Tag Archives: Jupiter-Neptune conjunction

Weekly Forecast December 21: Sun Enters Capricorn, Mercury Retrograde

This is a very big week. And not just because of Christmas.

Today, Monday, is arguably the most important day of the year astrologically and one of the most important days of the entire decade. That’s a pretty strong statement, I know, but I say this because I believe a portal will appear on this day. Anyone who wishes to step through can do so.

Portal to what or where, you might ask? To higher awareness and elevated consciousness, to healing and wholeness, to feelings of connectedness with all things, to greater understanding that brings peace.

Perhaps it is a portal to love.

Today is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, so it also is the return of the light. From now on, the days will begin getting longer again, even though we may not notice much difference for another month or so.

I sensed the opening portal the week before equinox, when the Sun entered Libra. Inexplicably, I woke up very early that morning and was “called” out of bed to the doors opening out onto my deck. Venus was shining brightly on the western horizon. If I had gotten up any later, I’d have missed her, as she began to disappear in the light of dawn.

There was an important message there, and I suspected it had something to do with love and the reunion of the universal male and female energies. I was at the gate but couldn’t step over the threshold, and although I could see something there, it was out of focus. The message was that I would be able to see more when the portal was fully open.

I began looking for upcoming dates that were astrologically significant. None was more compelling than today. Not only is it the Solstice, but Jupiter and Neptune form an exact conjunction, with the Moon conjoining both a few hours later. Venus is sextile Neptune as well. We’re also coming up on another pair of eclipses, with Venus in conjunction.

There is nothing that I can tell you to do, except to open your eyes and mind to whatever may come your way. In most of the United States, the exact moment of conjunction will occur overnight, so perhaps a message will come to you in a dream. Or, it might come before you go to sleep or upon awakening. I often have revelations in the hypnagogic and hypnapompic states.

There could be developments in the days that follow as well. I believe the portal will stay open for most of the week and possibly through the New Moon solar eclipse on January 14. I’ll let you know if I pick up anything. Please leave a comment if you experience any unusual effects.

In classical mythology, Mercury was the Messenger between worlds. With planet Mercury about to turn retrograde later this week, it’s even more likely that we’ll receive news, flashes of insight and understanding, and breakthroughs in consciousness. These insights may come via someone close to you.

The Sun’s conjunction with Pluto on Thursday also feeds into this phenomenon, as Pluto rules the underworld or, as I like to think of it, the “otherworld” — in other words, invisible realms that are all around us but just outside the conscious awareness of most people.

Now, shining light into dark corners can reveal unpleasant truths, so don’t be surprised if something very uncomfortable comes up. Try to keep your nerve and be still.

On Friday, Venus enters Capricorn, and she’ll conjoin Pluto on Sunday. If you have a romantic partner, new levels of passion and intimacy are possible, but you’ll probably have to work through some issues first, unless you’ve gotten them out of the way already. So many things keep us from connecting with each other, and many of the obstacles, we’re not even aware of. We can become aware of them now.

Also on Friday, the Sun squares Saturn. This is an oppressive energy, but we are more likely to grown and learn through challenges than when everything is going smoothly. I’ll be whining right along with you — I’m tired of hard lessons, OK? But ultimately I’ll take notes and try to figure out what I’m supposed to do next.

For those who celebrate Christmas, family get-togethers could be a bit testy. I don’t know many families who don’t have control issues. Hopefully, seeing them in a clear light will help you figure out the best way to respond, but do be aware that with Mars retrograde and Mercury stationed, tempers will be short, with a high risk of misunderstandings.

Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday morning in the United States. If you need to return a gift, check the receipt to see how long you’ve got, take a deep breath, and have another bite of fruitcake. Even a bad one will be preferable to the lines at the mall.

Better still, sit down with a warm cup of spiced cider, a blank journal, and a fast writing pen. Let the material stuff wait. It will still be there when you’re ready to make an exchange. But the portal has limited hours, and we need to get as much information as we can while it’s open.

Wishing you all limitless love and light this holiday season,
Pat

Image: As promised in my Saturday Extra! post, here’s a photo of my 80s party. I let myself get talked into doing karaoke, first time ever. The song was “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” by one of my favorite 80s bands, Eurythmics. In hindsight, I couldn’t have picked a better song for the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction!

