Tag Archives: mars in virgo

Weekly Forecast September 21: Sun Enters Libra, Full Moon Eclipse in Aries

This week is the second most significant in 2015, astrologically speaking, with several shifts and a lunar eclipse, the last of four in a row.

The first shift is the Sun’s entry into Libra, the fall or spring equinox, depending on whether you’re north or south of the equator. In Western culture, the equinox is considered the first day of fall, but I view it as mid-autumn. We’re now in the final descent into the dark days of winter.

The two key associations of Libra are personal relationships and diplomacy, which is just a large-scale relationship between nations. Many of the same principles apply: listening and responding, give and take, negotiating and compromise. The point is to achieve balance and harmony, Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast May 14: Venus Retrograde, New Moon Eclipse in Gemini

Star falling into a black hole. Credit: NASA, S. Gezari (The Johns Hopkins University), and J. Guillochon (University of California, Santa Cruz).

The portal is open. The info is going back and forth fast and furiously this week, as Venus turns retrograde in Gemini and a solar eclipse takes place in the sign of communications.

Some of the synchronicities are astounding, and even the breakdowns seem to be part of the greater plan. More than ever, it’s important that you know where you’re headed, even if you don’t know how you’re going to get there. The “how” will come, but you need to be willing to change on a moment’s notice and to take a leap of faith.

In one of my synchronicities this week (too long a story to explain here), I found this remarkable video about Tom Kenyon. Among other things, it explains how we communicate with higher beings through sound. I have a feeling you’ll find something synchronous in it, too.

The latest issue of The Mountain Astrologer has a priceless cover, with road signs for the times head. One sign reads, “change required, no U-turns.” And that pretty much sums it up. There is no going back, no matter what the weather or road conditions are. The good news is that we’re getting new information, new contacts, and other necessary information to support us on our journey. It also has been my experience that any attempts to veer from our path or spend too long at the roadside rest stop will be swiftly rectified by circumstances “out of our control.”

Monday’s Mercury-Pluto trine brings deep insight that is also practical. Expect some of the “how” to present itself. There’s also a Sun-Saturn inconjunct, so be advised that some of what’s required of you may not be comfortable or easy. Indeed, “easy” isn’t happening for anyone I know right now. Opportunities can come out of the blue, but you have to be prepared to get out of your routine and venture into unfamiliar territory. With Saturn retrograde in Libra, it’s also likely that relationships are an issue. Some of the discomfort may involve working with people who for one reason or another make you uncomfortable.

Venus turns retrograde on Tuesday and will remain in “reverse” until June 27. With Saturn also retrograde and in Venus-ruled Libra, we’re in for a heavy dose of relationship school. Some of your lessons are likely to involve unresolved issues with past partners, whether in this lifetime or other incarnations.

Mars trines Pluto on Wednesday and opposes Chiron on Thursday. The first aspect favors result-oriented, material outcomes that require action and discipline. This is the third and final pass of a three-part alignment that began around Thanksgiving (late November). The second aspect is helpful for healing old wounds, in a surgical kind of way. In other words – as if often the case – you may have to endure temporary pain as you dig into old hurts in order to release the stuck energy. You may experience a “healing crisis” – a temporary worsening of symptoms while the healing is taking place.

On Sunday, the Sun enters Gemini and immediately aligns with the Moon in a solar eclipse. This is an ongoing series of eclipses, so you should know by now what areas of your life are undergoing rapid and deep change. This eclipse represents the next “installment.” Watch for stunning new developments, which will gather speed and intensity as we approach the Full Moon lunar eclipse on June 4.

As I wrote last week, we’re now in the most volatile and rapidly changing period of 2012. If you feel scattered and unfocused, give yourself some space while doing your best to keep your eye on your goals. I’ve suggested keeping an open mind, but with Venus retrograde, you’ll also need to keep an open heart. The portal goes both ways.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast April 23: Sun Trine Mars and Pluto

Spring Planting. © Osk Ingad Alden, 2012.

