Tag Archives: Saturn

Weekly Forecast July 7: Full Moon in Capricorn, Mercury Enters Cancer

The biggest astrological event this week is the Full Moon in Capricorn, which brings more emphasis to the cardinal T-square/grand cross that just won’t quit.

Normally, what we start at the New Moon comes to fruition or at least reaches a major milestone at the Full Moon. Capricorn is known for being orderly and structured, but with the Sun and Moon in a fairly close square with erratic Uranus, the order is subject to change without notice. Also, Mercury was retrograde and behaving strangely at the New Moon. Add Uranus into the mix, and “fruition” prbably won’t be what you had in mind.

Now, that could be a good thing. Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast December 9: Mercury Trine Uranus, Jupiter Trine Saturn

December sunset over Vashon. © Pat Paquette, 2013.

This week’s aspects are largely positive – emphasis on large, seeing as how Jupiter is involved.

The main event is Thursday’s favorable trine between Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter is about growth, expansion, and exuberance, while Saturn is about limitation and structure. Usually, we think of “limitation” as a bad thing, but without limits, we’d have chaos. Structure itself is a limit. Think of the foundation and frame of a new home. It says, “This home is this size, in this place, built to withstand the worst weather in this region.” There may be some room for interpretation in the blueprint, but you’ve got a set plan. Once you decide on this design, all others are ruled out.

The characteristics of Jupiter and Saturn obviously are at odds, and with difficult aspects between these two heavyweights, conflicts can erupt between forces for broader inclusion and systems designed to maintain the established order. However, when they are working in harmony, great things are possible. Left to his own devices, Jupiter can go way overboard and attempt to do too much, too fast, ending in a crash-and-burn. With the discipline and patience of Saturn, ambitious goals are more likely to end in success.

If you’ll recall, Jupiter and Saturn were in a rare and powerful grand water trine in July. Back then, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune were all in the early degrees of the three waters signs. Neptune remains in early Pisces, but Jupiter and Saturn have advanced to the mid-degrees of Cancer and Scorpio, and will form two more trines, one this week and another toward the end of May 2014. This positive connection is something we can hang onto against the backdrop of the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square – and it is still very much active, as we can see in the uprising in Kiev.

Even though Neptune is no longer part of the grand trine, the Moon in Pisces fills in for Neptune in a grand water trine on Monday. The Moon moves through signs quickly, so this “lucky” configuration won’t last long. Still, there’s something nicely symbolic about the Moon in the sign ruled by Neptune (according to modern Western astrology). It’s as though Neptune will be there in spirit. Look for developments related to events in July, both collectively and in your personal lives. If you began a project or relationship back then and have experienced setbacks, just a little effort this week can move you forward – and you do have to make at least some effort.

I posted a note on Facebook yesterday saying I’d be late with this week’s forecast (I was struggling with the onset of a migraine) but that the week would be another positive one in general. Three readers left comments saying their weeks hadn’t been positive. I have to tell you that the previous week for me was not kind, either. So this is a good time to remind everyone that positive aspects such as the Jupiter-Saturn trine are no guarantee that you’ll have a great week, especially if you’re experiencing a challenging transit to your natal chart. My forecasts are in broad, general terms, and a quick look at the headlines confirms that the past few weeks have been relatively calm. The biggest news was the loss of a giant among men who passed peacefully at age 95, with tributes to remind us of what it means to sacrifice for truth and justice. The second biggest story, at least in the United States, was a gigantic snowstorm at a time of year when it does tend to snow. Of course, the folks who skidded off the road or froze to death likely didn’t have a “relatively calm” week.

Speaking of accidents (and I’ve written this before), it’s hard to predict accidents with astrology. We can see the tendency or indications of an accident-prone period, but that doesn’t guarantee an unfortunate outcome. Further, admonishing someone to “watch out for accidents” isn’t necessarily helpful. A few years back, I had a client who fell on a loose stair step and shattered her hip. There was no way she could have seen that coming, even with a word of caution to “be careful.” At times like this, being an astrologer can be very frustrating.