Saturday Extra! Going Retro with Mars in Leo

Leg warmers I’ve been invited to a birthday party this evening with an 80s theme. How ironic to have a party with a retro theme, the night before Mars turns retrograde in Leo, the party sign that loves flash and glitter.

What’s more, Mars is opposite Jupiter, lord of everything big and over-the-top. That pretty much sums up fashion in the 80s … which, as I recently discovered, has made a dreaded comeback.

I searched for some astrological reason that we might be returning to the years of Ronald Reagan, supply side economics, Big Oil, and big hair. Maybe Jupiter conjunct Neptune? Beats me. I did find out that Mars in Leo was opposed to Jupiter in Aquarius in 1985. The opposition was exact at 11 degrees on August 11, with Mars direct and Jupiter retrograde. Could that be significant? I’ll have to think about it, after I’ve figured out what to wear tonight.

Part of the deal is that everyone has to come in 80s attire. Never mind that the birthday girl is turning 30 and probably doesn’t remember much of the 80s.

Then, neither do I. In an attempt to keep my life simple and uncluttered, I have not saved a single item of clothing from the 80s. Heck, I barely remember what I wore back then. As a 20-something, I should have been following all the latest trends. I can say with certainty that I never owned a pair of leg warmers, fishnet stockings, or jewelry with crosses. I did, however, wear large earrings and gargantuan shoulder pads (they balanced out my wide butt), and I was thoroughly guilty of big hair and blue eye shadow.

Since that was what actually what I wore, I decided to start there for my party costume. My first stop was Granny’s Attic, the place to shop on Vashon, where we’ve got this recycle thing down. There are two shops on Vashon where you can buy new clothing and three thrift shops. On any given Saturday, Granny’s has a long line at the cash register, which isn’t true for most retail stores these days.

For $5.50, I found a warm-up jacket in pale yellow parachute silk with big, puffy shoulder pads. I put it on and howled. It just screams 80s. I came home all smug and happy … until I started thinking about what to wear with it. It probably came with matching parachute pants, and the original buyer might have dressed it up with heels or down with Reeboks.

Reeboks! Yes, I had a pair of those, the high-tops with the Velcro straps. They still make them, and you can buy them online. I ordered a pair and kept my fingers crossed that they’d arrive on time and would fit. You know, Mercury in shadow, Mars about to go retrograde. It’s enough to make an astrologer bite off all her nails before painting them torrid fuchsia.

I envisioned leggings and a short jean skirt to cover my hips. Since the 80s are allegedly back, I figured I could just walk into Nordstrom and find legwarmers. Meanwhile, I researched the hair and makeup. For that, I Googled Dallas, Dynasty, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper. Flame red spikes are out of the question, but a couple of twisted bandanas and a lot of mousse and hairspray should do the trick. Oh, and I’ll need an eye shadow duo in blue and orange, and “wet look” lip gloss.

With my list in hand, I ventured into the city. There wasn’t a pair of legwarmers to be had anywhere. No skirt, either. Lots of leggings. I tried them on alone. No, no, no. After three hours of shopping and a four-hour roundtrip commute, I came home with a pair of large leopard-print hoop earrings and a couple of bracelets.

A week went by, and I was starting to panic. Rather than leggings and a skirt, I thought about a Plan B: tapered jeans and slouch socks. I ventured into the city again. Two hours and two dozen pairs of jeans later, I found a pair that fit. Almost. They’re too short, but I’ll just roll them up and show off my vintage shoes.

Legs and butt covered, I shifted to cosmetics. In the past two years, I’ve bought a couple of eyeliner pencils and some Burt’s Bees colored lip balm. All of the makeup I own fits into a four-by-six-inch pouch. I went to three separate stores, none of which had exactly what I needed. Exasperated, eyes glazed over, I had to make a decision or I’d miss the last bus to the ferry.

It was late when I got home, but I just had to see how everything looked together. As I was pushing back the elasticized sleeves on the jacket, I heard a rip. The fragile fabric was torn in two spots near the elbow, and when I inspected it more closely, discovered that the fabric casing over the elastic was disintegrating!