This week is mostly about the blossoming of last Saturday’s New Moon in Taurus. I hope you all remembered to write your abundance checks!

In the New Moon chart, the Sun was in a lovely earth trine with Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn. This week, the Sun’s aspects to Mars and Pluto are exact – the Sun-Mars trine on Monday and the Sun-Pluto trine on Sunday (April 29).

Each of these trines has its own correlations, but I think they should be read as a whole and not as three individual trines. To view this configuration holistically, we need to look all the way back to November 23, 2011, for the earliest developments. That’s when Mars made the first of three trines to Pluto. The second pass occurred on March 14, when Mars was retrograde. On the same day, Mars made an exact trine with Jupiter. So, essentially, the trine we have now is a reflection of the one we experienced in mid-March. The difference is that Mars is now direct – and that really is a big difference. Mars is the action planet, and when he’s in reverse motion (that’s what it looks like from our position here on Earth), we can end up spinning our wheels and not having a lot to show for all our energy and effort.

More importantly, the cycle is now complete. It’s as though the Sun’s trine to Mars and Pluto is the “seal” signing the deal. Your biggest clue about the effect on you personally is probably your own experience, so think back to the most significant event in your life in mid- to late November, and then look at related events in mid-March. You may have had even more than one major development, although they probably are related. For example, if the planets in the trine have been transiting your second, sixth, and tenth houses, you may have been promised a promotion and maybe even got it, but finally you’ll get the raise and a bigger staff that were supposed to come with the title.

As nice as all of this sounds, it isn’t coming without a fair share of turmoil. The metaphorical cow pie won’t really hit the fan until this summer, but we’ll likely get a big whiff of what’s to come mid-week, with Mercury’s square to Pluto. As you’ll recall from Mythology 101, Mercury is the Messenger, and in this case, he’s going to be bearing some announcements of what to expect when the Uranus-Pluto square makes its first exact pass on June 24. This is a Very Big Deal. And while it likely will manifest more on a societal and cultural level than in our individual lives, we’ll do well to sit up and take notice of events this week that involve political rebellion, cultural revolution, and backlashes against same.

For me, situations have been developing right on cue. With Mars recently retrograde in my ninth house, I dropped some classes so that I could devote more time to my astrology clients. Right as Mars was stationing direct, I was asked to return, and so I’ll be back to carrying a heavier academic load and lighter astrology schedule. On the positive side, my work in class is centered on an exciting astrology project, about which I’ll be able to say more in a month or two.

In the meantime, the StarGuide monthly forecasts for May are ready (please note that the StarGuide Spring 2012 forecast included the May report in its entirety, so if you’ve already ordered the spring StarGuide, you don’t need an additional report).

I’d like to end this week’s forecast with a stunning video from Ole C. Salomonsen in Norway, who spent all those dark winter months filming the incredible auroras generated by this year’s heightened solar activity. Indeed, I’m starting to wonder if we’re not feeling this phenomenon physically and psychologically. It makes sense. Solar flares disrupt the Earth’s electromagnetic field, so why wouldn’t they have an effect on our individual electromagnetic energies? As far as I know, though, no one has auroras like this streaming around their heads – even while listening at full volume to the suitably awe-inspiring soundtrack by Kai-Anders Ryan.

Celestial Lights from Ole C. Salomonsen on Vimeo.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast April 15: Mercury Enters Aries, New Moon in Taurus

Music to travel by. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

Get ready to hit the ground running this week, because life is suddenly moving again.

Mars, the action planet, went direct on Friday. Although I anticipated some major shifting last week, I also knew that certain activities might come to a grinding halt until early this week, when Mercury enters Aries, the sign Mars rules. For me, however, the bombs began dropping Tuesday night, and by Friday, life was taking a turn that, while not entirely unexpected (there are advantages to being an astrologer), was surprising nonetheless.

Developments this week could turn us on our heads yet again. It feels like the ground beneath our feet is swaying back and forth, and remaining steady is difficult, if not impossible. At least, that’s what it looks like from where I’m standing.

