Tag Archives: Mercury in Scorpio

Weekly Forecast October 13: Venus Sextile Jupiter, Sun Conjunct Mercury

Before the Storm. © Pat Paquette, 2014.

There was a discussion recently in an astrology forum on Facebook, initiated by an old-time astrologer who ridiculed his colleagues for giving any credence to events related to Mercury retrograde.

I was all the more surprised when several others chimed in to agree with him. It’s not the first time I’ve read other astrologers pooh-poohing Mercury retrograde.

Granted, it’s tricky assigning a particular event to an astrological signature, especially since there’s often more than one working together. It’s also true that mix-ups we normally associate with Mercury retrograde happen when he’s moving forward. In some of those cases, though – at least in my personal experience Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast September 29: Venus Enters Libra, Mercury Retrograde

Seatbelt required. Ulysses and the Sirens, by John William Waterhouse, 1891.

The captain has turned on the seat belt sign in anticipation of turbulence ahead and kindly requests that you return to your seats.

You’ll probably be more comfortable if you comply, but not doing so could be a lot more interesting, as long as you don’t mind a few bruises (and your name isn’t Ulysses). You just never know what you might stumble upon or whose lap you might fall into.

This state of instability with inherent opportunities for growth and change will persist through the middle of October. It might not even be possible to stay in one place if you wanted to, and there are no guarantees that it will be any less stressful. The thing with this energy is that you Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast October 21: Mercury Retrograde, Sun Enters Scorpio

Wet chill and dead leaves clinging to the trees are sure signs that we’re about to enter Scorpio territory. Or, I should say, that it’s about to get more intense.

Saturn and the lunar North Node have been in Scorpio for just over a year. Mercury is about to go retrograde in Scorpio on Monday. With the Sun moving into Scorpio this week, it hits us that we’re entering the darkest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the mythological descent into hell, one of the oldest stories in history.

We did get some good news last week … sort of. The U.S. Congress voted to reopen the government and raise the debt limit. But I don’t know anyone who’s overjoyed about it. We’re feeling wrung out from the stress and fear, and angry that we’ve been played yet again. The astrology of this period is indeed intense, and so I couldn’t dismiss the possibility of a default and all the implications. But the entire time, I was thinking that this was just more political theater, with a script written like a Hollywood movie in which the hero beats death at the eleventh hour to save the girl and kill the monster. And the writers made sure they created an opening for the sequel. Like Aliens, maybe. We thought the horrific monster was slain, only to find that there’s an entire nest of them, and they multiply like – well, like insects.

The primal fear for one’s very survival is a Scorpio concern, and in true Scorpio fashion, it can be manipulated by those hoarding the money and power in order to hang onto what they have – because they, too, fear for their survival. Tyrants, bullies, and control freaks typically don’t see themselves as perpetrators, but rather as victims and targets. Paranoia is another Scorpio trait.

Scorpio simultaneously draws us in and terrifies us with its mysterious power, which ultimately is the power of life and death. It requires us to let go, without any hint of what might be on the other side if we do. There are more taboos associated with this sign than any other. Thus, the powerful myth of the descent into hell. Usually, it’s portrayed as the “hero’s journey,” but I always like to point out that one of the earliest stories ever written down was about the goddess Inanna. Not coincidentally, she was sometimes portrayed with a scorpion beneath her wedding bed. All of these stories, by the way, originated with the stars, constellations, and the changing seasons. The point of the underworld journeys is that the hero or heroine returns with magical powers, usually the power to heal. That is what we often forget. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the dark drama.

I’ve written a lot about the healing aspect of Scorpio, especially in reference to Ophiuchus, the so-called “thirteenth” constellation of the zodiac. Ophiuchus isn’t an astrological sign and never will be, despite all the silliness in the media a few years back. But we might consider it a “hidden” side of Scorpio. Depending on how you calculate it – and this is a tricky business – Ophiuchus accounts for roughly two thirds of Scorpio, from about 10 to 29 degrees. So, while the Sun and the North Node currently are in Scorpio, Saturn and Mercury are in the “Ophiuchus degrees.” Moreover, Saturn is in a sextile with Chiron, named for a mythological centaur with connections to Ophiuchus.

