Tag Archives: Mars retrograde

Weekly Forecast December 28: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Cancer

Have we turned a corner? I think so. It’s hard for me to know for sure, with my sensory apparatus globbed up by so much sweet and rich food, not to mention the wine and chocolate.

Despite the unnerving astrological influences currently in play, I’ve been sleeping very well the past week, after months of tossing and turning. And I know I wasn’t the only one. Everywhere I went, people talked about not being able to sleep. If your sleep patterns have changed in the past week, please leave a comment and let me know.

In the meantime, we’re gearing up for Thursday’s Full Moon lunar eclipse — and on New Year’s Eve, at that! I suspect that familiar pre-eclipse buzz will return by Monday or Tuesday, and we may have a few sleepless nights. Then, maybe not. We’re heading into uncharted territory, and little is going as expected.

Speaking of expectations, if I were to try to predict events for this eclipse, I would say to look back at what was happening in mid-September and mid-October. As you may recall, we had a powerful New Moon solar eclipse at the last degree of Cancer on July 21, but few people I know experienced any immediate developments at the time. Instead, shifts occurred 60 to 90 days later, toward the New Moon on September 18 and especially at the New Moon in Libra on October 18.

This eclipse will be the culmination of those events, the coming full circle, with possible new beginnings. Diane will have more in her New Moon report early this week, so be sure to check back.

In the meantime, Venus conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn on Monday (Tuesday in the Eastern Hemisphere). Issues of love, sex, and commitment come to the fore. With Mercury and Mars both retrograde, talking through issues to your satisfaction may be tough. You may need to agree to disagree for now, or you may need to accept that there aren’t any immediate answers. Sometimes there is no solution but time, and picking at scabs only irritates wounds and prevents healing.

The Moon enters Cancer on Wednesday in preparation for Thursday’s eclipse. Emotions are closer to the surface, so prepare for a bit of drama. Again, with Mercury and Mars retrograde, you may witness more than a few temper tantrums and meltdowns.

As it so happens, Mercury and Mars form an exact quincunx (inconjunct) on Thursday. You might not even know why you’re angry or upset, let alone what’s motivating anyone else. Try to be patient and kind, with yourself as well as with others, and keep your expectations in check. This is always a good idea, but even more so now, in this period of surprising changes.

There are no major planetary aspects for the rest of the week. The only thing I’d watch out for is the Moon’s conjunction with Mars on Sunday, for all of the reasons I’ve already mentioned.

Do continue to keep journals of unusual dreams, flashes of insight, or events during your day. New patterns are forming, and writing down seemingly random occurrences will help you identify them.

Love and light to all as we head into another new year,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Return of the light. It’s normally overcast and gray at this time of year here in the Puget Sound region, but on Christmas Day, we were blessed with blinding sunshine, calling us out for a late afternoon walk on the beach.

Saturday Extra! Oh, What a Time for Mercury Retrograde

This laptop is a lemon

My HP Pavilion prefers hanging out with lemons, since it is one.

The day after Christmas is the biggest gift return day of the year. With Mercury stationed retrograde, I don’t even want to think about the lines at customer service.

Not even the promise of after-Christmas sales could lure me anywhere near a shopping mall today — especially not with Mercury stationed retrograde. The lines will be long and traffic gnarled beyond the usual stop-and-go. And with Mars now retrograde, you can bet that tempers are going to flare. Already I’ve heard several reports of honking horns, squealing tires, and cutting in line.

Retailers desperate to end the year solidly in the black are offering great deals on their entire stock. I know you’ll be tempted, but remember that Mercury retrograde is not the time to make major purchases. The exception will be if you’re replacing something that’s broken. Even though “return” starts with an “re” — activities normally acceptable during Mercury retrograde — I’d wait until the middle of January to exchange unwanted gifts.

As many of you know, my laptop went belly up a few weeks ago. It wasn’t even three years old. I didn’t have control over the purchase, as a third party helped me purchase and program it for some contract work I was doing at the time. I begged them not to order while Mercury was retrograde, but I was talking to a wall. They thought I was being ridiculous.

Predictably, I’ve had nothing but problems with this machine. It wasn’t delivered on-time. The programming was screwed up. Programs that were supposed to have been installed weren’t, or there were errors. There were connectivity issues. I was tearing my hair out and burst into tears of frustration more than once. (Apparently I wasn’t alone; others who bought the first machines using Vista were similarly upset.)