Back to this week, Mercury trines Uranus and squares Chiron on Tuesday. The trine with Uranus is signature for fast thinking and impulsive ideas. This is the light bulb flashing over your head, the eureka effect (just don’t slip getting out of the bathtub). Thoughts are so fleeting that you may forget them, so keep a notebook handy and write them down. Don’t assume you’ll remember them later.

The Mercury-Chiron square also has a positive side, in that human suffering comes into greater focus. With Chiron in Pisces, we can have compassion for those less fortunate, but we won’t necessarily do anything about it. Sometimes we just don’t know what to do. I genuinely hope that we’ll see at least one headline this week concerning solutions to poverty, unemployment, and help for victims of wars and natural disasters.

I usually don’t write about quincunxes, but I do want to mention the Mars-Neptune quincunx on Friday. Mars is in Libra, the sign of his detriment. Mars operates best when he can be direct and get straight to the point, and Libra is too considerate of others to do so. Not that Libras don’t get what they want by other means, and that’s the risk here. Neptune can be fuzzy and confused, if not downright deceptive. The question is often asked in relationship counseling whether it’s OK to lie to a partner and under what circumstances. My general take is that if you’re lying to spare your partner’s feelings – and you need to be ruthlessly honest with yourself about your motivation – then it’s appropriate. If you’re lying to spare your own feelings or because you don’t want to get caught doing something you shouldn’t have been doing – especially if you agreed not to do so – then it’s time to put on your big-boy/big-girl pants and ‘fess up.

I’ve written that I’d have something to say about comet ISON, but I’m continuing to hold off, because observers still aren’t sure what happened to it. They’re waiting until what’s left of it gets farther away from the sun to determine whether it’s dead or mostly dead. After an initial announcement that it was dead, they said they’d called it too soon and that it appeared that something survived and was growing. That would have been symbolic indeed. Sadly, it now appears that there’s nothing left but a cloud of dust.

ISON watchers have compared the comet to the mythological Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and then fell into the sea and drowned. It’s a tempting comparison, but in the myth, Icarus was foolish and disregarded warnings. If you believe that comets are messengers from the far reaches of our solar system, then you have to believe that they are somehow conscious (or “whoever” sent them is conscious) of the danger awaiting them at perihelion. If ISON truly is dead-dead, then this had to be something of a suicide mission, important enough to sacrifice itself for. More as the story develops…

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Saturn and the Inner Journey of Capricorn, Part II

Detail from Capricornus, from Johannes Hevelius’s Uranographia, 1690.

Interestingly the Romans thought of Saturn not only as a God of agriculture and time, but as a God of liberation, and there is also a key here to the higher purpose of Saturn and Capricorn.

The Soul in Capricorn has to journey up the mountain from the very depths of humanity to the very heights of Christ consciousness, and this is no small task. The higher purpose of Capricorn involves choosing a spiritual path and understanding the laws of creation so that we may create heaven on Earth.

Capricorn rules the knees, and this symbology is important in understanding the soul’s journey through Capricorn. It is Saturn’s job, at personality level, to bring Capricorn to his knees so he develops insight and humility and turns his attention away from the trappings and excesses of materialism that would keep him trapped in ego.

Saturn is a wise teacher bringing important lessons and guidance to support us in making choices that align with our highest good. The word creation comes from the Latin creõ, which means to create, make, produce, beget, give birth to, prepare, cause or choose. So in creating heaven on earth, there is an element of choice: it is through our choices and actions that we create heaven on Earth, or not.

