Tag Archives: Mercury retrograde

Weekly Forecast November 7: Full Moon in Taurus, Mars Enters Virgo

Cloud Shadows on Water. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

This week we may feel like Dorothy in the poppy field scene from The Wizard of Oz. We’ve been running, running, running, and now something forces us to slow down. Yawn … I’m falling asleep just thinking about it and struggling to write a coherent sentence.

Monday wakeup is going to be a challenge – especially if, like me, your alarms goes off while it’s still dark. Have you ever slept through a blaring alarm, so soundly out of it that a nuclear blast wouldn’t rouse you? Literally or figuratively, watch for events that fit that pattern on Monday, when Mars in late Leo opposes Neptune in Aquarius. Being off daylight saving time will help, but the bigger problem is giant Neptune, ruler of sleep, at a dead stop. Of course, planets don’t stop or move in reverse; that’s just what it looks like from our perspective here on Earth. You’ll feel this more if you have Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in Pisces or if Neptune currently is moving through your twelfth house.

Neptune has been retrograde since early June and returns direct on Wednesday, the day before Chiron returns direct in Pisces. These two have been tracking fairly closely for the past few years and are associated with awakening consciousness on a planetary scale. While they’ve been retrograde, we’ve had a chance to assimilate information we received while they were moving forward from early November 2010. Now it’s time to wake up and start putting that new information into practice. You may or may not be totally aware of how this is happening or that it’s happening at all. However, I think many of you will notice, because this shift in planetary motion is happening during a broader, macrocosmic shift in consciousness. I’ve been receiving detailed reports from clients about sweeping changes that have taken place in their lives and how they suddenly see themselves and the events in their lives with more clarity.

Once Neptune returns direct, we begin the countdown toward his re-entry into Pisces in February. He spent a little over three months in his own sign earlier this year before turning retrograde and returning to Aquarius. This is just what happened in 1848, two years after Neptune was discovered. In the years that followed, the Transcendental Movement was born in the United States, led by Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, and others. Spiritualism became a trend, with séances to contact spirits of the dead. You can find more information about Neptune in Pisces in my April 4 weekly forecast.

Thursday is the most happening day this week, with the Full Moon at 18°04′ Taurus, Chiron’s return direct in Pisces, and the entry of Mars in Virgo. That sounds like a big shift, doesn’t it? You’d think our heads would be spinning with all that activity. Fortunately, Taurus is a laid-back, slow-moving sign, and Chiron in Pisces isn’t exactly a speed demon. Moreover, Mars in Virgo, while given toward nervous energy, is more methodical and measured than Mars in fiery Leo. When you add Neptune’s sleepy station into the mix, I think we’re going to feel more slow and sleepy that fast and furious. Mars opposes Chiron on Saturday, which could fuel insensitive remarks and hurt feelings. Please try to keep your criticism constructive and helpful. Likewise, if someone hurts your feelings, give them the benefit of the doubt just this once. They probably didn’t mean it. Even if they did, this isn’t the best time to address the issue.

Also keep in mind that we’re officially in Mercury’s pre-retrograde shadow period. I’m already seeing the effects, none of which have been comforting. The consolation is that I was reminded of my own admonition to back up computer files early and often. Doing so saved me from a near disaster over the weekend. Otherwise, I’m hearing reports of alarms going off and springs popping. Stay alert out there this week, folks! And if you start seeing blatant early retrograde effects, take that as your cue to wrap up current business without delay. That includes major purchases, especially electronics.

Despite the rumblings of Mercury retrograde, this week’s Full Moon should be quite lovely. The Full Moon typically brings endings, culmination, or resolution to circumstances that began at the previous New Moon. The previous New Moon, on October 26, also was nicely aspected, so I think that most of us will feel this Full Moon as an event literally coming into its fullness or reaching a logical conclusion. Taurus is an earth sign and is associated with finances, and there are no challenging aspects to this Full Moon to indicate complications. You might have them in your personal chart, of course, but overall, this is a “friendly” Full Moon, so whatever transpires should be to your benefit.

This week also brings us to the numerologically significant date of 11/11/11. I’m not the best person to discuss the meaning in this extremely rare event, so I’ll leave that to others. It does seem to me to be a remarkable occurrence in a period of remarkable events, yet another sign that we’re experiencing a major shift in consciousness that will have implications far into the future.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast October 31: Venus and Mercury Enter Sagittarius

Autumn sunrise. © James A. Weythman, 2011.

Happy Halloween, also known as All Saints or All Hallows, and the Mexican Day of the Dead.

It’s no accident that these religious holidays were established at a time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest and most permeable. Astrologically, this phenomenon matches well with Scorpio, sign of death, transformation, and rebirth.

A growing number of people are becoming attuned to other dimensions of space/time, so I expect that many of you will have unusual experiences in the next week or two. Besides being in this seasonal space between the world of the living and the world of the dead (the material and energetic planes), we’re in a cosmic place of transition. More and more people are becoming attuned to this alternating vibration.

