Tag Archives: Mercury retrograde

Full Moon in Pisces, September 4, 2009

Full Moon in Pisces After the drama of the past couple months due in large part to three eclipses, the mild-mannered Full Moon at 12°15′ Pisces on Friday promises to be much easier to live with.

Yes, there are a couple of sticky places – like Mercury stationing retrograde in Libra a couple of days after the Full Moon, and Mars in Cancer squaring Mercury, promoting yelling matches. But given the Pisces propensity for avoiding confrontation and encouraging good will, we may be able to slide on through without making too many waves. I don’t know about anyone else, but I can sure use a little peace and tranquility!

The Full Moon is also the apex of a Yod with charming Venus in Leo sextile Ceres in Venus-ruled Libra. It is the nature of Yods to create a certain amount of tension, pushing at us to stretch ourselves. However, this one is about as gentle a combination as I’ve seen. If there is a better time to make plans to spend time in a tropical paradise, sipping those delightful fruity drinks with umbrellas, listening to the surf washing up on the sand, I don’t know when it would be. Venus in Leo just loves a party and Ceres is willing to attend as long as it’s in a beautiful natural setting while the light of the Full Moon is so flattering to everyone. Most of us can’t begin to afford a vacation in a tropical paradise, but we can create a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere with a little ingenuity. Fresh flowers for Ceres, lovely scented candles for Venus in Leo, and fine potables for Pisces will do the trick.

We were introduced last week to the effect of Mars in Cancer squaring Mercury in Libra as part of a T-square with Pluto. For some, this T-square was very irritating, but for many others it turned out to be the key to breaking out of a period of extended stasis.

Unless you enjoy heated exchanges, steer clear of confrontation, because it won’t take much to set people off right now. People with planets or chart angles in early degrees of the cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn – have short fuses at this time. Please sharpen your listening skills and practice speaking clearly, because the pervasive impatience is creating severe interference. We have all had the experience of attempting to communicate with someone who is obviously thinking about what they are going to say and not listening. That’s a pretty good description of a cardinal Mercury being squared by Mars!

Since Pat has a great post on the Saturn-Uranus opposition, I am going take a look at another aspect Saturn is making now – an inconjunct with Neptune in Aquarius. Imagine Saturn in Mercury ruled Virgo doggedly repeating himself in an effort to get his point across, while Neptune in Aquarius is saying, “I don’t care about the darn details, just the big picture. It’s the collective that’s important, not individuals.”

Both Aquarius and Virgo offer valuable contributions to humanity, but the manner they go about it is decidedly different. Detail-oriented, earthy Virgo tends to focus on what’s in front of them, while visionary, airy Aquarius is looking out for the collective as a whole. Read the headlines, and you’ll see this dynamic everywhere right now. Speaking from a Libra perspective, my suggestion is to table important discussions for now, if possible, and take them up after Saturn moves into Libra at the end of October. Hey, it’s highly likely there will be no resolution until then, anyway.

Juno in Aries is making a waxing square to Pluto in Capricorn. All I can say is that if you are in a committed relationship, don’t be surprised if power struggles emerge. In Aries, Juno can be quite headstrong and insistent on doing things her way, and we already know about Pluto in Capricorn’s firm belief that he is the ultimate authority. To avoid sleeping on the couch, seek a compromise both of you can live with.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 13 Virgo is, “A powerful statesman overcomes a state of political hysteria,” with the keyword CHARISMA. This corresponds well to the inconjunct between Jupiter in Aquarius and Pallas in Virgo. Pallas is capable of dispassionate insight and applying what she has discerned in an extremely effective manner. In this case, she uses her gifts on behalf of charismatic Jupiter, who needs help in presenting his message to the masses as clearly as possible in order to turn the situation around. This is a hopeful note in a polarized environment.

If we are willing to explore nonviolent means to resolve our differences, we can draw inspiration from the Sabian symbol for the Moon at 13 Pisces: “An ancient sword, used in many battles, is displayed in a museum,” with the keyword WILLPOWER. Pisces generally prefers to avoid combative encounters and often has learned to yield from a position of strength, no longer needing to use the sword to cut opponents down to get their point across.

