Tag Archives: New Moon in Taurus

Weekly Forecast May 18: New Moon in Taurus, Mercury Turns Retrograde

This is going to be a tough week before it started.

Mercury isn’t retrograde yet as I write this, and already I’ve experienced several Rx moments. The most unnerving was was getting a phone call on Friday morning before I was awake, reaching for the phone, and … nothing. The screen froze. “No problem,” I thought. “I’ll just reboot it.” Power switch didn’t work. Remove the battery? Tried it twice. Nope and nope.

Fortunately, I have drop-step-on-run-over-fall-in-the-toilet-Mercury-retrograde insurance, but it means being without a phone for a day or two. I was about to submit the form and had a sudden idea to try one more thing, stupid as it sounded. I plugged in the charger. The phone shuddered and Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast April 28: Solar Eclipse in Taurus, Venus Enters Aries

Hinode satellite image of the annular eclipse in January 2011. Credit: Hinode/XRT

This week’s solar eclipse in Taurus arrives as the cardinal grand cross is past its peak but still potent.

Solar eclipses can occur only at a New Moon. Tuesday’s New Moon (late Monday in Western time zones) is just short of 9 degrees Taurus, placing it at a favorable angle with Jupiter and Pluto, two of the planets in the grand cross. So, while the grand cross dominates the chart for this New Moon, there is a strong connection between the grand cross planets and the Sun/Moon conjunction. I interpret this as a relief valve for the extreme pressure associated with the grand cross formation.

Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast April 23: Sun Trine Mars and Pluto

Spring Planting. © Osk Ingad Alden, 2012.

This week is mostly about the blossoming of last Saturday’s New Moon in Taurus. I hope you all remembered to write your abundance checks!

In the New Moon chart, the Sun was in a lovely earth trine with Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn. This week, the Sun’s aspects to Mars and Pluto are exact – the Sun-Mars trine on Monday and the Sun-Pluto trine on Sunday (April 29).

Each of these trines has its own correlations, but I think they should be read as a whole and not as three individual trines. To view this configuration holistically, we need to look all the way back to November 23, 2011, for the earliest developments. That’s when Mars made the first of three trines to Pluto. The second pass occurred on March 14, when Mars was retrograde. On the same day, Mars made an exact trine with Jupiter. So, essentially, the trine we have now is a reflection of the one we experienced in mid-March. The difference is that Mars is now direct – and that really is a big difference. Mars is the action planet, and when he’s in reverse motion (that’s what it looks like from our position here on Earth), we can end up spinning our wheels and not having a lot to show for all our energy and effort.

More importantly, the cycle is now complete. It’s as though the Sun’s trine to Mars and Pluto is the “seal” signing the deal. Your biggest clue about the effect on you personally is probably your own experience, so think back to the most significant event in your life in mid- to late November, and then look at related events in mid-March. You may have had even more than one major development, although they probably are related. For example, if the planets in the trine have been transiting your second, sixth, and tenth houses, you may have been promised a promotion and maybe even got it, but finally you’ll get the raise and a bigger staff that were supposed to come with the title.

As nice as all of this sounds, it isn’t coming without a fair share of turmoil. The metaphorical cow pie won’t really hit the fan until this summer, but we’ll likely get a big whiff of what’s to come mid-week, with Mercury’s square to Pluto. As you’ll recall from Mythology 101, Mercury is the Messenger, and in this case, he’s going to be bearing some announcements of what to expect when the Uranus-Pluto square makes its first exact pass on June 24. This is a Very Big Deal. And while it likely will manifest more on a societal and cultural level than in our individual lives, we’ll do well to sit up and take notice of events this week that involve political rebellion, cultural revolution, and backlashes against same.

For me, situations have been developing right on cue. With Mars recently retrograde in my ninth house, I dropped some classes so that I could devote more time to my astrology clients. Right as Mars was stationing direct, I was asked to return, and so I’ll be back to carrying a heavier academic load and lighter astrology schedule. On the positive side, my work in class is centered on an exciting astrology project, about which I’ll be able to say more in a month or two.

In the meantime, the StarGuide monthly forecasts for May are ready (please note that the StarGuide Spring 2012 forecast included the May report in its entirety, so if you’ve already ordered the spring StarGuide, you don’t need an additional report).