Our ability to sense beyond material reality is amplified by the coming eclipses and Mercury retrograde. These shifts don’t happen until Thanksgiving, but we head into interdimensional waters this week, as both Mercury and Venus cross the degree of the November 25 solar eclipse and Mercury enters the pre-retrograde shadow phase. You likely won’t need to wait until the end of the month to find out how the next eclipse pair will play out. Just keep your antennae up this week for clues. If you’re having trouble identifying them, check to see where 2-20 degrees Sagittarius are in your natal chart. You also can order your StarGuide Forecast for November, which will give you some ideas of possible scenarios you might encounter.

Taking the week one day at a time, Venus and Mercury in late Scorpio square Neptune on Monday and Tuesday. With Mars in late Leo, we’ll have a fixed T-square with Mercury and Venus at the apex. Remember, the planet at the point of the triangle bears the most pressure. The combined energy of Mercury and Venus manifests as communications in relationships. These exchanges likely won’t be direct, however, as Scorpio represents deep undercurrents. To get an idea what this means, think about a time when you were standing next to someone and having a conversation, but you were exchanging more information on a nonverbal level. It might have happened through body language, but you also may have picked up on their feelings, thoughts, and even their fears and weaknesses.

The square with Neptune suggests that you may not be entirely accurate in what you’re picking up, so don’t automatically assume you’re correct in your perceptions. Mars in Leo tells you exactly how you’re susceptible to deception. If you’re ego is in the way, you’re probably getting a distorted communications signal.

As with all T-squares, the “out” lies either in the degree opposite the apex or in a planet in soft aspect to it. The degrees of late Taurus include the malefic star Algol and the Pleiades. Check to see where those degrees fall in your chart, and that’s where your solutions and resolutions lie.

Venus and Mercury enter Sagittarius on Wednesday. Their first order of business is a conflicting square to Chiron in hypersensitive Pisces. You don’t need to be an astrologer to do the math. Insensitive remarks made to someone who is wounded or insecure will be taken badly. The difficulty is that they probably won’t say anything to you and instead will let the perceived slight fester. It’s always such a pain when something like this happens, because you end up having to defend yourself against something you may not have said and certainly didn’t mean. If you value the relationship, you likely will want to clear up the misunderstanding and smooth things over. If you don’t, you may not want to take the time to say anything but “I didn’t mean that.” The worst thing you can say, by the way, is “I’m sorry you took it like that” or “I’m sorry that you feel that way.” This is emphatically not an apology, so why bother? What you’re saying is that it’s the other person’s fault for misinterpreting your words and intentions. This is one of my pet peeves.

On Thursday, Venus and Mercury trine Uranus. Communications come fast, furiously, and from unexpected quarters. In early Aries, Uranus is still tracking the degrees of last summer’s intense cardinal T-square. One of my classmates, a Libra with early Cancer on the Ascendant, had major shakeups in her life and recently began getting calls and e-mails with amazing new opportunities. Many of you may experience something like this – again, depending on where these planets are transiting your natal chart.

On Friday, both Mercury and Venus cross the degree of the November 25 eclipse, at 2°37′ Sagittarius. Mercury is the messenger and the herald, so do pay close attention to unusual events on this day. Mercury turns retrograde on November 24 at 20 degrees Sagittarius and returns to 3 degrees on December 13. So, when Mercury crosses 3 degrees Sagittarius on Saturday, he’ll officially be in pre-retrograde shadow. It’s best to avoid this period for major transactions, but if you can’t, be aware that anything that can go wrong probably will. Make sure you’ve got all your ducks connected … oh, wait, that’s supposed to be dots connected. Your ducks should be in a row.

On Sunday, the Moon in Aries conjoins Uranus and squares Pluto. This occurs once a month, so it’s not a major astrological influence. However, I think you might notice more activity this month, given what else is going on.

Don’t forget that we go off daylight savings time Saturday night. I’ve got my list started for what I’ll do with the extra hour. Unfortunately, sleep isn’t on it.

Love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast September 5: Mercury Enters Virgo, Venus Sextile Mars

This week, we continue to encounter circumstances that allow us to put our new skills to the test as we move deeper into new territory.

With the Moon in Capricorn on Tuesday and Wednesday, there are small reminders of situations we’ve been in over the past two years. Most of you are moving on, but some ties remain. Because the Moon moves through the signs quickly, her influence is fleeting and sometimes not felt at all. Still, I’m betting you’ll get twinges of fear and worry – maybe worse – as memories surface. This is natural, so just allow the feelings to flow. As long as they don’t stick, you’re fine. If they do, that’s your clue that something still isn’t resolved.

On Sunday, Mars moves over the degree of the Jan. 15, 2010, solar eclipse in Capricorn. At 25 degrees, the eclipse was well out of the range of the cardinal T-square and grand cross, but it probably corresponds to your major challenge or challenges in the past two years. Think back to what was going on for you around the middle of January (plus or minus a week), and then think about what has changed. Chances are, you’re in a much different place. Several times in the past month or so, people have told me that they aren’t bothered by things that upset them before.

Among other things, we’re learning to see people and situations in a different light, and that changes how we respond. Right before Mars passes over that critical degree, he makes a dynamic sextile with Venus in Virgo. It’s interesting to note that both planets are in their fall, and yet relationships can still benefit. It’s when we’re at our weakest that we’re most likely to drop our defenses and be real with each other.

