The Astrology Blog 31 August
All times posted in BST
We’ve just had the Full Moon at 6 degrees of Pisces and last week I commented on how this was a Jupiterian Full Moon, being in one of Jupiter’s signs (the other being Sagittarius, which is the sign that most people associate with this planet) and falling opposite Jupiter himself, currently in the early degrees of Virgo. Can I add that I should also have noted that this Full Moon, at 6 degrees of Pisces, fell very closely conjunct slow moving Neptune, currently at 8 degrees of Pisces, so I equally could have called this a Neptunian Full Moon. In fact, it was a double whammy of Jupiter and Neptune, and therefore even more sensitive than I’d described – to quote last week’s words:
Pisces rules booze along with sensitivity so tears can all too easily flow along with the wine! Watch out for the Jupiter/Pisces theme of inflation – things getting blown up out of proportion – and remember that Full Moons are not associated with lunacy (lunar) for nothing.
Neptune – Poseidon – is god of the sea and there is nothing more boundless than the ocean and nothing less fathomable than its inky depths. This is worth bearing in mind as Neptune is still in action this week, as you’ll see.
At a more universal level Full Moons simply illuminate and bring things to light or full circle. All relationship issues, not just with partners but with all your loved ones with whom you have close interaction, have been under a lot of scrutiny since Venus turned retrograde five weeks ago. This Full Moon was a powerful floodlight into our emotional and spiritual worlds and, for some, will have been a pivotal moment, with regard to unfolding events, insights or understanding. Think about where you were over the weekend and especially on Saturday night and what happened, and what thoughts were triggered or what came to a head, as these tides were then at their highest.
Relationship concerns are also being underlined by the fact that Mercury arrived in Libra last week, and is already starting to slow down as he’ll turn retrograde in this sign mid September (this is the next backdrop in the making, you have been warned!) and will be going backwards and forwards through Libra until 2 November. At full speed Mercury can whizz through a single sign in a fortnight, so this gives you an idea of how unusually long this journey through Libra will be.
Libra is the sign of the Scales – known for weighing things up – but which also symbolize the two sides to a relationship. In the natural astrological scheme of things Libra rules the 7th house of partnership, and is therefore connected to showing us how the actions of one always affect the other, and that balance is a double act. In my book Be Your Own Astrologer I give “takes” on the planets through the signs, and here’s the interpretation of Mercury in Libra:
The communication planet in the air sign of the Scales speaks in measured, mellow and often beautiful tones. Here is the born talker and, for that reason, they don’t do being alone. Give the Mercury in Libra person someone to talk to, rather than talk at, and they are happy. Whether it’s chewing the cud over cups of tea or glasses of wine, or debating important issues, they can talk for the world. Time slips away and they are not best known for their punctuality.
This Mercury carefully weighs up words and thoughts so at best this is the diplomat, brilliant at seeing all sides to an issue and appreciating everyone’s point of view. They loathe confrontation and are the ultimate smoothers and soothers. At worst it’s the hopeless procrastinator. I’ll think about it, I need to mull it over, I’ll do it later, tomorrow, what do you think I should do – and on and on. Libra is known for indecision and, for Mercury in this sign, reaching the point of understanding or especially action can be a tortuous and confusing process, driving themselves and their loved ones nuts in the process. In the words of one client, “It’s not making the decision that’s the problem, it’s sticking to it. I am constantly changing my mind.”
Only when they have made a decision that they are able to stick to, or when a decision is made for them, can they then be at peace – until the next dilemma.
This gives us a flavor of what lies ahead! In particular, if you have Mercury in Libra in your natal chart, or if you’re close to someone who does, again, you have been warned!
Here’s the usual link for checking the sign and position of your natal planets:
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
When you enter your data – date, place and time of birth – you’ll then be able to pull up a visual of your horoscope. You don’t have to understand this in its entirety. You’re only looking to see if your natal planets are at any degree or in any sign that is currently significant. You can do this by hovering your mouse over each planet, and the information will show in the box at the top.
What else is happening this week?
All times stated in BST
Mercury’s first aspect since entering Libra is not until the middle of next week, so I’ll be talking more about Mercury then but for now he’s a background player. Lead roles this week go to Venus and also to the Sun, currently travelling through the earth sign of Virgo and making aspects to two of the outer planets –
Tuesday Sun opposite Neptune (4.40)
This opposition happens with the Sun at 8 degrees of Virgo and Neptune at 8 degrees of Pisces. In some ways this feels like a continuation of the Full Moon so anything that is in super sensitive mode is unlikely to be resolved until this aspect has passed. Note also that Neptune rules drink and drugs – both recreational and pharmaceutical – so be sensible, such as getting proper medical advice or finishing a course of treatment. The opposition is a very challenging aspect and Neptune is linked to the dissolving of boundaries. As this aspect is exact in the early hours of Tuesday morning it will be especially sensitive on Monday night. If you’re out make sure you have a designated driver and don’t get into a car with anyone who’s over the limit.
