Tag Archives: lunar eclipse

Full Moon in Capricorn, Lunar Eclipse, July 7, 2009

Lunar Eclipse over NorwayThe essence of any Full Moon is the opposition – two signs in compatible elements and on opposite sides of the zodiac. On this Full Moon, the Sun is in watery Cancer opposing the Moon in the feminine earth sign of Capricorn, drawing attention to the need to balance what nurtures us with our public life.

For some reason Capricorn has become associated with the need for dominance and competition, especially in the professional arena. But there is another side to this pragmatic sign, much deeper and wilder and intensely creative. There is an earthy, passionate sensuality with the ability to throw aside constraints and abandon oneself to the pursuit of pleasure beneath the conventional, pin-striped suits. If you are familiar with the many faces of David Bowie, he is a great example of this complex sign.

Just as Capricorn is more than a stuffed shirt, so is Cancer more than a moody homebody. Cancer hides many treasures behind its protective shell, often including a sharp sense of humor as well as a sensitive soul. Capricorn is clearly a cardinal sign but so is Cancer. If you have friends and family with a strong Cancer signature, pay attention to how persistent they can be in getting their way.

For those of us like myself who have planets or angles at 14-17° in Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, the extra punch of the lunar eclipse will zap us awake! Check to see where the Cancer-Capricorn axis falls in your chart and take note of events both leading up to this lunation as well as the weeks following it. Eclipses have a broader impact than most lunations.

Saturn in Virgo plays a supporting role to the Sun and Moon, because it is trine to the Moon and sextile the Sun. We could miss the importance of this support because of the flowing nature of those aspects, so pay attention to any opportunities offering advancement. Saturn is playing nice right now and suggesting rather than demanding. The next Saturn-Uranus opposition on September 15 will be far less kind.

Venus has moved into Gemini and is pulling away from Mars, who is still in Taurus. However, she is not a happy camper, because Pluto in Capricorn is holding her accountable via an inconjunct. This is another lesson in learning what we truly value. Pluto is not about to let up on teaching everyone about living a frugal lifestyle. Think Bernie Madoff settling into his new accommodations for the rest of his life.

But it is Mars in practical, well-grounded Taurus squaring Neptune & Co. that could bring people sharply down to earth once more. There are many folktales teaching the importance of making sure a good, solid foundation is in place before building. If there is a weak point (Chiron) we ignored in the pursuit of our dreams (Jupiter-Neptune), it has either already brought the house of cards down or will soon. Now is a good time to take advantage of the clarity offered by this square and the supportive sextile between Mars and Uranus in Pisces, to repair and rebuild. If the new foundation is done right, there is a much greater chance of achieving your hopes and dreams.

There is no fire in this chart. The preponderance is strongly in earth and water, with just a small leavening of air. Using confrontational tactics and throwing out demands will not be as effective as spending time listening closely to what others are saying. The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 16 Cancer, A man studying a mandala in front of him, with the help of a very ancient book, with the keyword CONCENTRATION, supports this notion.

For the Moon at 16 Capricorn, the Sabian symbol reminds us to take time to play well with others: School grounds filled with boys and girls in gymnasium suits. The keyword is EXERCISE. Take a walk with friends in the park to regroup before heading back to the drawing board.

If there ever was a time for identifying and clearing out emotional baggage, this lunar eclipse is it. Shine a light into all the hidden corners of your psyche and haul out the garbage to throw away. If you have a favorite cleansing ritual, use it extensively. We are halfway through the period between the first New Moon in Cancer and the second one, a solar eclipse, on July 21-22. Saturn is in a great position now to help with this project, too.

Please remember to be kind to yourself and especially to your nearest and dearest, as those are the folks we most often take out our angst on. These are tough times for many people, and it is by paying kindness ahead that we can all benefit.

Many blessings and good wishes to all.

Libra seeks balanceposted by Neith . . .

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, July 6, for her thoughts this week’s eclipse.

Image: This beautiful photo was taken by Andreas D. Skjervold, Bodø, Norway on Aug. 16, 2008. It is one of several wonderful photos of eclipses at The Eclipse Photo Gallery website.

Weekly Forecast February 9: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Leo

Penumbral eclipse of March 14, 2006. Photo by Tom J. Martinez of Cleveland, MO.