[quote cite=”The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology”]Only when the Capricornian subject learns to kneel in all humility and with his knees upon the rocky mountain top to offer his heart and life to the soul and to human service, can he be permitted to pass through the door of initiation and be entrusted with the secrets of life. Only on his knees can he go through that door.[/quote]

Karma can be thought of simply as the law of cause and effect, and there seems to be a common belief that it refers to the results of our actions. Yet according to some Buddhist traditions, karma specifically refers to the volition, motivation, intention and action that creates the result. It is more about the action and intention than the result. So our personal karma is our past actions and intentions that planted the seeds for the results we are currently experiencing.

Saturn is bringing us the important lesson that these seeds ripen over time, and that if we truly want to create heaven on earth, we need to change our actions and plant different seeds! Once our intentions, motivation, thoughts and actions are fully aligned with divine will, we are liberated from the cyclic existence that keeps us trapped in ego and the physical realm (Samsara), and Saturn has fulfilled his role as a god of liberation.

Saturn is not only about restriction and limitation, because karma is not only about restriction and limitation. Conventionally many people feel that natal or transiting Saturn is “blocking” them in some way. This might seem to be the case from the perspective of the ego-personality that isn’t getting what it wants, but in reality Saturn brings important lessons about natural law, nature’s cycles, rhythms, potential, and possibility.

From the ego’s point of view spiritual progress is ‘one insult after another’
~ Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

At personality level, Saturn teaches important and necessary natural laws. The nature of the physical realm is one of limitation, because everything works according to change and cycles of time. This lesson lies behind the old story of King Canute, who tried to hold back the tide. The limitation is not imposed by Saturn, but actually by our own mind. It is King Canute’s mind that is limiting him, in narrowing his view of reality to only that which he can control with his small ego. The lessons of Saturn are guiding us beyond our small mind, beyond the limitations of ego and the intellect, so we can see the greater reality, the truth of our own being.

Mind gives place to intuition and reason to pure perception.
~ The Tibetan Master, Esoteric Astrology

It is our egoic ideas that limit us, and once Saturn has “brought us to our knees” at the personality level, we are forced to accept that there is a greater reality happening outside of our small world, of which we are also a part. It is then that we align with our soul path and become receptive to the higher teachings of Saturn. Saturn then becomes the Lord of Liberation by showing us the true path to freedom.

If you have Sun, Moon, and especially Rising Sign in Capricorn, you have an important role to play in creating heaven on earth, by paying attention to your motives and choices and ensuring they are fully aligned with divine will for the highest and best good of all.

Ruth

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Ruth Hadikin – Soul Astrologer

To get your personal Soul Sign/Life Purpose Report (FREE with a consultation), contact Ruth via her website. You can also request a FREE mp3 download, “The Energetics of Soul Astrology.”

Saturn and the Inner Journey of Capricorn, Part I

Detail from Capricornus, from Johannes Hevelius’s Uranographia, 1690.

Capricorn Season is upon us once again, bringing with it an opportunity to return to the light. While having their feet planted firmly upon the ground, our Capricorn friends have clear sight of the mountaintop and a sure steady method that will take them there.

The sign of Capricorn is associated with practical methodology, steadfastness, business, finances, resource management, ambition and spiritual aspiration. This sign of extremes is associated with both the worst excesses of materialistic egotism at personality level, and yet esoterically is associated with the heights of spiritual aspiration leading to Christ consciousness. We will understand why as we explore the planetary conditions that exist for the soul’s highest development in the mysterious sign of Capricorn.

Esoterically, all world Saviours and Sun Gods are born in Capricorn but also the very worst type of man – hard, materialistic, cruel, proud, selfishly ambitious and egoistic. The head rules the heart in such cases, whereas in the perfect example of the influences of Capricorn, head and heart are perfectly balanced.
~ The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

As we follow the soul’s journey through the 12 signs of the zodiac, after the Archer clearly identified the path in Sagittarius, in Capricorn it is time to follow the path of light all the way to Christ consciousness.