We start off on Monday with Mercury blasting into Aries. Mercury has been in squishy Pisces, where logic dissolves and you never quite know whether you’re tapped into extraordinary intuition or are wandering in the mists of la-la land. We’ll have more clarity with Mercury in Aries, and fortunately, Mars direct in Virgo ought to help control the impulse to do something, anything, as long as you feel like you’re moving. The urge will only get stronger as the Moon enters Aries on Wednesday, and Mercury conjoins Uranus on Sunday. By the way, this is the third and final conjunction with Uranus in this cycle, and it likely will play out as events related to the big shift that began for you in the summer of 2010.

All of the above notwithstanding, we should all feel more grounded once the Sun enters earthy Taurus on Thursday, followed quickly by the New Moon on Saturday. Venus, the ruler of this New Moon, is close to the degree at which she’ll transit the Sun on June 5, and she’s at the exact degree of the lunar eclipse a day earlier. I have to think we’ll notice a significant shift in the two weeks following this New Moon. Indeed, life already seems to be rearranging itself in preparation for what’s to come. Still, Venus is unaspected in this New Moon chart, so we’re not entirely ready yet for what’s ahead.

The Sun and Moon do make a lovely sextile/trine with Neptune and Mars. The latter is especially powerful, given that Mars has just turned direct. It’s as though he’s being urged to get up and get moving! The Sun and Moon also are conjunct Ceres, who gets my vote as co-ruler of Virgo. Some astrologers think her symbolism is closer to Taurus. I have to disagree, but there’s no doubt that her earthiness is compatible with Taurus, the most solidly manifested of all the earth signs (thus the stubbornness we often encounter in our Taurus friends).

Click on image to enlarge

Even the conflicting aspects in this New Moon chart have something conciliatory about them. Vesta in Aries is directly opposite retrograde Saturn in Libra. The ancients associated Vesta the Capricorn, which is Saturn’s home sign. The conflicts we have with others usually have something to do with our conflicts within ourselves. And it’s impossible not to be conflicted about something. Humans are complex organisms, and not every part of us wants what the other parts want. The best example is the constant battle between heart and head.

The inconjunct from Mercury to Mars is mitigated by their mutual reception. The inconjunct represents no common ground, and yet in these signs, this pair has everything in common. I say use this energy to the max to plough through problems that seem to have no solution. Communicate, brainstorm, and seek the areas of mutual interest. They are there.

Lastly, of course, we have Mars in Virgo opposite Neptune in Pisces – the harsh and accurate critic who analyzes every detail versus the vast, unknowable unconscious. Even this apparently irreconcilable opposition has a solution, represented by the New Moon itself. What we see with our eyes is an expression of the invisible energies underlying the material universe. This is a great time for any kind of energetic medicine such as acupuncture, homeopathy, Reiki, and so forth.

Before I end, I want to share the story of the photo. On Friday, I was headed into the city for an important meeting. Rather than sitting in the stuffy passenger cabin on the ferry, I went to the covered seating area. Even when it’s chilly, I prefer it to the interior. I can sit there in solitude, contemplating the sun on the water.

Just as I was settling in, a young man with a guitar case came out. “There goes my quiet meditation,” I thought. Before he sat down, he asked whether it would be OK with me if he played. “Well, that depends,” I said. “Do you play well?” He laughed, opened his case, tuned his instrument, and began strumming. The sunlight was hitting the space just right, creating a perfect photo op. So there was my choice: I could be annoyed that my solitude was disrupted, or I could take pictures. I asked his permission and joked that it was a fair trade. As it turned out, he played exceptionally well, and he chose a song with the perfect rhythm for traveling – whether physically moving over water or spiritually moving over waves of energy.

Sometimes we are blessed in spite of ourselves.

Wishing you much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast November 14: Mars Trine Jupiter

Despite the lingering yawns and sleepiness, this is a great week for getting work done. Indeed, you might give yourself a Friday deadline for accomplishing everything on your to-do list in preparation for next week’s unpredictability.