I spent part of yesterday back at our thrift stores, looking for alternatives, but nothing worked. So, I told myself, I will go the party with a disintegrating jacket, and that’s that. I’ll bet no one even will notice.

I also told myself that there was a lesson here and even more irony. The 80s were about rabid consumption. Like everyone else in that era, I spent money freely and carelessly. I had more stuff than space to put it. I worked long hours and wrecked my health to make money so I could buy even more stuff. Life was cluttered and complicated. It’s no wonder that 80s fashion reflected that.

To accessorize my $5 “bargain” jacket, I’d spent nearly $150, even though I was very selective and bought everything on sale.

I took a deep breath and made sure I wrote my abundance check when I got home. I also vowed that, after the party, I will give the extraneous makeup to some friend’s teenagers and donate my unwanted clothes to Granny’s, which gives the proceeds to the health center to help cover the costs of treating uninsured residents. This is a much better economic model, and one that I can feel good about supporting.

Wishing you a holiday season full of all the things that really matter,
Pat

P.S. Photos on Monday!

Image: What I won’t be wearing! But, hey, if I’d started searching early enough, I could have ordered a pair online. There’s nothing you can’t get on the Internet. These go for $16 from American Apparel.

Saturday Extra!Heard on the Street

I heard the most amazing story yesterday, and I want to share it with you, both as inspiration and as an illustration of the kind of healing I believe is taking place in these astrologically potent times.

An older couple, I’d say in their late 50s, married many years ago and after four years of marriage and one child, got a divorce. They both went their separate ways. She stayed in the Pacific Northwest, while he traveled the world, made a fortune, married again, and bought a palatial home in an idyllic tropical location. But they remained on friendly terms and stayed in touch over the years.

Last year, his wife got cancer, and he spent many months caring for her and watching her die. He was devastated, and his life felt meaningless. Old illnesses began to plague him. His ex-wife, who was dating another man, nevertheless helped him through at every step of the way.

Earlier this year, her family was getting together for a reunion. He happened to be in the area, transporting his wife’s belongings to their children. He stopped by, and the flame reignited. As it so happened, her boyfriend had been killed in an accident, and she was now single and available again.

They are more in love than ever. Their eyes went from sparkling for each other to wet with tears as they recounted all the seemingly bizarre coincidences that brought them back together. She is going to move to his home, where he is planning to build a studio for her to explore her artistic talent. Their wedding will be at a secret, sacred spot. With his health much improved, he is going to retire and work on creative projects as well. I suspect they also will be taking long walks hand-in-hand on the beach, watching the sun set.

What amazed me all the more was that this man, while not a corporate type, was a what-you-see-is-what-you get type. He obviously has some psychic powers and was aware of them at an early age, but his career was in traditional fields for men.

I believe we are going to hear more and more stories like this in the next few years. With Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in conjunction, deep healing of old wounds is taking place, and this includes rifts between men and women. I’ve written often that the separation between the divine feminine and divine masculine is one of the most critical wounds that beings on the earth plane have suffered, and healing it will have widespread implications for all of us. Other aspects are producing a synergistic effect, including the mutual reception between Uranus and Neptune and the opposition between Saturn and Uranus.

If any of you have stories to tell about deep healing, I’d love to hear them. Unfortunately, I can’t share my own very private story in these pages, but I can tell you that it is big, and it goes to my very core.

Much love and many blessings to all,
Pat

Image: Tristan and Isolde, by Edmond Blair Leighton, 1902. The source of this tragic love story is very old, and the tale holds clues about the ancient wound that separated the divine feminine and masculine.

Weekly Forecast July 6: Full Moon Eclipse in Capricorn, Jupiter Conjunct Neptune

Helios and Phaeton with Saturn and the Four Seasons, by Nicolas Poussin, 1635.

Healing at a deep level remains the dominant theme this week as Jupiter makes his second of three conjunctions with Neptune in 2009. Add to the mix a lunar eclipse, and we’re on information overload and stressed to the breaking point.