Two planets are important in creating the conditions for the soul’s experience and development in Capricorn. Saturn is the planetary space-holder (ruler) at both personality and soul level, while interestingly, it is Venus that holds space at hierarchical level. In Esoteric Astrology the Tibetan Master describes the evolution of consciousness in three stages which he refers to as the three crosses.

The mutable cross is where most of humanity currently is. This is where we are largely personality-centered and personality-driven. The fixed cross is where we begin to have some soul awareness and follow a more spiritual path, yet we are still identified with personality, so duality is still present. The cardinal cross is where we are fully integrated, living and expressing our lives as fully soul-centered beings. According to Esoteric Astrology, Saturn cannot follow mankind onto the cardinal cross and so only has influence at personality and soul level:

Saturn’s power is completely ended and his work accomplished when man (the spiritual man) has freed himself from Karma and from the power of the two Crosses – the Common [Mutable] and the Fixed. Esoterically, Saturn cannot follow man on to the Cardinal Cross.
~ The Tibetan Master DK, Esoteric Astrology

Saturn has a reputation for being a serious, strict, limiting, authoritarian, law-giving father figure. He is known as the Lord of Karma and the Lord of Time and is known for being a very harsh taskmaster. Believe it or not, this is ultimately all for the highest good, for it keeps Capricorn on the truest path towards Christ consciousness and prevents any wayward diversions that would tempt Capricorn to stray from his path and become lost in the trappings of material existence.

To understand Saturn’s role we must understand karma and natural law. If you put your hand in the fire, it will be burnt. You are not being punished for putting your hand in the fire; it is simply the result of natural law. The nature of fire is heat, and so anything coming into proximity with it will simply be burnt. Although we are spiritual by nature, Saturn brings us important lessons that we must heed while we are living a material existence: namely the law of cause and effect (karma) and the realities of time and limitation. If we are to plant seeds, grow crops, and harvest them effectively to provide food for our survival, we must heed the cycles of time, and plant and harvest according to the seasons. These are the simple lessons of Saturn.

In Part II, we will take a more in-depth look at the concept of Karma and how it relates to Saturn and Capricorn.

Ruth

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Ruth Hadikin – Soul Astrologer

To get your personal Soul Sign/Life Purpose Report (FREE with a consultation), contact Ruth via her website. You can also request a FREE mp3 download, “The Energetics of Soul Astrology.”

Weekly Forecast August 10: Mars Transits

The eclipses are over, but they will continue to have a ripple effect for weeks and, in some cases, months.

But at least we’re out of the inter-eclipse period, and the dust will start to settle. It may not feel like it early this week, though, as Mars in Gemini squares Saturn in Virgo. If you’re grumpy and slow, or if you encounter others who aren’t being very kind, chalk it up to these two, who in traditional astrology are the Big Meanies of the solar system. Actually, they called them malefics. They definitely put a crimp in my writing this weekend (Mars is transiting my fifth house).

In modern astrology, we make allowances for grumpy old planets and try to find the good in them. If you’ve followed Neith, you know that she attributes lots of good qualities to Saturn. Likewise, Mars has a positive side. He rules muscles and blood, and when he’s behaving, you can get an energy boost and a strong dose of motivation. Just not when he’s square Saturn.

On Thursday, Mars trines Jupiter in Aquarius, and it’s a whole different ballgame. You may feel an energy surge, and depending on where these planets are transiting your chart, you could feel motivated to move mountains.

The Sun and Mars are moving in a close sextile, so the two of them are transiting the same set of planets, Mars by trine and the Sun by opposition. On Friday, the Sun in Leo opposes Jupiter. This is one of the “good” oppositions. It’s energy is cheerful and optimistic. On the downside, you might overestimate you capabilities and do something stupid. Think before you dash across five lanes of traffic to get a latte. Or before you tell your boss that you can get through all that paperwork by 5 p.m. in order to pick up the client at the airport and check out all the catering arrangements for dinner at 8.