With Mercury just about to go retrograde for the rest of September, it is my recommendation to step aside from opportunities to engage our opponents and celebrate this Full Moon in gentle Pisces by setting aside time for quiet reflection in as beautiful a setting as you can find. Many of us need time to recover from the turmoil of eclipse season and are in no shape to launch into another battle, further depleting our reserves. Be kind to yourself and others, as always.

posted by Neith . . .

Weekly Forecast August 31: Full Moon in Pisces

Most of this week should be fairly quiet. I, for one, will be very grateful for the break, but I’m betting that most of you will be, too.

Of course there are always exceptions. If you have personal planets or chart angles in early degrees of the cardinal signs — Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn — you may start feeling Mercury retrograde a week before the rest of us, thanks to a square between Mercury and Mars on Thursday. Arguments, equipment breakdowns, and delays could try your patience and make you feel downright paranoid.

Even if you don’t have these sensitive points in your chart, you should be wrapping up business and getting major purchases out of the way before next Monday, the sooner the better. We’re well into the shadow period, and most of the rules for Mercury retrograde apply. It would be OK to submit job applications early this week or to pitch your latest creative project to an agent, but then be prepared for it to sit on someone’s desk until late September. Indeed, hope it does sit there. The last thing you want is to be presented with a contract to sign while Mercury is retrograde.

For the fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — you may feel a little edgy this week. This likely will have more to do with our friends Neptune & Co. than with Mercury’s station. The Moon is in Aquarius from Tuesday through Thursday, and she aligns with Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in turn on Wednesday and Thursday. This happens once a month, so you probably won’t be blindsided by some horrendous situation. Rather, you simply may be reminded yet again that you have some important healing work left to do.

Mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — you get your turn at the wheel on Friday, with the Full Moon at 12 degrees Pisces. Anyone with major planets or chart angles near this degree will feel this Full Moon acutely, but even if you don’t, this is the one-month follow-up appointment for the Full Moon lunar eclipse in Aquarius Leo on August 5. Sometimes eclipse-related results are delayed until the next lunar cycle, so keep your antennae up.

As usual, Neith will have a full report, which we’ll post in place of this week’s Wednesday poll.

In the meantime, start planning ahead for Mercury retrograde, and also be mindful that the Saturn-Uranus opposition is closing in. There won’t be a lot we can do about it, other than to maintain our awareness and vigilance. In a way, we might be glad for this Mercury retrograde period, as it allows us a chance to slow down, catch our breath, and visualize our next move.

Wishing you all strong hearts,
Pat

Image: Dog days: Sunset outside of Bucharest, Romania, after a hot day in August. Photo by Vadim Ghirda for The Associated Press.

Weekly Forecast August 24: Mercury, Venus, Mars Change Signs

Mercury, Venus, and Mars all change signs this week, and with the Sun newly arrived in Virgo, it’s as though the sands are shifting under our feet as we walk … just as we have to start walking a lot faster.

Overall, we’re in a period of shifting and swift change, and this can mean temporary disorientation and discomfort. Those of us with a lot of fixed signs in our charts will have a more difficult time, whereas the cardinal signs should be quite happy for things to get moving finally!

Mars enters Cancer on Tuesday, with Mercury entering Libra just a few hours later. This means they are square one another, and they both engage Pluto in challenging aspects on Wednesday — Mars by opposition and Mercury by square. Most of you know enough about astrology to know that when Mars and Pluto face off, we end up in power struggles. These can be with another person, or groups can oppose one another. Or, we may face internal conflicts. Perhaps we struggle with an addiction.

Normally, Mercury in Libra would be a good antidote, as Libra is the sign of peace, harmony, and conciliation. However, attempts to intervene between opposing parties could backfire this week, even with the best of intentions. If you find yourself in the middle of an argument or conflict of any kind, step back and think about what’s at the root of the problem. Unfortunately, since Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are all cardinal signs, there’s going to be a whole lot of talking and action without thinking first.