Mars is in diligent Virgo, where he’ll stay until next July. That’s right, we’ll have Mars in Virgo for nearly eight months, due to his retrograde phase starting in January. Normally, Mars remains in a sign for about six weeks. Check your natal chart to see what houses contain Virgo, and that’s where you’ll feel the active, dynamic energy of Mars in practical, helpful Virgo.

This week, Mars trines Jupiter in Taurus, with both at a close angle to Pluto in Capricorn. This lovely earth trine lends itself to manifesting your thoughts into reality. You’ll fare best if you visualize what you want as specifically as possible and place it in a supporting structure. For example, if you want a new job with a great salary, don’t just visualize a paycheck, but imagine yourself in the job environment with your co-workers, customers and clients (if applicable). Also get specific about how you feel doing the work you anticipate. Does it excite you? Stimulate your creativity? Fulfill your desire to help others solve problems?

Lastly, think of what you could do to make this scenario happen. Then do it! At least take a concrete step. Action is a keyword for Mars, and it also sends out a vibration that sets into motion the energy that eventually will coalesce into what you want. This is also just plain Virgo logic. If you want a new relationship, for example, you’re not going to get it by sitting on the couch watching reruns of The Love Boat.

Speaking of re-runs, Mercury turns retrograde next Thursday (November 24), and since Mercury rules Virgo, Mars is likely to behave badly, as though he, too, is retrograde. Be mindful of how you criticize others, as this is a perfect setup for being so insensitive and cutting that you could alienate someone to the point of destroying a relationship. It will be hard to patch up this type of falling out later. Driving also is going to be more of a challenge, with lots of minor fender-benders. This likely won’t be an overwhelming concern this week, but it can’t hurt to start thinking about your survival strategy for the three weeks while Mercury is in reverse.

On the positive side, you could have some wonderful opportunities for repairs and remodels, depending on what house in your chart Mars is transiting. Remember, Virgo is an earth sign, so this will pertain primarily to material projects, including helping others with a physical, material problem.

Back to this week, the Moon enters Virgo on Friday, conjoins Mars, and trines Jupiter and Pluto. Normally, I’d be wary of the Moon-Mars conjunction, as it can be associated with unchecked emotions. However, in this case, I think the Moon’s energy will act as an amplifier, so keep up that visualization work.

The only other major aspect this week is the Sun-Neptune square on Sunday. This energy can be a bit of a downer, and with Neptune still moving slowly, you may want to plan for a lazy Sunday in bed watching your favorite movies. If you tend to be psychic to start with, you may get a flash or two of otherworldly images. Also be forewarned that if you use alcohol or mind-altering substances, go easy. It won’t take much to get into place in your mind that could leave you feeling troubled or disturbed.

If you don’t get your to-do list done by Friday, you’ll still have three days next week to wrap up, but the closer we get to Mercury’s station, the more frustration you’re likely to encounter. Also, here’s another reminder to back up your computer data. Just do it, and save yourself a lot of grief later. (This has been a public service announcement by your friendly Internet astrologer.)

Before I go, I’d like to announce that the December/January issue of The Mountain Astrologer is out, with my article on Ophiuchus. If you don’t already subscribe, you can buy the individual magazine online for $7. Readers of RealAstrologers will recognize some of the material from a post I wrote back in January, but you’ll also find lots of new information, based on extensive research.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast July 12: In the Wake of the Solar Eclipse

Detail of The Storm Spirits, by Evelyn De Morgan, 1900.

We begin this week in the wake of Sunday’s solar eclipse in Cancer, and that’s really the biggest news — that, and the steady march toward the peak of the cardinal T-square, just a couple of weeks away now.

Eclipses often signal rapid change, and these sometimes are evident within three days on either side of the eclipse date. But in the case of the New Moon eclipse, developments may take until the Full Moon to unfold or until the next New Moon. Sometimes the effects are delayed by two or three months, but I don’t think that will happen in this case, due to the building energy of the T-square.

Under astrological influences such as we’re experiencing in 2010 and 2011, world events may not happen at the moment planetary alignments are exact, but can be staggered throughout the year. Sometimes transits by the Moon or Mars to critical points can trigger an event. It can all get pretty complicated.