Over the weekend, Mars and the Sun both aspect Chiron. Normally, I would issue a cautionary note about this, but since we have to look at the chart as a whole, this is really about a Sun-Mars combination aspecting Neptune & Co. On the whole, I think this is conducive to deep healing that will clear the way for a leap in spiritual growth. But, as with all healing, sometimes you have to reopen a wound first, and Mars trine Chiron could do that. I don’t think it will be extremely painful, though, and the post-op recovery should go very fast.

Looking at the lunar cycle this week, we start out with the Moon in impulsive Aries, adding a bit of impatience to Monday’s Mars-Saturn square. Stifle the urge to do anything rash. By Wednesday, when the Moon enters Taurus, you’ll wonder why you were so irritated. The Moon squares Neptune & Co. all day Thursday, sending us a little reminder that we’re still wounded in some way. Many of us will say to that, “Thank you very much for telling me what I already know.”

On Friday and Saturday, the Moon is in Gemini, where she’ll conjoin Mars and amplify his trine to Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune. Again, I see this is as a healing balm, and since Gemini is an air sign, this combination of planets is conducive to greater understanding of what ails us. If you’re not yet aware of the repeat patterns in your life, spend some time alone this weekend in quiet meditation. For those who are having repeated “failures” in love, think about how each successive relationship contained the same pattern. Likewise, if you’ve had similar experiences every time you get a new job, think about the pattern and see if you can detect its underlying source.

We’re on a fast track of expanded consciousness, and part of the process may be tearing down and reconstructing. That’s actually more Plutonian than anything happening this week, but it all goes into the same pot.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

Image: Bridge repair. Washington State Department of Transportation workers repair a bridge over the Naches River after a collision. I like the symbolism here. Repairing internal structures after a collision. The delays and stops in traffic during repair. Bridges as our means of connection and communication. I’m sure you can think of more metaphors. Photo courtesy WSDOT.

Ask Real Astrologers: Why Does This Relationship Feel Fated?

This week’s question comes from Maya in New York:

I’m curious to know if there’s an important significance to having one person’s first house fall in the other person’s seventh and vice versa? My Ascendant falls in my boyfriend’s seventh house (conjunct his Saturn). While the degree of his Ascendant actually falls in my sixth house, the degree of my Descendant is intercepted in his first house. I don’t know what this means, but it seems like this should be significant. Our relationship feels highly “fated” to me.

Neith’s response:

Maya, the synastry aspects most associated with the feeling a relationship is “fated to be” are conjunctions involving the Saturn, Moon’s Nodes, and the Vertex. My personal preference is to keep the orbs small for all three of these – only two to three degrees as a general rule. These aspects usually ask us to pay attention and learn some things about ourselves via the relationship.

We are familiar with Saturn’s lessons of taking responsibility, being reliable, etc. Often, Saturn in synastry will bring us face to face with our insecurities, asking us to deal with them. As I’ve said before, hard aspects to Saturn are very common in lasting partnerships.

The Moon’s Nodes and the Vertex in synastry inform us of a potentially transformative interaction. Frequently, partners with synastry aspects to these points comment that they feel a sense of recognition and familiarity. Something else that can come into play is a deepening feeling of obligation over time, particularly if one person does all the giving, receiving little in return.

It’s also very common to see a combination of sweet and sour aspects in synastry – lovely Mars-Venus aspects along with kisses from Jupiter to sweeten the deal and make us want to stay around, backed up with the “fated” aspects. Other factors in our natal charts and in the synastry can help us determine our tolerance for accelerated personal growth. There is a very good reason Saturn is exalted in Libra, the sign of relating to others, because there is no better way to learn and grow than through actively participating in a long-term, committed partnership.

Good luck with this one, Maya!

Pat’s response:

Maya, this is a great question. You are right to suspect that flipped Ascendants and Descendants are significant in synastry charts. Alone, this isn’t enough to indicate an enduring relationship or a karmic connection, but if other aspects support it, it is certainly a major source of attraction. There’s a sort of mirroring effect, and often we look for partners that mirror who we are.