Complicating matters is that Mercury is in pre-retrograde shadow. He’ll be retrograde September 7-29, during which he’ll return to Virgo for three weeks. During that time, we’ll get to reflect on any issues that come up this week and perhaps revise how we want to handle them. But there may be breakdowns in communications first. As always, when life is moving this fast, the best approach is to stay in the moment and not think too far ahead. There is a potential for rapid change now, and we’re going to have to stay in the flow.

As I mentioned in my Saturday Extra! post, the Saturn-Uranus opposition is creeping up on us. It’s within four degrees, which is enough for us to start feeling the effects. Most of you probably know by now where these two are transiting your chart. If not, look at the houses in which they’re opposed in your natal chart for clues. For example, if they’re located in the fourth and tenth houses, situations at home or with your family may be interfering with your effort to get a new job. An opposition in the fifth and eleventh houses could bring conflicts between caring for children and your social responsibilities, or perhaps you’re in a situation in which someone is transgressing boundaries between friends and lovers.

The good news is that Venus enters Leo on Wednesday, which brings some festivity into our lives. She’s out of synch with Mars, but she’ll be in a bright sextile with Mercury on Friday, and since Mercury is in her sign, this will be a good night for patching up disputes. Go out and have a good time together, and enjoy the moment.

Just don’t let it interfere with your obligations and responsibilities, because there’s no forgiveness this week for not meeting your commitments. I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but I need to let you know that failing to keep promises and commitments will be met with a swift reminder on Saturday, when the Moon in Capricorn triggers the Mars-Pluto opposition.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Image: Venus in Leo is the party girl! Here, she’s wearing a beautiful beaded mask as she gets ready for a samba parade at Carnival in Sao Paulo earlier this year. Photo by Mauricio Lima for Agence France-Presse.

Saturday Extra!Random Musing

We are going through an energy shift, there’s no doubt. Signs of the change stream in constantly. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few random thoughts and observations with you.

The predominant astrological signature for this shift is the conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune, with Mercury in a square just as he’s coming out of retrograde. Chiron and Neptune have just turned retrograde. The ongoing mutual reception between Neptune and Uranus, with the latter moving toward a second opposition to Saturn later this year, tells us how there is connection between seemingly unrelated issues in our lives.

My take on all of this is that those of us whose wounds are near the surface and ready to clear out have been helped enormously by this healing window. I’ve heard several stories from friends and clients confirming this trend. Once this deep healing is assimilated, we will experience corresponding shifts in our external world.

For those who are only vaguely aware of the deep wounds or who are actively suppressing them, this is the wake-up call. The next Jupiter-Neptune conjunction may be the crisis, and then the final one hopefully will bring about the shift. Mercury’s square to Neptune & Co. is helping to identify the issues. This isn’t always pleasant, especially for people who don’t make the connection between what they’re carrying around with them and the situations they keep getting into. It’s really hard to process this without feeling guilt and blame.

As I was pondering this development, I read the news that Susan Boyle came in second in the final competition of the reality TV show Britain’s Got Talent. Part of Susan’s appeal was the idea that dreams can and do come true, even for people who don’t seem to have a snowball’s chance in hell. The day after her loss to a group of young male break dancers, headlines screamed about broken dreams. I didn’t see it that way.

In her exuberant audition, Susan said her dream was to become a professional singer. As a result of her overnight fame, she was hounded by the media, which led to a breakdown in her apparently fragile mental state. She was admitted the following day to an upscale mental health clinic in London, where hopefully she will be able to learn to cope with fame. She obviously is a sensitive person, and this means she will need to learn to protect herself, as many sensitive celebrities must do in order to keep their sanity. So, the way I see it, this is her opportunity to heal a very old wound, which in turn will help her realize her dream of earning a living with her angelic voice. The sad part is, her voice was not nearly as inspirational while she was under stress. What grabbed us in the first place was her singing directly from a pure heart, but the pressure she was under caused her heart to close, and we couldn’t feel that connection anymore.

Neptune and Jupiter together are about big dreams, but often we are blocked by something inside us. It could be a wound that we are not aware of, and most of the time, there’s an element of fear involved. Before we can move into the dream, we must overcome that fear.

