Tag Archives: new moon in gemini

Weekly Forecast June 15: New Moon in Gemini, Sun Enters Cancer

Composite by Osk Ingad Alden, 2015.

We’re still floating along in a Neptunian fog, but this week has a couple of positive shifts that should make life more bearable overall, maybe even fun.

Oh, dear. Did I just use the “F” word? Must be all the sleep I got over the past week. Apparently it has made me feisty. If I could put that in a bottle, I would be a millionaire, and all those Lunesta moths would be out of work. (Did you know that luna moths belong to a family called saturniids?)

There’s going to be a lot of feistiness in the air this week, for better or for worse, with the New Moon in Gemini conjunct Mars. Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast June 3: Neptune Retrograde, New Moon in Gemini

Collapsed bridge on the Skagit River, Washington. Photo courtesy Washington Department of Transportation.

It seems it’s human nature to believe the latest disaster is the worst ever and that more catastrophes than ever before are befalling the planet. I’m not sure this is true, but it’s safe to say that we’re living in unprecedented times.

Skeptics would say we simply have more reporting than ever before, that being connected to the Internet 24/7 results in a barrage of disaster stories from around the world. Still, given the headlines, one might reasonably conclude we’re in the middle of the Apocalypse, even though that was supposed to have come and gone in 2012.

I’ve written a lot about breakdowns, both collective and individual, and in an attempt to present the positive with the negative, I’ve also broached the subject of rebuilding. Otherwise, all this talk of breaking down gets depressing, especially when plans for rebuilding keep falling through or changing without warning.

However, the truth is that we can’t start rebuilding until the breakdown is complete. That, I believe, is the message of Pluto in Capricorn in mutual reception with Saturn in Scorpio. Saturn, remember, is the planet of structure and careful, step-by-step progress. But Pluto is about breaking down and transforming. You might think of it as trying to rebuild a house on a worm-eaten foundation. The only way to ensure the integrity of the structure is to pull out everything and rebuild from the bottom up. In societal terms, we’ve got a patch job on top of a patch job on top of another patch job. It’s no wonder that the whole thing is crumbling.

Saturn and Pluto remain in mutual reception until December 2014. During that time, Uranus continues to form a square with Pluto. The last exact alignment will occur in March 2015, but we’ll continue to feel this far-reaching aspect for another two or three years after that. Uranian energy is volatile, explosive, and unpredictable. When you combine these energies, you get … well, exactly what we’ve got.

In addition to the deadly tornadoes, fires, and floods, recent protests around the world have turned violent, with the police backlash that is the hallmark of the square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. Uranus rules Aquarius, the sign of equality, and many of the protests have their roots in inequality and injustice. In fact, this isn’t the first time we’ve had a society based on such vast disparity. I’m constantly reminded of medieval Europe, when the nobility taxed the peasants and took food off their plates to support wars in the Holy Land – the Middle East. It really does make you wonder if the energies of the universe are in an endless spin cycle, manifesting the same patterns over and over again.

There are some significant differences this time around, though, which is why I say we’re in unprecedented times. At the end of the Crusades, world population was about 6 percent of what it is today. News traveled by messengers on foot and horseback, if it traveled at all. With our instant connections, news now reaches large portions of the world’s 7 billion people instantaneously. Our polluted environment also is unprecedented. Although cities in the Middle Ages were crowded, filthy, and disease-ridden, there was always somewhere else to go where the air and water were clean. We’re running out of somewhere elses and are now talking about terraforming Mars.

How could anyone not be anxious, tense, and depressed? As far as I’m concerned, stress is an appropriate, healthy response to what’s happening in our societies. You have my permission to be anxious and stressed out.

I know that I’m not the only one experiencing a physical or mental breakdown, and I have to believe that this is all part of the cosmic pattern. The collective is made up of individuals, and so unfortunately, we have to break down along with the social structures. As I’ve mentioned in the past, this process is not unknown. Alchemists, shamans, and healers have known for millennia about this mysterious subconscious phenomenon. In some cases, it can be induced through ritual and artificial means, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. Normally, this process takes place over time, and there’s no way to force it, speed it up, or otherwise control it. It’s Plutonic, and that means you have to give in and let it have its way. Trying to hold on just prolongs unnecessary suffering. There are times when we need to hang in there, but other times when it would be better to just give up.