On Thursday, Mercury opposes Neptune for the third and final time in this cycle, and then he re-enters Virgo on Friday. When Mercury turned retrograde in early August, he was in close opposition with Neptune. The level of confusion was beyond what we usually feel when Mercury shifts motion, and many people told me they were “just so sleepy.” We’ll likely get that effect again late this week. Mercury and Neptune are both associated with sleep and dreams, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to pay attention to your dreams. They can contain important messages.

These messages can be an important source of healing, and that’s likely to be the case on Saturday, when Mercury opposes Chiron. Healing messages aren’t always comfortable; indeed, they may be mildly upsetting. It’s never easy when the deep psyche is stirred up. This is especially true for past-life memories, which are surfacing more often for many of you. The first memories to come back typically involve close relationships – that’s why so many of you are meeting soul mates. After that, we begin to remember traumatic experiences. The collective conscious contains many such memories, along with lifetimes of wounds. We began addressing these in earnest a few years back, when Neptune and Chiron conjoined in Aquarius. We can go deeper with Chiron in Pisces.

Back in Virgo, Mercury will be in his own sign – although I’ve been lobbying for joint rulership with Ceres ever since she gained the same “dwarf planet” status as Pluto. Little did I know at the time that there was an ancient precedent for this association. Manilius, writing in the 1st century CE, associated each of the astrological signs with a patron deity. A couple of weeks ago, I ordered a translation of his Astronomica from Amazon and was astonished to find that he, too, paired Ceres with Virgo. “The Virgin with her sheaf belongs to Ceres,” he wrote. He also paired Pisces with Neptune, long before planet Neptune was discovered. He assigned Vesta to Capricorn. You just have to love the synchronicity.

Virgo certainly has two distinct sides, symbolized beautifully by Mercury and Ceres. One side of Virgo – perhaps we should call it the left-brained Virgo – is into details, perfection, mechanical function, and logic. Have you ever noticed how many accountants, engineers and computer programmers have strong Virgo in their charts? The right-brained Virgo is the health-conscious, helpful friend in need. I always laugh when I come across a vegetarian Virgo. It’s so typical. Many of my clients with Moon in Virgo are in an alternative healing profession.

Next week is the Full Moon in mystical Pisces, the sign opposite Virgo. If you haven’t checked out Ruth’s latest article on Virgo and Pisces, you can find it here.

Also, don’t forget your StarGuide forecasts for September and Fall 2011. It has been a hellaciously busy week, but I managed to finish my sample for Martha Stewart. You’ll see that I’ve expanded my personal notes on the New and Full Moon and Mercury retrograde, and I’ve also added information on the outer planets, since they don’t show up in a transit printout unless they’re changing houses. All of this in an effort to provide a service you can’t get anywhere else …

Wishing you much love and courage,
Pat

If you’d like to check out Astronomica, you can find it in my bookstore, under “In-depth & Specialized.” Every order helps support RealAstrologers. Thank you!

Weekly Forecast August 29: Venus Trine Jupiter, Jupiter Retrograde

Taranis the Thunderer, Celtic equivalent of Roman Jupiter.

Where does the time go? We’re already into September, with fall right around the corner.

Fortunately, September’s energies are much better overall than what we faced in August. There will be new opportunities – or, more precisely, the pieces finally will start falling into place to set us firmly on the path we’ve seen opening up but that has been a moving target.

This week is mostly positive, although we’ve still got Mars moving steadily over the degrees of the eclipses in the Capricorn-Cancer series, and Mercury is at a crawl, recently out of retrograde. Communications, traffic, and mail are all slow, and getting to work on Monday could be frustrating – especially if you live in New York.

Nevertheless, Monday’s trine from Venus to Jupiter in earth signs Virgo and Capricorn is great for visible, tangible results. They could be quite big, too, with Jupiter at a particularly powerful point, about to go retrograde on Tuesday.

It’s no coincidence that Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets in the sky, are associated with luck, wealth, and abundance. Wherever Jupiter is transiting your natal chart is where you stand to get a big pay-off. Then you’ll reach a plateau for awhile, until the Big Guy returns direct on Christmas Day. In the meantime, you’ll have a chance to assimilate new information or circumstances.

It’s also possible that you’ll get a hint on Tuesday of the goodies coming your way at the New Moon in Libra on September 27. Pay attention to events – even if they seem minor – that relate to that Big Opportunity that’s been perpetually “right around the corner.” Really, it is.

In the meantime, you may get another uncomfortable reminder of a situation you’ve been dealing with over the past two years – you know the one; it’s related to the cardinal T-square. This will happen around Friday, plus or minus a day, as Mars triggers the degree of the total eclipse of the Sun on July 11, 2010. As I’ve written before, there has been a big energy shift between then and now, so you can respond in a different manner this time and get a much different result. It’s even possible that you’ll realize (if you haven’t already) how those circumstances led you onto a new path.

Also on Friday, the Sun trines Jupiter, mirroring Monday’s trine from Venus. Because Jupiter is retrograde now, I don’t think you’ll experience anything new. It’s a good day for processing what you’ve already got, though. For example, if you received a check earlier in the week, this could be when it clears the bank.