For many of you, the wound and fear have to do with a love relationship. I’ve written a lot about this theme and about the connection between the Chiron-Neptune conjunction and healing our relationships. I’ve received some incredible e-mail over the past couple of weeks from people who are going through intense relationship healing. And just look at the comments on this blog over the past two weeks. I want you all to know that I am reading every word and in empathy with you all, as my own experiences are similar.

To those of you who are suffering in relationships, I want to throw the possibility out to you that the person who appears to be causing this reaction may have come into your life precisely to bring your deepest wound to the surface. To heal, we often have to re-open those old wounds. Emotionally, we often have to relive them. If someone has brought your wound to the surface, send up a note of gratitude to the universe, because you are blessed. The wounded energy can be released, freeing you of a load you’ve been carrying around for many years, perhaps all of your life. New patterns can now enter your existence.

I also want to second Mem’s comment this morning about what a supportive community this blog has become. That was always our intention, and we are grateful to all of you for making it so. When Mem and others are brave enough to talk openly of their fears, it creates an opening for healing.

Finally, I’d like to leave you with a song I heard on the radio the other day. I started laughing at the lyrics and went online to look them up. The song is called “Incomplete,” by Alanis Morissette. It seems like a fitting anthem for these astrological times. (I tried to embed the video in this post, but for some reason WordPress doesn’t like it and keeps changing the code. So just click here for the video and lyrics. )

Much love and courage to you all,

Pat

Weekly Forecast June 1: Venus Enters Taurus, Full Moon in Sagittarius

Are we still on the same planet? This week has a very different feel to it.

To start with, Mercury is now direct. Even though he’s not moving very fast, his forward motion has a ripple effect on Saturn, who recently went direct in Mercury-ruled Virgo. In a way, it’s as though both of these planets have gone direct at the same time. This week, we should see movement on many fronts. Indeed, it may be faster than is comfortable, depending on where these two are transiting your chart.

As Mercury gathers speed this week, he’ll return to an exact square with Chiron and Neptune, the third and final pass of a three-part aspect. If you’ve been dealing with confusion, or if you’ve felt that someone was withholding important information from you, it should come out soon. Keep your antennae up, but be careful with things you pick up intuitively, as Neptune messes with that particular skill in us. We can feel things quite strongly, only to find out that we had our wires crossed big-time. Your intuition is a good guide, but wait to act on it until the hard facts surface.

Neptune and Chiron have just gone retrograde, so this is a particularly powerful time for messages of healing old wounds. I received several reports of people feeling lighter after last week. I certainly feel like my load has been lightened. With clearer channels, we can more directly and powerfully affect our external circumstances.

At the same time, we might feel a little lazier than usual, with Mars in Taurus. Maybe you’ve seen the bumper sticker slogan, “My get up and go got up and went.” Well, that pretty much describes Mars in Taurus. Many of us need a rest, though, so don’t fight it. Grab your remote and watch back-to-back reruns of your favorite television serial. For me, it will be the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. I’ve been known to watch all six episodes in a night!

Speaking of romantic relationships, this should be an interesting week, as Venus and Mars are in mutual reception. That means she’s in his sign, and he’s in hers. This is a rare opportunity to put yourself in the other’s shoes, which could go a long way toward healing rifts between you and a loved one. If you experience any major developments with a romantic partner, leave a comment here, as I’d love to have your feedback. And thank you, by the way, to everyone who shared their observations and experiences in last week’s forecast.

On Tuesday, Venus sextiles Chiron, Neptune, and Jupiter. This is such an easy aspect that it may go unnoticed for many of us. However, those of us who have been going through internal healing may notice some ripple effects in their relationships. Even subtle internal changes can significantly affect how we interact with others.

On Thursday, Mars trines Pluto, adding more fuel to our personal and collective transformation. This is a good time to examine your motivation, especially when it comes to others. It’s human nature to want to control the circumstances around us to some degree, but manipulating others to get what we want can backfire. Practice the fine art of being bonded to another person without being attached to any particular outcome.