When I took my computer to the repair shop, the technician rolled his eyes the instant he saw the make and model number. My HP Pavilion evidently is one of a few series made in 2007 that was recalled due to problems with the motherboard. Fortunately, here in the Seattle area, I was able to find a shop with the special equipment required for the delicate repair, but problems apparently remain, and the prognosis isn’t good.

I’ll probably need a new laptop sometime in the next year. If you do succumb to the deep discounts in the next few weeks, at least don’t buy any electronic equipment. If you do, keep all the receipts and opt for the extended warranty. The extra cost will be well worth it.

I’ll have more in my weekly forecast. In the meantime, I hope you can enjoy a quiet holiday weekend and find some of the joy and peace of the season.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

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,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

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 warmersI’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,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

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.

Weekly Forecast December 14: New Moon in Sagittarius, Mars Retrograde

Blewett PassWhen I’m traveling by air, I hate it when the plane lands and, for an agonizing few seconds, I’m subject to the negative g-force. That’s the feeling I have this week as Mars slows down in preparation for turning retrograde.

Although there’s a lot going on astrologically this week, the impending retrograde of Mars is what we’re likely to feel the most. That’s because Mars rules our physical energy, and when he’s slowing down (that’s what it looks like from down here anyway), we tend to do the same.

Mars also rules steel and moving parts, which means we’ll see his effect on holiday traffic. With Mercury also slowing down, we can expect mall traffic to be even more of a nightmare than usual. If you find yourself in that situation, stay alert for drivers who may be inclined to take out their frustrations on the gas pedal.

In her New Moon post, Neith already mentioned the dominant aspects of this week, but I’ll run through them here chronologically.

On Monday, the Sun squares Uranus and sextiles Jupiter. Conflicting angles between the Sun and Uranus sometimes suggest accidents and disruption, and while Jupiter may amplify them and make them really big, his lucky influence also can bring happy endings to tense situations. For many people, this planetary combination may indicate an exciting break in routine for something fun and totally unexpected.

On Tuesday, the Sun sextiles Neptune, which is in a three-way conjunction with Jupiter and Chiron. Sextiles tend to be easy, and often they pass without any notice. It’s also going to be just plain difficult to figure out which planetary combination triggers which event, since there are so many planets involved … kind of like trying to determine who caused a 12-car pileup.

Tuesday’s Moon-Venus conjunction makes this my favorite day of the week for a party or for getting together with friends after work for some holiday cheer.

Wednesday is the New Moon in Sagittarius, three degrees from the Galactic Center. Be on the alert for “downloads.” They could come in brilliant flashes of insight, in dreams, while meditating, or by some other means. Be sure to record these messages somewhere so that you can contemplate them over time.

An hour and a half after the New Moon, the Moon enters somber Capricorn and immediately triggers the Saturn-Pluto square. You may feel lonely, isolated, or disempowered under this influence, but it won’t last long.

Venus trines Mars on Thursday, just as he’s close to a complete halt. She’s got a captive audience, so he’ll just have to sit there and listen to her, and then he’ll go off and think about it. If any of you are having “discussions” with a partner who’s lagging a little behind you spiritually or emotionally, be patient and give him or her some space, while continuing to be completely honest about how you feel.

Saturday’s sextile from Venus to Chiron and square from Venus to Uranus promises to bring a surprising breakthrough in healing a rift between you and someone else.

Mars finally turns retrograde on Sunday. If you’re out and about, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Keep your to-do list short and your shopping reasonable, as it won’t take much to get shopped out. The Moon opposes Mars later in the day, increasing the risk of arguments due to overstimulation and fatigue.

Fortunately, we’ll also have Venus in a lovely sextile to Neptune and Jupiter to lift our spirits and help us remember what the holidays are all about. With so much media pressure to show our love through material gifts, we often forget that the best thing we can give is precious moments truly connecting with those we love.

Love, joy, and holiday wishes to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Image: Snow on Blewett Pass, one of the few routes through the mountains separating the Seattle metropolitan area from the vast open stretches of Eastern Washington. Photo by Pat Paquette, all rights reserved.

Saturday Extra! Holiday Planning with Mercury Retrograde

Blizzard in the UKAs most of you know, another Mercury retrograde period will be upon us soon, just in time to mess with the best-laid holiday plans.

With Mars also about to go into reverse, the typical delays and frustrations that vex us while Mercury is retrograde could cause temper tantrums and emotional meltdowns everywhere. The holidays are stressful enough as it is, and I’m sorry to have to report that this season may be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Fortunately, since you know about this in advance, you can take some measures to mitigate the worst effects of Mercury retrograde. Indeed, all of you seem to be aware of this already. According to our Wednesday poll, the majority of you are planning to get your shopping and mailing done early, before Mercury and Mars go retrograde and turn all the UPS trucks into pumpkins.