Jupiter isn’t just the planet of luck and abundance, but also rules personal and spiritual growth. In the Tarot, Jupiter is associated with the Wheel of Fortune. Fortunes come, and fortunes go. What never disappears is your ability to use the power of your mind to create your life. Our ancient ancestors knew this. I love the image of the Celtic god Taranis, the equivalent of the Roman Jupiter, who is depicted with a thunderbolt and a wheel. Symbols endure in the collective, and they are powerful tools for us to use in our manifestation work. On the Wheel of Fortune card, the power of the mind is symbolized by the sphinx with the sword.

I’m definitely of the practical school of spiritual development. I have zero interest in meditating for hours just to have inner peace and calm. That seems a bit narcissistic. As I’ve written many times, my idea of “spiritual” is understanding how the underlying energies of the cosmos manifest on the physical plane. My entire approach to astrology is understanding the forces shaping our current reality and, more importantly, learning to participate – what sometimes is referred to as being a co-creator with God.

My weekly forecasts provide an overview of these energies. To find out how they’re affecting you personally, a transit forecast is helpful. That’s why I created StarGuide, which combines a computer-generated list of transits with my notes on the New and Full Moon. For the September report, I’ve added the interpretation for transiting Pluto in your chart – important, because Pluto turns direct on September 16, between the New and Full Moon. I’ve posted a new sample, using Steve Jobs.

The StarGuide Fall 2011 Forecast also is ready, and I’ve added two pages of house interpretations for the outer planets, since they don’t show up in a transit report until the planet changes houses. It takes extra time to insert this information in your forecast, but I’m still offering it at the same reasonable price of $36. I’ll have a new sample up shortly and will update this post with a link.

Wishing you much love and courage, with an extra big hug for my East Coast readers,
Pat

Weekly Forecast August 22: Mercury Direct, New Moon in Virgo

Mercury returns direct this week, but it’s going to be a nail-biter of a finish.

Many of you have written to me with reports of how difficult this Mercury retrograde period has been. I predicted that this month would be among the most challenging of the year, not only because of Mercury’s retrograde phase, but also the position of Mars and the very close square from Uranus to Pluto. Although we’re through the worst of this stormy astrological weather, the coming week is potentially rough, so we can’t let our guard down just yet.

You may be in a bit of a fog as the week begins, with the Sun opposing Neptune on Monday before entering Virgo on Tuesday. Normally, the Sun in Virgo favors precision and attention to detail. However, Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is retrograde, so the risk of miscommunications and errors is even higher from Tuesday on. If you’re in a situation at work where someone (maybe you) overlooks details or has a misunderstanding with a boss or colleague, don’t freak out. Next week will be much better, and you’ll have ample opportunity for correction and resolution.

Wednesday and Thursday are potentially the most difficult days this week, with the Moon in Cancer mirroring the eclipses of the past two years in rapid succession, just as Mars is crossing the degrees of eclipses of Jan. 4, 2011, and July 7, 2009. The eclipse in July 2009 was the first in the Capricorn-Cancer series. Most of you can time sweeping changes in your life with that eclipse, and it’s likely that you’re still adjusting. Mars often acts as a trigger for eclipses and outer planetary transits. Be prepared for a major reminder midweek of difficult circumstances that began around summer 2009. At the same time, pay attention to how things are different now – starting with yourself and your response.

Complicating matters, the Moon conjoins Mars on Thursday just as both form an exact square to Saturn in Libra. This is where personal growth and self-discipline are the most evident. Astrology helps us understand energies over which we have no control, but it also indicates where we do have choices and how making a different choice can manifest as a different outcome. Keeping that in mind this week can lead to a big breakthrough, perhaps even a leap in consciousness. You might also ask yourself whether the changes you’ve gone through since July 2009, no matter how challenging, have restored balance to some aspect of your life.

Also on Thursday, Venus trines Pluto. This earthy combination is a classic aspect for physical love, but it also can be good for your bank account, depending on where these two are transiting your natal chart.

I also should mention that both Venus and the Sun oppose Chiron this week – Venus on Wednesday and the Sun on Friday. If nothing else, we may get a strong reminder about how physical and mental health are inseparable.

Click on image to enlarge

At last, on Friday, Mercury returns direct, and then we have a lovely New Moon in Virgo on Sunday in conjunction with Venus and trine both Pluto and Jupiter, just as the Big Guy is poised to turn retrograde. It’s a whole new world next week, with new opportunities and doors opening in several directions. Because the previous New Moonoccurred right before Mercury went retrograde, the goodies had to wait. Now we get them all at once! I’m betting that you’ll think it was worth the wait.

So, although this week is difficult, there’s a bright, white light at the end of the tunnel. We just need to hang in there a bit longer.

Wishing you extra love and courage,
Pat

P.S. In last week’s forecast, I mentioned an article in the August/September issue of The Mountain Astrologer and failed to mention that you have to buy the magazine to read it. Sorry about that … but I also want to tell you that the article is well worth the $7 price of one issue, which you can order from the TMA site.