What else does Neptune signify? When involved in an inharmonious aspect look out for themes of confusion, deception or delusion. If something doesn’t add up it will be for a reason that won’t be immediately apparent. Keep reading between the lines and wait for the sea mists to clear. I always remember one of my first astrology teachers Maggie Hyde saying that Neptunian issues have fuzzy edges and tend to signify the slippery things that you can’t get hold of. Neptune is therefore often linked to heightened states of anxiety as well as altered states of consciousness. If you’re having sleep problems then Monday is the night to do all the right things – such as avoiding alcohol, caffeine or sitting up late on the computer – and resolving to leave everything to the morning when you can start afresh.
The Sun’s second aspect falls just as we creep into Sunday so, again, this aspect will be gathering strength throughout the week but will be at its most potent throughout Saturday –
Sunday Sun trine Pluto (00.09)
This aspect happens with the Sun at 13 degrees of Virgo and Pluto at 13 degrees of Capricorn. The Sun illuminates, Pluto empowers and often brings matters to a point of closure in a way that is absolute and uncompromising. The trine is a harmonious aspect so there’s a good chance that whatever was a total muddle at the beginning of the week will gradually start to take on a different shape. Ultimately Pluto is a control freak, which of course in itself is not something to be aspired to. Ask anyone in a relationship with someone with controlling behavior! But the positive flip side to Pluto’s coin is about taking control which is slightly different. This especially applies to any matter that you had misguidedly left to someone else or had secretly hoped would sort itself out – Pluto’s message is that things actually rarely sort themselves out – and to get yourself firmly in the driving seat. This is like The Chariot card in the Tarot. With a little skilful engineering and the assumption of responsibility much can be achieved. So don’t leave to things to others, especially those whose abilities you may doubt or those who are always full of good intentions but can’t always deliver.
The positive Sun – Pluto combination is packed with potential for making big changes or for healing. Often the two go hand in hand. Remember that one of Pluto’s symbols is the phoenix, the mythical bird associated with rebirth –
In mythology the Phoenix is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the Sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. According to some sources, the phoenix dies in a show of flames and combustion, although there are other sources that claim that the legendary bird dies and simply decomposes before being born again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(mythology)
Wherever you need to start over, or whatever needs to be binned or rethought, the end of the week will be the time when the “why” and the “how to” become apparent.
As mentioned earlier Venus is the other key player this week and her aspects coincide with the Sun’s at the beginning and the end of the week –
Tuesday Venus conjunct Mars at 15 degrees of Leo (04.40, less than two hours after the Sun – Neptune opposition)
Sunday Venus Stationary Direct at 15 degrees of Leo (09.30, just over 9 hours after the Sun – Pluto trine)
Note firstly that Venus is “stuck” at 15 degrees of Leo as she switches from retrograde motion back to direct motion. Think of this as a plane coming in to land – it can’t just drop out of the sky, it has to slow down to make its descent and then take off again. So Venus is now at her slowest but will start picking up speed again after the weekend. If you have planets at or close to 15 degrees of Leo – or the opposite sign of Aquarius – this event will be especially significant for you but at a universal level the love, pleasure and money planet getting back to business is Good News for everyone.
Also note that because of Venus going backwards and forwards this Venus – Mars conjunction is one of three rather than the usual one off for the year, ie Venus meets up with Mars, then goes back to him again and then catches up with him again – here’s the sequence of the union of the “love planets” –
22 February Venus conjunct Mars at 2 degrees of Aries
1 September Venus conjunct Mars at 15 degrees of Leo
2 November Venus conjunct Mars at 2 degrees of 24 degrees of Virgo
As usual, you can go the chart calculator link posted above to check to see if these signs, degrees and dates relate to your own chart and life. And here’s a checklist for the kind of things you can expect to experience when Venus turns direct – an event that happens only once every 19 months –
• Love issues of all kinds get resolved, or start moving in the right direction
• Broken romance can be mended if your heart is in it as much as the other person’s (Leo rules the heart)
• A parting of the ways for relationships that are beyond repair – it’s quitting time for any unhealthy or destructive liaison
• Finding reserves of courage you didn’t know you had
• Learning that happiness and good self esteem work hand in hand
• Renewed confidence and a stronger sense of self, rather than being symbiotic, is a shot in the arm for healthy love
• A special someone comes into your life, especially a lover, a new girlfriend, a capable woman or someone who can help your child
• Good news, your own or for a woman you care about
• We get back to doing what gives us pleasure
• We get back together with those we love and enjoy
• We find answers to heath and well being issues
• Major money decisions or investments get the green light
• Creative projects or special events of all kinds also get a big tick
• New jobs, especially those connected to a genuine passion, reveal or enhance our vocational talents and aspirations
My Moon is at 17 degrees of Leo and for me next weekend brings the arrival of a wonderful group of students for the Synastry course (relationship astrology) starting a week today. This will be a real reunion as nearly everyone has been to the Summer School here several times before, or they’ve met at the recent London workshops, so we’re going to have a fantastic week of astrology and fun.
May Venus shower you with blessings! Until next week, with love from Greece,
Joanna