you get into a debate.

If you can accept some criticism, though, you’ll be in good stead to start a new venture at the New Moon. Nothing says you have to take all of it to heart. You just have to listen and make an honest attempt to determine whether it has any merit. If it does, take the time to modify your plans accordingly.

Uranus and Jupiter in Aries may have you chomping at the bit to get moving, but an opposition from Saturn wags a finger in your face and tells you to cover all your bases, unless you’ve got so much time and money that you can afford to throw a big chunk of it down the drain.

In any case, we can expect new initiatives to come into our lives in rapid-fire succession, and we may need to burn the candle at both ends for a few days to get everything done. A Mars-Pluto trine supports personal and global transformation. At the very least, we can recognize what needs to change and come up with a viable plan.

As I mentioned in my weekly forecast, we may read about new solutions for some of the sticky problems in the news lately, most notably the gulf oil spew (I didn’t coin that phrase, but I think it describes the situation much better than “spill”). These developments may cause a flurry of excitement, but don’t be surprised or disappointed if the results are just temporary. There are more big changes ahead, and every time you change one element of a situation, something else gets thrown out of balance and needs readjustment.

The New Moon is at a wide trine to Neptune in Aquarius and Chiron in Pisces, both of which went retrograde last week. Healing comes out of the recognition that we’re all connected. Even a seemingly trivial act such as throwing away a plastic bag instead of recycling or reusing it has consequences when millions of other people are doing the same thing.

Venus, nearing the end of her tour through family oriented Cancer, is sextile Saturn, reminding us that committed relationships are hard work and come with duties and responsibilities. It’s also a good idea to take stock of our finances and set some limits. When Venus enters Leo on June 14 and trines Uranus and Jupiter, we may be tempted to run wild, overindulge, and gamble. Knowing your limits will help you decide how much risk you can afford to take, whether it’s with your money, relationships, or something else you hold dear.

Pluto remains in a tight T-square with Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Technically, it’s not a cardinal T-square yet, because Saturn is in mutable Virgo until July 21. We’ve never been through anything like this in our lifetime or, for that matter, in recorded history. So we don’t know exactly how this is all going to play out. However, I suspect that Saturn in earth-sign Virgo may be acting as an anchor, preventing volatile situations from exploding completely out of control. That could change in another month.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Sun and Moon at 21°24′ Gemini is a barn dance, with the keyword GREGARIOUSNESS. As the environmental consequences of mindless overconsumption force us to make tough choices, it’s a good time to remember that happiness doesn’t depend on a 4G cell phone. Ultimately, our fulfillment comes not through the quantity of our communications, but through the quality of our interactions with others . We’ve gotten ourselves into a big mess, and the only way out is through organization, cooperation, and sharing. If we step on each other’s toes from time to time, it’s part of the process.

The next lunation will be a Full Moon lunar eclipse conjunct Pluto. I’ll be writing lots more on this as the date approaches.

Until then, wish you all much love and courage,
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.

Weekly Forecast May 31: Jupiter Enters Aries

Devils Tower, Wyo. Native tribes associated this imposing rock formation with the Big Dipper. Its energy, like that of the coming cardinal T-square, is unnerving and extremely powerful. © Pat Paquette.

If you’re asking yourself how much more could possibly happen in the next few months, the answer is, “a lot!”

And it could happen very fast, too, once Jupiter enters Aries on Sunday (June 6). Jupiter is the planet of “big,” and he combines forces next week with erratic, explosive Uranus. I might have thought something like an oil well blowing up and gushing millions of barrels of oil into the sea would occur under such an influence, but I would have been wrong.

We’re still in the early stages of the buildup toward this summer’s cardinal T-square, and that could mean we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

Traditionally, Jupiter is considered to be one of the luckiest influences in astrology. He is an indicator of growth, expansion, and abundance. And perhaps that will be true this summer. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that his presence in this complicated and volatile configuration of planets will bring some favorable outcomes to situations that currently look catastrophic and scary. Let’s just hope …

In Aries, Jupiter may help us maintain our optimism despite the challenges that are coming at us faster and harder every day. For some, there may be an element of adventure in these challenges. Others could find ways to turn hardship into opportunities for growth and positive change, while still others may find ways to provide services that many people will need in tough times. In Aries, Jupiter is the “can-do” man.

