Tag Archives: karmic connections

Pluto Direct: Past Lives Coming to the Surface

I’ve never been a big believer in past lives – at least not the idea that we have a soul that remains intact and progresses through human time from incarnation to incarnation.

However, I do believe that our energetic body – our spiritual essence, if you will – has had experiences outside of linear time, and that could explain the phenomenon of feeling as though we’ve lived in another time and place. Never is this feeling more powerful than when we meet someone in this lifetime that we seem to have known before.

Pluto’s return direct at the apex of the cardinal T-square seems to have brought some of these meetings to a crisis, as several clients over the past month have asked for a Soul Mates Karma Report to help them understand their troubled relationship and, for some, disturbing obsession with a love interest. Until this past weekend, when Pluto was at a dead standstill, I didn’t put two and two together.

In almost all of the charts I did, the T-square was making very tight connections to the Moon, Venus, chart angles, or the lunar nodes in the natal chart of the client or the love interest. In some cases, it hit both of their charts very hard, mostly through transits of Saturn or Pluto. Boom – the relationship reaches a tipping point.

For “some reason” (these things are never a coincidence), I recalled a commentary on Pluto I read several years ago in David Pond’s book, Astrology & Relationships. It’s worth thinking about, with Pluto newly direct. I highly recommend the book, by the way, and have added it to my Amazon carousel on the left.

Another source of obsession that should be considered is past lives. Pluto connects us to people whom we have known in many ways in many lives. Past-life ties are confusing if they open you to hunger that cannot be met by the person in this life. It is as if your subconscious memory of who this person was for you in a previous life awakens the hunger for what the relationship offered you in the past. It is doomed to fail because that past relationship is dead, and you will not be able to mold your current relationship to fill this hunger.

This certainly has been the case for several of my clients, who specifically used the word “confused” or “confusing” in their initial message to me.

As I wrote in my Saturday Extra! post on Pluto and obsessions in relationships, spending more time thinking about the obsession rather than trying to put it out of your mind can put you on the path to healing and regeneration. That’s not to say it will be easy or pain-free. Indeed, you likely will have to confront your shadow side, which has to happen before the total regeneration symbolized by Pluto can take place, and for most people, that process is exceptionally hard and may require professional help.

It’s also interesting to note that I’ve received several e-mails from young people who were born in the late 80s, when Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all were in early Capricorn. Pluto is now transiting these degrees. The Pluto-Neptune conjunction can be a time of serious soul-searching, when you wonder whether your life is based on reality or illusion. Obviously, this can be a great awakening, and that awakening can open up the consciousness to the existence of experiences outside this lifetime. Meeting someone from another incarnation can be the trigger.

That said, it’s not just younger people who are having this experience. Many clients in their late 40s and early 50s are in similar circumstances.

This is definitely a trend to watch, so stay tuned…

Pat

Image: © Yuri Arcurs/Dreamstime.com

Saturday Extra! Soul Mates Revisited

Psyche et L'Amour, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1889.

Since posting a Friday Q&A column recently on soul mates vs. karmic mates, I’ve received a flood of mail essentially asking the same question.

Although I do repeat questions from time to time, I typically don’t answer the same question in the Friday column more than once or twice. Yet, I didn’t want to leave all of you hanging, without a way to answer this burning question. So I’ve decided to offer a new report, accessible to more people.

Before I talk about that, though, I want to comment on the myth of the soul mate.

There seems to be some idea that a soul mate is that perfect person who will complete us and make us feel whole, and we won’t have to do a thing. All it will take is a fated meeting, a gaze deep into their eyes, and our search will be over. Our lives will change, and everything will be good again.

Our lives do change when we have true love, there is no question. What you don’t often hear is that love takes work to nurture and maintain. To expect otherwise would be like planting a garden and expecting it to grow all by itself, with no effort on your part. Imagine getting luscious, ripe tomatoes with no hoeing, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and an occasional bug.

Of course, it’s also true that you have to plant crops suitable for your climate and soil conditions, or no amount of work will get you the desired results. Likewise, some relationships won’t last no matter how much effort you put into them, but you’ll learn an awful lot about yourself, life, and the nature of the universe. Those are what we call “karmic relationships,” as opposed to a soul mate.