No, it wasn’t the most heart-stopping event, and if you didn’t know there was an eclipse, you might not even have noticed. That’s the nature of a penumbral eclipse, in which the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow but is not hidden, as with total and partial eclipses.

My eyes popped open at 6:30 this morning, and I hobbled outside just in time to see a very dusky Full Moon through the trees, about to set behind the Olympics. Not long afterward, the sky clouded up, so this was a rare treat indeed. It looked much like the lovely image here, of the penumbral eclipse in March 2006 (photo credit below). You can find more astronomical information — the scientific nuts and bolts — on NASA’s eclipse page.

Regardless of whether an eclipse is total or whether it’s visible where you are, it’s still astrologically significant. Not all astrologers agree with this, but from my own personal experience and from working with clients, I’ve observed that there are almost always developments in an individual’s life before or after an eclipse in a sensitive area of their chart.

Most of you probably have read Neith’s excellent Full Moon post, but in case you missed it, check it out now! As she noted, Monday’s eclipse falls at 21 degrees Leo, opposite the Sun and Chiron at 21 degrees Aquarius and Neptune just shy of 24 degrees Aquarius. This Full Moon brings to fruition projects started at the solar eclipse on January 26 or, in some cases, it brings events that began around that time to a head. It may take a few days for everything to fall into place, although it could be a month for some of you, as eclipses don’t always deliver results right away.

That said, I do believe we’re in for a lot of action and more than a little mayhem this week, as a cosmic dam of sorts finally bursts. It had been held back at the New Moon by retrograde Mercury and Mars in Capricorn. Mercury is now moving forward again and returns to Aquarius on Saturday, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, Mars has entered Aquarius and is inching ever closer to conjunction with Jupiter next week.

I’ve written a lot here and on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles, about old wounds that are healing, individually and collectively. Pay attention this week to how healing may be happening for you. In my case, I recently experienced a new injury, not related to any existing physical or emotional wounds, but I am seeing that the remedies for the back injury are spilling over into general healing as well. I’ll write more about this as developments arise and I gain some clarity as to the overall direction and meaning.

On Wednesday, the Moon conjoins Saturn in Virgo and opposes Uranus in Pisces. Saturn is the traditional ruler of Aquarius and still is considered its co-ruler by many modern astrologers. Pisces, meanwhile, is co-ruled by Neptune and Jupiter, both of which are in Aquarius. So you can see how all of this Aquarius energy is being amplified on one hand but constricted on the other. Wherever Uranus is transiting your chart is where you are being urged to be more authentically yourself, while Saturn’s position indicates where you may be limited in some way, perhaps due to practical considerations, pressure to “play by the rules,” or fear of trying something totally new and different.

The Sun conjoins Neptune on Thursday, raising the possibility of confusion, delusion, and foggy thinking. However, there’s also a positive, idealistic side to Neptune, and I’m betting that this mood will prevail. Sure, Aquarius can be naively idealistic, but it’s also a rational, intellectual sign. We might even find some creative solutions to thorny problems if we tune in to this higher frequency.

Ideas and innovative solutions get still another power surge when Mercury re-enters Aquarius on Saturday. There’s a continuum here; you may notice that an idea or project that began in early January and then got delayed is not only back on track, but better than ever.

As for Valentine’s Day, Saturday’s aspects aren’t the most romantic, with Venus in me-first Aries and Mars in commitment-phobic Aquarius. It doesn’t take an astrologer to predict how that energy mix could send a lot of dates south. The Moon in Scorpio squares Mars later in the day (Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere), adding to the potential for arguments or, more likely, passive-aggressive behavior. I don’t think I need to lecture any of you on what not to do!

Much love to all…
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Leo, February 9, 2009

Lunar Eclipse 

Eclipses come in pairs, with the solar eclipse followed by a lunar eclipse, and this Full Moon in Leo is the lunar eclipse of this set opposing another huge stellium in Aquarius. We are being reminded once more of the necessity of looking beyond our immediate circle of family and friends to consider the needs of the many and how we as individuals are connected to humanity as a whole.

At the Full Moon, the Sun is part of a waxing conjunction with both Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius, illuminating the possibility of healing the wounds of alienation created by emphasizing differences rather than commonalities. Neptune and Chiron both promote healing through acceptance and understanding and the necessity of treating ourselves and others with compassion and kindness. We have the choice of opening our hearts and minds to an inclusive vision of humanity, and if we do so, we can add our bit to making our little corner of the world a better place to live.