Technically, you and your boyfriend do not have flipped Ascendants and Descendants, because, as you note, his Ascendant and Descendant fall in your sixth and twelfth houses, respectively. But your Ascendant and Descendant do fall in his seventh and first houses, and this is not a bad aspect to have, either.

The “Big Three” markers in any birth chart are the Sun, Ascendant, and Moon. When any of these are in a partner’s first or seventh houses, you feel a connection, and these configurations often are present in the synastry charts of committed couples as well as in the charts of long-term friends. As I mentioned above, there must also be other factors present in the synastry chart to indicate a strong romantic relationship.

Wishing you both much love and courage, and thanks for writing.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers. We are getting some really great questions but unfortunately can’t use many of them, as they are missing information. If you’d like us to consider your question for this column, you must include your day, month (spelled out), year, and place of birth, and time if you know it. If you don’t, indicate “time unknown.” Also, we must have your current location. This is not optional. Thanks!

Weekly Forecast November 3: Saturn Opposite Uranus

The castration of Uranus by Saturn
The big news this week is the opposition between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces, which is exact on Tuesday.

The main reason this aspect is so challenging, both individually and collectively, is that the energies represented by these two planets are diametrically opposed. Saturn is about structure, tradition, limitations, and all that is concrete and tangible, whereas the energy of Uranus is erratic, chaotic, innovative, and unconventional, with a spark of creative genius that can’t be contained. Pit these two opposite each other, and you have a classic tug-of-war between the urge to maintain the status quo and an urgent need for change.

On Monday, the Moon in Capricorn conjoins Jupiter and aspects both Saturn and Uranus, further increasing the intensity of this opposition. We may experience specific events related to Saturn and Uranus, but keep in mind that the effects of a long-term outer aspect like this last for months, and you no doubt have already bumped up against a situation that will persist for the next couple of years.

Also on Monday, Venus squares Saturn and Uranus, reminding us to try to see the bigger picture instead of choosing sides.

Tuesday is Election Day in the United States, and the Saturn-Uranus opposition has a clear role not only in the election itself but in the new administration. To our foreign readers (Real Astrologers has readers in 110 countries around the world), I wish to say, as I’ve written elsewhere, that I don’t believe the United States is so important that we set the standards for the rest of the world. Events in the next four years were set in motion long ago, and we are simply a player in that unfolding drama, which is taking place on the world stage, not just here at home.

I’ve posted an expanded version of this forecast on my personal blog, The Pisces Chronicles, and Neith and I will be writing more about Saturn and Uranus for those who are interested.

That would be enough intensity for one week, but there’s more. Indeed, November is shaping up to be a tumultuous month. For those who have felt stuck in a rut, this will be a good thing, but change typically isn’t easy, especially when it happens suddenly and swiftly.

On Monday, Mars squares Neptune at 21 degrees Scorpio and Aquarius. There will be a lunar eclipse next February at 21 degrees Aquarius, one of an ongoing series of eclipses in Aquarius and Leo that began last February and will continue until August 2009. You already know how this energy is playing out in your life, so just be prepared for developments this week that aren’t likely to be very pleasant.

On Tuesday, Mercury sextiles Pluto before entering Scorpio, the sign that Pluto rules. Rather than trying to banish obsessive thoughts, follow them down into those dark places and fearlessly shine light on them. This is how enlightenment happens.

The Moon is in Aquarius on Wednesday and Thursday, amplifying the dreamy and psychic energy of Neptune, who’s just yawning and stretching as he returns direct. On Saturday, the Moon in Pisces conjoins Uranus and opposes Saturn, and once again we’ll be painfully aware of the tension.

Much courage and love to all…

Pat

Image: The Defeat of Uranus by Saturn, by Giorgio Vasari and Gherardi Christofano, 16th century, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. I’ve used this frightening image before, but I’m repeating it, because it so beautifully illustrates the Saturn-Uranus opposition.