To help you figure out which is which, I decided to start offering the “Karmic Ties” section of my Full Compatibility Report as a stand-alone report, at an affordable price of $59. Like the comprehensive report, it’s based on synastry, which is a method of comparing the relationships between planets and key chart points in one person’s chart with those of their partner.

For this to work best, you’ll need to have an accurate birth time for both people. However, if you don’t know your love interest’s time of birth and can’t get it, I can still tell you a lot. It just won’t be the most complete information, and that means there can be gaps in our understanding.

If, after receiving the Soul Mates Karma Report, you decide you’d like to have the full synastry report, I’ll apply the cost of the short report to the long one.

Hopefully, this will serve to provide more answers to more of you.

Much love and many blessings,
Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Soul Mates or Karmic Mates?

My recent Q&A column on soul mates elicited several similar questions, so I’m taking two of them together this week:

I was with my ex for a year but was having doubts and questioning my relationship with him and saw it falling apart. I’m not sure whether he was in my life for a reason, of which I was to learn and keeping growing from, or more of a spiritual growth as I become more aware. I have never felt such deep, devoted love from him, but I do love him so much, from the heart. Could you give me insight on where things are at? Should we be together, or do we need to move on? ~ Samantha in Hampshire, England

I’ve connected to a man via the internet on a deeply emotional and open channel. I have, however, started to think that what we may have thought to be a romantic connection is actually more a karmic or soul journey. Are you able to connect any dots looking at both our charts? I’m still a novice when it comes to chart reading so would really appreciate any insights you may have. ~ Sarah in South Africa

Love and spiritual growth go hand-in-hand. It’s no coincidence that more and more people are asking about deep, soul unions as humanity experiences a leap in consciousness. Once again, I will attempt to address what I consider to be one of the most burning issues of our time.

Samantha, there are definite sparks in the synastry chart with the gentleman whose birth data you provided, as well as some of the classic markers for a karmic connection. For example, your Moon is conjunct his lunar North Node, a major indicator of a karmic relationship. There are some positive aspects for a long-term commitment, too, notably his Sun in a tight trine to your Saturn.

However, there are a lot of problem areas in this chart, and it’s readily apparent why you were questioning the relationship. The biggest problem I see is that his Saturn is dead on your Ascendant. This suggests that you were carrying a heavy burden in this relationship, and not by your choice. The burden may have weighed you down so much that it sapped your spirit and sucked the life out of you. Sometimes we agree to carry a karmic burden for another person, but it’s a tough road to follow.

Another problem is that I don’t see much emotional fulfillment in this relationship for you. The love you feel is coming from you. That may be a source of joy, but love needs to be nurtured and fed, or it can’t survive. The fact that you feel such love and devotion is a victory. Not everyone has the capacity to love, so it is a wonderful gift when we are able to feel it so deeply. Spiritual growth and expanding consciousness require an open heart. It appears that this man did that for you, and now it’s time to move on.

Sarah, the first thing that jumps out at me in your chart with your Internet love interest is that his Sun and your Moon are quite close. This is a strong indication of a romantic relationship, and there are other indicators as well. You also have some strong karmic markers, as well as some signs of physical chemistry.

On the not-so-positive side, you have a Venus-Neptune conjunction, and that is a big, red flag that you need to keep your expectations in check, and it sounds like you are. Since his Sun and Saturn are conjunct, that also means your Moon and his Saturn are very close, and this sometimes inhibits the free flow of affection. Or, it’s possible that he’ll get cold feet and not want to meet after all.

I dabbled in Internet dating off and on, so I know the power of the mind connection. Internet attractions can be very emotional and, surprisingly, very sexually stimulating. However, everything changes when you meet in person and begin interacting on a regular basis. I always tell my clients who are having Internet relationships to meet as soon as you possibly can. And, while I hate to be a party pooper, I also tell them to keep their expectations low. Many people do marry after meeting on the Internet, but far more end up disappointed.

You are right to be cautious, Sarah, but I would give this one a chance and see how it goes. There is clearly a karmic lesson involved, and that, at least, is worth exploring further.

For anyone who’s interested, I offer a comprehensive synastry report, with an emphasis on soul connections, since so many people are asking about it these days. Whether you just met or have been married for some time, having your chart done can help you identify where you’ll have the easiest connection and where you may experience some challenges.