I’d like to end this week’s forecast with a stunning video from Ole C. Salomonsen in Norway, who spent all those dark winter months filming the incredible auroras generated by this year’s heightened solar activity. Indeed, I’m starting to wonder if we’re not feeling this phenomenon physically and psychologically. It makes sense. Solar flares disrupt the Earth’s electromagnetic field, so why wouldn’t they have an effect on our individual electromagnetic energies? As far as I know, though, no one has auroras like this streaming around their heads – even while listening at full volume to the suitably awe-inspiring soundtrack by Kai-Anders Ryan.

Celestial Lights from Ole C. Salomonsen on Vimeo.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat

Weekly Forecast April 15: Mercury Enters Aries, New Moon in Taurus

Music to travel by. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

Get ready to hit the ground running this week, because life is suddenly moving again.

Mars, the action planet, went direct on Friday. Although I anticipated some major shifting last week, I also knew that certain activities might come to a grinding halt until early this week, when Mercury enters Aries, the sign Mars rules. For me, however, the bombs began dropping Tuesday night, and by Friday, life was taking a turn that, while not entirely unexpected (there are advantages to being an astrologer), was surprising nonetheless.

Developments this week could turn us on our heads yet again. It feels like the ground beneath our feet is swaying back and forth, and remaining steady is difficult, if not impossible. At least, that’s what it looks like from where I’m standing.

We start off on Monday with Mercury blasting into Aries. Mercury has been in squishy Pisces, where logic dissolves and you never quite know whether you’re tapped into extraordinary intuition or are wandering in the mists of la-la land. We’ll have more clarity with Mercury in Aries, and fortunately, Mars direct in Virgo ought to help control the impulse to do something, anything, as long as you feel like you’re moving. The urge will only get stronger as the Moon enters Aries on Wednesday, and Mercury conjoins Uranus on Sunday. By the way, this is the third and final conjunction with Uranus in this cycle, and it likely will play out as events related to the big shift that began for you in the summer of 2010.

All of the above notwithstanding, we should all feel more grounded once the Sun enters earthy Taurus on Thursday, followed quickly by the New Moon on Saturday. Venus, the ruler of this New Moon, is close to the degree at which she’ll transit the Sun on June 5, and she’s at the exact degree of the lunar eclipse a day earlier. I have to think we’ll notice a significant shift in the two weeks following this New Moon. Indeed, life already seems to be rearranging itself in preparation for what’s to come. Still, Venus is unaspected in this New Moon chart, so we’re not entirely ready yet for what’s ahead.

The Sun and Moon do make a lovely sextile/trine with Neptune and Mars. The latter is especially powerful, given that Mars has just turned direct. It’s as though he’s being urged to get up and get moving! The Sun and Moon also are conjunct Ceres, who gets my vote as co-ruler of Virgo. Some astrologers think her symbolism is closer to Taurus. I have to disagree, but there’s no doubt that her earthiness is compatible with Taurus, the most solidly manifested of all the earth signs (thus the stubbornness we often encounter in our Taurus friends).

Click on image to enlarge

Even the conflicting aspects in this New Moon chart have something conciliatory about them. Vesta in Aries is directly opposite retrograde Saturn in Libra. The ancients associated Vesta the Capricorn, which is Saturn’s home sign. The conflicts we have with others usually have something to do with our conflicts within ourselves. And it’s impossible not to be conflicted about something. Humans are complex organisms, and not every part of us wants what the other parts want. The best example is the constant battle between heart and head.

The inconjunct from Mercury to Mars is mitigated by their mutual reception. The inconjunct represents no common ground, and yet in these signs, this pair has everything in common. I say use this energy to the max to plough through problems that seem to have no solution. Communicate, brainstorm, and seek the areas of mutual interest. They are there.

Lastly, of course, we have Mars in Virgo opposite Neptune in Pisces – the harsh and accurate critic who analyzes every detail versus the vast, unknowable unconscious. Even this apparently irreconcilable opposition has a solution, represented by the New Moon itself. What we see with our eyes is an expression of the invisible energies underlying the material universe. This is a great time for any kind of energetic medicine such as acupuncture, homeopathy, Reiki, and so forth.

Before I end, I want to share the story of the photo. On Friday, I was headed into the city for an important meeting. Rather than sitting in the stuffy passenger cabin on the ferry, I went to the covered seating area. Even when it’s chilly, I prefer it to the interior. I can sit there in solitude, contemplating the sun on the water.