On Friday, the Sun squares Saturn, and we may feel some tension for a day or two on either side. This aspect typically involves authority figures, such as your boss or parents. If you are the boss or a parent, you may be in a situation in which you have to exert your authority. If you must, be kind and be fair.

Venus enters Taurus on Saturday and begins winging her way toward her third conjunction with Mars in less than a year. This one is going to be very different than the others, and I think we all will be pleasantly surprised. Much of the tension we’ve been feeling in our romantic relationships should lighten up so that we can enjoy each other. As I see it, sensual pleasures are the reason we incarnate. I don’t know about you, but if it weren’t for sex and chocolate, I’d prefer staying in a disincarnate state in another part of the galaxy.

Sunday is the Full Moon in Sagittarius, and this should be a big one, with delayed results from the New Moon on May 24, while Mercury was retrograde. As usual, Neith will have a full report, so check back mid-week.

Wishing you all much love and courage,

Pat

Image: Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the outstanding BBC production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I love this story as a metaphor for Venus and Mars in mutual reception. Then, I just plain love this story!

Weekly Forecast May 25: Jupiter Conjunct Neptune, Mercury Direct

BREAKTHROUGH ALERT!

I have a feeling that, for many of us, life won’t be the same after this week. Maybe you have a sense of this already.

As the week begins, Mercury is still retrograde but is heading down the home stretch. He stations direct on Saturday (Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere). In the meantime, we should start seeing the effects of the New Moon in Gemini, even though the results may be delayed by a week or so. Good news is always welcome.

On Tuesday, Mars in Aries forms a rapid-succession sextile with Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune in Aquarius, providing still more fuel for this turbo-charged three-way conjunction. Mars in Aries is a strongly masculine force and represents action, initiative, and forging into new territory. In last week’s forecast, I wrote about the unprecedented healing potential of the Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. Mars helps you boldly go where few have gone before but where more and more of us are headed.

Jupiter conjoins Neptune on Wednesday, the first of a three-part conjunction that is one of the most significant astrological aspects of 2009. The next will occur on July 10, and the third and final pass takes place on December 21, Solstice Day. Typically, the first pass of a three-part aspect coincides with a new issue or set of circumstances in our lives. The tension builds at the second pass, and often we experience an obstacle or challenge. We find resolution at the third and final pass, or sometimes the problem simply fades away.

Stories from friends and clients tell me that we are going through a subtle but very powerful shift, and we have started seeing the signs of it over the past few months. Deep changes usually don’t happen without accompanying turmoil as our body/mind readjusts to accommodate the new information. I liken it to rearranging furniture. You tend to trip over it in the dark until you get used to where it is. Once that happens, you can relax into it and enjoy the new way of being.

Many of the stories I’m hearing have to do with relationships. I don’t know what made me do it, but I gave in to one of those cheesy ads for relationship help for women and ordered an e-book. I’m sending it back, but I’m not sorry I took the chance on it in the first place. There were a couple of good points about taking responsibility for your own baggage and not attempting to manipulate or control the other person — all advice that Neith and I give consistently.

What I didn’t like about it was the implication that women have to get themselves totally together, resolve all their issues and essentially heal themselves before they can expect to get and keep a man, and they shouldn’t expect any help from men. The author described how “most men” are wired emotionally, and I guess if I were a man, I’d be insulted. It was sad, really, and I was left wondering why a woman who had herself that together would even give this type of man a second thought. The kind of man who would interest her wouldn’t be so insecure as to need to keep her in a box with so many rules for acceptable dating behavior.

The fact is that both genders have deep wounds that go back to ancient times, and we need to help each other heal (regardless of your gender preference). Just as you have to jump into the water to learn to swim, you have to dive into the emotional messiness of a relationship to learn about yourself and your partner. The key, of course, is that you both have to be willing to go there. My best advice to anyone having relationship challenges is to talk to your partner and be very clear about whether he or she wants to do the work with you. If not, you can’t force it, or you risk deepening the wound, both yours and theirs.