Conjunct Uranus, Jupiter unfortunately could take his enthusiasm to an extreme, and we may see many instances of speculative and risky behavior, especially in politics and finance. Should this happen, the backlash will be swift and severe. Everyone’s on a short fuse these days, and there is so much anger and polarization everywhere.

I’m waiting, along with everyone else, to see how these unprecedented energies play out. At the same time, I’m trying to stay mindful of how I can work with them rather than waiting around for something to happen to me.

As for the rest of this week, Neptune turns retrograde on Monday and will stay in “reverse” until November 7. Because his orbit is so far from the Sun, Neptune moves through the signs slowly and spends a good part of every year retrograde (as do Uranus and Pluto). We aren’t likely to see sudden events related to this transit, although I’ve often felt very sleepy for a week or so when Neptune stations. This may be very apparent on Thursday and Friday, when Neptune is conjoined by the Moon and opposed by Mars, ruler of physical energy.

Hard aspects between Mars and Neptune also can indicate deception of some kind. Well, does it take an astrologer to tell you that somebody’s lying to us? Mars symbolizes confrontation, so those perpetrating the lies might want to make sure their blowout preventers are working.

Also on Friday, Chiron turns retrograde. Chiron, often referred to as the Wounded Healer, speaks to our individual and collective wounds. He recently entered Pisces, but will return to Aquarius in late July and continue to move close to Neptune for another six months. I’ve been writing about this conjunction for several years, mostly in regard to healing the collective mind.

Sometimes, our wounds are so deeply buried that a part of us needs to break down completely before we can repair the damage and put ourselves back together in a way that is more healthy and whole. Perhaps this is even part of the message of the BP oil “spill,” which we might view as a physical wound deep within the Earth.

On Sunday (Saturday night in some parts of the world), the Moon in Pisces conjoins Jupiter and then moves into Aries, where she immediately conjoins Uranus. Less than ten minutes later, Jupiter enters Aries, and then the Moon carries that energy forward to a square with Pluto.

Still, it’s not a cardinal T-square yet. Saturn is still in Virgo, and while Venus is in Cancer, she has advanced too far to be included in a T-square.

As I wrote above, we’ve got a way to go before we hit the peak power of this cardinal T-square. I truly hope that you are all able to find ways to put these forces to work for you, even though it’s probably too much to expect that each of us won’t be adversely affected in some way, however small.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Full Moon in Sagittarius, May 27

Full Moon over Medicine Bow, Wyoming. © R.L. Wolverton/Dreamstime.com

The changes begun at the New Moon on May 13 come full circle at the Full Moon in Sagittarius on May 27.

All four mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — are activated at this Full Moon, suggesting rapid, unpredictable, and irreversible change. There is no going back. Some of us may be in radically different circumstances than we were in a month ago.

Fortunately, the mutable signs are flexible and adapt readily to change. As unnerved as you may be initially, you should find it fairly easy to settle into your new surroundings.

We often forget, as we plod along in our daily grind, that it takes only one extraordinary moment to change our lives forever. This is true for individuals and for society as a whole. In these tumultuous times, we can’t take anything for granted.

The Sun at 6°33′ Gemini opposite the Moon at 6°33′ Sagittarius make a wide, out-of-sign trine and sextile with Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus, all in the final degrees of mutable signs. As of this lunation, the cosmic shakeup begins in earnest, with Uranus leaving Pisces less than three hours later and streaming headlong into cardinal Aries. Watch the news headlines for signs of sudden events, possibly shocking. Jupiter, ruler of this Full Moon, isn’t far behind. He’ll enter Aries on June 5, and I doubt he’ll do so quietly.