Thank you both for writing. I wish you much courage on your journey to love.

Pat

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

Ask Real Astrologers: Are We Meant To Be Together?

This week’s question comes from Pam in Florida:

I believe I am in a karmic relationship with a man I am in love with. He is married, although nothing has happened between us and we are only friends. I worked with him and grew to love his soul, and the love I feel is very deep, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I think he feels it, too, although he’s never said anything, but I can tell by the way he looks in my eyes. When the connection happened for me it was absolutely undeniable and I, too, felt like I met “the one.” Am I correct, or is he here only to aid in my growth?

Pam, you’re by no means in a unique situation. This is a question I get asked constantly, and I don’t believe it’s any coincidence that so many people are having this experience at the same time.

Something seems to have shifted in 1999, when we had a powerful eclipse accompanied by a grand fixed cross. Since that time, many of my clients and some of my friends have met a “soul mate” and, as a result, experienced a profound spiritual awakening. For a few people, it happened more than once. In several cases, the soul mate was married or committed to someone else.

So far, none of these people has ended up in a permanent, long-term relationship with the awakener, leading me to conclude that the purpose of these meetings is, as you say, to aid in our spiritual growth.

You didn’t supply the birth data for your love interest, but I am pretty sure it would show a karmic connection, as you clearly are having a karmic experience as a result of this meeting. Without your love interest’s data, it’s hard to know for sure, but I do see a couple of markers in your chart for growth, and so I’m inclined to say that this really is the purpose of your meeting.

Specifically, you have Jupiter and Uranus conjunct in the twelfth house, in a lovely trine with your eighth house Sun in Sagittarius. In addition, transiting Pluto is conjunct your natal Jupiter. Taken together, these transits suggest that you are ripe for a sudden leap in conscious awareness and a spiritual transformation. Embrace it!

As to why so many of us are experiencing an evolution in consciousness through a love experience, it’s not so hard to imagine. I touched on it in a Saturday Extra! post last week. It appears that the planetary shift in progress involves a realignment to bring the divine masculine and divine feminine energies into balance, but there’s a gap we need to bridge before we can unify the polarities. Humanity is a powerful expression of the divine mind, and therefore, I see this collective experience of connecting with an opposite as a sign that we are crossing the bridge.

Thanks for writing, Pam. My wish for you and for everyone is that we connect with that “perfect” other and move forward on our evolutionary path.

Pat

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. You must use this form to contact me, or I won’t get your question. Be sure to fill out all the fields, and please spell out the month of your birthday. If you don’t know your time of birth, indicate “time unknown.” I do read all of your questions, although I am sorry that I can’t answer them all or respond as quickly as you need. If you’d like immediate guidance and in-depth advice, please contact me for a private consultation. THANKS!

Karmic Connections in Synastry

The Abduction of Psyche, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1895.

Over the past few years, I’ve received an increasing number of questions about karmic connections in romantic relationships. It’s one of my specialties, and I’m very efficient at identifying them in synastry charts.

Synastry, for those not familiar with the term, is an astrological technique of determining compatibility between two or more people by comparing the positions of planets, houses, and other key points in one person’s birth chart to those in the other person’s chart.

For basic romantic compatibility, we look for close, positive aspects of the Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars. Aspects to Saturn help us determine whether the relationship will last. Jupiter aspects can inform us about children, among other things. Some aspects involving Mars, Saturn, and Pluto help us identify areas of potential conflict and power struggles.

In addition to these more obvious considerations, there are aspects that indicate so-called “karmic” or soul connections. These are sometimes immediately visible, but often it takes a lot of work to find them and even more investigation to determine what they mean for the relationship. They are not always present in a synastry chart, but when they are, it’s usually not news to the client. When we meet someone with whom we have deep karmic ties, we usually feel an immediate connection or a sense of fate.

The key to understanding these karmic connections is that they do not always indicate a long-term relationship. This is so important, that it bears repeating: A karmic connection does not automatically mean you are meant to be with another person in a romantic relationship or that the relationship will last forever.

This can be very tricky, because often, in addition to feeling a close connection, you can feel “stuck” on that person, sometimes to the point of total obsession. I personally have experienced this more than once, so I understand the urgency and also the burning need to get the other to “understand” that you’re soul mates. When he or she doesn’t see it, you may feel a sense of grief, loss, or abandonment.