Weekly Forecast August 15: Retrograde Mercury Conjunct Sun and Venus

Way to the top. © Dragoneye for Dreamstime.com

This should be a much quieter week – thank goddess, as we all need a break from last week’s violence.

I can’t add much to the discussion about the riots in England. Astrologers for many years have been predicting violent social upheaval as a function of the Uranus-Pluto square. The aspect isn’t exact until next year, but for most of this month, they track just a degree from each other, with Mars fanning the flames of unrest. As frightening as the riots were, they are an indication of more to come. If you want to know the details, I highly recommend an article by Nick Campion, reigning king of mundane astrology, in the August/September issue of The Mountain Astrologer. Every world leader ought to be reading this right now. Campion notes that France, Germany, China, the UK, the United States, and the EEC all have their Sun in cardinal degrees that will be directly contacted by Uranus and Pluto in conflict.

Mars continues to move through the degrees of the Capricorn-Cancer eclipse series, which began in July 2009 and ended on July 1, 2011. Because it coincided with the cardinal T-square and grand cross, the changes we normally go through during eclipses were all the more upsetting. As Mars goes through these degrees one by one, we may be asked to revisit particular events in the past two years. Below are the dates that Mars crosses eclipse degrees:

August 17 – 9 degrees Cancer, solar eclipse of July 1, 2011 (last in series)
August 18 – 10 degrees Cancer, lunar eclipse of Dec. 31, 2009
August 24 – 13 degrees Capricorn, solar eclipse of Jan. 4, 2011
August 26 – 15 Capricorn, lunar eclipse of July 7, 2009 (first in series)
September 2 – 19 Cancer, solar eclipse of July 11, 2010
September 11 – 25 Capricorn, solar eclipse of Jan. 15, 2010
September 18 – 29 Cancer, solar eclipse of July 22, 2009

This Thursday, just as he’s crossing the degrees of two eclipses, Mars makes a flowing sextile with Jupiter. I want you to pay particular attention mid-week to any events that reflect what was happening in your life around those two eclipse dates … and then note whether you are handling that situation much differently this time around.

I’ve begun noticing this effect, and it’s very interesting. Situations indeed are coming up that correspond to eclipse-related events, but I’m seeing increasing signs that something has shifted, allowing those of us who have been paying attention to choose a different response this time and thus achieve a different outcome. In other words, we’re beginning to understand how what we manifest changes when we align with our true purpose in life. This is where astrology is an indispensible tool.

(Find out more about your purpose and destiny in Soul Journey, my new karma report.)

Mercury’s retrograde phase is adding to the chaos and confusion, but it’s also helping us think back to these previous dates and, if necessary, revise our beliefs. This is a good week for it, with Mercury, Venus, and the Sun all conjunct on Tuesday. It’s an especially good time for soul-searching regarding relationships. So many of you have come to me with gut-wrenching partnership challenges. The next few weeks could bring you some stunning insights, not the least of which is how you’ve grown as a result of the trials of the past two years.

On Sunday, Venus makes an opposition with Neptune, one of the classic “rose-colored glasses” aspects. With Venus in Leo and Neptune retrograde in Aquarius, there could be issues with society’s idea of what constitutes beauty and sex appeal versus what we’re really here for. You can spend all the money you want on cars, clothes, makeup, and the right “toys,” but as the old song goes, it won’t buy you love. In fact, it’s hard for true love to survive in such a materialistic climate.

Venus gets more practical when she moves into Virgo later on Sunday, but she’s not really happy there, either. Nitpicking isn’t conducive for love, and I have yet to see a fashion ad featuring a model in sweats, no makeup, and unwashed hair cleaning up cat vomit. This is the woman who will be there for you when you’re sick and overloaded at work. She’s not into all the bling, but is genuine and sincere. Ironically, two of the sexiest women of all time, Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot, both have Venus in Virgo (they were born within a week of each other in 1934). Although the sixties images of them with the big hair and heavy eyeliner don’t match our idea of Venus in Virgo, earlier photos of them reveal women who were down-to-earth and real.

Speaking of goddesses, I’m hoping to post an article this week on Vesta . Like some of you, I’m fascinated, if not a bit obsessed. Maybe it’s because I’m about to have my Vesta return?

Wishing you a week of insight, courage, and lots of love,
Pat

True Love, the Complete Compatibility Report

This Mercury retrograde period is allowing me to slow down and catch up on some unfinished work on my website.

First on my list was writing a sample for my new romantic compatibility report, True Love. It took me a while to find a good celebrity couple – we’ve all had enough of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. After some research, I decided on Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, who truly are soul mates.

As with all of my new reports, True Love includes a brief, information-packed analysis by me, a custom chart, and several pages of computer-generated aspects. To my knowledge, there is nothing like this report anywhere else. You can find computer-generated compatibility reports on the Internet, of course – some of them are even free – but you don’t get the personal look by a professional astrologer to tie it all together. The other option is a personal reading, which costs far more and may not be in writing, which many of you prefer. I’m offering True Love at just $49.