On Friday, Neptune turns retrograde, with Chiron following on Saturday and Jupiter just a couple of weeks from turning retrograde. For the conjunction to happen while all the players are in slow motion makes it all the more powerful. We might actually be able to see what is happening rather than experiencing it as a big blur.

Mercury returns direct on Saturday as well, which I expect will unleash a torrent of delayed activity — if not this weekend, then next week.

Last but not least, Mars enters Taurus on Sunday, which means he will be in mutual reception with Venus for a week, until she enters her own sign. I like this configuration for working through relationship issues, especially between opposite sexes. She’s in his shoes, and he’s in hers. There’s no better way to understand another person.

Wishing you all hearts with wings,
Pat

Image: Air Castles, by Maxfield Parrish, 1903. Jupiter and Neptune may help us realize our dreams, but they might burst a few bubbles, too. It’s all part of the healing process.

Weekly Forecast May 18: New Moon in Gemini

Tiger Twins This week is about communications, whether looking backwards or forward, at the big picture or the trivial, the spiritual or the mundane. It could come as a flood of words or deafening silence that tells you everything you need to know.

If that sounds a little schizophrenic … well, we may indeed feel that way, with Mercury still retrograde, Saturn direct after several months retrograde in one of the signs Mercury rules, and a New Moon in the other sign of the Messenger. With that kind of energy filling our airwaves, mixed messages may seem like the goddess-honest truth and vice versa.

Still, Gemini is one of the more enthusiastic and dynamic signs, and with the Sun entering Gemini on Wednesday (Mercury’s day) and the New Moon on Sunday, we won’t remain stuck in the ruts that Mercury retrograde in Taurus might otherwise suggest. That said, it may be one step forward, two steps back for the next couple of weeks. If you’re an impatient type, that may be preferable to no action at all.

On Monday, the Sun conjoins Mercury, setting the tone for the rest of the week. On Wednesday, right as the Sun is entering Gemini, Mercury squares what Neith affectionately refers to as “Neptune & Co.” Since he’s working his way backwards, he starts with Neptune, then squares Chiron 12 hours later, and then a few hours later squares Jupiter. He tops it all off by forming a sextile to Uranus, which should create a noticeable buzz. Let’s just hope it doesn’t sound like a dentist’s drill.

Jupiter himself is approaching conjunction with Neptune, but that’s not until next week. This week, on Saturday, he conjoins Chiron. Wednesday’s square from retrograde Mercury provides the set-up for an unprecedented healing opportunity. We are healing deep wounds that may go back to early childhood and perhaps even farther. Many of us have been receiving messages in many forms about what this healing involves. It’s not the same for everyone, although the recurring theme I’m seeing most is a healing of the split between male and female energies. Regardless of your gender preference, you may start to see deep changes in your relationships. Some unions will become closer and more fulfilling, while those that have outlived their purpose will dissolve. If this happens, let go and put out a conscious intent to clear that space for something new and better.

The week closes with the New Moon on Sunday, May 24, at 3 degrees Gemini. This is close to the degree at which Mercury went retrograde, and Mercury rules this New Moon, so while we generally expect new beginnings at the New Moon, positive developments may be delayed, and our patience may be tried. I also see a possibility that we will think we’ve lost something, or something may happen that causes us to give up hope, but that this will be a cover for new energy attempting to manifest into your material reality. Anytime we are in healing mode, there’s a certain amount of internal confusion, and this can temporarily distort our vision.

Check back on Tuesday or Wednesday for Neith’s New Moon report.

Wishing you all courageous hearts and much love,
Pat

Image: These Sumatran tiger cubs were born late last summer and are seen here at six weeks old in a zoo in Krefeld, Germany. Could there be a better image for the New Moon in Gemini than baby tiger twins? Photo by Sascha Schuermann for Agence France-Presse/DDP.

Weekly Forecast May 11: Saturn Turns Direct

As Mercury continues on his retrograde path, everyone I know is experiencing missed phone calls, faxes that don’t go through, traffic jams, appointment mix-ups, and all of the other typical effects.

An outing I took on Saturday turned into a comedy of errors, but fortunately I was able to laugh about it. Better still, I had lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in more than a year, and we had a great time catching up on the news.