We have an excellent opportunity to look back at the lessons of human history when Neptune turns retrograde this week. As I write, he’s stationed at 5 degrees Pisces, preparing to shift motion on Friday. Among other things, Neptune rules dreams and the deep psyche. This is also where past-life memories live. Destructive patterns often keep repeating themselves until we become aware of them and take active measures to change. Yet, sometimes the underlying source is so deeply ingrained that only a Plutonic transformation can crack it. Either way, I’m optimistic that we can make deep changes in the coming two months, given the positions of the outer planets. Neptune turns retrograde in a trine with Saturn by exact degree, which I think will help us identify and work with the old, outdated patterns that keep us stuck.

On Monday, Mercury trines both Neptune and Saturn. Mercury is in Cancer, which is a water sign and more intuitive. We like to think that our thoughts are rational and objective, but they more often than not are driven by feelings and fundamental needs. The mind can rationalize anything, but truth lies in the heart and soul. One of the ways we can be more authentic and true to ourselves is by allowing our true feelings to surface. Mastering your emotions emphatically does not mean stuffing them down, but allowing them to surface in a safe place so you can be aware of your motivations and adjust your actions accordingly.

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The rest of the week’s major aspects are reflected in the chart for Saturday’s New Moon in Gemini, so let’s have a look. The first thing you see is the big blue triangle. That’s a grand trine, with Venus, Neptune, and Saturn. The bigger grand trine will happen in mid-July, when Jupiter will occupy the position of Venus. But this week’s grand trine with Venus will be quite lovely, too. Even though there’s a lot more breaking down to come, and even though it may not be time yet to rebuild, we can start laying the groundwork. What do you really want? Are your thoughts, actions, and behavior consistent with what you most want? If not, what can you do to align them more closely? I make it sound easy, but it’s not. This is the work of a lifetime and probably more than one. The problem is that many of us think we know what we want, but when we get it, we discover it doesn’t make us as happy as we thought we’d be or that we really wanted something else.

The Uranus-Pluto square is still very active, and it becomes a cardinal T-square with Mercury in a close square with Uranus and opposition to Pluto. Venus is a few degrees shy of Mercury, but will form the same T-square next week. Throughout the week, try to be mindful of what you want out of your closest relationships. If you don’t feel supported, why not? If you could have an ideal family, team, or tribe, what would it look like and why? Would getting it require a few adjustments, or do you need an overhaul?

Collectively, I think we’ll see more jarring headlines – not that anything could shock us anymore, but the extent to which we’ve been deceived and lied to could be a revelation to many. I think we’ll see more protests, too, especially over women’s issues.

Mars squares Neptune in this chart as well, with the exact aspect occurring on Friday. In mundane astrology, Mars rules war, terrorism, and fires. However, with a trine from peacemaker Venus to Neptune, I think it’s possible that we’ll be able to avoid some of the most negative manifestations of this worrisome square. In any case, there’s so much going on in this chart that it will be difficult to associate events with a particular aspect. I’m not one to argue this point, because there’s simply no way to prove it.

The Sun and Moon in Gemini are otherwise unaspected, and even though Mars and Jupiter are in Gemini, the overall feel of this New Moon could be more like Cancer than Gemini. What we read, what we hear, and what we think is less important now than what we feel and our sense of belonging. Ethnicity, patriotism, and family values trump facts and figures. We’re all out of our comfort zone in a big way these days, and as much as I recommend accepting that reality, I can’t argue against taking comfort where you can find it.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast June 18: New Moon in Gemini, Uranus Square Pluto

In honor of the Solstice, at a time when you can't count on tradition anymore. © R.G. Ojéda

It would be tempting to predict that all hell is going to break loose this week, but outer planetary aspects don’t work that way.