So, as we head into the darkest time, it’s always helpful to remember that this is where we’ll find our real power. It’s cliché by now, but it’s true that to find our power, we first need to discover and own our dark, “shadow” side. In terms of the collective, we’re going through a period in which we’re beginning to understand that humans are capable of horrific cruelty. By definition, that means we all have that potential somewhere deep inside of us.

Mercury turns retrograde on Monday at 18°24′ Scorpio. He’ll remain in “reverse” until November 10. In classical mythology, Mercury (Greek Hermes) guided souls to the underworld. He was the only god who could come and go freely. We experience this phenomenon every day in sleeping and waking – slipping into the unconscious and returning to consciousness when we wake up. The dream state is where we can encounter our deep psyche, although the images sometimes require a lot of work to translate into comprehensible messages. While Mercury is retrograde in Scorpio, we have a special opportunity to connect with parts of ourselves that may be hidden or buried.

Overall, this Mercury retrograde could be difficult, due to its timing with the eclipses and the Uranus-Pluto square, which is exact on November 1. Watch the headlines for scandals and state secrets exposed. It’s possible that some of what’s discovered could cause a serious public backlash, if not outright protests.

As I mentioned in a previous post, take precautions to ensure that your own secrets are safe. Double-check that you have the right e-mail addresses before hitting “send” and that you’re sending faxes to the right number. All the usual cautions apply: Back up your computer data, and take special care with your cell phone. At this point, you should have important business wrapped up, especially contractual agreements. Of course, we don’t always have a choice, and businesses that depend on contracts can’t just stop for three weeks three times a year. With Mercury in Scorpio, it’s possible that there are hidden terms and conditions, so be sure to read the fine print and ask lots of questions. If you don’t understand the answers, keep asking.

The Sun enters Scorpio on Wednesday at 2:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time – late Tuesday on the West Coast of the United States and points farther west. I mentioned dreams above. Pay special attention toward the end of the week, as the Sun will be in a trine with Neptune in Pisces, another sign associated with the deep psyche and ancient memories. These can include glimpse of past-life experiences. In general, the veil between the worlds begins to lift in late October. Some of what comes into our field of conscious awareness could be shocking in its intensity.

We’ll also have a very brief revisit of the summer’s grand water trine when the Moon in Cancer forms a trine with the Sun and Neptune on Thursday. Think back to what was going on for you starting in July. It probably wasn’t a one-time event that was neatly concluded in a month’s time, but more likely an ongoing situation that will continue to unfold. Later this week, you may get hints of future developments.

I want to end by saying that although next week’s astrological aspects are the most turbulent of the year, we’re in that zone now. Events associated with eclipses, especially powerful ones, can manifest a month or more in advance, and up to three months afterward. Some astrologers extend that period to six months, depending on a host of factors. If it’s any consolation, most of you already know what issues you’re dealing with in this eclipse cycle, since we’ve been in it for a year. Put another way, even though the other shoe may be about to drop, at least we know which shoe we’re talking about and approximately where it might land.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast September 30: New Moon in Libra, Sun Square Pluto

Weighing the Harvest. © Mafoto for Dreamstime.com

Astrologers have known for a long time that we were in for a difficult stretch between 2012 and 2015, so in some ways, the enormous pressure weighing on the world isn’t a big surprise.

We’ve also said that the pressure would force many positive changes on humanity, and that is indeed turning out to be the case. It’s hard to see the good when we’re being tossed about and struggling to survive (some more than others). Likewise, it can be hard to appreciate positive developments when they come at such an exorbitant price. But that is the nature of transformation, and it’s a very Plutonic concept. Suffering produces an alchemical reaction, and that is really what transformation is all about. It’s true for individuals, and it’s true for the collective.

Amidst the mass shootings, wars, and other tragedies, we are witnessing some stunning breakthroughs. In the past week, the international community managed to agree on a plan for the Syrian government to destroy its chemical arsenal. Syria earlier this month asked to join the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Its membership officially begins on October 14, four days before a lunar eclipse in Aries, the sign of war, with the Sun in Libra, the sign of peace.