Otherwise, there’s not a lot happening this week (as if that’s not enough). Venus in Virgo trines Pluto in Capricorn on Tuesday, an aspect for physical love and the emotional intensity that can come from sexual desire, if you let go and allow it to take over. When sex is approached as a means of deeper connection and not just for instant physical gratification, it is a powerful agent of spiritual growth. This can be scary for some people, usually because it involves giving up mental control.

The emotional intensity is even greater on Wednesday, when the Moon conjoins Venus and trines Pluto. Sexually, things could get even more interesting, as the Moon conjoins Mars on Thursday, carrying forward the energy of Venus and Pluto to the planetary ruler of the libido. Events mid-week could be a prelude to the Venus-Mars conjunction on August 20, so keep your eyes and ears open.

The Moon enters Libra on Friday, and for a brief period we have a mini-version of the cardinal T-square. The Moon moves too quickly for lunar transits to have much impact (eclipses being a major exception), but in this case the Moon may act as a trigger for events related to the T-square. Stay alert, and note any unusual events on that day.

Also on Friday, Mars in Virgo squares Ceres in Sagittarius. Astrologers are still studying the movements of Ceres, and it will be some time before we collect enough data to make definitive statements about her role in individual and mundane astrology. It does appear, however, that she is a marker for environmental issues and also for events that are cyclical in nature. A conflicting square between Ceres and Mars in detail-oriented Virgo might, for example, indicate serious problems in BP’s attempt to contain the well gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

As I explained in last week’s forecast, we’re in a period when change could come swiftly and out of the blue, so it will pay to stay focused and in the moment. I liken it to being in a boat on a fast-moving current. The river determines our general direction, but we can lean to one side or the other and alter our course slightly — perhaps enough to avoid the rocks. This is especially true for the collective. Where our thoughts go, our lives follow.

Before I sign off, I’d like to express my deepest thanks again to those who made donations. If you haven’t made a donation yet, please would you take a moment to do so? We’re all connected here, and what you do really does affect whether RealAstrologers continues as-is, morphs into something else, or rolls down the shutters and folds. I’ve created a special page to tell you more about how you can help. Please spread the word.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast June 7: Mars in Virgo, Jupiter Conjunct Uranus

Mars finally gets the [expletive deleted] out of Leo this week. That alone would indicate a major shift, but as those television commercials for knives always say, “Wait, there’s more!”

So much more.

Knives, incidentally, fall within the domain of Mars, who also rules the blood, muscles, and physical energy, along with testosterone and the male libido. That’s why, in his more extreme expressions, he can get a tad aggressive.

Mars normally moves through a sign in about six weeks, but he’s been in Leo since October 16, more than two months of which he spent retrograde. It’s always interesting to observe what happens in our lives when a planet changes signs, especially one that resonates so strongly in our day-to-day existence.

Unfortunately, the first thing Mars in Virgo will do is to form an edgy inconjunct with Jupiter and Uranus in Aries, just as they’re nearing conjunction, which is exact on Tuesday. Mars rules Aries, so we can’t dismiss the potential for complications in global finances and international tensions. That said, Mars in Virgo favors actively seeking solutions, and perhaps he’ll apply the brakes, however temporarily, to the wild and uncontrollable nature of the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.

What I can say with absolute certainty is that we will observe major changes this week, and we won’t have to squint and strain to see them. The effects will be abundantly evident in the news headlines and possibly in our own lives.

I should warn you, though, that while the changes happening now are irreversible, the solutions we come up with to address the problems exposed by these events will not be permanent, stable, or reliable. That’s because Jupiter and Uranus will barely dip their toes into Aries before turning retrograde this summer and going back to Pisces, which is where they will meet for a second and third time. Actions taken now — for example, to contain the BP oil spew — may not be effective, for whatever reason.

