Tag Archives: Uranus-Pluto square

Weekly Forecast June 11: Jupiter Enters Gemini

Another big week is ahead of us, with Jupiter entering Gemini and the Uranus-Pluto square close to exact – “close enough for government work,” as they say.

And that’s where we’re likeliest to see evidence of the Uranus-Pluto contact. Ray Merriman lays it out in his weekly forecast, so I’ll refer you to him for how the details (Gemini) fit into the big picture (Jupiter). We’re also in for a major cultural shift similar to what we experienced in the mid-1960s, when Uranus and Pluto were conjunct. We even look the part, with the hippie look back in fashion. Maxi dresses, headbands, love beads, and fringed bags are all the rage again.

Right after Jupiter enters Gemini on Monday, Mercury squares Uranus and opposes Pluto. The Messenger brings news, and it’s likely to be big and a little scary. Not that we haven’t seen the handwriting on the wall for more than a year, with the Occupy Movement, Arab spring, turbulence in the eurozone, and the growing threat of global economic collapse. However, Mercury in Cancer implies a more fearful reaction to what’s happening and what may happen in the future. Ruled by the Moon, Cancer’s moods are up one minute and down the next. That tells me that the public mood is going to fluctuate wildly over the next couple of weeks in response to news generated by government and financial institutions.

Communications and relationships continue to be a major theme, and it’s where we have the biggest opportunities to evolve our consciousness. We’re still working through some old issues, some of which may extend “outside time,” which is my way of saying “past lives.” Indeed, more people may become aware of this concept and understand that those lives you think are in the “past” are happening on many levels, all at once. It helps our limited human brain to think of them in order, chronologically, but that’s not the reality. As we open up to the real nature of time, many of us are disoriented and feel “spacey,” like we’re not all here. If you feel like this, don’t fight it, just observe. Keep notes. Record your dreams. And if you need extra sleep, give in to it.

Over the past two years, I’ve had a significant increase in clients coming to me about relationships with people they recognize from a “past life.” These meetings often are the trigger that starts removing the barrier in our consciousness limiting our awareness to one place in space and time. To function “normally,” we need these boundaries. However, humanity has reached a crisis stage that defies solutions within our limited awareness. Even your personal relationships may have reached a point at which both sides are so polarized that you can’t seem to “get it together.” Expanding our concept of time will open us up to new possibilities. And if your experience is anything like mine, you might realize that some of what you needed to know was right there all along, but you just couldn’t see it. It’s a lot like being a dark or dimly lit room and then suddenly turning on the lights. You don’t see anything that wasn’t already there.

Venus remains retrograde in Gemini until June 27, while Saturn in Venus-ruled Libra – the sign of relationships – comes out of retrograde just two days earlier. In other words, they’ll both be stationed, or “stopped,” at the same time, like pausing a movie. I believe this will allow us a chance to understand our relationships and to see them for what they are. Part of that equation will be seeing ourselves more clearly and understanding how we connect.

I’ve anticipated for more than a year that we’d have some kind of mass awakening in June 2012, given the combination of astrological aspects this month. And while the Uranus-Pluto square is huge and strongly suggests global social and cultural upheaval, the retrograde cycle of Venus in Gemini combined with eclipses and a Venus transit has far-reaching implications on a more subtle level. That’s why I made the bold statement in last week’s forecast that 2012 will be history by December 21, the presumed end of the Mayan Calendar.

Which brings me to another point. On Friday, I was explaining all of the foregoing to a friend who’s not much into astrology, and she asked what you do with all of this information. Excellent question. When we know the source of certain conflicts or understand the astrological energies underlying the events in our lives, we can make better choices about how to act or react. In some cases, we might have more compassion. In others, we might decide to risk conflict by provoking a confrontation. Or we may decide to remain patient a bit longer while people and relationships unfold to a point at which solutions will be easier to find.

Getting back to this week, Mercury trines Chiron on Tuesday, just as Chiron is turning retrograde. Again, when planets shift from direct to retrograde and back again, they “stand still” for a period, signifying a sort of freeze frame that allows us to get a good look at what’s going on. For me, Chiron is conjunct my Moon by exact degree, so when he turns retrograde and then is aspected by Mercury, not only will I get a clearer idea of how this life-changing transit is affecting me, but I’ll be able to talk about it in a way that facilitates healing.