I’m referring, of course, to the Uranus-Pluto square, which is exact on Sunday, June 24 – the first of seven exact alignments between now and 2015. You may recall that we came very close to an exact square in July 2011. The fact is, we’ve been feeling this alignment for more than a year now, and we’ll be feeling it for the next few years. It is the defining aspect of our time.

To get an idea of what this aspect signifies, we need only look back to the beginning of the cycle, the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in the mid-1960s. The aspect peaked in 1965 and 1966, and yet the year we remember as the most volatile from that decade was 1968. If you were too young to remember that year or weren’t born yet, I highly recommend a documentary film called 1968 with Tom Brokaw. You can find it in segments on YouTube. The first part alone will give you the general idea.

Two words you often hear to describe that era – “revolution” and “transformation” – are spoken by people with no interest in or knowledge of astrology, and yet these are the keywords for Uranus and Pluto. Funny how that works. According to astrological theory, the crises and conflicts we’re experiencing now have their roots in the sweeping changes that occurred back then. Much has been written about how the 60s drug culture contributed to the awakening of the collecting consciousness. And we can bet that law enforcement authorities, faced with the Occupy Movement and other mass protests, learned a lot from the riots in the 1960s. With Pluto in Capricorn, expect crackdowns against unrest to be faster, heavier, and more brutal. Governments learned from experiences in the 1960s that media control is vital. If you watch 1968, you may be startled by the raw footage that came out of the Vietnam War. Those shocking images motivated large numbers of people to protest in the streets. We don’t have anything like that coming from Iraq or Afghanistan. You need only look at what happened to Julian Assange to foresee what will happen to anyone who tries to expose the truth independently.

In any case, major events that marked the 1960s – the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, the growing civil rights and women’s movements – occurred over time and not on or near an exact date that Uranus and Pluto aligned. Incidentally, pardon me for taking an American view of things. There were sweeping changes around the world in the 60s. France had its own version of 1968. I don’t mean to suggest that the changes here were any more important than elsewhere or that the United States is the world center of revolution and transformation. If anything, the world is a much smaller place than ever, thanks to instant communications over the Internet.

So, with that long introduction, let’s have a look at this week. There are several other planetary aspects to suggest that changes will come fast and furious in the short term.

Click on image to enlarge

On Tuesday, we have another New Moon in Gemini. This is the second in a row. The first one occurred with a solar eclipse on May 20. At first glance, the Uranus-Pluto square dominates the New Moon chart. However, what draws my eye is the sextile from Uranus to Venus, exact by degree (technically called “partile” in astro-speak). Venus still has another week in retrograde phase before turning direct on June 27. Saturn, meanwhile, turns direct in Libra on June 24. In the final degrees of Gemini, the New Moon has a “looking back” flavor to it, not unlike a retrograde. We’re still in critique mode, especially regarding our closest relationships, as we review what we didn’t do so well and what we might do better in the future to get more of what we want and less of what we don’t want. As I’ve mentioned before, the review may include experiences in other dimensions of time or space – more commonly called “past lives.” Awareness of these parallel relationships is helping us clean up some difficult karma so that we can move on, either by entering a new phase in a current relationship or getting closure in some other way.

The Venus-Uranus sextile typically brings a surprise element into the picture. It may not be pleasant, given that Venus is retrograde and inconjunct Pluto. However, if you can keep your nerve through the discomfort, you may come out in a pleasantly surprising place in another week or two. For some of you, the discomfort may simply be the waiting and uncertainty. It’s hard not knowing how things ultimately will shake out. The Venus-Uranus sextile is exact on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Mercury squares Saturn and the Sun enters Cancer. Saturn is moving very slowly right now (what it looks like from down here anyway) as he gets close to changing direction. The square from Mercury likely will bring all the worst flaws into sharp focus, be they personal weaknesses, relationship issues, the need for improvement in your work, or other problems. It will be hard to see the bright side, so try as best you can to balance out all the negatives with something positive. Make a list if you have to, even if it seems like an exercise in futility. Mercury’s waxing sextile with Mars (exact on Thursday) will help. Overall, Wednesday could be quite an emotional day.