Jupiter brings his ability to magnify and expand to a conjunction with the North Node in Aquarius, turning up the volume on the North Node’s message to come together and celebrate the paradox of the uniqueness of each individual within the group consciousness of humanity. Is it possible the seeds are being laid at this time for the expansion of a growing collective supporting a genuinely humanitarian effort worldwide? Are there finally enough of us out here who are beyond weary with the greed and corruption around us to stand up for real change?

Pluto, planet of obsession and transformation, sees Venus in Aries moving away from the first of three exact squares. Venus is not at her best in Aries, a sign ruled by Mars, and the square with Pluto is not going to bring out her better nature, either. There may be opportunities to learn about the downside of overdoing narcissistic behaviors, such as all those apologies needed to your friends and family for toes stepped on in the single-minded pursuit of pleasures.

Mars, newly arrived in Aquarius, forms a waxing sextile with Venus in Aries (exact on February 18) to help get us in the mood for Valentine’s Day. Mars is much quicker to fly off the handle in Uranus-ruled Aquarius than in earthy Capricorn, so if you have planets and angles in the early fixed signs, be prepared for sudden bursts of temper or unexpected events.

There is a curious pattern formed by the Sun opposite Moon and Saturn opposing Uranus, with the Sun semi-sextile Uranus and Moon semi-sextile Saturn. This is an uncomfortable mix of air and fire with water and earth (Aquarius, Leo, Pisces, Virgo), creating the type of stress that encourages movement to relieve it. On one side of this rectangle, we have Aquarius urging us to look at the big picture with Uranus in Pisces pushing for compassionate change, while on the other side, Saturn in Virgo is for maintaining the status quo with the Moon in Leo saying go for the creative option. All of these planets are at 20 degrees, and for all who have planets or angles at this degree, this pattern will be a wake-up call! Keep in mind this is a lunar eclipse, funneling more power than the usual Full Moon down to Earth.

The Sabian symbols for the Sun and Moon reflect the discomfort of this awkward rectangle, offering insights into how to best respond.

For the Sun, the symbol for 21 Aquarius is “a woman disappointed and disillusioned, courageously facing a seemingly empty life,” with the keyword RESILIENCE. We can choose to see loss and disappointment as a teacher, recognizing our limitations but doing so with a sense of purpose and hope – or we can wallow in self pity. The edgy atmosphere surrounding this Full Moon supports taking a more active role in finding our path forward.

The symbol for the Moon at 21 Leo is “intoxicated chickens dizzily flap their wings trying to fly,” with the keyword ACCENTUATION. New ideas can be intoxicating, and we can attempt to do too much too soon, setting ourselves up for failure when we sober up. Saturn in Virgo may be a bit of a fuddy duddy, but a solid foundation built to healthy specifications is integral to lasting, positive change.

Between the need to resolve the dissonance in the sky and Mars sextile Venus in air and fire, the potential to get ahead of ourselves is great. A better course of action may be to slow down and really study your options now to avoid setting up situations for regret later.  A little kindness and courtesy can come in handy, too.

Libra with Scorpio risingposted by Neith . . .

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, February 2, too. With the dynamics in the sky right now, additional perspective can only help.

Weekly Forecast August 18: Sun enters Virgo

French painter Jean François Millet stirred social controversy in this 1857 painting, The Gleaners.French painter Jean François Millet stirred social controversy in this 1857 painting, The Gleaners.Whew, I don’t know about you, but I’m sure glad that the eclipses are behind me and that life may start returning to some semblance of normalcy.

I am qualifying that statement as may return, as there’s still a lot going on astrologically that relates directly or indirectly to situations that reached a critical point last week.

There are two concurrent themes right now, linked by the mutual reception between Neptune and Uranus (mutual reception occurs when two planets are in the sign ruled by the other). The current eclipse series, in Aquarius and Leo, is bringing the energies of Neptune in Aquarius to the fore, while the emphasis on Virgo is triggering the influence of Uranus in Pisces. The recent opposition of Mars to Uranus (exact on August 6) was a marker that should have provided you with a clue or two about how the second theme is playing out in your life.