The Sun’s trine with Saturn on Wednesday is a potential trigger aspect for events related to last week’s lunar eclipse. Don’t be surprised by an initial confrontation or argument. Sticking with it and working through your differences will be rewarded, likely by renewed commitment. The Venus-Chiron square on Saturday is another potential healing aspect that requires addressing painful memories and old hurts.

On Sunday, Father’s Day, the Moon conjoins Jupiter and Venus. An honest, heart-to-heart talk with Dad over a beer will be the best gift you can give, and it could last you both a lifetime … or longer.

If you’d like to know more about what’s coming in June, I highly recommend the monthly forecast by Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer. It’s one of their best ever, so be sure to listen to the whole thing! And do check out Ray Merriman. All together, you’ll get a broad picture that helps you make the most of the momentous times in which we’re living.

Wishing you all love and courage across time,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast April 30: Full Moon in Scorpio

This week is the Scorpio Full Moon, which means it’s the festival of Wesak, honoring the birth, death, and enlightenment of the Buddha.

Wesak is a major “download” time, when a portal opens to higher consciousness. I don’t know how many more open portals I can stand. As it is, we’re marching toward an extraordinary alignment of the Sun, Moon, Earth, and Venus on June 4 and 5, which I believe will trigger a giant leap forward in the evolution of human consciousness. Then there are the solar flares and corresponding disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field.

I have no idea whether this phenomenon is affecting our consciousness, but I’m fairly sure it’s having some effect. Several people I know are experiencing extreme fatigue, elevated heart rate, and hot flashes. Is it related to solar activity? In astrology, the Sun is associated with the heart, so it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that there’s a real correlation here. I just don’t know how we’d prove it to the satisfaction of medical science.

Dancing on the boundaries of parallel universes is disorienting and possibly dangerous. No one would entertain the idea of surfing the big waves before learning the basics of the sport, and yet we may be doing the spiritual equivalent. What I don’t know is whether everyone is experiencing this shift at some level, or whether those who are sensitive to these energies feel it, while those who aren’t remain blissfully ignorant. I pass no judgment on which is better. Someone has to hold down the fort while a percentage of the population stumbles around in a daze.

I strongly encourage you to keep a journal and record any strange dreams, visions, synchronicities, or other unusual events in your life. At the same time, try to stay grounded. Fortunately, the Sun and Jupiter in Taurus are helping in that regard. If you find yourself mysteriously craving meat and fattening foods, don’t fight it for now. You can take off the excess weight as soon as the cosmic dust settles. I’m definitely of a mind that we have to trust our bodies and higher minds at this point to know what’s right for us and not try to overpower them by force of intellectual beliefs. It’s a leap of faith, really.

To understand the connection between Taurus, Buddha, and Wesak, I suggest going back to an article Ruth wrote last year. The third eye, located between your eyebrows, is our portal to higher consciousness, the ability to “see” into the energetic realms. When this center is activated, we’re said to be enlightened. Ruth also notes the connection between Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, and the third eye. One of the four Royal Stars of Persia, Aldebaran is known as the “eye of the bull.”

Chart for Full Moon in Scorpio

Click on image to enlarge

In this year’s Wesak Full Moon chart, the Sun is widely conjunct Jupiter, planet of luck and abundance. Otherwise, the chart contains several oppositions and squares (the red lines), which normally represent challenges. If you look more closely, though, you’ll see that these challenges each have a readily accessible escape route.

The most exact opposition (other than the Sun and Moon) is between Mercury and Saturn. Although a Mercury-Saturn opposition might normally be seen as somewhat negative in that it implies limited thinking, I like this aspect for two reasons. First, Mercury in Aries needs to have the brakes applied, or it flies off in a certain direction without any thought or purpose. Spontaneity doesn’t necessarily equate with creativity, but with retrograde Saturn imposing some discipline and thoughtful reflection, this pair could produce astounding creative work, especially if you’re a writer or work in some line of communications. Better still if you started your project at the New Moon on April 21, as you’ve now got something solid to show for your effort.

Likewise, if you made contact with someone in an attempt to communicate an important message, you should see some results around Saturday’s Full Moon. Attempts to repair broken relationships especially should benefit, as both Mercury and Saturn are at positive angles to Venus. Moreover, Venus is Mercury’s sign of Gemini, while Saturn is in Venus-ruled Libra. There is going to be plenty of opportunity over the next couple of months to go back over trouble spots in relationships to heal, whether it brings you closer or helps you close a chapter so that you can move on with a sense of closure. We’ll probably find that “going back” refers not just to this lifetime, but to other incarnations as well. It’s all part of the opening of the inter-dimensional window.