The Sun’s entry into Cancer marks the summer solstice and longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Normally, this would be the highlight of the week, but there are too many other major aspects happening that overshadow the seasonal landmark. For me, it’s an outward sign that the academic year is over after a hair-raising final quarter in which I lost not one but two (and almost three) hard drives with all my work on them. That means no rest this summer. I start an internship next week, and will have to spend the next several weeks reconstructing my final project, which, ironically, is about astrology.

Incidentally, I’m working on the StarGuide Summer Forecast this week and will have it up soon. The July monthlies also will be available, for those of you who have pre-ordered. I’ll post an announcement when they’re ready. And, while my consultation hours will continue to be limited, I will have greater availability in the next few months.

Last but not least, the Sun and Neptune form a dreamy water trine on Saturday. It’s a great day for a picnic at the beach or poolside. If you don’t have access to a beach or pool, set up the sprinkler in your backyard. Keep your dream journal handy, as intuition is high and open for major downloads.

Wishing you all infinite love and courage,
Pat

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Gemini, June 1

The New Moon on Wednesday, June 1, is the first of three eclipses that occur one right after another in June and July. Changes happen very fast now.

At 11 degrees Gemini, this New Moon is ruled by normally speedy Mercury, who’s not so speedy in slow and deliberate Taurus. Nevertheless, eclipses tend to bring abrupt change, usually too fast for comfort. It looks to me like many of these changes will be positive, but there will be hurdles to jump, too.

Although there’s going to be a shift in the next few days, as of this New Moon, Venus still dominates the sky. All of the planets deposit to her except Neptune, who is way out there in a world of his own as he stations retrograde. Perhaps that’s why so many of us have been feeling spacey and “not all here” for the past week or so. I’ll have more on these shifting energies in my weekly forecast.

The most compelling thing I see about this New Moon is that new patterns are visibly manifesting on the planet and in our lives, and this process will accelerate in the next six weeks.

In my Full Moon post, I discussed the symbolism of Medusa, the scary monster who turned men to stone but who in reality was an ancient, wise goddess. With Venus “in charge” of this New Moon eclipse, feminine energy not only is rising, but we’re beginning to see it integrating with its polar opposite. Isn’t it interesting that we’re seeing so many powerful men being called to account for sexist and abusive behavior toward women? If that’s not an encounter with Medusa, I don’t know what is.

Gemini is, of course, the sign of polar opposites. At the Gemini New Moon, we assimilate new information we downloaded on Wesak – all the more so this year, with not one but three eclipses directly following the opening of a portal. The New Moon typically represents new beginnings, and an eclipse is like a supercharged New Moon. In Gemini, polarized opposites can be integrated into a greater whole.

What makes me particularly optimistic about this New Moon is its favorable angle to Saturn, who’s slowing down in preparation for returning direct on June 12. Although Saturn has a well-deserved reputation as the planet of tough lessons, he also rules the physical plane. Nothing could manifest without the structural foundations that Saturn represents. And while Saturn forms a difficult cardinal T-square with Pluto and Uranus, the trine from the New Moon represents an easy path for frustrated energies to flow.

At 10 degrees Libra, Saturn is stationed right on the fixed star of Porrima. It gets a little complicated here, because Porrima is in the constellation of Virgo. This discrepancy is due to precession, which I’ve explained in previous posts.

Porrima, at the Virgin’s waist, was named for a Roman goddess of prophecy who actually may have been two sisters, one who looked forward and one who looked back. In a case of “as above, so below,” it so happens that Porrima is a binary star – a fact that couldn’t have been known when the star was named. To Persian astronomers, this star was known as Zawiat al Awwa, which meant the “turn,” signifying the point where the line of stars in Virgo bends.