As the week begins, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn are in Virgo. They were in a fairly close conjunction at last Saturday’s eclipse. Relationships, particularly your romantic commitments, may have gone through a major change, either a break or a solid commitment. I noticed a lot of weddings in my area on Saturday. I wouldn’t have advised getting married at a Full Moon lunar eclipse, but sometimes these things just happen, and it’s not surprising.

Throughout this week, Venus and Mercury will form a troublesome quincunx with Neptune and an edgy opposition with Uranus. Remember that Chiron, too, is involved in this complex configuration, focusing our attention on healing our deepest wounds. As I’ve written many times, this can be an extremely painful process, because it requires revisiting and reopening those wounds. It’s not for the faint-hearted, especially if you’ve been keeping those issues buried. These wounds may be from early childhood, or you may have brought them into this incarnation with you. Humanity is a wounded species, and our collective wounds (Chiron in Aquarius) are deep and daunting.

It may help you as you go through this process to try to understand how your individual wounds reflect the wounds of the collective. You aren’t alone, nor do you need to stay stuck in guilt and blame. We are all in this together.

Mercury opposes Uranus on Friday, followed by a Venus-Uranus opposition on Saturday. Although oppositions can be challenging, these two are likely to be surprising in a good way, and they may even help you find some unexpected solutions to sticky problems. The more you open your mind to radical thinking, the more positive these experiences will be.

The Sun enters Virgo on Friday at 11:02 a.m. on the West Coast of the United States. Virgo has a reputation for being coolly analytical and critical, but done with a loving heart, criticism is constructive and allows growth to occur. If you feel critical of someone, stop to contemplate your motivation. Do you want that person to change for your own comfort and convenience, or do you truly have his or her best interests at heart?

Also this week, Mars enters Libra (3:03 a.m. Tuesday on the West Coast). Mars is in his detriment in Libra, meaning that both Venus and Mars, key relationship planets, are not shining their brightest. Moreover, Libra is one of the “passive-aggressive” placements of Mars. Since he can’t be direct, he’ll say everything is just fine but find other ways to let others know that they have displeased him. Being direct is not always possible, because some people can’t hear it. But before you withhold critical information, ask yourself whether this is really true, or whether you don’t want to have to deal with conflict.

Incidentally, in a few weeks, Venus and Mars will conjoin in Libra. This will be a special event, and we’ll have more about it as the date approaches.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The Gleaners, by Jean François Millet, 1857. The Louvre, Paris.

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, August 16, 2008

 Full Moon in Aquarius reflections
The lunar eclipse at the Full Moon this Saturday is the second of the pair of eclipses this month, with the Sun at 24°21′ Leo and the Moon at 24° 21′ Aquarius.

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the Sun and Moon, and the Earth’s shadow falling on the Moon causes the eclipse. The qualities of the Moon are enhanced, and a lunar eclipse can allow us to get in touch with our subtle emotional motivations without the interference of the Sun’s brilliance.

The Full Moon in Aquarius is conjoined with Neptune, further emphasizing empathy and helping us raise our awareness of spiritual matters, if we so choose. Here is an instance when we are better served by courting Neptune’s higher qualities by finding some form of meditative activity to pursue. This can be as simple as walking in as natural a setting as possible. Walking by a stream, lake or the ocean would be especially healing under this Full Moon, because it would bring the mutual reception of Uranus in Pisces (water sign) semi-sextile Neptune in Aquarius (air sign) into play.

At the New Moon on August 1, the Sun in Leo was accompanied by the Moon, Mercury, and Venus all in Leo. Now only the Sun remains there, and Mercury and Venus have joined Mars and Saturn in Virgo. This is a natural progression from the passion and heat of Leo into the more practical, service-oriented sign of Virgo and a strong indication that we need to start devoting more time to taking care of business and less to playing . . . sigh.

Mercury is still within orb of Saturn but is pulling away quickly. From now until Mercury moves into Libra on August 28, we have a great opportunity to deal with all Mercury related matters, because Mercury shines in detail-oriented Virgo. In fact, if you have tasks that take mental acuity and can schedule them before the end of the month, it would be a good idea, since we have a Mercury retrograde coming in September.