Ask Real Astrologers: Difficult Saturn Cycles

This week we are responding to two questions related to Saturn.

First, from Fiona in the UK:

This year I seem to be repeating events in my life that last occurred 14 years ago. The order and outcome are different but the component parts are the same/similar. It is a complete breakdown and rebuild of all aspects of my life. I’ve gone back to 28 years and 42 years ago and the same seems to have happened in those years, too! Is there a transit/life cycle that occurs every 14 years that I should study/learn about so that I’m more prepared in 2022? P.S. I have a close friend who also seems to be going through the same cycle this year.

The second question is from Sarah in San Jose, California:

I’m a 28-year-old female with a Saturn stellium (Sun, Moon, and Saturn all in Virgo in the fourth house). Is this an unlucky combination? Is my Saturn return going to be great and rewarding or absolutely painful? I have already experienced some drastic changes in my life and I feel like more are on the way!

Libra ponders . . .

Neith’s response:

Both Fiona and Sarah are dealing with Saturn in all his glory by transit and natally, no easy task.

Fiona, what you are describing are classic Saturn cycle experiences. And in your case with Saturn-ruled Capricorn rising, you will find your awareness of any Saturn transit to your natal Saturn will make itself felt. Since September of last year, Saturn has made three passes trine to your natal Saturn in Capricorn and conjoined your natal Pluto at the same time. Saturn conjunct natal Pluto is keenly felt also.

Saturn is moving now to square your Moon and hopefully by the end of October you will get a breather. While no Saturn transit is easy, if we follow the rules and behave in a responsible manner, we can get through them in one piece. Good luck with this!

Sarah, as you undergo your first Saturn return, keep in mind it is a process. There will be days when you feel like the weight of world is bearing down on you, but this will pass. With a Sun, Moon, Saturn stellium in Virgo I’m going to guess you are a pretty responsible sort naturally and once Saturn completes his transit you will feel much better about yourself and life in general.

I don’t see any aspect set as being unlucky and especially not those with Saturn. He is a hard taskmaster but ultimately a fair one. The gains we make through Saturn are beneficial and long lasting, if painful in the initial stages. When Saturn moves on into Libra late in 2009, you can look back and heave a sign of relief!

Aquarius expounds . . .

Pat’s response:

Before I respond to Fiona and Sarah, let me clarify what we’re talking about here for those who may have less knowledge of astrology.

A planetary “return” occurs when that planet returns to the exact position it was on the day you were born. Saturn’s orbit around the Sun is 28-29 years, so we all experience Saturn returns in our late 20s and again in our late 50s. In between, there are seven-year segments, thus the 14-year cycle that Fiona notes. This is also called a Saturn “half-return” and can be as powerful and disruptive as the return itself. Also, due to Saturn’s longer orbit and retrograde cycle, Saturn transits usually occur in a three-part series, as Neith notes above.

With that background, I’ll start with Sarah’s question. Sarah, the first Saturn return can be traumatic or simply maturing, depending on how you have handled your life up to this point. My life completely changed around at my first Saturn return, and this was much-needed. It’s not too melodramatic to say that what happened at that time almost killed me, but I got through it, and my life opened up in ways that I never would have imagined, including finding a new love.

But it’s not always that dramatic. I was talking to a man in his early 30s the other day who told me that he got a divorce at his first Saturn return, and while it initially threw him for a loop, he quickly realized that it was the best thing that ever happened to him. In the weeks and months that followed, he got a great new job and started down an exciting career path, and his life seemed to take form.

That said, I expect that you will feel this keenly due to your Virgo stellium — and, by the way, I agree with Neith that there are no “unlucky” aspects. Some are more challenging than others, that is for sure, but there is usually compensation built into the chart somewhere to help you meet those challenges. And I also agree with Neith that a Sun-Saturn conjunction in Virgo makes you extremely responsible.