I’ve seen so much of this over the past few years that I now believe it’s “bigger” than astrology. There is a cosmic signature in play, and we are vehicles for its expression in the material world. That said, the karmic indicators in a chart suggest how you will experience this phenomenon and, in some cases, why. It also can help identify the lesson you are supposed to learn.

It’s very hard for many clients to receive this information, because they are looking for validation that the object of their desire is their intended One and Only. I try to deliver my honest evaluation without any judgment; in other words, you aren’t stupid, bad, or unevolved just because you’re stuck on someone who doesn’t feel the same way about you. Nor do I see it as a sign of weakness or spiritual “failure.”

To the contrary, it can be an indication that you are nearing a spiritual breakthrough. The obstacle is a tough one, no doubt about it, and you are being challenged to surmount it so that you can climb to the next level of consciousness. This is apparent only after the fact — and sometimes quite a long time afterward.

If you are in a situation like this, consider that it may be a valuable gift from the Universe.

Here’s to fearless love!
Pat

Ask Real Astrologers: Why Does This Relationship Feel Fated?

This week’s question comes from Maya in New York:

I’m curious to know if there’s an important significance to having one person’s first house fall in the other person’s seventh and vice versa? My Ascendant falls in my boyfriend’s seventh house (conjunct his Saturn). While the degree of his Ascendant actually falls in my sixth house, the degree of my Descendant is intercepted in his first house. I don’t know what this means, but it seems like this should be significant. Our relationship feels highly “fated” to me.

Neith’s response:

Maya, the synastry aspects most associated with the feeling a relationship is “fated to be” are conjunctions involving the Saturn, Moon’s Nodes, and the Vertex. My personal preference is to keep the orbs small for all three of these – only two to three degrees as a general rule. These aspects usually ask us to pay attention and learn some things about ourselves via the relationship.

We are familiar with Saturn’s lessons of taking responsibility, being reliable, etc. Often, Saturn in synastry will bring us face to face with our insecurities, asking us to deal with them. As I’ve said before, hard aspects to Saturn are very common in lasting partnerships.

The Moon’s Nodes and the Vertex in synastry inform us of a potentially transformative interaction. Frequently, partners with synastry aspects to these points comment that they feel a sense of recognition and familiarity. Something else that can come into play is a deepening feeling of obligation over time, particularly if one person does all the giving, receiving little in return.

It’s also very common to see a combination of sweet and sour aspects in synastry – lovely Mars-Venus aspects along with kisses from Jupiter to sweeten the deal and make us want to stay around, backed up with the “fated” aspects. Other factors in our natal charts and in the synastry can help us determine our tolerance for accelerated personal growth. There is a very good reason Saturn is exalted in Libra, the sign of relating to others, because there is no better way to learn and grow than through actively participating in a long-term, committed partnership.

Good luck with this one, Maya!

Pat’s response:

Maya, this is a great question. You are right to suspect that flipped Ascendants and Descendants are significant in synastry charts. Alone, this isn’t enough to indicate an enduring relationship or a karmic connection, but if other aspects support it, it is certainly a major source of attraction. There’s a sort of mirroring effect, and often we look for partners that mirror who we are.

Technically, you and your boyfriend do not have flipped Ascendants and Descendants, because, as you note, his Ascendant and Descendant fall in your sixth and twelfth houses, respectively. But your Ascendant and Descendant do fall in his seventh and first houses, and this is not a bad aspect to have, either.

The “Big Three” markers in any birth chart are the Sun, Ascendant, and Moon. When any of these are in a partner’s first or seventh houses, you feel a connection, and these configurations often are present in the synastry charts of committed couples as well as in the charts of long-term friends. As I mentioned above, there must also be other factors present in the synastry chart to indicate a strong romantic relationship.

Wishing you both much love and courage, and thanks for writing.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. We are getting some really great questions but unfortunately can’t use many of them, as they are missing information. If you’d like us to consider your question for this column, you must include your day, month (spelled out), year, and place of birth, and time if you know it. If you don’t, indicate “time unknown.” Also, we must have your current location. This is not optional. Thanks!

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