Equally as remarkable, the leaders of the United States and Iran spoke for the first time since 1979. Although President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani didn’t agree to a much-anticipated meeting at the United Nations on Tuesday, they spoke by telephone for about 15 minutes on Friday. Following the conversation, hopeful messages appeared in English on the Iranian president’s Twitter feed (the effusive tweets later were replaced with blander messages). Rouhani has a website in seven languages and a Facebook page, too. Talk about a “charm offensive.”

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned Putin’s 13-degree Libra Sun and its relation to the planetary signature underlying this summer’s extreme events. As it turns out, Rouhani has Venus at 13 degrees Libra. Libra is skilled in the art of compromise, and Venus in Libra disarms through charm. Rouhani’s Sun is at 19 degrees Scorpio, squaring natal Pluto. It’s a safe bet that the charm is serving the power agenda of a shrewd, calculating politician. Incidentally, Venus was at 19 degrees Scorpio during the telephone call between Rouhani and Obama. You gotta love astrology.

Comparing the charts, it appears that Rouhani and Putin genuinely like each other. Rouhani may even admire Putin, and they will find it easy to remain committed to one other. Obama and Putin also have an understanding, both with Moon in Gemini less than a degree apart (provided we have the right birth time for Putin). One might say they even come from the same “soul tribe,” and Putin’s lunar nodes on Obama’s Ascendant/Descendant further suggests that these two have been around the karmic block together a few times. Conversely, the relationship between Rouhani and Obama appears to be a flirtation, and Rouhani may end up becoming a thorn in Obama’s side. Looking at these three charts, along with when official meetings took place, I think it’s possible that Russia might have done some serious behind-the-scenes negotiating to patch up relations between the United States and Iran. I’d also bet my bottom dollar that major geopolitical shifts in the Middle East will come out of all of this, and it could be soon, given the coming eclipses and the rare conjunction of Mars the Warrior, Regulus the King, and comet ISON, discovered by a couple of Russians. Perhaps there’s even something symbolic in its invisibility to the naked eye. Talk about power-brokering behind the scenes…

There was another big breakthrough on Friday at the U.N, which announced that a new report shows that human impact on global climate change is “unequivocal.” If they’d only make a similar statement about Fukushima and get the international community involved in the cleanup. . .

As for Congress, it’s hard to say. Libra is the sign of compromise, and Venus, the ruler of this week’s New Moon, is in the seventh house of partnership in the chart cast for Washington, D.C. However, the New Moon forms a tight cardinal T-square with Uranus and Pluto, which turns compromise on its head. That said, there’s an “out” in the supportive sextile from Pluto at the apex of the T-square to Mercury, Saturn, and the North Node. Jupiter in the third house, while not closely involved in this formation, also could be a mitigating factor. The third house rules the media, Internet, and public information in general. It’s always helpful to remember that what politicians say for public consumption may have little to do with the horse-trading that goes on behind closed doors. It’s public posturing and political theater, and some of it (some people would argue most of it) is intended to distract the populace.

Given the high-stakes conflict indicated in this chart, it’s quite possible that failure to reach an agreement will cause a government shutdown. It has happened. If you’re up for some wonky reading, check out the Congressional Research Service report on what a government shutdown would mean. But it’s also possible that information could come to light that stabilizes the situation and prevents damage to an already limping economy. One can always hope.

There was a terrific article in The Guardian on Friday about Seymour Hersh, a Pulitzer-Prize winning reporter who broke the story about the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War. Hersh was my hero in journalism school, and he’s still my hero for saying that 90 percent of editors in publishing should be fired. On Saturday, there was an article by Glenn Greenwald noting how the television networks distort the news. It bears repeating that the range of news sources available to anyone with an Internet connection broadens our ability to piece together what’s really going on. Of course, there’s also a lot of bad information out there. One needs to know how to judge the reliability of sources. That’s a task that will be made easier by Tuesday’s trine from Mercury in Scorpio to Neptune in Pisces. Watch the headlines for revelations of deep, dark secrets, possibly by a writer with a nose for sniffing out that sort of thing.