Karmic connections are what almost everyone wants to know about these days, and you usually don’t find this information in computer-generated reports. Identifying karmic ties is one of my specialties. If this is your particular interest, you can let me know, and I’ll focus on that angle of your relationship. Here is an excerpt from my sample for Johnny and Vanessa:

Johnny, you and Vanessa clearly have a strong karmic connection and an unbreakable bond. There is no doubt in my mind that you are soul mates and that your relationship exists in other dimensions of time and space (commonly referred to as “past lives”).

The thing that immediately jumps out at me in your synastry chart is your double Moon-North Node conjunction; that is, your Moon is within a few degrees of Vanessa’s North Node in Capricorn, and her Moon is near your North Node in Cancer. This explains why, when you met, you felt instant recognition and a sense of knowing that this was The One.

If you’d like to know more about this interesting (not to mention gorgeous) couple, check out my sample report. The computer-generated part of the report is written by Gina Ronco and is one of the best compatibility reports out there. It’s unique in that it includes both your synastry and composite aspects.

I’m also offering a compatibility report for relationships that aren’t romantic. I’ll have that sample up in the next day or two, so check back, if that’s something you’re interested in. In addition, I’m tweaking the StarGuide report format to allow more space for my comments on where the New and Full Moon and current transits fall in your chart – “tweaking” being a good activity to do while Mercury is retrograde. I have a couple of other surprises in store, too.

I have noted that not everyone is experiencing the positive potentials in this Mercury retrograde period, especially given the transit of Mars over the T-square and eclipse degrees of the past two years. I don’t know about you, but I have that “life flashing before my eyes” feeling … and yet, it’s not entirely bad. Our lives really have changed, which is becoming more apparent as Mars moves through these critical degrees.

I’ll give you more of my thoughts on this in the upcoming weekly forecast.

In the meantime, wishing you much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast August 8: Mars Square Uranus, Opposite Pluto

I sure have felt the angriness floating around this past week. Have you?

With Mercury retrograde and Mars moving through the T-square degrees, rush hour traffic on Friday was hell. People were doing crazy things, cutting in front of each other without signaling, flipping each other off, and yelling obscenities out the window. A pedestrian who witnessed one of these maneuvers yelled out, “Idiots!” Seattle isn’t particularly known for road rage, so I can only imagine how it was in other locales, especially since many of you also are still suffering under intense heat waves.

The dreams are weird, too. Friends who normally don’t even remember their dreams are commenting on it. Mine have been schizophrenic, to say the least. For that, we can look to Mercury’s continuing opposition to Neptune, planet of sleep and dreams. The two make another exact contact on Monday, right after Mercury re-enters Leo on his retrograde path. If you can steal away for a vacation, do it now!

The rough sailing has already started, but the waves get higher on Tuesday, when Mars squares Uranus in Aries. This is an extremely volatile combination that calls to mind the scene from the 1976 film Network in which masses of people shout out their windows, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” If you don’t know what I’m referring to, check out the clip on YouTube. It’s eerily relevant for our current economic crisis and especially relevant this week.

The Mars-Uranus square is amplified by the Moon in early Capricorn, which squares Uranus, opposes Mars, conjoins Pluto and squares Saturn – all in less than 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the Moon is a fleeting influence, her journey through these degrees and contacts with the T-square planets provide a strong reminder of where we’ve been since last summer and how our lives changed as a result. It may not be all bad, but most of us likely will be unsettled in some way.

On Wednesday and Thursday, depending on where you are, Mars opposes Pluto in the big standoff. Staying out of the crossfire may not be possible, but at least don’t go looking for trouble. It’s one thing to protest corruption and injustice, quite another to do so in an area where security forces are armed and waiting for any excuse to fire into the crowd.

The Moon enters Aquarius on Friday, and then we have the Full Moon on Saturday. The Full Moon typically brings results to projects or situations that began at the New Moon, but we’ll probably experience delays and possibly setbacks due to Mercury’s retrograde phase and the challenges represented by Mars in conflicting aspect. If you feel like you’re losing ground, hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. The New Moon on August 28 is brilliant, and the new territory indicated by the New Moon in Leo on July 30 will come into view as well. If you want to know where these lunations fall in your chart, you’ll find it your Starguide Monthly Forecast for August.

Now, there is something really exciting happening this week. NASA’s Dawn mission is scheduled to go into orbit around Vesta, one of the so-called “asteroid goddesses.” Photos already are streaming back of Vesta’s pockmarked surface.

What can we read into a spacecraft called Dawn orbiting an asteroid named after a Roman goddess? It’s no accident that Vesta, like Ceres before her, has entered the collective consciousness – or, I should say, re-entered, as both goddesses were revered in various forms in ancient times and then forgotten, swallowed by time. As usual, we can turn to mythology for possible clues about the greater significance in this event.

The planets are named after Roman deities, most of which were adapted from the Greeks. Vesta, goddess of hearth and home, was highly revered. Her symbol was an eternal flame, which was kept burning in the holiest ground of ancient Rome and in every home. Among other things, it was a reminder that community is extended family. As it turns out, Vesta currently is in Aquarius, the sign of community and the “family of man.” If nothing else, the global debt crisis is hammering home the reality that we’re all connected, and in the most personal way.