Neith has posted a complete report on the Full Moon, so I won’t go into much detail, except to remind everyone that this is the first of a new series of eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer, and it’s one of six eclipses this year, which is rare. Although it’s a penumbral eclipse and fairly well-aspected, some of us are going to get a jolt. Whether you feel it or not depends on where in your chart it falls. I have a friend with mid-degree Cancer Rising and a seventh house packed with Capricorn Sun, Moon, and other planets. You can bet that he’s going face a major life decision in the next couple of weeks.

Even though this isn’t the Big One, we are still sensitive to the gravitational pull of the Earth and Moon lining up with the Sun. And after this Full Moon, we’ll be in a prolonged inter-eclipse period. Normally, eclipses come in pairs, one solar and one lunar, with two weeks in between. This year we get a third one, a lunar eclipse in Aquarius on August 6. That means we’ll have an entire month of the turbulence and disorientation that typically happen between eclipses.

At the same time, we’re deeply submerged in the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, which peaks on Friday. The first phase of this three-part aspect took place on May 27, the day before Neptune turned retrograde for several months. The second phase is this Friday (July 10), and then the last one won’t be until December 21.

During the first pass, our awareness was focused on a deep-seated wound that may have been embedded in early childhood or perhaps that was carried over from another lifetime. In the second phase, the wound is being re-opened so that the toxic energy can be released. This is arguably the most painful phase. Mars squares Jupiter and Neptune on Monday, July 6, acting as the surgeon’s knife. On Tuesday, Mars sextiles Uranus, and our heads should be a lot clearer. Some of us (operative word some) even may have an idea of where we’re headed next.

The Full Moon eclipse on Tuesday is in wide aspect to Uranus, which may help with the release of emotional blockages. If you feel like you have to cry or rant, find a safe place to let it all out. You may feel like a used dishrag on Wednesday, but you’ll recover much faster if you stay in the flow of the astrological current and don’t try to fight it.

The Sun sextiles Saturn on Thursday. If you need a backup plan, one may show up on your doorstep. Don’t look the allegorical gift horse in the mouth.

On Friday, Jupiter and Neptune meet, with the Moon in Aquarius amplifying the effect. If you’re out with friends, I strongly suggest foregoing happy hour or at least taking it easy on mind-altering substances. You’re going to want to have your wits about you to deal with whatever comes up.

Mars leaves Taurus on Saturday and joins Venus in speedy, chatty Gemini. Get together with friends and go for a bike ride, a hike, or a weekend getaway. Dance, party, and be happy while you can. There’s a lot more heavy lifting ahead.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Helios and Phaeton with Saturn and the Four Seasons, by Nicolas Poussin, c. 1635. I have no idea what’s going on in this painting or who’s who — which is why it seemed like an appropriate image for this week’s astrological imprint. Helios represents the Sun, and we have an eclipse this week, aspecting Saturn. So far, so good. Phaeton, the son of Helios, is best known for insisting that he get to drive dad’s chariot, only to lose control and crash it into the earth, causing the planet to burn up. Obviously, that hasn’t yet happened in this image. But many of us can’t shake the feeling that the other shoe is about to drop …

Saturday Extra: Healing Time

healing hands Ever since the New Moon in Cancer on Monday, life has been eventful for many of us.

From what I’ve been hearing it’s either been very good or downright awful with little in between. This is consistent with the opposition between the New Moon and Pluto and stationing Uranus in Pisces forming an out of sign t-square with those two.

Three celebrities died recently, two this week and one last: one unexpectedly, Michael Jackson; one sad but anticipated, Farrah Fawcett; and the last peacefully, Ed McMahon. If we consider these high profile people to be the bell weathers of the collective, then I’m sure these deaths were representative of many others. Pluto is the master of clearing out the old to allow for something new to manifest. In the USA in particular, we seem to have the idea we can live forever and spend billions attempting to do that. Why is it so difficult to see death as part of life?

As I’ve commented elsewhere, this turned out to be a very productive period for me as in being able to take care of business in a matter of fact manner. For example, when the dentist’s office called to remind me about an appointment for getting my teeth cleaned on Monday, I brought up costs and when the dentist wouldn’t budge, I canceled the appointment. Those who are not willing to compromise are going to find others telling them, “thank you but no thank you.” Pluto in Capricorn is just getting started – just wait a couple of years and look around you!