Click on image to enlarge

Otherwise, the entire week is pretty much a lead-in to the New Moon, which is exact at 8:34 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday. On Tuesday, the Sun forms an exact square with Pluto. This is so not about compromise, even with the Sun in Libra. Depending on where the Sun and Pluto are in your chart, you may want to forego sensitive discussions, especially regarding work. In personal relationships, don’t push your point of view. It’s not like your bank account will shut down if you and your partner can’t agree on how to spend your money. Don’t let ego get in the way of compromise. Do you want to be “right,” or do you want to get the best deal possible?

On Thursday, the Sun opposes Uranus. Events may force a breakthrough of some kind, and new information could be part of the equation. If the Sun and Uranus make favorable angles to personal planets in your chart, sudden events a few days on either side of Thursday could be to your advantage.

The sextile between Mercury and Pluto is exact on Sunday, October 6. This is a good day all around for resolving conflicts through communications. Mercury is just a degree from the lunar North Node, which can indicate an event that is destined or that serves a significant purpose. This can apply to you personally as well as to the collective. The North Node currently is in Scorpio, sign of death, transformation, and rebirth.

Just over a month from now, there is a total eclipse of the Sun in Scorpio, conjunct Saturn, and with Mercury retrograde in Scorpio. This is intense, although I realize it’s hard to imagine how much more pressure we can bear. During a recent visit to my doctor, she told me that people are coming into her office in tears, at the end of their rope. That eclipse will square my Sun, with Saturn in a square by exact degree, so I’m feeling the pressure in a big way. In fact, I turned on my laptop yesterday only to discover that the keyboard died. I can get an external keyboard, but it was a reminder that my computer is reaching the end of its useful life, when I can least afford to buy a new one and when I suddenly have a flood of report orders. I’ve got a temporary solution rigged up, but it’s costing me time and energy.

For those of you who would like to order the StarGuide Fall 2013 forecast, my current turnaround time is about two weeks. To make up for the delay, I’m providing an extra couple of weeks of transits.

We’ve all got to hang in there. If we can make it through to mid-November, the pressure will lighten up — not entirely, but at least we’ll be able to breathe normally.

Much love and courage to you all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast October 17: Sun Enters Scorpio

The nights are noticeably longer than the days as the Sun heads into Scorpio, (in the Northern Hemisphere; apologies to my friends Down Under). The dark season looms, and the veil between the worlds becomes thinner.

Many of you have written to me about experiences with past-life memories. I don’t know if this phenomenon is increasing or whether more people feel comfortable talking about it. It does seem to me, though, that our perception of time is expanding as human consciousness makes an evolutionary leap.

I recently went to a special 70-mm showing of my all-time favorite film, Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. The theme involves the evolution of consciousness and, like other Kubrick films, explores the dual nature of man as a highly intelligent species with vestiges of its primal, animal origins.

In astrology, those deeply buried animal urges are associated with Scorpio and its modern ruler, Pluto, Roman god of the underworld. When we journey to our own underworld, we have to confront our animal nature, which we often refer to as “dark.” Most of us are uncomfortable with the idea that we have these urges, including the need for domination, control, and aggression. Repressing these tendencies may seem like a good idea if we want to get along with our neighbors, but they come out in other ways. Only by directly confronting and understanding our basic underlying nature can we make an uneasy peace with it and make a conscious choice not only to act on our highest power but to attend to our spiritual development.

There are only three major planetary aspects this week, all of which touch on spiritual growth and awareness in some way.

On Monday, Mercury in Scorpio opposes Jupiter in Taurus. Mercury usually represents our conscious thought process, but in Scorpio, links the conscious and subconscious for deep insight. Jupiter, meanwhile, is about spiritual growth and the higher mind. As it so happens, both Mercury and Jupiter are at a favorable angle to Pluto. This is a perfect configuration for exploring themes of consciousness, super-consciousness, and the expansion of the brain’s capacity to see into other dimensions of time and space. This may sound abstract, but it’s terribly personal. It forms a bridge between our immediate experience in the “material” world and our existence on other planes.

Incidentally, in 2001, humans are helped along on the evolutionary path by an alien species. This is entirely plausible, especially if you get rid of the notion that aliens are cute little ETs with big heads and bulging eyes. If you regard them as energetic beings, your notion of what’s possible changes dramatically.