The second set of challenges is indicated by the opposition from Mars to Neptune and the quincunx (sometimes called inconjunct) from Mars to Uranus. Neptune is in his own sign of Pisces, so in a way this is an unfair contest. The petty ego that finds fault with everyone and everything will finally become tired of itself and either find escape through substance abuse or give in to merging into oneness with all being – a scary prospect for the ego, which fights to hold its ground. There may be a rude awakening of sorts involved, too. But, once again, there is an “out” via a positive aspect – this time a flowing trine from Mars to Pluto. There is tremendous will to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals. Yes, you can suffer the idiots around you, if you know that putting up with them in the short term will pay off in the end. And it will.

Pluto rules this Full Moon by virtue of being the modern ruler of Scorpio, sign of death, rebirth and transformation. In the Full Moon chart, Pluto is within 3 degrees of a square with Uranus. The aspect will be exact on June 2. Uranus is sometimes called “the Awakener.” As more and more people awaken, society is in an increasing state of disarray. Systems are breaking down, and those in power are attempting to keep their positions at all costs. This is a long-term trend that will play out over the next three years.

Overall, the chart for this Full Moon indicates a tremendous force for transformation. With Mars gathering speed, we’re making up for lost time since January. I don’t know about you, but the activity is making my head spin. “Leap of faith” doesn’t even begin to describe life these days.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

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,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast March 26: Sun Square Pluto

A pair of trilliums. © Pat Paquette, 2012.

This week is dominated by jarring squares and inconjuncts, with Mars and Mercury still retrograde – the latter back in Pisces, the keyword of which is “I believe.” What beliefs are being upset and turned on their heads?

We start right out Monday with inconjuncts from the Sun to Mars and Mercury to Saturn. Make sure you’re hearing what the other person really said and vice versa. There’s huge potential here for mixed and messed-up messages. When we get angry and frustrated, chemicals are released in our bodies that unfortunately don’t disappear on the spot when we find out 20 minutes later that what we believed we saw or heard isn’t true.

In my documentary class last quarter, we watched an episode of This American Life in which an Iraqi filmmaker living in the United States tries to understand American beliefs about the war. The piece ends with his observation:

Everybody hears what is easier for them to believe.

Pisces, you’ll recall, isn’t the Fish but the Fishes. There are two of them, and they swim in different directions. “Belief” is a double-edged sword. Used positively, with intent, it can create miracles. Used in ignorance, it produces something like you see in this mini-documentary.

It so happened that I watched another documentary this weekend that featured a lesson about beliefs, also involving war. The lesson was from the unlikeliest of sources, former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who was scorned by many for escalating U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The film offers not only a very different perspective, but the reflections of a man at the end of his life looking back on decisions that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of human beings.

“Belief and seeing, they’re both often wrong,” McNamara says. Specifically, he refers to the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which he says the Johnson administration misread. “We were wrong. But we had in our minds a mindset that led to that action. And it carried such heavy costs.”

“We see what we want to believe,” filmmaker Errol Morris interjects.

More than 20 hours of interviews went into the making of The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara, which won an Oscar for best documentary in 2003. Part of what makes the film so riveting is the haunting music of Philip Glass. Morris and Glass, both Aquarians, worked in close collaboration.

In an interview with Senses of Cinema, Morris discusses the ambiguity that his film brings to McNamara’s character. The public may not want to see their leaders this way, but they should, he says. “They should see the world in complex terms. I prefer the word ‘complex’ to ‘ambiguous.'”

Therein lies the dichotomy of Pisces thinking. There is faith, and there is blind faith. Many people, when confronted with ambiguities and complexities, rely on faith. But when taken to the extreme, it’s blind faith.

With Mercury retrograde in Pisces, it’s time to examine and question our beliefs. You might even want to question your belief in astrology … starting with the belief that it’s a belief. I would love to do a man-on-the-street interview and ask people whether they believe in astronomy. Or psychology.

Speaking of Pisces and former defense secretaries, Dick Cheney is in the news this morning following a heart transplant. Yeah, I know, I can just hear the jokes: “Cheney finally gets a heart,” etc. This man has been a real puzzle to me and to astrologers in general. Somewhere I read one astrologer’s theory that there are two kinds of Aquarius – those ruled by Saturn, the traditional ruler, and those ruled by Uranus, the modern ruler. According to this astrologer, Cheney falls in the first group. Sorry, but that’s not a satisfactory explanation. And anyway, the bigger puzzle is Cheney’s Pisces Moon. I’m an Aquarius with a Pisces Moon. It’s almost enough to make you stop believing in astrology … except that there really are some good explanations.