Venus, meanwhile, is at 9°27′ Cancer, in a separating opposition with Pluto at 4°48′ Capricorn. That makes a wide, out-of-sign grand cross, but I wouldn’t rate it as very powerful. At best, Venus in Cancer can help us nurture the relationships with those we love. At worst, some of us will feel emotionally overwhelmed for a few days. Cry if you must, but don’t expect a lot of sympathy.

The Sun and Moon also make a wide square with Neptune and Chiron. The danger here is that many people will choose to remain in denial, oblivious to the shift that is happening and therefore unprepared for events to come. None of us can predict exactly what will happen or when, but these powerful transits will manifest in the material world. The question remains how and when.

The mayhem following the eruption of the Eyafjallajökull volcano should serve as a warning. I don’t mean to be pessimistic or to spread gloom and doom, but we only need to look at how people clamored over one another for airline seats to imagine what would happen if, for example, our food supply were disrupted or we couldn’t access our ATM. People in the developing world have long experience with such conditions, but we in the privileged West do not. And, as we’ve seen, we aren’t likely to get much help from our governments.

The key to our survival in the coming months will be cooperating, sharing, and helping each other, which will be a real test of our sense of security. I urge you now, while we have some breathing space, to think about what you absolutely need and to plan for the immediate future. Also take note of who you’re aligned with.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Sun at 6°33′ Gemini is an old-fashioned well, with the keyword RECOMPENSE. The essence of who we are comes from a deep source that remains pure, despite actions and associations that run contrary to our true spirit. It is never too late to get in touch with our true selves or to starting living with absolute integrity. When we do so, we align ourselves with our higher consciousness and our purpose in this life.

For the Moon at 6°33′ Sagittarius, the Sabian Symbol is cupid knocking at the door, with the keyword ALLUREMENT. Close partnerships test our boundaries and sense of self. Ironically, changing for the benefit of a relationship is sometimes how we find out who we really are. Perhaps that’s why some of us are so driven to remain in difficult romantic relationships. It’s often the most effective way to learn the karmic lessons necessary for healing and wholeness.

As I noted in a previous post, this is Wesak, commemorating the enlightenment of the Buddha. The festival is held annually at the Full Moon in sidereal Scorpio. According to sidereal astrology, the Full Moon on May 27 falls at 11°39′ Scorpio.

In honor of Wesak, I leave you with a link to a wonderful essay on the Buddhist Channel, called “Buddha Wasn’t a Buddhist.” I found it very enlightening, and it dovetails beautifully with the message of our tropical Full Moon in Sagittarius.

Pat

Saturday Extra: The Cardinal T-Square and Immigration Law

Riot police at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix. Photo by Ross D. Franklin for The Associated Press.

Arizona’s new illegal-immigration law and the protests it unleashed stand out as an early indicator of how events will unfold during the cardinal T-square of 2010 and 2011.

Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law on April 23, just as Saturn and Uranus were approaching exact opposition in Virgo and Pisces, the fourth contact since November 2008. It is scheduled to go into effect in late July or early August, right around the fifth and last opposition of Saturn and Uranus on July 26.

By that time, both planets will be in early cardinal signs, in a tight square with Pluto. We can expect more protests, possibly more violent, and the federal government likely will intervene as well.

Of course, Mercury also was retrograde at the signing, and that makes it more likely that there will be changes, if the law isn’t repealed altogether. But even if it is, powerful forces have been set in motion that will continue to play out until 2012 and beyond.

The new law makes it a punishable crime to be in the United States illegally and gives police in Arizona the power to stop and question people they suspect of being illegal immigrants. The backlash was swift and severe. According to news reports, protestors stormed the state capitol and drew comparisons with Nazi Germany.

Gov. Brewer, a Republican in a historically conservative state, said the law was needed because the federal government wasn’t doing enough to fight illegal immigration and lawlessness along the border with Mexico. Other states are considering similar measures.

The Obama administration reportedly is considering a legal challenge. Many civil rights groups also are threatening to sue, saying that the law will lead to racial profiling and harassment of Hispanics and anyone who looks like one. From there, it’s only one step to legal authority to stop anyone, for any reason or no reason at all. If it seems like we’re on a slippery slope toward a police state (many people argue that we’re already there), it’s not just paranoia.