Those whose charts are most affected by the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron conjunction are getting stepped on too, especially if they bet the farm on a certain outcome. The Capricorn lunar eclipse on July 7 finds Mars in Taurus squaring Neptune & Co and that is going to bite, big time. That particular Full Moon squares my natal Moon in Libra, so I’m wincing in anticipation because one way or another, my emotions are going to be all over the place. :::groan:::

Thankfully the tricksy t-square with Uranus has faded but keep in mind Uranus will be stationing retrograde on July 1. It may be just me but I keep getting the feeling we would be much further ahead to take advantage of the hints Uranus is throwing out now to clean up our act because next year Uranus will not be nearly as polite. It will be in Aries – a sign noted for directness.

So throw away the rose colored glasses and start thinking in terms of having several alternative plans in place, always. With all the earth and water dominating the sky right now, it would be wise to forgo the drama, pick up the pieces and move on. Yeah, ouch!

posted by Neith . . .

Saturday Extra! The Big Wait-and-See

As I sit down to write this morning, the Moon is exactly conjunct Chiron and Neptune at 26 degrees Aquarius and moving toward conjunction with Jupiter. The feeling that “something big” is happening is very strong.

I’ve heard these words from several of my “plugged in” friends, and I’ve certainly had the feeling myself. Jupiter, of course, is Mr. Big, and he’s about to turn retrograde. Neptune and Chiron recently went into “reverse,” too, so we’re in a powerful time.

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but the healing potential in the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction has been huge, and when we heal from the inside out, we begin to see corresponding changes in our external world. Bigger still, as more of us heal individually, we correct imbalances in the collective, and that makes our world a better place.

The only caution is that many people are just opening to this potential, and while they’re going through the initial shift, they are in internal chaos. If more people are at this level of consciousness, then I think the world could descend into extreme chaos before balance is restored. I have no idea what the numbers are.

What I’ve also observed is that people who are just opening up to this healing power initially resist. They either don’t trust it, or it feels scary and ominous. Sort of like a dog must feel going to the vet. He doesn’t know that it’s going to help him feel better. He just knows that the last time he went into that building, somebody did something to him that hurt, and his dog brain never put two and two together (there are lots of days when I feel like I have a dog brain!).

So this is a big wait-and-see. Unfortunately I’m not able to reveal any details here about what’s happening with me, but there is no doubt that it is really big. My life is changing. If any of you are observing shifts in your own lives or in the lives of those around you, please leave a comment.

Love and blessings to all,
Pat

Image: Is it real or is it La-La Land? This furniture arrangement, called “Phantasy Landscape,” was designed by Verner Panton of Denmark for the National Museum of Singapore. Photo by Wong Maye-E for The Associated Press.

Saturday Extra!Random Musing

We are going through an energy shift, there’s no doubt. Signs of the change stream in constantly. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few random thoughts and observations with you.

The predominant astrological signature for this shift is the conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune, with Mercury in a square just as he’s coming out of retrograde. Chiron and Neptune have just turned retrograde. The ongoing mutual reception between Neptune and Uranus, with the latter moving toward a second opposition to Saturn later this year, tells us how there is connection between seemingly unrelated issues in our lives.

My take on all of this is that those of us whose wounds are near the surface and ready to clear out have been helped enormously by this healing window. I’ve heard several stories from friends and clients confirming this trend. Once this deep healing is assimilated, we will experience corresponding shifts in our external world.

For those who are only vaguely aware of the deep wounds or who are actively suppressing them, this is the wake-up call. The next Jupiter-Neptune conjunction may be the crisis, and then the final one hopefully will bring about the shift. Mercury’s square to Neptune & Co. is helping to identify the issues. This isn’t always pleasant, especially for people who don’t make the connection between what they’re carrying around with them and the situations they keep getting into. It’s really hard to process this without feeling guilt and blame.

As I was pondering this development, I read the news that Susan Boyle came in second in the final competition of the reality TV show Britain’s Got Talent. Part of Susan’s appeal was the idea that dreams can and do come true, even for people who don’t seem to have a snowball’s chance in hell. The day after her loss to a group of young male break dancers, headlines screamed about broken dreams. I didn’t see it that way.