Cheney is a Rising Virgo. That gives him a sixth-house Sun, which in some ways functions as a Virgo. Aquarius and Virgo are inconjunct signs – they have nothing in common. So right away you have a conflicted personality. Add to that the Pisces Moon, and you’ve got an individual of exceptional complexity and ambiguity.

My theory about Cheney is that his Pisces Moon is way too sensitive for the time and place in which he was born. Men in our culture have a particularly tough time integrating a Pisces Moon, so they tend to overcompensate to protect their soft underbelly. Apparently he started drinking at an early age; escapism through drugs and alcohol is a weakness associated with Pisces. His heart troubles also began when he was relatively young, which isn’t surprising to an astrologer. Planets in the natal sixth house often indicate inherent physical weaknesses. The Sun rules the heart, and Cheney’s Sun is afflicted by a tight square to Saturn in Taurus.

So here you have hypersensitive Moon in Pisces, forced to live side by side with a Sun-Saturn square that points not only to a weak heart but to unresolved father issues and sweeping material insecurity. It’s interesting that Cheney’s ancestors were French Huguenots – a sect persecuted by the Church in the 16th and 17th centuries. Pisces Moon often indicates past-life connections, and this is the karmic baggage Cheney is carrying. It’s enough to make a Cold Warrior drink and drug himself into oblivion.

Of course, being an astrologer, I immediately ran to look at the chart for his transplant. It’s astounding! For starters, last Thursday’s New Moon conjunct Uranus and Mercury was in his eighth house of death and regeneration. The eighth house also is associated with surgery. On Saturday, when the transplant was performed, the conjunction of Uranus and the Sun (ruler of the heart) was exact. Cheney’s lunar South Node is at 2 degrees Aries, the degree of the New Moon, which also was trine his natal Pluto.

Of course, Mercury and Mars (ruler of surgery) were retrograde – Mars is in his first house, within a few degrees of his Ascendant. Is that going to work to his advantage? According to press reports, he’s been waiting nearly two years for a heart – in other words, since the cardinal T-square in 2010. At the height of that configuration, Cheney was in the hospital being fitted with an artificial blood-pumping device.

Heart transplants must be performed when the organ is available, so the timing wasn’t within his control. Ironically, Dick Cheney is now one of the biggest guinea pigs ever in our cosmic astrology lab! We’re going to learn a lot by the success of this operation, his rate of recovery, and any changes in beliefs that result from his near-death experience. Maybe he’ll even end up believing in astrology.

Back to this week’s aspects, the Sun squares Pluto on Thursday, providing a preview of what we might expect when the Uranus-Pluto square is exact starting this summer. Revolution and crackdown are becoming a way of life. Depending on where this square falls in your chart, you may experience your own version of rebellion and harsh response by an authority figure. Don’t push your luck with your boss or parents.

On Saturday, we have another pair of inconjuncts, this time from Mars to Uranus and Venus to Saturn. There’s an explosion waiting to happen, but for some reason, the fuse won’t light. Stifled arguments may come out in passive-aggressive ways. Venus and Saturn are more about feelings of isolation and loneliness, but this should be fairly easy to handle with a nice hot bath or a walk in the park. If there’s no one to buy you flowers, get your own. And remember, chocolate is the goddess’s gift to mankind.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. StarGuide Spring forecasts are now ready! I’ve still got a backlog of a few days, but I’ve caught up enough to reactivate the PayPal button on the report order page. Many thanks to everyone who has been waiting so patiently.

Weekly Forecast October 3: Venus Enters Scorpio

© Pat Paquette, 2011

October is here, and we’re already at the first quarter Moon. Did someone hit the fast-forward button?

Fortunately, this week should be calmer on most fronts.

Last week was a wild ride indeed, culminating with mass arrests in the anti-Wall Street protest in New York. There is no question that the protests reflect the building Uranus-Pluto square, which was part of a strong cardinal T-square with last Tuesday’s New Moon in Libra. It’s no surprise that greedy financial corporations are the target of the unrest, nor was the swift police response unanticipated. It’s exactly what we’d expect from Pluto in Capricorn.