Once Saturn and Uranus move into action-oriented cardinal signs this summer and form a close square with Pluto, the playing field will expand. It’s likely that the federal government will intervene at that time. In a T-square, the planet at the apex takes the “heat.” Pluto will be squared not just by Saturn and Uranus, but simultaneously by Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. Immigration and legal issues fall under the provenance of Jupiter, which was approaching conjunction with Uranus when the law was signed.

But what does Pluto in Capricorn represent? The “conventional” interpretation is that it’s about Big Government and Big Business. If so, the situation in Arizona — as well as other protests breaking out around the world — may be an early test of this power.

That said, we must take care in connecting the various astrological players in this unfolding celestial drama to earthly counterparts. For example, it’s tempting to assign Uranus to the Democrats and Saturn to the Republicans, but that would be an error in our thinking. The planets in signs represent forces of nature, which express themselves through humans and through the Earth herself.

Here’s something else to think about: As long as Pluto is checked by Saturn in Libra and Uranus in Aries, we may be under surveillance but not under totalitarian control. That could well change in 2012, when Saturn enters Scorpio and begins to “cooperate” with Pluto, through both a friendly sextile and mutual reception.

At that point, the people may be on their own to battle the combined forces of business and government, and our definitions of “conservative” and “liberal” may become totally meaningless.

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

Welcome to 2010 – A Cardinal Year

When Saturn moved into the cardinal sign of Libra last fall, joining Pluto in cardinal Capricorn, it signaled the beginning of the shift to cardinal dominance of the outer planets. By mid-year 2010, both Jupiter and Uranus will spend some time in the most cardinal sign of all, Aries, before moving back into Pisces one last time.

What does this mean? For one thing, taking action will be the preferred mode of response as opposed to the endless discussions of the years when both Saturn and Pluto were in the mutable signs, Virgo and Sagittarius, along with Uranus in Pisces. My very Aries spouse will always chose to do something, even if it’s wrong, over sitting around talking about it. I happen to go along with this, because both my Sun and Moon are in Libra, and one of my pet peeves is listening to people moan about what’s wrong with their lives but refusing to take one step in any direction to change their situation.

All of you with your Sun in Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn will understand the need for prompt action. Even if your chart has plenty in fixed and mutable signs, in your heart of hearts, you understand why doing something is better than doing nothing. Gemini folk likely will be happy, too, because anything new and different is OK in their book. The same could be said of Sagittarius, as they are generally open to new experiences.

It’s the fixed signs who could be thrown the most by this shift – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius – because they are not crazy about changes of any sort unless they have direct control over it. Don’t be surprised if you hear grumbling from that contingent.

The other two mutable signs, Virgo and Pisces, may wish everyone would have given more time to discussion, especially meticulous, earthy Virgo, but they tend to be adaptable and, like their mutable Gemini cousins, enjoy watching change unfold. Another factor is that all the mutable people got hit pretty hard during the years Saturn was in Virgo opposing Uranus in Pisces, and having the focus shift away from them may be a relief. (Note: There is one final opposition on April 26, 2010, between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces at 28°.)

The number of planets in cardinal signs will ebb and flow over the course of 2010, but we may as well get accustomed to this energy, because 2011 will bring Jupiter and Uranus in Aries, Saturn in Libra, and Pluto in Capricorn. My take is that where we saw grumbling in dissatisfaction before, we will see people taking direct action from here forward. We all need to sharpen our listening skills and be prepared to respond quickly or suffer the consequences!

Good fortune and bon voyage!

posted by Neith . . .

Image: Transition zone. Pat shot this photo recently on a rainy day at Ocean Shores, WA. There is something very special about the transition zone where the ocean meets the land — one of my favorite places to walk ever. This image also is a reminder that change is random and uncontrollable, yet it is constant and the one thing we can count on. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

RealAstrologers

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