In my recent post on Uranus in Aries, I discussed the 29th degree of Pisces, also known as the “weeping degree.” Jupiter and Uranus will make two more passes over this degree between now and mid-March, and Mars crosses 29 degrees Pisces the first two days of April before blasting into his own sign. This will be just after the next spring equinox, also called the Aries ingress. Moreover, Mercury will be retrograde, so I suspect that’s when we’ll really experience the full-blown implications of events in play now.

The New Moon in Aries on April 3, 2011, will be especially symbolic of new beginnings. Even though it’s a ways off, I thought it was worth mentioning now, because this may be when we’re forced to leave our old ways behind once and for all.

Although we have no idea what’s in store for us this summer, it’s hard not to think that the BP oil disaster will feed into it somehow. Among the news sites I’ve been visiting daily is The Oil Drum, a newsletter dedicated to serious debate about the impact of declining world oil reserves. Nathan Hagens, an ecology economics research fellow at the University of Vermont, posted an analysis this morning that puts the issue into stark perspective. Rather than demanding a pound of flesh from the purveyors of evil corporate greed, we need to be asking ourselves the questions he raises.

S&@!, all of that, and I’m not even done writing about Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, Mercury trines Saturn, an aspect that can yield very productive discussions. Later in the day, Mars opposes Chiron. I touched on this in my Saturday Extra! post.

On Thursday (Wednesday in some parts of the world), Mercury enters his home sign of Gemini, where he’ll sextile Jupiter and Uranus right away and then square Mars on Friday. The Moon also enters Gemini on Thursday, adding an exclamation point to all of Mercury’s declarations. We’ll be in the world of ideas for the next couple of weeks, and that’s a good thing, in my book. Of course, the square between Mercury and Mars suggests a war of words, but that’s hardly surprising. The problems we face seem insurmountable. You don’t need an astrologer to tell you that there will be acrimonious disagreements over proposed solutions.

In your personal affairs, you may want to tread a little more gently and take care not to be overly critical, lest you end up in needless conflicts with your loved ones. Know where to draw the line.

Saturday is the New Moon in Gemini. I’ll have a separate post on Tuesday or Wednesday. For now, let me just point out that we’ll be heading toward eclipse territory after the New Moon. The next lunation, at the end of this month, will be a lunar eclipse in tight conjunction with Pluto.

We’re wandering deeper into cardinal T-square territory, and whenever we step into a new world, it’s exhilarating and dangerous at the same time.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

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.

posted by Neith . . .

Full Moon in Capricorn, July 18, 2008

almost full . . . This Friday’s Full Moon flows naturally from the New Moon in Cancer on July 2, perhaps because Ceres is still widely conjunct the Sun, bringing her deep understanding of cycles in nature with her. Mercury conjoins Ceres, and both are opposite Jupiter in Capricorn, adding to the feeling of balance. We tend to forget that opposite signs are in complementary elements. The Full Moon is a good time to remember that.

A comfort factor in this particular Full Moon is the Moon, Cancer’s ruler, falling in Cancer’s complementary sign of Capricorn. This softens Capricorn’s stance, much as a child’s bright smiling face brings an answering one from her parent. Capricorn is far more than is often thought. It is feminine earth, and in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun is in Capricorn during the season of dormancy, when the earth renews itself quietly for the new growing season to come when the Sun is in Cancer.

Saturn and Mars are both in Virgo, also an earth sign, emphasizing the need to take a practical, pragmatic approach to the tasks on our “to do” lists. Mars forms a harmonious trine to Jupiter in Capricorn, opening doors to concrete action for a change. Now is a good time to implement some of those bright ideas we came up with earlier in the year! Mars has moved on past Saturn now and is ready to initiate action.

Venus has moved from Cancer to Leo, and she’s looking forward to having some fun. She does form a semi-sextile with Saturn in Virgo and is square to the asteroid, Vesta. Both of these are reminders to finish your household chores and take care of other boring but important details before heading out the door to party.