So, here we have Saturn at a particularly powerful stage of turning direct, in Libra, the sign of balanced relationships, conjunct a star that represents a turn in the road, where we can look both behind us and ahead.

I’d say something very interesting is about to manifest for many of us in the next six weeks. For those recently out of a relationship, you’ll be able to look back and see the situation for what it was and, at the same time, to look forward to what’s next.

In my previous post, I also mentioned Aldebaran, the “eye of the bull” and symbol of the third eye, which is associated with psychic powers and the ability to see into other dimensions. At the eclipse, the Sun and Moon are within two degrees of Aldebaran.

Ophiuchus also gets a foot in the door at this eclipse. The lunar North Node, which determines when and in what sign eclipses occur, is closely conjunct Imad, the star at the Serpent Bearer’s foot, which dips down across the ecliptic. Imad means “pillar” or “support.” Snakes represent wisdom and healing through higher consciousness, which requires that you’re grounded and on solid footing. The North Node also will be close to the Galactic Center, the source of radio waves that I believe convey intuitive knowledge to those with the sensitivity to hear.

I should mention that Mercury will be square Neptune at this New Moon, not a combination for clear and concise thinking. As you’re downloading all that new information, keep in mind that you won’t have very effective filters. Those of you who are exceptionally psychic may be so overwhelmed that you find it hard to function normally. Solitude and rest will help. It’s also likely that some false information and delusionary thinking will creep in. You won’t know which is which until a few days have passed, so don’t jump right into anything new without allowing time for processing.

I leave you with this image of Saturn conjunct Porrima, photographed by Astro Bob:
Spring’s newest ‘double-double’ star

Pat

P.S. Be sure to write your abundance check!

Extra! Love in the Time of the T-Square, Part II

As we approach this summer’s T-square, we’re facing increasing polarization, conflict, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, both within society as a whole and in our individual lives.

For many of us, the conflict is our basic survival — finding a job, paying rent, putting food on the table. For others, relationship issues are coming to a head. And for some, it is both.

I’ve heard several stories over the past week about young couples who are facing crushing marital problems, aggravated by a bad economy and financial stress. Indeed, financial stress is one of the top five reasons people divorce. So it’s hardly surprising (and you don’t need an astrologer to tell you) that a plunging economy is taking a toll on love, especially among couples who are young, inexperienced, and not used to weathering storms.

In last week’s Saturday Extra! column, I addressed one of the deepest core wounds on the planet, which I believe stems from an ancient separation of male and female energies. If you’re stuck in a relationship crisis, then you are experiencing this separation in its purist, basic form. But even if your obstacle is completely unrelated to relationships, I would bet that its underlying cause is a separation of some kind, possibly within yourself.

Regardless of the nature of your particular barrier — and just about everyone has one these days — it feels like there’s no way out. We are in the dark, feeling our way along the wall, looking for any opening, no matter how small. But maybe it’s not where we expect it to be. The opening, as I suggested last week, may be inside of us, in our own hearts and minds.

In our search for that opening, we may first have to reach some kind of closure. Inherent in every new beginning is an ending, and that’s the phase I believe we’re in now. Lots of things are ending, and many of us are in denial about it. That goes for relationships, too. Pluto, at the apex of the T-square, requires us to let go. If we attempt to hang onto what’s falling apart, if we refuse to make necessary changes, the stress and pressure on us will only get worse.

The New Moon symbolizes endings and beginnings. Today’s New Moon in Gemini isn’t closely connected to the cardinal T-square, but it provides an opening into the eclipse period, as the waxing Moon will peak at a lunar eclipse in conjunction with Pluto in cardinal Capricorn. Start feeling for those openings now!

Among those I heard from this past week was a brave young woman who is striking out on her own after a 10-year relationship. She was barely holding back the tears as she told me how scared she was, and yet she’s excited about having the opportunity for the first time in her adult life to explore her own gifts and to do the things that make her happy.

For those of you who are getting out of unhappy relationships, I want to offer encouragement. You are clearing the way for something better, and it can’t happen until you take this important first step. It is hard, but you are not alone.

