11 NOVEMBER 2024
If you want to check the position of any planets in any horoscope here’s a quick and easy link for a look-see, just fill in the data of date, place and time –
https://www.astrotheme.com/horoscope_chart_sign_ascendant.php
In this newsletter you’ll find –
- A brief post mortem of the US election
- Venus in Capricorn
- Mutual & Mixed Receptions – What are these?
- Summer School – four courses to choose from, what are the course descriptions and what is the availability for places? (Max of 10 per group)
- A preview of next week’s Astrology Blog – what’s the celestial forecast?
- All about Readings – what does it mean to have a reading? How much astrology do you need to know in advance, does it matter if you if you know very little?
- Detailed Year Ahead 2025 Readings – appointments now available
- How to buy a Reading or a Blog Subscription as a Christmas Present
- A selection of feedback and testimonials from clients
THE US ELECTION
I’m doing the post mortem here so that I don’t have to give space to it in next week’s blog!
Regular readers will know that I don’t believe in keeping my political opinions to myself and over the years many readers have assured me that they like to know what I think, even if an opinion is at odds with their own. My blog is personal in that respect, and I teach in the same way, I often share stories from my own life and show how these are illustrated in my own horoscope. I totally believe in sharing, it’s how we learn.
And btw it’s a myth that being an astrologer means that life is easy. But as a frame of reference it’s an invaluable tool and, without fail, it constantly shows me that things happen at their appointed time, both good and bad. There’s something hugely comforting about that, that there’s a plan.
In the process of writing I always try to stick to what I think the astrology is telling us, substantiating my interpretations along the way, and last week’s blog was dominated by the astrology for the US election. An excerpt –
“In past blogs in August and September I explored the astrology of winners v losers and concluded that Kamala Harris was the stronger contender, but that it was close. I wrote that “the only question mark for me is Jupiter, currently travelling through Gemini and will turn retrograde at 21 Gemini on 9 October. So Jupiter doesn’t quite get to Kamala’s Ascendant of 24 Gemini.”
At the end of last week I was discussing the astrology of the election with my friend and colleague Sally Kirkman, and that was a point that she also raised. She felt that Trump might have the astrological edge, which I was alarmed to hear as Sally has a history of getting event astrology right, but we agreed that it was nevertheless still a close call.”
Astrologers across the board agreed that it was a close call because the two candidates had mostly matching astrology, the key parts of their horoscopes being in relevant degrees of Gemini (for Jupiter transits, his Sun/her Ascendant) and Taurus (for Uranus transits, his Midheaven, Angle of career and status/her Jupiter).
As it turned out it wasn’t the photo finish that everyone, from political journalism to astrology, had been expecting. However, I would definitely follow Sally Kirkman for event astrology and also another fabulous friend and colleague, Ingrid Hoffman, who wrote ahead of the event that “the gods seem to be smiling on Donald Trump. The day before voting opportunistic Jupiter in Gemini conjoins Donald Trump’s North Node of fate and his Gemini Sun.” Not the first time I’ve underestimated activity on the North Node, and I was definitely amongst those who fell into the trap of looking for the astrology to support a win for Kamala. Damn.
I haven’t read much feedback about the election, too depressing, and so much focus on what, with that wonderful thing called hindsight, was “obvious” in terms of what the Democrat camp needed to do. One of the most dismaying factors is that they relied on women turning out for Kamala in high numbers, but this didn’t happen.
It will be very interesting to see what happens when Jupiter does actually reach Kamala Harris’ Ascendant. Jupiter’s retrograde loops always involve backtracking by 10 degrees, so here’s the relevant sequence coming up –
| JUPITER | |
| 26 May 2024 | Ingress Gemini |
| 9 October | Turns retrograde 21.20 Gemini |
| 4 Feb 2025 | Turns direct 11.16 Gemini |
| 30 April | Returns to 21.20 Gemini (the degree of turning retrograde) |
| 15 May | Will finally reach Kamala’s Ascendant of 24.26 Gemini |
| 9 June | Ingress Cancer |
MUTUAL & MIXED RECEPTIONS – WHAT ARE THESE?
As I wrote in last week’s blog, a Mutual Reception is when two planets occupy each other’s sign. We now have two of these and they’ll be around for ages because they both involve planets making slow retrograde loops –
- 2 November – Mercury moved into Sagittarius (Jupiter’s sign) while Jupiter is in Gemini (Mercury’s sign)
- This Mutual Reception will be operational until 8 January, when Mercury changes sign and moves on into Capricorn
- 4 November – Mars moved into Leo (the Sun’s sign) while the Sun is in Scorpio (Mars’ sign)
- This Mutual Reception will be operational until 21 November, when the Sun changes sign and moves on into Sagittarius
As of next week we can add another one, this time a “mixed reception” which is when one planet is in the other’s sign of dignity while the other planet is in the second planet’s sign of exaltation. Here’s the example coming –
- On Monday evening Venus will change sign and move into Capricorn (Saturn’s sign) while Saturn is about halfway through Pisces (Venus’ sign of exaltation)
- This is a powerful reception as next week is also when Saturn turns direct after being retrograde since the end of June
- It will last until Venus moves on into Aquarius on 7 December
How can we expect mutual receptions to show in real terms? These are quite difficult to interpret because we mostly don’t really know what they mean until the corresponding event happens.