In her exuberant audition, Susan said her dream was to become a professional singer. As a result of her overnight fame, she was hounded by the media, which led to a breakdown in her apparently fragile mental state. She was admitted the following day to an upscale mental health clinic in London, where hopefully she will be able to learn to cope with fame. She obviously is a sensitive person, and this means she will need to learn to protect herself, as many sensitive celebrities must do in order to keep their sanity. So, the way I see it, this is her opportunity to heal a very old wound, which in turn will help her realize her dream of earning a living with her angelic voice. The sad part is, her voice was not nearly as inspirational while she was under stress. What grabbed us in the first place was her singing directly from a pure heart, but the pressure she was under caused her heart to close, and we couldn’t feel that connection anymore.

Neptune and Jupiter together are about big dreams, but often we are blocked by something inside us. It could be a wound that we are not aware of, and most of the time, there’s an element of fear involved. Before we can move into the dream, we must overcome that fear.

For many of you, the wound and fear have to do with a love relationship. I’ve written a lot about this theme and about the connection between the Chiron-Neptune conjunction and healing our relationships. I’ve received some incredible e-mail over the past couple of weeks from people who are going through intense relationship healing. And just look at the comments on this blog over the past two weeks. I want you all to know that I am reading every word and in empathy with you all, as my own experiences are similar.

To those of you who are suffering in relationships, I want to throw the possibility out to you that the person who appears to be causing this reaction may have come into your life precisely to bring your deepest wound to the surface. To heal, we often have to re-open those old wounds. Emotionally, we often have to relive them. If someone has brought your wound to the surface, send up a note of gratitude to the universe, because you are blessed. The wounded energy can be released, freeing you of a load you’ve been carrying around for many years, perhaps all of your life. New patterns can now enter your existence.

I also want to second Mem’s comment this morning about what a supportive community this blog has become. That was always our intention, and we are grateful to all of you for making it so. When Mem and others are brave enough to talk openly of their fears, it creates an opening for healing.

Finally, I’d like to leave you with a song I heard on the radio the other day. I started laughing at the lyrics and went online to look them up. The song is called “Incomplete,” by Alanis Morissette. It seems like a fitting anthem for these astrological times. (I tried to embed the video in this post, but for some reason WordPress doesn’t like it and keeps changing the code. So just click here for the video and lyrics. )

Much love and courage to you all,

Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Venus Needs Help!

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

I have the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction squaring my Venus/ Ascendant, whilst Uranus trines my Venus/Ascendant for the rest of 2009. I am quite confused as to how this is likely to play out. I also am dealing with the ongoing Pluto square to my natal Moon. I am hoping for a fresh and liberating start romantically (Uranus) but am weary of the Neptunian illusion that the square indicates.

Neith’s response:

Fumi, it is understandable that confusion reigns now, with Neptune & Co. sitting in your third house. Also, the sign on the cusp of your seventh house, Taurus, is ruled by Venus, and Neptune & Co. are creating a T-square with your Ascendant-Venus and transiting Mercury (retrograde for another day) conjunct your Descendant. This is not favorable for clear thinking about romance.

After Mercury makes the final square to Neptune on June 10, the Neptune fog will thin some, and Uranus will remain at 26° Pisces until the second week in August. The biggest drawback of Neptune squaring your Venus-Ascendant may not be your lack of clarity, but the expectations others are projecting on you. You can either forego romance this summer or relax and have fun with this.

Pluto in the second house squaring your Moon in the tenth has to be bringing into focus what is truly of value to you. Do you still enjoy your career? Does it bring you the emotional satisfaction it did initially? If not, are there changes you can make, even if it means living more frugally for awhile? Many times when we spend time making do with less, we find it is not the hardship we thought it would be.

Perhaps the best thing for all of us who have been struggling with Neptune & Co., including myself, is to look at the lighter side of things and to keep in mind that the fog will lift eventually.

Pat’s response:

Fumi, confusion is not always a bad thing! Or, as an old friend of mine used to say, “I don’t know” is a good place to be. How many people do you know who are quite sure of themselves … and wrong?