Even if your relationship is solid, you may be struggling. The entire planet is under stress, and it’s affecting every aspect of our lives. Stay committed to each other, and you will break through to higher ground. With both of you feeling for that opening, you increase the chances of finding it.

Pat

New Moon in Gemini, June 12

The New Moon in Gemini on June 12 is all about communications, ideas, and bigger bandwidth.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communications, intellectual exchange, and business negotiations. Not only does Mercury rule this New Moon, but all of the other planets send their energy to the Messenger. That’s a lot of concentrated focus! So if you’ve got something to talk about, an idea to pitch to the boss (including your request for a raise or promotion), or a contract to sign, this is the time to do it!

We may start seeing developments related to this New Moon as early as Thursday, when Mercury enters his home sign of Gemini. He has been in Taurus since early April, favoring slow, deliberate thinking. Enough of that! It’s time to get those neurons firing and brainstorm new solutions to old problems. In Gemini, Mercury’s first order of business will be to contact Uranus and Jupiter in Aries and give them some ideas for speedy action.

A few hours after Mercury enters Gemini, the Moon follows, creating the setup for the conjunction with the Sun, exact at 7:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday. Whereas Mercury’s aspects to other planets provoke thought and discussion, the Moon puts feeling behind those thoughts.

Unfortunately, both the Moon and Mercury square Mars on Thursday and Friday. Mars in Virgo looks at everything with a critical eye. If honest feedback upsets you, you might want to stay out of the line of fire for a few days. Likewise, if you’re too attached to your ideas, you can assume that the other guy is, too, and one or both of you could end up bruised if you get into a debate.

If you can accept some criticism, though, you’ll be in good stead to start a new venture at the New Moon. Nothing says you have to take all of it to heart. You just have to listen and make an honest attempt to determine whether it has any merit. If it does, take the time to modify your plans accordingly.

Uranus and Jupiter in Aries may have you chomping at the bit to get moving, but an opposition from Saturn wags a finger in your face and tells you to cover all your bases, unless you’ve got so much time and money that you can afford to throw a big chunk of it down the drain.

In any case, we can expect new initiatives to come into our lives in rapid-fire succession, and we may need to burn the candle at both ends for a few days to get everything done. A Mars-Pluto trine supports personal and global transformation. At the very least, we can recognize what needs to change and come up with a viable plan.

As I mentioned in my weekly forecast, we may read about new solutions for some of the sticky problems in the news lately, most notably the gulf oil spew (I didn’t coin that phrase, but I think it describes the situation much better than “spill”). These developments may cause a flurry of excitement, but don’t be surprised or disappointed if the results are just temporary. There are more big changes ahead, and every time you change one element of a situation, something else gets thrown out of balance and needs readjustment.

The New Moon is at a wide trine to Neptune in Aquarius and Chiron in Pisces, both of which went retrograde last week. Healing comes out of the recognition that we’re all connected. Even a seemingly trivial act such as throwing away a plastic bag instead of recycling or reusing it has consequences when millions of other people are doing the same thing.

Venus, nearing the end of her tour through family oriented Cancer, is sextile Saturn, reminding us that committed relationships are hard work and come with duties and responsibilities. It’s also a good idea to take stock of our finances and set some limits. When Venus enters Leo on June 14 and trines Uranus and Jupiter, we may be tempted to run wild, overindulge, and gamble. Knowing your limits will help you decide how much risk you can afford to take, whether it’s with your money, relationships, or something else you hold dear.

Pluto remains in a tight T-square with Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Technically, it’s not a cardinal T-square yet, because Saturn is in mutable Virgo until July 21. We’ve never been through anything like this in our lifetime or, for that matter, in recorded history. So we don’t know exactly how this is all going to play out. However, I suspect that Saturn in earth-sign Virgo may be acting as an anchor, preventing volatile situations from exploding completely out of control. That could change in another month.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Sun and Moon at 21°24′ Gemini is a barn dance, with the keyword GREGARIOUSNESS. As the environmental consequences of mindless overconsumption force us to make tough choices, it’s a good time to remember that happiness doesn’t depend on a 4G cell phone. Ultimately, our fulfillment comes not through the quantity of our communications, but through the quality of our interactions with others . We’ve gotten ourselves into a big mess, and the only way out is through organization, cooperation, and sharing. If we step on each other’s toes from time to time, it’s part of the process.