Just as I was settling in, a young man with a guitar case came out. “There goes my quiet meditation,” I thought. Before he sat down, he asked whether it would be OK with me if he played. “Well, that depends,” I said. “Do you play well?” He laughed, opened his case, tuned his instrument, and began strumming. The sunlight was hitting the space just right, creating a perfect photo op. So there was my choice: I could be annoyed that my solitude was disrupted, or I could take pictures. I asked his permission and joked that it was a fair trade. As it turned out, he played exceptionally well, and he chose a song with the perfect rhythm for traveling – whether physically moving over water or spiritually moving over waves of energy.

Sometimes we are blessed in spite of ourselves.

Wishing you much love and courage,
Pat

Weekly Forecast May 2: New Moon in Taurus

Rhododendrons, the essence of spring in full bloom. © Pat Paquette 2011.

The biggest news this week – the only news, really – is Tuesday’s New Moon in Taurus (late Monday on the West Coast of the United States).

The Taurus New Moon represents the fertility of nature and the full bloom of spring. This year, it falls close to the Celtic cross-quarter day of Beltane, celebrated with bonfires and an anything-goes spirit similar to our Mardi Gras. Taurus, the Bull of Heaven, was the divine consort of the Mother Goddess, who in very ancient times was associated with Venus.

As ruling planet of Taurus, Venus rules this New Moon, but unfortunately she’s not at her best, so I don’t foresee a week of dancing, drinking, fine-dining, and lying around on the couch. To start with, she’s in Aries, sign of her detriment. She also is fresh out of a cardinal T-square with Saturn and Pluto. If even goddesses can get stressed out and exhausted, what’s that say for the rest of us?

Still, I’m expecting this week to be better than most of last month, as we’ll certainly get a little bit of relief from all that fast and aggressive Aries energy – not much, mind you, as most of the planets are still depositing to Mars. There will be an edginess to life until the end of next week, when Venus moves into Taurus and takes over the show. In the meantime, take any opportunity for a small break, as it will help you hang in there for another couple of weeks.

Also, pressure on relationships will drop a notch as Venus moves beyond the cardinal T-square and gets well out of the way of an opposition with Saturn. What’s done can’t be reversed, but it’s easier to accept the fact and move on.

For those whose relationships reached a new level of duty and commitment, you can begin to settle into a new routine – although, again, it may be the end of next week before you feel substantial relief from the pressure.

The New Moon in Taurus highlights what we have and urges us to be mindful of how and what we manifest into reality, and why. I was reminded of this message many times over as I watched the royal wedding last Friday. The clothes, the jewels, the cars and carriages – do they support personal growth or hinder it? What’s important is how each of us uses the gifts we were born with. Learning the appropriate role of money and material resources in our personal and spiritual development is an important lesson now.

This concept is reflected nicely in the Sabian Symbol** for this New Moon: a man handling baggage, with the keyword INDUSTRY. Ultimately, we have to depend on our own strengths and resources to fulfill our purpose in life, and there may be many ways to do so, all of which are equally important. Some people need a lot of money and material wealth to fulfill their role, and some don’t. How much is enough and at what point material desires start getting in the way of spiritual growth is a big lesson for Taurus.

Sunday is Mother’s day, with the Moon appropriately in Cancer. There may be some tension at family gatherings, as the Moon forms a temporary cardinal grand cross with Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and other planets in Aries. The worst is over on Saturday, though, so hopefully everyone will be able to rise above dysfunctional family dynamics and appreciate one another’s uniqueness.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

P.S. I don’t need a diamond tiara to be a decent astrologer, but I’ll nevertheless be writing my abundance check!

** From The Sabian Symbols in Astrology, by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones. The author, an astrologer, channeled this work in 1925 with the help of Elsie Wheeler, a gifted psychic. There’s one symbol one for each degree of the zodiac, and we can use them to gain insight into charts.

New Moon in Taurus, May 13-14

The Nebra Sky Disk, found in 1999 near Leipzig, Germany, has been dated c. 1600 B.C. and depicts the Sun or possibly Full Moon, New Moon, Pleiades (in the constellation Taurus), and solstice points.

The New Moon in Taurus on May 13 is a time to celebrate beauty, abundance, and the cyclical dance of life.