The key thing to remember about Neptune transits is that your ego boundaries are dissolved, and this is particularly true when Neptune squares your Ascendant. It’s also important to keep in mind that Neptune is traveling with Jupiter and Chiron — what Neith is referring to with her shorthand “Neptune & Co.” Chiron and Neptune together provide a powerful opening for healing deep and ancient wounds, while Jupiter amplifies this effect and helps us expand into greater spiritual awareness.

The combined effect for you and for many others will be to heal an internal wound that has made it hard for us to connect on a soul level with a romantic partner. There are many things that keep this from happening. Two of the biggest obstacles I see are attachment to a particular outcome and trying to control another person. It’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we aren’t controlling when we’re just doing so on a very subtle level.

Because you also have Uranus trine your Venus and Ascendant, a surprising new romance could come into your life, and this will be an opportunity for you to observe your behavior and response. I don’t believe it’s bad to become attached to someone; in fact, I totally disagree with this notion that we somehow can love with all our hearts and yet not be attached. Again, the key is to be bonded with that person and yet to resist controlling them or where the relationship goes. These are fear responses, and fear is the enemy of love.

This is not a personal judgment of you. To the contrary, I believe that we suffer from a collective wound in this regard, and I find it deeply gratifying that more and more people see it and want to work on it. Aquarius is the sign of the collective, and Neptune & Co. in Aquarius means that we have an unprecedented opportunity to do personal growth work that will have a huge impact on the collective. That is our mission, if we choose to accept it.

You, dear friend, are sitting in the catbird seat. I wish you much love and courage. Keep in touch with us, and let us know how it goes.

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Weekly Forecast May 25: Jupiter Conjunct Neptune, Mercury Direct

BREAKTHROUGH ALERT!

I have a feeling that, for many of us, life won’t be the same after this week. Maybe you have a sense of this already.

As the week begins, Mercury is still retrograde but is heading down the home stretch. He stations direct on Saturday (Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere). In the meantime, we should start seeing the effects of the New Moon in Gemini, even though the results may be delayed by a week or so. Good news is always welcome.

On Tuesday, Mars in Aries forms a rapid-succession sextile with Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune in Aquarius, providing still more fuel for this turbo-charged three-way conjunction. Mars in Aries is a strongly masculine force and represents action, initiative, and forging into new territory. In last week’s forecast, I wrote about the unprecedented healing potential of the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. Mars helps you boldly go where few have gone before but where more and more of us are headed.

Jupiter conjoins Neptune on Wednesday, the first of a three-part conjunction that is one of the most significant astrological aspects of 2009. The next will occur on July 10, and the third and final pass takes place on December 21, Solstice Day. Typically, the first pass of a three-part aspect coincides with a new issue or set of circumstances in our lives. The tension builds at the second pass, and often we experience an obstacle or challenge. We find resolution at the third and final pass, or sometimes the problem simply fades away.

Stories from friends and clients tell me that we are going through a subtle but very powerful shift, and we have started seeing the signs of it over the past few months. Deep changes usually don’t happen without accompanying turmoil as our body/mind readjusts to accommodate the new information. I liken it to rearranging furniture. You tend to trip over it in the dark until you get used to where it is. Once that happens, you can relax into it and enjoy the new way of being.

Many of the stories I’m hearing have to do with relationships. I don’t know what made me do it, but I gave in to one of those cheesy ads for relationship help for women and ordered an e-book. I’m sending it back, but I’m not sorry I took the chance on it in the first place. There were a couple of good points about taking responsibility for your own baggage and not attempting to manipulate or control the other person — all advice that Neith and I give consistently.

What I didn’t like about it was the implication that women have to get themselves totally together, resolve all their issues and essentially heal themselves before they can expect to get and keep a man, and they shouldn’t expect any help from men. The author described how “most men” are wired emotionally, and I guess if I were a man, I’d be insulted. It was sad, really, and I was left wondering why a woman who had herself that together would even give this type of man a second thought. The kind of man who would interest her wouldn’t be so insecure as to need to keep her in a box with so many rules for acceptable dating behavior.