Among other things, she told me a story about a community meeting she went to last Wednesday, just as Mercury was stationing retrograde. The director went off on one of his usual insensitive tangents, and for the first time since she has been involved with the group, she interrupted and told him how hurtful his remarks were. He was mortified and apologized profusely, and there were tears all around as everyone kissed and made up. Mercury turned retrograde just a few degrees into my friend’s first house. Moreover, she’s a Taurus, and Mercury will be returning to her sign this week.

So you see, there are benefits to Mercury retrograde, too, and we needn’t worry about opening our mouths at all for fear of offending someone or being misunderstood, even when there’s a risk of conflict. I suspect that after Mercury re-enters Taurus this Wednesday, we’ll have more opportunities to address unresolved issues and heal old rifts.

Even the square from Mercury to Neptune and Chiron could end up producing positive results, despite traditional interpretations that this aspect brings confusion and misunderstanding. That might well be the case initially, but with Venus in Aries, taking the initiative to clarify and speaking from the heart may be just the right approach, as my friend discovered.

On Sunday, May 17, the Moon conjoins Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune and squares Mercury. All of the above notwithstanding, I wouldn’t choose this day to have a heavy discussion. If someone else corners you into it, make the best of it by thinking before you open your mouth. The clearer you are with yourself about how you feel and what your motivations are, the better you’ll be able to express it to others in a way they can hear.

By this time, Saturn will be direct as well, and that could help matters enormously. Saturn turns direct on Sunday in the Eastern Hemisphere, late Saturday here on the western side of the world. It will take him some time to stretch and wake up, but we still should feel some positive effects fairly quickly. Saturn’s return direct, along with the New Moon in Gemini at the end of next week, might help mitigate some of the more annoying effects of Mercury retrograde.

Saturn’s return direct in Virgo is a good time to contemplate his role in Roman mythology as ruler of the Golden Age of Man. Many cultures and religions around the world have different versions of this tale. Christians describe it as the Garden of Eden. According to the Greeks and Romans, this was the earliest age of humanity, a period when the gods came and went among mortals, when everyone was happy and had everything they needed without working. Humans died, but without pain. They simply went to sleep, and their spirits became higher beings, which we might call angels.

It all fell apart when Jupiter overthrew Saturn and took over as father of the Olympian gods.

This might come as a surprise, since Saturn in astrology is not considered a symbol of ease, harmony and abundance. To the contrary, he is considered a limiting influence under which we have to learn painful lessons and work extra hard to get ahead. It’s almost as if they had the roles of Saturn and Jupiter flipped. But it does make an odd kind of sense, when you consider that Saturn is lord of the material universe. Without structure and order, there can be no abundance.

The ancient Romans revered Saturn as a god of the harvest, much as we think of Ceres, who I’d like to see elevated to modern ruler of Virgo. Maybe we’ll hear more about this as Saturn and Ceres approach conjunction in late June.

In the meantime, much love and courage to all,
Pat

Image: The Golden Age, by German painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1530. Given the dour religious climate at the time, this is a remarkably happy and light-hearted scene — and hardly what we’d imagine of a world ruled by Saturn.

Weekly Forecast April 27: Mercury Enters Gemini

On first glance, it doesn’t look like there’s much happening this week astrologically. But the energy is decidedly different than it has been, and most of you likely are feeling more energetic.

I forgot to mention in last week’s forecast that Mercury entered the pre-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday, April 22. Over the past few years, many of you have written to say that you begin to experience Mercury retrograde in the shadow period, well before he goes into reverse. (A planet is said to be retrograde when, due to its relative orbit with the earth, it appears to move backwards in the sky from one day to the next.)

Sigh. Just when we were getting over retrograde Venus.

Still, I think this will be a good thing, as we’ll have a chance to reflect on recent events and to process all the new information. Mercury enters his own sign of Gemini on Thursday, but he won’t get even 2 degrees into it before backing up into Venus-ruled Taurus, where he’ll spend most of his retrograde phase. A good bit of what we process may have to do with issues we confronted while Venus was retrograde and, more importantly, when she was stationed at 29 Pisces. Relationship issues continue to take center stage in our hearts and minds.