The chart for the march tells an interesting story. According to news reports, the march began around 3:30 p.m. in downtown Manhattan, near the former World Trade Center. In addition to the Uranus-Pluto square, the chart (see below) shows a tight Yod with the Sun and Moon at the base and retrograde Jupiter in Taurus at the apex – the planet at the apex bears the pressure. In mundane astrology, both Jupiter and Taurus are associated with the nation’s wealth and financial institutions. Taurus rules the stock exchange, money markets, and trade. Note that Jupiter is in the third house, which rules communications and traffic flow. Protesters were arrested when they blocked traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Wall Street Protest

Click on image to enlarge

As for how the protest ties into the bigger picture of social upheaval and crackdown by authorities, note the trine (blue line) from Pluto at the apex of the T-square to Jupiter. Normally, we’d consider this trine past its prime, but Jupiter is retrograde and on its way toward two exact alignments with Pluto next month and again in March 2012. As much unrest as there has been in the world in the past year, we’re barely seeing the tip of iceberg.

Back to this week, we start out with the first-quarter Moon in Capricorn, skimming through all the critical T-square degrees of last week’s New Moon. Watch for an event or situation that moves your forward another step or two along your path. If you’re still looking for a new direction, you may get closer to finding it. Next week’s Full Moon brings an ending, resolution, or culmination to new endeavors or projects you started last week. If you want to know more about how this lunar cycle is affecting you personally, look at where 4 degrees Libra and 18 degrees Aries fall in your chart. Or, you can order your StarGuide October forecast, which will tell you what’s happening in your chart.

Otherwise, this week’s transits are fairly tame. Mercury conjoins Saturn on Thursday, making it a great day for tasks requiring intense focus and concentration. You can be detached, objective, and balanced in your outlook, which lends itself to certain kinds of communications and written projects.

On Friday, Venus in Libra trines Neptune. Venus-Neptune aspects often are described in terms of “rose-colored glasses,” and there may be some of that here, with Neptune in idealistic Aquarius. But the collective longing for fairness, justice and equality for everyone is not a pipedream. We can begin effecting the change we desire by making sure we are fair in our own dealings with others and by understanding how we are all connected.

On Sunday, Venus enters Scorpio and trades her robe of justice for a sexy black dress. There is nothing balanced or detached about Venus in Scorpio. Depending on where she is transiting your chart, you may need to be mindful of obsessive thoughts and a desire to possess. Then, these traits sure make a better Hollywood film …

Later Sunday, Venus trines Chiron in Pisces, reflecting the healing qualities of physical intimacy. Sex as a vehicle to higher consciousness is a technique that has been practiced for many millennia. It can be a way to access deeply buried memories and even past lives. If this is something you’re interested in, just take note of what comes up for you Sunday night.

For me, it’s back to the books. However, I do have a limited amount of time for reports and consultations, so don’t be shy about contacting me if you’re in need of some guidance.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast February 14: Full Moon in Leo, Sun Enters Pisces

Winter light in Seattle. © Pat Paquette, 2011.

It’s a different world this week, in more ways than one.

The big news, of course, is the revolution in Egypt. They have a long way to go – goddess help them – but the event created a “disturbance in the Force,” and it will have ripples into the collective consciousness for years, if not decades.

Whenever something this momentous happens, we have to look at what the outer planets are doing. I’ve written before and continue to believe that this public rebellion against a dictator is a manifestation of the Uranus-Pluto square. The trouble with this theory is that Uranus is still several degrees shy of an active square, so how can we explain this?

I see two possibilities. First, Jupiter in Aries is within striking distance of a square with Pluto, and he’s “carrying forward” the energy of Uranus. The two danced back and forth in conjunction for the second half of 2010. The first pass occurred at 0 degrees Aries on June 8. Then both planets went retrograde. The third and final meeting was on January 4, in Pisces.

What’s more, when Mubarak stepped down last week, Jupiter had just passed the degree at which he went retrograde last summer. In other words, we entered new territory. Jupiter rules Sagittarius, the sign of the explorer, and Aries is the pioneer. We might think of him as the scout for Uranus, who follows him into Aries on March 11. Uranus will pass last year’s station on March 22, and then we’ll be even deeper into new territory, with all of our bridges burned.

Another possible explanation – and the two aren’t mutually exclusive – has to do with the lunar nodes. The nodes, which are mathematical points in space, move retrograde, counter to the movement of the planets. However, they are direct from time to time. There seems to be something special and fated about these periods, which can last a few hours to a few days. At the moment of Mubarak’s resignation, the nodes were direct, at 1 degree Capricorn and Cancer. Again, these degrees are “hot spots” following last summer’s cardinal T-square.