As for holiday shopping and other daily activities, the usual caveats apply and then some. Be absolutely sure to buy all big-ticket items early this month. Hopefully, you even took advantage of all those Black Friday specials and have most of your major shopping out of the way. Electronic devices in particular need to be purchased while Mercury is direct. Watches, a popular gift item, also should be purchased now, as should cars and auto accessories – anything that has to do with transportation.

Most companies don’t make hiring decisions at this time of year, and they may put off important new business until after the first of the year. That will be problematic, as Mercury will be retrograde until January 15. If you get a new job opportunity, hopefully you’ll be able to stall signing the contract until then.

The effects of Mars retrograde are a bit harder to deal with and will take some mindfulness to counter. First of all, we all will need to make a sincere effort to communicate clearly, and when the inevitable breakdowns occur, we will have to resist the urge to blame the other person. Even if it seems like the other person was insensitive or not paying attention, respond with love and kindness, and be willing to forgive and forget. If the person in question really is malicious or intentionally showing you disrespect, that will come out again later, and you can deal with it then.

I’ll have more on Mercury in my weekly forecast on Monday. In the meantime, I wish you all much love and abundance.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Real Astrologers: Will Mars in Leo Bring Emotional Upheaval?

This week’s question comes from Anne in Fort Worth, Texas:

Just as I am coming near the end of the Saturn in Virgo number, I read that Mars is going to be in Leo for seven months. My Moon is in Leo and my Pluto is in Leo! Does this mean that after undergoing the rigors of Saturn that I must face emotional upheaval for seven months? I just want to scream, “Enough! Enough!” Any insight would be deeply appreciated.

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Thankfully, Anne, Mars is very, very different from Saturn in expression. He represents the action principle and encourages us to get moving – a welcome relief after Saturn in Virgo’s cautious nitpicking.

Transiting Mars in Leo will be triggering your natal fixed T-square of your Moon opposing Mars and both square your Sun-Saturn. I’m guessing change is not your favorite thing and you much prefer life proceeding as uneventfully as possible. As someone who also has a fixed sign preponderance in their chart, I quite understand!

Mars transits are good for helping us stand up for ourselves and learning to express our anger. If you have been suppressing your unhappiness about the way things are done in your work place, this transit could help clear that up.

Your twelfth house Moon in Leo will be getting a jolt and your family may be in for a surprise when your normally mild-mannered self speaks out and tells them how you really feel.

Mars transits to the Moon are also ideal for getting in touch with our anger and resentments, so this extended transit may be an ideal time to explore this. The stress resulting from not acknowledging anger and resentment in particular can manifest in any number of health problems.

You have some time yet before Mars starts to affect your chart in mid-November, Anne, to mull things over. For now, you may wish to make an appointment to get a relaxing massage or take a quiet stroll through the most beautiful natural setting you know of to unwind.

Take care and be well.

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Anne, your question is very timely, because Mars just entered Leo this morning. And you are right, he is going to remain there for a long time! Normally Mars stays in a sign for six weeks, but when he goes retrograde (every other year), he stays in a sign for nearly eight months.

Mars has had a reputation as a troublemaker since ancient times. Wherever he is in our charts, we tend to experience difficulties. There are a couple of exceptions, but everyone feels tension when Mars is retrograde. His retrograde period this year is going to be compounded by eclipses and Mercury retrograde. We’re all going to need to hang onto our seats.

Because Mars is in a fixed sign, those with a lot of fixed sign energy in their charts will be especially affected. That’s Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. As Neith noted, all of your planets except Neptune are in fixed signs, so yes, you probably are going to experience some upheaval, especially since Mars turns retrograde in very tight aspect to your Moon-Saturn square. I have the Moon and Saturn square in my chart as well, and so I know that whenever this challenging aspect is triggered, emotional upsets do tend to occur. The “good” news there is that the upsets typically aren’t due to any real external circumstances but are due to internal conflicts. That doesn’t make them any easier to deal with on a day-to-day basis, but at least it’s not a “world falling apart” thing.

Since Mars will turn retrograde in your twelfth house, the biggest concern is that you could get physically run down and be more susceptible to colds and flu. It wouldn’t hurt to get a flu shot now, and then make sure you take all your vitamins and supplements between now and January, in addition to eating a sensible diet and getting enough rest.

Best of luck, Anne, and do keep us posted.

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