Fiona, I don’t have much to add to Neith’s analysis, but can say that the instant I read your question, I knew that we were talking about Saturn. It’s also interesting that you should mention the 42-year cycle, which is half a Uranus orbit. The so-called “midlife crisis” occurs at the Uranus half-return.

Among other things, Saturn’s transit through your chart indicates how your life is taking structure and form. Saturn is about manifestation into material reality, which is why he’s sometimes referred to as the planet of karma. Although it may feel like you are the victim of circumstances, many of the situations and people in your life now are a result of choices and decisions you made during previous critical points in the Saturn cycle.

In other words, what we do may have longer-lasting implications than we know or would like to believe. Rather than feeling bad about this, we can use this knowledge of how Saturn works to make better choices for our future.

Best of luck to you both, and please do keep us posted. When readers write to us with their experiences, we become better astrologers.

Got a quick question? Click here to contact Ask Real Astrologers.

Not a Moment Too Soon

Caravaggio's Saturnus, 16th century The past six months have been a long, rocky road, but we finally are feeling some positive shifts this week.

The week begins with the New Moon in Taurus, which Neith explored in the previous post. As she noted, it’s not so much about new beginnings, but about evaluating. Taurus traditionally is associated with the second house, which rules income, possessions, and personal values. Evaluating means just that: determining what you value. Are your actions in line with your needs and desires? Or are you working at cross purposes?

Saturn has just returned direct after being retrograde since mid-December. Saturn builds structure in our lives, which is why he is by definition limiting. Once a particular energy is manifested on the physical plane, it is temporarily tied up and unavailable for all other uses. If you don’t like what manifested, then you need to put energy into changing it. Right now is a great time to do so. Saturn in Virgo favors practical, tangible results.

As I noted in a new post on The Pisces Chronicles, if you were born in the late 1950s, Saturn is stationed on or near your natal Pluto. The obstacles are crushing, I know, and the mere thought of manifesting anything positive seems so far away that it almost has no meaning. If you’re like me, you’ve gone into survival mode. Saturn will start picking up speed (relative to the Earth, of course) in mid-May, and you should start seeing some relief, depending on the degree of your natal Pluto and what else is happening in your chart.

On Tuesday, the Moon enters Gemini and conjoins Mercury later in the day. Yes, Saturn is still putting a bit of a damper on life, but we should see lots of movement, especially in activities involving communications. I can’t wait to see what happens on Astro-Twitter. It should be a fun day, so sign up now!

On Friday, Jupiter goes retrograde, and he’ll stay in “reverse” until September 8 – the same day Pluto goes direct, so that will be an interesting double effect, especially since Pluto will be back in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius. Neith or I will have more later this week about the significance of Jupiter’s turn retrograde.

As exciting as all of that is, the biggest news of the week is the entry of Mars into Leo on Friday. Mars has been in Cancer for much of the past seven months, and this has not been a good energy for most of us. We are ready for some action! Just be careful, because the sudden burst of Mars firepower will be so strong that it literally could knock you over. Again, it depends on where he is in your chart and whether he’s aspecting any natal planets or chart points.

The Moon enters Leo early on Saturday on the West Coast of the United States and conjoins Mars less than an hour later. This will amplify the emotional intensity of the Mars force – great for certain activities, but the risk of overreaction is high.

The week ends with a delightful sextile between the Sun and Uranus. This aspect favors making positive changes with minimal effort. So if you’re still fine-tuning a new structure in your life, this is the frosting on the cake.

If you’d like more information about how these aspects are impacting your life, consider ordering one of our exclusive forecasts. Neith and I both do them, and we write them from scratch, exclusively for you. You will be amazed by what a difference it makes when you know what’s going on in your chart. And if you’ve ever ordered a computer-generated report, you will be doubly amazed by the difference between those products and a Real Astrologers report.

Have a productive week!
Pat

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