If you think of what was happening in your own life last Friday, you may discover that there were connections to events during the peak of the T-square last July and August.

On to this week, the Moon in cardinal Cancer on Monday sends another little ripple into the early cardinal degrees. At the same time, mentally sharp Mercury in Aquarius trines Saturn in Libra. With both planets in the sign of their exaltation, this is a great day for mental activity. If your job requires a lot of concentration, this should be a nicely productive day for you.

On Thursday, the Sun conjoins Neptune as he moves through the final degrees of Aquarius. Friday is the big day, when Sun and Moon oppose each other in the final degree of Aquarius and Leo. Because of my full schedule, I’m limiting my blogging to one post a week (the weekly forecast), which means I won’t be doing the new and full moon reports until I get caught up. In the meantime, here’s a quote from Stephanie Austin, who sets the standard for interpreting lunations in her column for The Mountain Astrologer:

[callout]The Sun’s placement between the ongoing Neptune-Chiron conjunction highlights the need for a spiritual revolution – a change of heart, as well as a change of mind. Einstein noted that a problem cannot be solved at the level at which it was created. Our current social, economic, and environmental crises cannot be resolved from the mindset that generated them. We are being forced to think and live out of the box, as the centuries-old structures supporting patriarchy, materialism, and “might makes right” topple around us. There is no going back. We have passed the eleventh hour, and this Full Moon, with five planets in the eleventh sign, illuminates where each of us is being called to make a difference.[/callout]

I certainly couldn’t have said it any better myself.

Lost in all that boisterous Aquarius energy on Friday is a quiet Venus-Saturn square. Hard Venus-Saturn aspects usually don’t bode well, and yet I like this one, because the two planets are in mutual reception. Venus is in Capricorn, the sign ruled by Saturn, and Saturn is in Libra, the sign ruled by Venus. Love isn’t always easy. Committed relationships are hard work. Compromises are necessary, and yet it’s hard to judge just how much we can give up without losing our integrity. These two know how to negotiate and to do so fairly. Look at where they fall in your chart for clues about how you might use this energy to so some heavy lifting in your relationships.

Later on Friday, the Sun enters Pisces and conjoins Chiron the following day. Healing requires shedding light on internal wounds, some of which may be quite old and not even inflicted in this lifetime.

Sunday brings a triple conjunction of Mercury, Mars, and Neptune in Aquarius. If you’re fighting for freedom and higher ideals, go for it. Carry your picket signs and shout slogans: “Down with the Tyrant!” “Workers of the World, Unite!” United, We Stand!” Otherwise, this aspect requires delicate handling. Needless to say, stay away from politics at Sunday dinner … unless you want to end up wearing it.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Weekly Forecast January 31:New Moon in Aquarius, Sun Conjunct Mars

Signs of spring. Cherry blossoms at the Ballard Locks in Seattle. © James A. Weythman.

This week promises to be fast-moving, highly productive, and not without a surprise or two. I know, I know – some surprises we could do without.

The main event this week is the New Moon in Aquarius on February 2 (February 3 in the Eastern Hemisphere), in close conjunction with Mars and Ceres. Aquarius is future-oriented, rebellious, and innovative, with a spark of genius. Mars is about action, and Ceres is associated with the environment and the cyclical nature of life. That’s quite a combination!

The New Moon represents new beginnings, and with Ceres in conjunction, we can expect the start of a new cycle, whether it’s a new way of interacting with the world around us or a personal rebirth – perhaps both. Mars, meanwhile, gives us the energy and motivation to carry out our novel ideas. If you’re starting a new project, this would be a great week for it. Do wait until after the New Moon, though.

Rebellion does seem to be the order of the day – or, more precisely, disorder – with Egypt in total chaos. This is exactly the type of social unrest we would correlate to the Uranus-Pluto square, which actually is quite wide at the moment but approaching a closer angle. Further, the rebellious nature of Uranus is being “fed” by all the planets in Aquarius, the sign Uranus rules in modern astrology.

The involvement of Ceres in this New Moon tells me that rebellions that occur now – whether globally or inside ourselves – are part of a greater cycle. There is a deep need for change in order to free ourselves from the constraints that limit our creativity and authentic self-expression. One of the key components of a repressed society is the suppression of free speech.

Even more telling, the Sun, Moon, Mars, and Ceres all are at a close positive angle with Saturn in Libra. The exact trines will take place throughout the week and are all indicative of productive changes that result in greater equality and more balance. Again, we can apply this globally and individually.