Speaking of which, it was my turn to do the Saturday Extra! this past weekend, and since I’d been contemplating the meaning of the Susan Boyle phenomenon, I wrote a long post with my observations. I mentioned that Venus and Mars will remain in proximity until the end of June. At the same time, Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron will form a conjunction at 26 degrees Aquarius, just as all three are about to turn retrograde.

Mercury’s retrograde phase will be an important part of the deep healing process that will continue to work its magic on us for the next two months. Susan’s burst into the collective conscious was just the beginning.

Even though the activity level has shot up and you’re probably going to be too busy to stare out the window with a cup of coffee, do take time for quiet contemplation this week. The Moon in Cancer on Tuesday forms a cardinal T-square with Pluto in Capricorn and Venus and Mars in Aries. Events Tuesday and Wednesday may be the kick in the pants you’ve needed to tend to projects you’ve been putting off. There’s no point in sulking; just do it.

Mars squared Pluto last week, and Venus has her go on Saturday. Venus-Pluto squares can be very sexy, and Venus in Aries certainly can be fiery. But I think Pluto in Saturn-ruled Cap is going to make her cool her heels, and this could lead to the darker side of Venus-Pluto squares, where power plays and manipulation take over. Remember that sex is sacred and not to be used as a weapon.

Love and blessings,
Pat

Image: Morning, by Maxfield Parrish, 1922.

Weekly Forecast January 26: Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, Mercury Direct

Photo by Aaron Favila for the AP As you know from reading last week’s forecast and Neith’s New Moon report, this week starts right out on a high-energy note, with an annular eclipse of the Sun in close conjunction with Jupiter.

If you’ve got key planets and chart points in early Aquarius, you’re going to feel this event in ways that are hard to imagine right now. Other fixed-sign planets in your chart will be activated as well. Two weeks from now, there will be a Full Moon lunar eclipse in Leo. My experience is that the period between eclipses is always tumultuous. That is likely to be even more true right now, with Mercury coming out of retrograde mode between the solar and lunar eclipses.

For anyone who’s interested, I wrote a companion post on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles, about how I’m experiencing this weird, chaotic energy.
I’m an Aquarius with Aquarius Rising, so I’m being doubly smacked. Not all of you will be, and this is a great illustration of how planetary transits work. Each of us has an energy imprint that I liken to a radio frequency. When a transit is broadcasting to a certain frequency, those who are tuned in pick it up, and others don’t, or they pick it up faintly or just feel a bunch of static.

Just to liven things up a little more, retrograde Mercury conjoins Mars in Capricorn on Tuesday, increasing the risk of serious arguments. They may be due to misunderstandings, but it’s just as likely that they will emerge from unresolved issues. When we don’t confront problems head on, they pile up and eventually overwhelm us. Given Mercury’s retrograde motion, it’s not likely that reasoning is going to work too well. It may be best to just blow off steam, or let the other party do so, if necessary. Then wait a week or so, until Mercury returns direct, to see if you can find some common ground. By then, you may wonder what you were arguing about in the first place.

As always, remember my caveat: Otherwise intelligent people say and do stupid things while Mercury is retrograde. It’s probably not anyone’s fault, so let it go this time, forgive, and move on.

Later on Tuesday, the Moon enters Pisces, where she’ll conjoin Uranus and oppose Saturn on Thursday. As the opposition between Saturn and Uranus creeps closer to exact, lunar transits may act as a trigger to set off events manifesting out of these energies. Just have your antennae up on Thursday and take note of any unusual situations.

Mercury goes direct on Sunday (Saturday night on the West Coast of the United States and points west). Typically, everything stops up while Mercury is stationed, so don’t expect to see any sudden effects. That will start happening next week as the Messenger gains speed. Have your seat belts fastened and hang on!

Much love and courage to all!
Pat

Image: This incredible photo of the eclipse was taken at Manila, Philippines, by Aaron Favila for The Associated Press.

RealAstrologers

The astrology of world affairs, human evolution, the future, and the state of the universe.