It also is a stark reminder of the realities of living in a material world. For some of us, being “spiritual” means denying the physical body or getting our minds off material things. Although it’s true that many people place too much importance on money and possessions, going to the opposite extreme isn’t to our advantage, either. If we weren’t meant to have a physical body, with all its attendant joys and sorrows, we’d be disembodied beings of light in some other quadrant of the galaxy.

At 23°09′ Taurus, the Sun and Moon are in a wide trine with Saturn in late Virgo and a sextile with Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces. The Saturn-Uranus opposition is still big news. Even though it’s separating, the contact remains close enough to be a major influence, and Jupiter’s impending conjunction with Uranus is acting as an amplifier. I’ve written about the cardinal T-square of summer 2010, but we may not have to wait that long to witness some extraordinary global events.

At the Full Moon in Scorpio on April 28, we had an opportunity to let go of whatever needed releasing in preparation for these new circumstances. For some, the letting go may not have been voluntary. If something was taken from you then, the New Moon is your door to a new beginning.

Venus, ruler of this New Moon, is at 22°47′ Gemini, in a wide mutable T-square with Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter. The mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces — are highly changeable, and swift change is what we can expect. This is a great time to initiate changes, but they may happen with or without any deliberate action on your part.

Pluto also is in a wide square with Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter in this chart, and that gives the appearance of a grand cross. However, with Pluto in the cardinal sign of Capricorn and the others in mutable signs, it’s technically not a cardinal grand cross. It’s a sort of “hybrid grand cross,” and perhaps that’s key to understanding events around this lunation. It’s a setup to events this summer, some quick rearranging before the big move.

One reason I think we’ll see some very fast action in the next week is that Mercury will return direct on Tuesday, two days before the New Moon, and he’s in mutual reception with Venus. Energy that got blocked at the last New Moon may suddenly kick in.

The Sabian Symbol** for this New Moon is a mounted Indian with scalp locks, with the keyword COMMAND. This may seem like a violent image for peace-loving Taurus, but it isn’t about conquest. Rather, it’s about recognizing the genius of our “enemies” and acquiring it for our own benefit — acquisition being a very Taurus trait. Put another way, imagine if we were in Iraq not for the oil but for the ancient wisdom and knowledge of one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. Incidentally, that is where astrology originated.

Inherent in this symbol is the concept of working with nature to fulfill our highest potential. Our physical bodies are our connection with the material world, and our senses can guide us toward our highest goals and aspirations if we use them to their fullest advantage. We can’t be fully present in the moment without them.

Keep those antennae up, and enjoy the ride!

Pat

[Note: The New Moon falls on May 14 in the Eastern Hemisphere.]

** 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.

New Moon in Taurus, April 24-25, 2009

New Moon: photo by Michael Myers The New Moon in Taurus is one of my favorite lunations, because Taurus enriches our senses and our lives. Here in the northern latitudes, we are surrounded by new growth, beauty, and the wonderful green smells of spring.

For those of us who live in our heads, the New Moon in Taurus can pull us back into our bodies, for a change.

At 5°03′ Taurus, this New Moon squares the degree of the solar eclipse at 6°29′ Aquarius on January 26, providing an opportunity to evaluate our progress (or lack thereof) since that time. Aquarius focuses on the ideal and Taurus on the physical reality, making this lunation the perfect time to see if we’re living in la-la land or the real deal. If we aren’t seeing the progress we’d like, then how do we adjust our vision? Is idealism standing in the way? Are we cutting off our nose to spite our face? Keep in mind that compromise is not a dirty word.

As Jupiter approaches conjunction with Neptune and Chiron, we are going to be challenged to stay in touch with reality. We are aided by Mercury in pragmatic Taurus, squaring this stellium in Aquarius. Still, it’s tough going. This aspect reminds me of those cartoons in which the character runs off the cliff and stops in mid-air before dropping straight down. The proliferation of misinformation available on the internet has reached staggering proportions, and we need the grounding provided by Taurus to sort this out. It’s all about having good, solid information on which to base our decisions.

The sextile between Uranus in Pisces and Mercury in Taurus can aid in the search for ways to resolve the issues raised by the square between Mercury and the Aquarius planets. Taurus is noted for taking a position and sticking with it, but if anyone can gently persuade the Bull to change his mind, it’s Pisces – master of subtlety and the indirect approach. In other words, avoid butting heads and direct confrontations, if possible.