Venus, the planet of love and money, forms an exact square to Uranus just before the New Moon. Squares and oppositions involving Venus can be disruptive, but they’re usually not bad overall. This square definitely will make for an interesting day! Watch for events totally out of the ordinary. Right before squaring Uranus, Venus sextiles Neptune, injecting some beauty and romance into all this chaos. If you’ve got half a second, stop and smell the roses.

On Thursday, Venus sextiles Chiron just as both bodies are about to change signs. The collective can’t heal unless individuals within it heal, but the reverse is also true: it’s impossible to make that last leap toward becoming whole when we live in a sick society. Healing has to take place simultaneously, and I believe it is. However, in both cases, the dis-ease often has to become worse before it gets better, and whole systems may need to break down in order to be rebuilt in a more balanced, sustainable model.

After her sextile to Chiron, Venus enters Capricorn, where she is more excited by cold cash than a hot kiss. Look for signs of money and power coming together for control, be it to force a rebellious population into submission or to control another person in an individual relationship. On Sunday, Venus squares Jupiter in Aries, and thus a new cycle of the cardinal T-square begins unfolding.

It’s interesting to note that the three asteroid goddesses – Vesta, Juno, and Pallas – all are involved in this New Moon. Juno, named for the mythological wife of Jupiter and thus associated with marriage, is particularly strong in the New Moon chart, as she forms an opposition with Uranus by exact degree, and she’s also opposed to Jupiter. What we have, then, is a close mutable T-square with Juno, Venus, and Uranus.

Meanwhile, Vesta is conjunct Pluto, and Pallas is tightly square Saturn. What this tells me is that women and feminine energy are a crucial factor in the shifts taking place. Not that you need to be an astrologer to see it; the charts just confirm what we’re already observing in real life.

On Friday, the Sun and Mars formally conjoin. This is the day that I expect we’ll see the release of the New Moon energy. It’s a great day to start a new endeavor, whatever that may be.

The Sabian Symbol** for the Sun and Moon at 13°54′ Aquarius is a train entering a tunnel, with the keyword PENETRATION. It’s a lot quicker to go through the mountain than to climb over the top – which, in many cases, is impossible anyway. So, we have to put on our thinking caps and figure out how to penetrate what seems impenetrable. That’s going to require creativity and innovation – keywords for Aquarius.

The New Moon in Aquarius is the Chinese New Year, heralding the Year of the Metal Rabbit. February 2 also is the Celtic cross-quarter day of Imbolc, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, and it’s Ground Hog Day. Catholics celebrate this day as Candlemas, but its pagan roots are undeniable. In France, they celebrate the festival by eating crèpes. Miam-miam.

This New Moon is extra special for me, as it falls on my Sun – which, of course, means that it’s my birthday. In astrology, we call it the Solar Return.

My “new project” is going to be devoting my full attention to reports and readings for my clients. As some of you know, I’m still recuperating from a serious back injury I suffered two years ago. My energy is limited, and I’ve been struggling to write for the RealAstrologers blog three or four times a week and stay on top of work for my clients – whom, by the way, have been so patient and understanding that it almost makes me want to cry. If you are among those on the wait list, take heart in knowing that I’m making these changes in order to get to your requests sooner.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to write the weekly forecast and to publish guest posts from my associates. If you don’t want to have to keep checking back to see if there’s a new post, subscribe to my feed, and you’ll get the new posts directly into your inbox.

Much love and courage to all,
Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

P.S. As part of your new endeavors, don’t forget to write your 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.

Jupiter in Aries

© Stefano Maccari/Dreamstime.com

Jupiter is about to return to Aries, and this time he’s going to storm through like a charging elephant.

This is huge, and it’s pretty much a given that we’re going to make up for a lot of lost time after last year’s blockages. The planet of growth and expansion will be hindered here and there in the next few months, but not for long. He simply is moving too fast and has too much momentum behind him.

Normally, Jupiter spends a year in a sign, but because he went retrograde last year in early Aries, he did most of his retrograde time in Pisces. When he returns to Aries on January 22, he’ll blow through the entire 30 degrees in just over four months before entering Taurus on June 4. Aries is impulsive, pioneering, and very fast.

Of course, Jupiter isn’t actually moving faster than usual; it just looks like it from down here. “Speed” is an illusion created by the relative orbits of the earth and other planets around the Sun. Nevertheless, symbolism is a big part of astrology, and if it looks like he’s speeding, then we interpret it that way. Think of a bull elephant charging at the speed of a cheetah, and you’ve got the picture.