Vesta’s Greek counterpart, Hestia, was one of the 12 Olympians, the most important of the gods and goddesses in ancient Greece. She was the first child of Cronus (Roman Saturn) and Rhea, who were Titans – the elder gods. Cronus, who himself had led the overthrow of the first generation of Titans, ate his children to prevent them from doing the same to him. However, Rhea plotted to save Zeus, who in turn instigated the overthrow of the Titans and forced Cronus to spit out his older siblings. As the eldest, Hestia was the first to be swallowed and the last to be disgorged; thus, she was said to be both the oldest and the youngest of the new race of gods that replaced the old cosmic order.

The War of the Titans lasted 10 years and ended the Golden Age, a period of peace and abundance, when manmade law was unnecessary because everyone lived in their integrity. This notion of a celestial war didn’t originate with the Greeks but also can be found in older cultures. There’s even a version in the Christian Bible. Likewise, the story of an earthly paradise is found in many ancient traditions.

I’ve often mentioned a planetary energy shift, which is just another way of describing this war. It’s common to believe that our ancient ancestors were superstitious, because they believed in gods, demons, and other human-like entities. However, I see their belief system as an ingenious way of putting a human face on disembodied energies, taking them out of the abstract so they could be understood by the human mind.

In that vein, Hestia represents initiating fire or spirit, an attribute astrologers assign to Aries, the first of the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). The cardinal T-square, which at times has formed into a grand cross, was the astrological configuration that led to predictions that great change would occur from 2010 to 2012, with political upheaval continuing into 2015, as indicated by the long-term square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. It’s no accident, then, that we’re visiting Vesta in the midst of this cardinal buildup.

Dawn will spend a year observing Vesta and then will head toward Ceres, with a scheduled arrival date of 2015. The Greek counterpart of Ceres was Demeter, Hestia’s sister, who also was among the Olympians. I’ve written a lot about Ceres, who came back into the collective awareness when she was “promoted” to dwarf planet in 2006.

At the very least, the mission to find out more about celestial objects named after goddesses tells us that the planetary energy shift is restoring the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Of course, this isn’t news, but just confirms what many of us have felt intuitively for several years.

As an addendum, I’d like to mention Juno, NASA’s new mission to Jupiter. Juno was launched into space last Friday, August 5, and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in July 2016. In Roman mythology, Juno was Jupiter’s wife and queen of the gods. Asteroid Juno currently is at 4 degrees Libra, directly opposite Uranus, which means that she is intimately involved in this week’s cardinal configuration.

How’s that for synchronicity?

I leave you with this awe-inspiring full rotation of Vesta, courtesy NASA/JPL.

Wishing you all an abundance of love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast August 1: Mercury Retrograde, Mars Enters Cancer

As if the dog days of August aren’t hot enough, astrological aspects in the first three weeks of the month add to the frustration and irritation.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday and will stay in “reverse” until August 26. If you’ve got a teaching position or some other job that allows you take this month off, I strongly encourage you to get out of town and go on a nice, long vacation. That is one of the things Mercury retrograde is good for, especially in fun-loving Leo, where he’ll spend most of his retrograde phase.

If you have to stay at your desk or shop and slog away, be prepared for tasks to take longer and possibly require revision. The exception is editing, which is another activity that can be more efficient during Mercury retrograde. Transiting Mercury’s position in your chart indicates what areas of your life will be most affected this time around. If you’d like more information, I recommend my StarGuide Monthly Forecast for August. Not only will it tell you where Mercury is retrograde in your chart, but you’ll get an idea of how the Full Moon and New Moon will affect you.

You’ll also know where Mars is transiting your chart, which may turn out to be even more significant, as he’ll trigger cardinal T-square and grand cross points. You may know what those are already, since they’ve been active for more than a year.

Mars is cranky enough in Cancer without the conflicting aspects to Uranus, Pluto, and Saturn. I suspect we’re going to see a lot of events in the headlines based on anger, paranoia, and an excessive need to protect loved ones and personal property, although that’s more likely to occur next week and the week after.

Other aspects this week reinforce conflict, but there are a couple of mitigating influences that hopefully will help keep the peace, at least for now. Taking the week chronologically:

Venus forms a trine with Uranus on Monday (late Sunday night on the West Coast of the United States). Unexpected opportunities come up for love, money, and a good time – again, depending on where these two are transiting your chart. Just keep in mind that sudden developments may be temporary. The Sun’s square with Jupiter could lead to inflated expectations about how big the opportunities are or what they mean in the long run – in other words, don’t start planning your wedding just because the cute guy down the hall asked you out. The Moon is in Virgo on Monday and conjoins stationed Mercury, so I think we can avoid getting carried away, and we might even come up with some good ideas for how to take advantage of new opportunities toward the end of the month.

Mercury turns retrograde on Tuesday, but we’ve been experiencing the effects since late last week. I woke up on Thursday to news reports that I-5 South out of Seattle was completely blocked due to an overturned semi-truck that spilled its load of fuel all over the roadway. The driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Mercury was in an applying opposition to Neptune, which rules petroleum. Both Mercury and Neptune play a role in sleep.