On Friday, the Sun in late Libra trines Neptune in Aquarius, attuning us to what lies beyond the material realm, especially as it regards the collective conscious. This aspects lends itself to psychic flashes as it is, but with the Sun about to shift into Scorpio, the potential is increased for seeing into the spiritual realms. If you’re sensitive to this sort of thing, you may start picking up vibes as early as Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Sun enters Scorpio, and down into the dark we go. The best way to find out what’s hidden in these forbidding places is to shine a light in the cracks and corners. Be fearless, and remember that you are not the only person who feels like this. It is inherent in everyone.

Lest this all sound dark and forbidding, I also want to remind you that in mythology, underworld demons often were there to protect priceless treasures. Pluto himself was the guardian of gemstones. The coming New Moon and Full Moon, in positive alignment with Jupiter and Pluto, are going to be much different than the previous cycle. Several clients wrote to me in a panic early this past week, right around the Full Moon. For some, doors closed, and this was distressing. In the next cycle, it looks like more doors will open, so keep the faith!

Wishing you much love and infinite courage,

Pat

Weekly Forecast October 26: Saturn Enters Libra

This could be a fairly intense week on several fronts as we continue to feel major shifts, welcome new developments into our lives, and heal old wounds. I should say upfront that this is not going to be a week for the faint-hearted!

The biggest news this week, of course, is Saturn’s entry into Libra. Saturn is far happier in Libra than he’s been in service-oriented, nitpicky Virgo. Commitments to social justice and restoring balance in government should be evident in the headlines soon.

In our individual lives, honoring our commitments in relationships will take on more importance as we come to understand that good relationship don’t happen by accident. They require diligence, compromise, and hard work.

Just so you know, Saturn turns retrograde in January and returns to Virgo from April to July. So whatever you’ve been grappling with will come back for review at that time. Likewise, societal trends might seem to change and then take a step back. It’s a given that we’ll be revisiting healthcare reform, a very Saturn-in-Virgo subject. I do believe that we’ll get a better deal next time around.

None of this is going to happen without a fight, either. As he moves back and forth through the early degrees of Libra, Saturn will square Pluto in Capricorn. There will be seemingly insurmountable obstacles to change, both in the collective and in our individual lives. Once Uranus gets in on the mix in the middle of next year, it could be a real free-for-all. But we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

This week will be like college orientation, when we get a lay of the land and learn more about what will be required of us.

Although the other shifts this week aren’t nearly as radical, they will be noticeable, starting right out on Monday and Tuesday, when the Moon is in Aquarius. Jupiter turned direct in Aquarius on October 12, and this Tuesday, the Moon will conjoin the Big Guy for the first time since he began moving forward again. The Moon is often a trigger for releasing pent-up energies, so if you haven’t noticed any changes since Jupiter went direct, keep your antennae up this week.

Also on Tuesday, the Moon conjoins Chiron, which turns direct on Friday, and Neptune, which turns direct next week. With Wednesday’s trine between Venus and Jupiter and her trine to Chiron on Saturday, there will be no doubts after this week how the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction is going to play out in your life. The handwriting is on the wall, in huge, black spray paint.

On Wednesday, Mercury enters Scorpio and sextiles Pluto, the Scorpion’s modern ruler. Typically, this combination turns up hidden motivations or activities, but since this is an easy sextile, I don’t expect that we’ll be overly shocked by the revelations. They may come via dreams or psychic flashes, even if you’re not normally prone to such insight (but especially if you are). If you need to pry information out of someone, this is a good aspect for doing so. Just make sure you’re using the information for the right reasons and not for your own power trip.

Overall, I see this week as holding a lot of potential for deep healing and higher growth. How much depends on whether you’re committed to doing the work.

Saturday’s square between Mercury and Mars is the big exception. Depending on where this aspect falls in your chart, you could end up in a stinging confrontation with someone. Since both planets are in fixed signs, neither side will want to budge, and what starts out as a trivial difference of opinion could escalate into a knock-down, drag-out fight. If someone is in your face, step to the side and wait until next week to call them on their behavior.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Justice, from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. Most of the Major Arcana have an astrological association. Justice corresponds to Libra.

RealAstrologers

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