During his first two months in Aries, Jupiter squares Pluto (February 26) and opposes Saturn (March 28). This means we’ll be back in cardinal T-square territory, but the configuration will be wider than it was in 2010, with fewer planets involved. Also, Saturn will be retrograde as of January 25 and won’t return direct until after Jupiter enters Taurus. That means the moderating influence of Saturn will be weakened, allowing Jupiter’s energy to expand with few constraints.

Wherever Jupiter is in your chart is where you can expect to expand, grow, and experience major breakthroughs. Depending on how he interacts with other planets in your chart, you may experience this influence as external events — for example, you may get a big raise or promotion or move to a larger home – or you could feel it more internally, as a spiritual awakening. If that’s the case for you, external changes will follow as your outer world shifts to match your inner landscape.

Although there are still plenty of surprises and plots twists in store, you should know by now the general direction in which you’re headed, and you won’t encounter as many obstacles as you did last year.

In terms of the collective, the general direction is also is pretty clear at this point, although I’m not sure I could name even one collective “goal.” There is still a great deal of polarization everywhere, even in matters of life and death. Especially in matters of life and death. A small group of people benefit from war and economic instability, and those few currently wield a large amount of power. I have to think that their goals are quite different from those who want to see more equitable social systems, and yet, they, too, are part of the collective.

The one thing we can count on is that the landscape will continue to shift as the cardinal T-square continues to play out in 2011 – starting with Jupiter’s arrival in Aries on January 22.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

Ask Real Astrologers: Is 2012 Really Going to Happen?

Looking for AnswersThis week’s question comes from Bucky in Saskatchewan:

I know you get this a lot, but do you really think that 2012 will happen? People said it a million times before and they say we should believe them. Should we?

Yes, Bucky, 2012 will happen … right after December 31, 2011. After that, 2013 and 2014 will happen.

OK, sorry for being a smartass, especially with a young person. But what the heck, if you can’t be a smartass with a young person, who can you be one with?

I assume that what you really meant to ask is whether I think all of the dire predictions for 2012 are going to happen. That’s actually a very good question and one I get from people of all ages who are rightfully concerned, given all the hype. My answer is definitely no. I can’t tell you who you should and shouldn’t believe, but I don’t buy any of the end-of-the-world, wrath-of-God-stuff.

The 2012 predictions are based on the calendar devised by the ancient Maya, who were exceptional mathematicians. It might surprise some people to hear that the Mayan Calendar does not say that the world is going to end in 2012. That date simply is the end of the cycle for which they calculated the calendar. The notion that it signifies the end of the world was proposed by several researchers of Mayan culture. Incidentally, they don’t even all agree on the end date.

That’s not to say that we aren’t living in interesting times and that 2011 and 2012 won’t be historic years. Events in 2010 already have a lot of people shaken up. I attribute these events to the cardinal T-square. It peaked over the summer, but it was so powerful that we felt it before and afterward. It was recently triggered by Mercury and Mars and will continue to reverberate into the material world.

There will be another cardinal T-square in 2011, although it will be different than this year’s in many ways. I did a preliminary article on it last year but will have more as we approach significant dates.

The T-square will be dissipated by 2012, but other cosmological forces will be in effect that will make it a landmark year in human history. Among other things, we’ll experience a rare Venus transit. When Venus and the Sun are exactly aligned, they will be on the Descendant in Washington, D.C., and Venus also will be in the seventh house of the birth chart for the United States (Sibly). This is a bit worrisome, as the seventh house rules enemies in mundane astrology, and the Mayans associated Venus with war.

Also, Uranus will begin an exact square with Pluto in 2012. We got close during this year’s cardinal T-square, but Uranus never quite caught up to the degree of Pluto. This square corresponds to extreme political unrest, and my guess is that the protests will be about basic survival – in other words, a class war. This unrest will continue well into 2014 and could be quite violent at times.

If you’d like to explore this topic further, I recommend Alison Chester Lambert’s book, The Future in the Stars: The Astrological Message for 2012 and Beyond (there’s a hint for you), and also a documentary film, 2012: Science or Superstition. I reviewed both of those items and found them very sane and informative.

Thanks for writing, Bucky. I’m gratified to see that people your age are asking about serious topics like this and that you’re taking the time to find reliable information. You’ve got it right.

Aquarius, the sign of astrologyPat

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