Saturn, Venus, and Mercury in Virgo are trine Jupiter in Capricorn and form a grand trine with Vesta in Taurus – all in all presenting an opportunity to manifest tangible results. Both Vesta and Virgo are concerned with healing and recharging our internal batteries, and Jupiter will be happy to provide the means to enable us to do so. The ongoing Chiron-North Node conjunction in Aquarius is part of this healing theme but more on the societal level, unless that conjunction directly aspects your chart. In that case, you are no doubt already aware of where your wounds are.

If you have planets or chart angles close to 28° in the mutable signs, the waxing square between Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Sagittarius will  ignite anger-related issues and make sure you know that it’s past time to let go and move on. Remember, anger is one of the stages of the grieving process. The cycle of death and rebirth is as old as time and still doesn’t get any easier, but Pluto is inexorable in demanding his due, so practice releasing what needs releasing with a modicum of grace.

The Sabian Symbols for the Full Moon add their usual measure of richness to the mix. For the Sun at 25 Leo it is, A large camel crossing a vast and forbidding desert, with the keyword ADEQUACY; and for 25 Aquarius it is, A butterfly with the right wing more perfectly formed. The keyword for 25 Aquarius is UNIQUENESS.

The first symbol suggests we are up to handling the challenges presented by this pair of eclipses, as difficult as they may seem. We have the reserves and the resources inherently, and part of the process is acknowledging that fact. The symbol for the Moon emphasizes the need for transmutation of emotional energies as part of the healing process. It is often our very uniqueness that can be our salvation.

As this eclipse cycle draws to a close, please remember a couple of things. First, we can’t start healing until we recognize that the problem exists and, second, please remember that we are all human and have frailties, so forgiving ourselves as well as others is an essential component for healing. Be well, and practice kindness to all.

Libra, an Air signposted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast August 4: Mars opposite Uranus

The castration of Uranus by SaturnPush comes to shove this week as Mars, planet of action and aggression, opposes erratic Uranus. This pair can cause explosions, and it’s a sure bet that there will be a spectacular one somewhere in the world.

As the week begins, we’re still in the wake of Friday’s eclipse, which some of you felt very strongly, either as a shift in a real situation or emotionally. Whatever your circumstances, they will remain in flux until the Full Moon lunar eclipse on August 16. At that time, you can expect a culmination of a situation that started in February. The final chapter is still to come, however, as this series of eclipses runs for another year.

Back in mid-June, Mars opposed Neptune right after forming an inconjunct with Uranus. I experienced a few mishaps at the time, including spilling a pot of scalding-hot soup all over myself. With Uranus and Neptune in mutual reception (both planets are in the sign ruled by the other), we can expect some similar events, although they will be more direct and more explosive, as Uranus is not nearly as subtle as Neptune.

The Mars-Uranus opposition peaks on Wednesday, but Mars transits can be felt a week on either side, so we’re already well in the thick of it. Moreover, the Moon conjoins Mars on Monday and opposes Uranus less than three hours later, triggering this aspect’s volatile energy. Pay attention to situations that come up on Monday, as they will provide a clue as to how your personal life will be affected, if at all.

Within three minutes of the Mars-Uranus opposition, Mercury opposes Neptune, so I’m guessing that we’ll get some news fairly quickly, although it may not be immediately clear what’s going on. In your personal life, you may be confused, in part because of information overload. Neptune connects us to our higher consciousness and the collective, whereas Mercury is more literal. In Leo, he thinks in conventional, traditional terms.

In short, you may need time to mentally process any events in your personal life associated with this set of aspects. But, as I mentioned above, it likely will take until the lunar eclipse next week for everything to shake out anyway. This is all the more true since that event will occur in close conjunction with Neptune.

It’s all connected…

Venus changes signs this week, going from showy Leo to the sign of her fall, Virgo. Venus is the planet of love, beauty, and sensuality, and she wilts in practical, analytical Virgo. Venus wants flowers and romance, while Virgo considers these things useless and detrimental to getting the job done.

Mercury trines Pluto on Saturday and then enters Virgo on Sunday. Virgo is one of the two signs Mercury rules (although you all know that if I had my way, Ceres would be the modern ruler of Virgo). If nothing else, we should have some extra ammunition to analyze the tough emotional situations we find ourselves in these days.

I know I could use some.

Love and blessings to all…
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: The Defeat of Uranus by Saturn, by Giorgio Vasari and Gherardi Christofano, 16th century, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. Rather grisly image, but that’s the cosmology of Uranus. And remember, it’s how lovely Venus came into being …