The next lunation will be a Full Moon lunar eclipse conjunct Pluto. I’ll be writing lots more on this as the date approaches.

Until then, wish you all much love and courage,
Pat

** From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmond Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in the early 1920s. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

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.

New Moon in Gemini, May 24, 2009

New Moon in Gemini Although the New Moon in Mercury-ruled Gemini is always a good time to work on our communication skills, this particular one focuses more attention than usual on the fastest-moving planet.

As of the New Moon, Mercury is still retrograde in Taurus but is less than a week from stationing direct. Those of us who prefer to take our time with the decision-making process are far less likely to be frustrated than the serious multi-tasker who depends on a variety of fancy technological devices to connect with their peers. Keep in mind that slow can be good and far less stressful.

Mercury is squaring the triple conjunction of Chiron, Jupiter, and Neptune in Aquarius. What this configuration says to me is pay special attention not only to what you are saying, but also to your listening skills. Jupiter and Neptune together can be idealistic to the point of insanity, and it is very easy to put our personal spin on what we hear and conveniently forget the rest of the message — you know, the part where Chiron tells us how much it’s going to hurt when the bandage is ripped off. This square also highlights the differences between our personal values (Taurus) and the dreams of the collective (Aquarius), thus opening the door to reconciling those conflicting goals, but this will take serious effort.

The bright spot for Mercury is the sextile with Uranus in Pisces, supporting compassionate and original thinking. This is the second pass of a three-part sextile. The first happened at the New Moon in Taurus on April 24, while the third and final pass will occur on June 9, just after the Full Moon in Sagittarius. The final sextile will coincide with Mercury’s return to the degree at which it went retrograde, and we will have an opportunity to start applying our ideas at that time.

Pluto in Capricorn is inconjunct this New Moon, presenting an interesting set of challenges. Gemini and Capricorn really don’t have much common ground, to put it mildly. Gemini loves to dart around collecting bits and pieces of information to play with, while Saturn-ruled Capricorn wants its data organized, with an emphasis on practical application. This aspect reinforces the same differences between the personal and the collective as Mercury in Taurus square Neptune & Co., and in a dissonant way. As much as we would like to ignore the larger universe at times, I doubt if we will be allowed to.

Venus and Mars are both still in Aries but are no longer traveling quite so close together. The only aspect Venus makes is another of those pesky inconjuncts to Saturn in Virgo, and I can hear the whining already. Just about the time Venus thinks she’s going to able to go and have some fun, Saturn will nag her about taking care of unfinished business first.

Mars in sextile to Neptune & Co. is easier to deal with, as it provides energy and enthusiasm to follow your dreams. Interestingly, Mars falls on the midpoint of the sextile between Mercury and Uranus, helping fuel manifestation of your brilliant ideas. Keep in mind the need for practicality, though.

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon at 4 Gemini is, “Holly and mistletoe reawaken old memories of Christmas,” with the keyword RITUALIZATION. This represents a gentler way of looking at the richness of traditions (Capricorn) with a childlike delight (Gemini) in them. Perhaps we all need to take a moment to view our lives with a childlike sense of wonder.

As a Libra person, I am very aware of maintaining a sense of balance and proportion, so I feel it is very important to make reality checks a part of our lives now. The triple conjunction of Neptune & Co. can bring new and delightful possibilities, but my gut instinct says double-check all the facts before signing up for the magical mystery tour. If it looks too good to be true, it is. This is the perfect time to practice forgiving ourselves and others, too.

posted by Neith . . .

Of course, today is the day to write your New Moon abundance checks! Here’s how.

RealAstrologers

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