The fact is that both genders have deep wounds that go back to ancient times, and we need to help each other heal (regardless of your gender preference). Just as you have to jump into the water to learn to swim, you have to dive into the emotional messiness of a relationship to learn about yourself and your partner. The key, of course, is that you both have to be willing to go there. My best advice to anyone having relationship challenges is to talk to your partner and be very clear about whether he or she wants to do the work with you. If not, you can’t force it, or you risk deepening the wound, both yours and theirs.

On Friday, Neptune turns retrograde, with Chiron following on Saturday and Jupiter just a couple of weeks from turning retrograde. For the conjunction to happen while all the players are in slow motion makes it all the more powerful. We might actually be able to see what is happening rather than experiencing it as a big blur.

Mercury returns direct on Saturday as well, which I expect will unleash a torrent of delayed activity — if not this weekend, then next week.

Last but not least, Mars enters Taurus on Sunday, which means he will be in mutual reception with Venus for a week, until she enters her own sign. I like this configuration for working through relationship issues, especially between opposite sexes. She’s in his shoes, and he’s in hers. There’s no better way to understand another person.

Wishing you all hearts with wings,
Pat

Image: Air Castles, by Maxfield Parrish, 1903. Jupiter and Neptune may help us realize our dreams, but they might burst a few bubbles, too. It’s all part of the healing process.

Weekly Forecast May 18: New Moon in Gemini

Tiger Twins This week is about communications, whether looking backwards or forward, at the big picture or the trivial, the spiritual or the mundane. It could come as a flood of words or deafening silence that tells you everything you need to know.

If that sounds a little schizophrenic … well, we may indeed feel that way, with Mercury still retrograde, Saturn direct after several months retrograde in one of the signs Mercury rules, and a New Moon in the other sign of the Messenger. With that kind of energy filling our airwaves, mixed messages may seem like the goddess-honest truth and vice versa.

Still, Gemini is one of the more enthusiastic and dynamic signs, and with the Sun entering Gemini on Wednesday (Mercury’s day) and the New Moon on Sunday, we won’t remain stuck in the ruts that Mercury retrograde in Taurus might otherwise suggest. That said, it may be one step forward, two steps back for the next couple of weeks. If you’re an impatient type, that may be preferable to no action at all.

On Monday, the Sun conjoins Mercury, setting the tone for the rest of the week. On Wednesday, right as the Sun is entering Gemini, Mercury squares what Neith affectionately refers to as “Neptune & Co.” Since he’s working his way backwards, he starts with Neptune, then squares Chiron 12 hours later, and then a few hours later squares Jupiter. He tops it all off by forming a sextile to Uranus, which should create a noticeable buzz. Let’s just hope it doesn’t sound like a dentist’s drill.

Jupiter himself is approaching conjunction with Neptune, but that’s not until next week. This week, on Saturday, he conjoins Chiron. Wednesday’s square from retrograde Mercury provides the set-up for an unprecedented healing opportunity. We are healing deep wounds that may go back to early childhood and perhaps even farther. Many of us have been receiving messages in many forms about what this healing involves. It’s not the same for everyone, although the recurring theme I’m seeing most is a healing of the split between male and female energies. Regardless of your gender preference, you may start to see deep changes in your relationships. Some unions will become closer and more fulfilling, while those that have outlived their purpose will dissolve. If this happens, let go and put out a conscious intent to clear that space for something new and better.

The week closes with the New Moon on Sunday, May 24, at 3 degrees Gemini. This is close to the degree at which Mercury went retrograde, and Mercury rules this New Moon, so while we generally expect new beginnings at the New Moon, positive developments may be delayed, and our patience may be tried. I also see a possibility that we will think we’ve lost something, or something may happen that causes us to give up hope, but that this will be a cover for new energy attempting to manifest into your material reality. Anytime we are in healing mode, there’s a certain amount of internal confusion, and this can temporarily distort our vision.

Check back on Tuesday or Wednesday for Neith’s New Moon report.

Wishing you all courageous hearts and much love,
Pat

Image: These Sumatran tiger cubs were born late last summer and are seen here at six weeks old in a zoo in Krefeld, Germany. Could there be a better image for the New Moon in Gemini than baby tiger twins? Photo by Sascha Schuermann for Agence France-Presse/DDP.

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