Another dynamic square is between Venus and Mars in Aries with Pluto in Capricorn. Venus is now direct and newly returned to Aries, which will kick-start creative projects put on hold six weeks ago. Mars moved into Aries on April 22 and is a totally happy camper for a change, because this is the sign he rules. I see Pluto squaring these two as generating a huge amount of energy as well as a preview of possibilities coming up next year when Uranus moves into Aries, squaring Pluto. So hang on to your hats and be prepared for lots happening in the next few weeks.

Saturn in Virgo plays a background role in this chart, providing another planet in earth to support the earthy Sun, Moon, Mercury and Pluto. Earth is the dominant element of this New Moon chart, making it a great time to treat yourself to a massage, indulge in aromatherapy, or fill your home with fresh flowers and beautiful music.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is 6 Taurus, Cantilever bridge across a deep gorge, with the keywords CONQUER OBSTACLES. Even the most creative leap needs to be counterbalanced by roots in reality. If we wish to build connections across what divides us, we need to reach out with compassion and practicality.

The importance of forgiving ourselves and those we love is something to keep in mind now and over the coming months as the conjunction between Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune tightens. Our imperfections illuminate our beauty rather than detracting from it. We have the practicality of well-grounded Taurus energy supporting us now, so use this time well. Practice forgiveness and kindness daily!

Note: The New Moon falls on Friday, April 24, in the Western Hemisphere and Saturday, April 25, in the Eastern Hemisphere.

posted by Neith . . .

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, April 20, for her thoughts on events in the sky.

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

Image: New Moon, only 6 hours old – photo by Michael Myers from his website, The Moon.

Slogging Through the Obstacles

This is an exciting week, with major astrological shifts that should leave everyone feeling a lot better. I’m more than ready to get out of this stuck space, and I know you all are, too.

The week begins with several planets in their detriment or fall, including Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. As I noted in last week’s SkyWatch post, when planets are in their detriment or fall, the energies they embody are somehow “off,” and we feel it. Venus has been demanding and selfish in Aries, while Mars is paranoid, moody, and passive-aggressive in Cancer. In Capricorn, Jupiter turns into a workaholic, when he’s so much more jovial as master of ceremonies.

Although Mercury isn’t technically in detriment or fall in Taurus, this isn’t his best sign, and this will be doubly true when he squares Neptune on Tuesday. Slow, foggy, and confused thinking will be the order of the day. Have you ever been on the phone and momentarily forgotten who you were talking to? It’s like that…

On Wednesday, Venus enters Taurus, which is one of the signs she rules. We should start seeing signs of beauty, grace, and a general return of yumminess, with fewer selfish demands, especially among couples.

Thursday is May 1, celebrated as May Day and known to the ancient Celts as Beltaine, when virgins were deflowered, and it was OK to mate with someone other than your spouse. Venus trines Pluto, which is sure to create some irresistible temptation. And if you’re looking to make it more permanent, her trine with Saturn later in the day could bring just what you’re looking for. Saturn is about to turn direct, too, so this will be a powerful day for romantic commitment.

Saturn turns direct on Friday at 8:07 p.m. on the West Coast of the United States. He’ll take a week or two to start moving forward, but we all are going to start seeing some real progress in areas that have had us stuck for months. As I noted in a new post today on The Pisces Chronicles, the simultaneous station of Jupiter in Capricorn and Saturn coincided with an interesting experience over the weekend that seems to have bumped me up a notch on the consciousness spiral. Among other things, I made some progress in a couple of areas where I’ve been desperately stuck. Could the chant to Ganesha (pictured above) have had anything to do with it? He’s apparently an expert on dealing with Saturn issues.

Earlier on Friday, Mercury enters Gemini. Seeing as how we’re interacting primarily in cyberspace, we’re going to feel this, and I’m betting it will be almost instant. Look for lots of communications activity this weekend.

Sunday will be deliciously lazy and sensual, with the Moon exalted in Taurus trining Pluto and Saturn, then conjoining Venus – all in preparation for Monday’s New Moon. Effects of the New Moon can be felt within three days before or after peak fullness, so we should start seeing the results of all the painful breaking down we’ve been going through since the Full Moon in Scorpio.

So hang in there, and keep in touch. One of the ways we learn about how astrology works is through the stories you leave here. And don’t be shy, even if English is not your native language. RealAstrologers.com is a truly international website, and it’s always exciting for us to hear from the four corners of the planet.

Much love and manifold blessings,
Pat