The rule is to change the sign but hold the degree. For example, as I write the Sun is at 17 Scorpio and Mars is at 1 Leo. So if we want to “make the reception” we move the Sun to 17 Leo and Mars to 1 Scorpio, and see what happens, in our own chart or in any other piece of astrology.
Receptions of all kinds often suggest a swapping over of some kind, such as making any kind of arrangements with another person that are mutually and highly beneficial, generosity or exchanging one favour for another. I said last week that I’d be watching out for examples to do as feedback next time, “live” astrology is always the best way to learn, and in fact one has happened to me today.
The Sun at 17 Scorpio is conjunct my natal Jupiter at 18 Scorpio. If I “make” the above reception it moves the Sun to 17 Leo – and that’s exactly the position of my natal Moon. I received a totally unexpected and hugely generous donation to my cat rescue fund, from a Cancerian (the Moon) who also has Venus in Leo (the big cat), enough to cover the next 6 vet appointments (for spaying and neutering the kittens who are now 7 months old, and my oldest cat Harvey for dental surgery). How very lunar to step in to help suffering, and to save my stress levels, the constant dread of one of them getting pregnant and then not being able to catch them.
Success story of the year though is Amber (mother of the fab four born in April) – the story and photo is on my personal Facebook page –
https://www.facebook.com/joanna.watters.9/
So if you have planets in Leo or Scorpio watch out for the dates when the degrees of your natal planets could be sensitised, as in the example above. Also I think important to note that I didn’t “use” the reception. It happened anyway. The payment was sent today and the reception was made. But there may be obvious ideas if you need to swap things around anywhere.
Same currently applies if you have any planets or Angles in Gemini/Sag or Capricorn/Pisces.
VENUS IN CAPRICORN
So we’ll have Venus in Capricorn from Monday evening for a month. Here’s my take on this combination as a natal placing, which can give us an idea of the themes to look out for.
Venus in Saturn’s feminine sign takes all affairs of the heart seriously. These “get real” individuals generally seek a partner who is hard working, who cares about material security and who will be there for the long haul. Even in their younger years innate caution, often springing from a strict or restricted upbringing, keeps them from jumping into any relationship too quickly. True commitment is a big responsibility and a big deal.
These Venus people are known for their endurance, sense of responsibility and pragmatism. They are perfectly capable of passionate attractions but the choice of a life partner can be treated with the same sangfroid as the choice of a house, car or job.
The first person I ever knew who found their marriage partner through the internet had this Venus. I am going back over 20 years, in the days when this activity still raised eyebrows, but this anecdote is picture perfect for illustrating how finding love was an important project. She had definite criteria, especially in relation to children and parenting capabilities, and wanted a partner who was solvent, serious and responsible. She found him, and it worked.
As so often with this sign there are often stories of curtailed childhood so these individuals can sometimes seem aloof or older than their years. They usually learn early about restraint, respectfulness and duty.
This is King Felipe VI of Spain’s Venus who ascended the throne in June 2014 at age 46, making him the youngest monarch in Europe. Capricorn rules structure and tradition, so this Venus also symbolizes the necessity for a “professional” wife who will take her place in the hierarchy.
In a nutshell: steadfast, formal, assiduous
CELEBS WITH VENUS IN CAPRICORN
- Anthony Hopkins
- Aristotle Onassis
- Beethoven
- Brad Pitt
- Bradley Cooper
- Britney Spears
- Dolly Parton
- Elvis Presley
- Jim Carrey
- Julianne Moore
- Maria Callas
- Paul Newman
- Princess Caroline of Hanover
- Princess Stephanie of Monaco
- Richard Burton
- Robbie Williams
- Steve Jobs
- Tyra Banks
- Virginia Woolf
- Walt Disney
NEXT WEEK’S BLOG
Next week looks interesting and progressive in all kinds of ways –
- Venus moves into Capricorn
- Saturn turns direct – hurray!
- Saturn’s turning point is within hours of the annual Full Moon at 24 Taurus
- Taurus is the Moon’s sign of exaltation
- All looking pretty steady until we see that this Full Moon also falls exactly conjunct Uranus at 25 – anyone’s guess!
SUMMER SCHOOL 2025
There is no increase in course fees for next year, all courses are £375.00 for the week. Flights in on Wednesday, return flights the following Wednesday. Contact me direct to find out the options re package deals, flight only, finding your own accommodation and so on.
https://joannawatters.com/astrology-courses/
- 4 June 2025: SYNASTRY & THE ASTROLOGY OF RELATIONSHIPS with Joanna – suitable for refresher and intermediate levels
- 4 of 10 Places Available
- https://joannawatters.com/course/astrology-relationships-course/
- 11 June 2025: MOONOLOGY with Elisabeth Brooke – suitable for all levels
- https://joannawatters.com/course/greek-island-moonology-course/
- 3 September 2025: TAROT & ASTROLOGY with Joanna – suitable for all tarot levels & beginners/refreshers astrology
- 4 of 10 Places Available
- https://joannawatters.com/course/tarot-and-astrology-course/
- 10 September 2025: – DISCOVERING ASTROLOGY with Sally Kirkman – suitable for beginner and refresher levels
- 4 of 10 Places Available
- https://joannawatters.com/course/discovering-astrology-course/