On Wednesday, Mars enters Cancer, with the Moon entering Libra less than an hour later and immediately forming a square with Mars and crossing the cardinal T-square points. Minor irritations throughout the day provide hints about what’s to come, so keep your antennae up. Mars also trines Neptune, who retrogrades back into Aquarius on Thursday. More extreme weather may occur, although it would be hard to pin it to astrological phenomenon.

Speaking of weather and stars, did you know that the term “dog days” has its roots in the night sky? In ancient times, the hottest days of the summer coincided with the rising and setting of Sirius with the Sun. Sirius, also called the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky and one of the stars forming the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog). The Romans believed that the earth received heat from Sirius, which appeared even brighter in those times due to lack of city lights and air pollution. (Thanks to James Weythman for the link on Wilstar.com.)

Continuing with our week, Venus squares Jupiter on Friday, fueling a tendency toward pie-in-the-sky dreams and overindulgence. Then, I’m not against going overboard with food, drink, sex, or the substance of your choice once in a while, especially if it relieves unbearable tension. Invite your co-workers to happy hour after work on Friday and have some fun. Just be sure to agree in advance who’s going to pay, and make sure you have a calculator.

Friday through Sunday, the Sun and Venus form a happy sextile to Saturn in Libra. Love and commitment can progress, despite Mercury’s retrograde motion. Again, just be clear in your communications. If you have to, repeat your words back to each other three or four times so that you’re sure you understand. Otherwise, intentions could be badly misinterpreted, leading to embarrassment or worse.

Next week is tough, so have fun while you can and take time to make some backup plans, to the extent possible.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast July 25: Mercury Enters Virgo, New Moon in Leo

As we head into the final week of July, it’s a good time to start preparing for August, a potentially difficult month.

Spend this week shoring up your alliances, wrapping up as much business as you can, and finding ways to put new projects on hold until the end of next month – and there will be new developments, with the New Moon in Leo on Saturday.

The August StarGuide Forecast is prepared, so now would be a good time to have a look at your personal transits for next month. You’ll also get my notes about where Mercury retrograde will fall in your chart, as well as the positions of the Full Moon on August 13 and the New Moon on August 28, which will be particularly significant, as it represents a big green light for whatever was stalled during Mercury’s retrograde phase.

Meanwhile, this week is a bit chaotic, with a “which way am I suppose to go” feel to it. To help make sense of it, I’m going to address the astrological aspects out of order.

On Wednesday, the Sun in Leo trines Uranus in Aries, and then Venus enters Leo on Thursday and trines Uranus on Sunday. These are the most positive energies of the week, and they’ll be active at the New Moon on Saturday. Leo rules the heart. Opening your heart without fear to let in new opportunities will yield results. This is especially true for love, but Venus also is associated with finances and other goodies. When we’re in a state of fear and mistrust, our hearts are closed. It’s like trying to receive a FedEx delivery without unlocking your door.

The big challenge this week is going to be cultivating courage and trust. You need only look at the latest news headlines to know that there is some very weird energy in the astro-sphere. Pinning down astrological markers is a tricky business, but I’d put my money on the close square between Uranus and Pluto. We’ve been talking about this for years, and while the first exact contact doesn’t occur until next June, the two planets are retrograde and tracking just over a degree from an exact square for the next few weeks. The most notable keywords for this aspect are “revolution” and “rebellion.” But with Pluto in Capricorn, revolutions will be met by powerful forces backing up the status quo. There is no question that the next three years are going to be tumultuous. Events to date are just a taste of what’s to come.

We also have two major inconjuncts on Thursday, which tend to irritate and grate on our nerves. The Sun’s inconjunct to Pluto on Thursday pits individual will against the master plan of authority. This could manifest as anything from a clash with your boss to new stand-offs in the global hotspots of revolutionary activity.

The inconjunct from Venus to Neptune is problematic for love relationships, all the more so with Mercury in opposition with Neptune the same day. Don’t be surprised if someone hears something you didn’t say and vice versa. Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde on August 2, but it will seem like it’s already “in reverse” by the end of this week. My standard advice applies: If you have a misunderstanding, forgive and forget, and don’t assume it’s the other person’s fault. Although you intend your words to have a certain meaning, the other person may interpret them entirely differently, and both can be valid. That’s the mischief of retrograde Mercury, the Trickster.

Not to forget Ceres, the largest of the asteroid goddesses turns retrograde at 0 degrees Aries on Tuesday. What I see as most significant in this shift is that she won’t add her weight to the Uranus-Pluto square until next January and February. When that happens, we might see widespread protests over environmental issues or, worse, food shortages.

Saturday’s New Moon incorporates all of the week’s aspects, so everything I’ve written above applies to the next two weeks in general. This New Moon is the first in nearly three months that isn’t an eclipse, and it takes us into new territory beyond the issues we’ve been dealing with over the past two years. Those of you who ordered your StarGuide forecast for July or for the entire summer know exactly where this New Moon will land in your chart and what sorts of new developments you might experience. (The StarGuide Summer 2011 Forecast is still on sale and runs through September 23.)

Remember, Mars also enters Cancer next week – the day after Mercury turns retrograde – so this is the last week of relative calm (emphasis on relative) in which we can tie up loose ends. After that, it’s anybody’s guess what we’ll be dealing with.

Wishing you a strong and open heart,
Pat