There is a strong correlation between the Yod in this chart with the Sun in Cancer at the apex and Pluto in Sagittarius sextile Neptune in Aquarius as the base, and the Sabian symbols for the Moon and Sun. The themes of catharsis and upreaching are highlighted. Pluto, of course, plays a role in the catharsis and Neptune with an ascent in consciousness.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun is Cancer 27: A violent storm in a residential canyon filled with valuable homes. This is a reminder that we cannot control the uncontrollable, something anyone who has had a major Pluto transit knows. So many of us live in urban areas where we can more easily ignore nature’s changes and cycles and now is a good time to recognize the power of natural phenomena such as floods and earthquakes.

For the Moon at Capricorn 27, the Sabian symbol is: A mountain pilgrimage. Yes, we can find an “exalted” place but we need to keep in mind that doesn’t automatically make one person better than another. It is the striving or, in other words, the process of becoming where the attention is best focused, not on the outcome.

For some, this Full Moon will bring recognition they need to take steps to make changes that they may have been contemplating for awhile. Perhaps it is time to relocate, leaving friends behind, or perhaps this will be an internal shift where an old way of thinking and being is finally outgrown and discarded. Whatever your path, walk it with grace and kindness and with purpose.

To get another perspective on this week’s patterns in the sky, please read Pat’s latest weekly forecast.

posted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast June 30: New Moon in Cancer, Mars enters Virgo

Nurturing and healing are this week’s themes, with Mars entering health-conscious Virgo on Tuesday and the New Moon in Cancer on Wednesday (Thursday for those of you in the Eastern Hemisphere).

This is a good week for staying home and working around the house. Organizing and cleaning are favored. Internal housecleaning is a good idea, too, especially if you’ve let your diet slip. I know I have, and Wednesday’s New Moon in Cancer falls in my sixth house, the best New Moon of the year to start a successful health regime. I’m looking forward to live juice and lots of fresh veggies.

Before moving into the sign of the Virgin, Mars forms a harmonious trine with Pluto. Mars and Pluto are co-rulers of Scorpio, and both planets are in masculine fire signs, representing the life force, which goes hand in hand with sexual desire. This aspect is the perfect set-up for Mars in Virgo.

In the sign of the Virgin, Mars is concerned with sexual health. Sexual desire is a measure of our overall energy level. When it is suppressed or denied, our well-being is damaged, and our systems are thrown out of balance. Some people get seriously ill as a consequence.

Mars also is about action, and Virgo is the sign of hard work and service to humanity. Virgo also is into details. So don’t put off the boring tasks around the home, garden, or office. Once they’re done and out of the way, you’ll feel better.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which currently is in Gemini, the other sign he rules. On Tuesday, the Moon in Gemini conjoins Mercury, just as the Messenger is about to move of his post-retrograde shadow phase and as he approaches an edgy square with Uranus. The Moon often acts as a trigger, so don’t be surprised by events mid-week that you normally would experience during a Mercury retrograde period. These could include missed phone calls, misunderstandings, computer problems, lost checks, and so forth.

Wednesday’s New Moon in Cancer could be moody, and you might get flashes of your worst fears. Don’t try to shove unpleasant feelings back down, but explore them to learn more about yourself. The wide sextile of this New Moon to Mars and Saturn in Virgo will provide some grounding. You can find out more about this potent New Moon in the previous post by Neith.

On Thursday, Venus opposes Jupiter (late Wednesday on the Pacific Coast of the United States and points west), which will bring out tendencies to overindulge, especially in comfort food. We need it after what we’ve been through. Just don’t do anything with lasting consequences, like squandering your rent money on clothes or unnecessary household items.

Thursday through Sunday, Mercury trines the conjunction of Chiron, the North Node, and Neptune in Aquarius. This will be a powerful time to talk about your healing process with another person, especially if that person was a catalyst.

Sunday’s Venus-Uranus trine could bring a surprise encounter with a love interest or a female friend. Mutual understanding and support will part of the package, so enjoy it.

Later in the day, the Moon enters Virgo and conjoins first Mars, then Saturn, setting the state for next Thursday’s Mars-Saturn conjunction. Stayed tuned for more next week …

Love and blessings,
Pat