So I haven’t posted much here…I know. There’s a lot of things I’ve been too busy for lately. I have, however, been posting daily on the Facebook page, and Twitter, so if you aren’t already, sign up to get the latest!

There’s lots that’s been happening in my non astro life, I blog most of that over at and anyways. This week has had a real Christmassy feel with an interview with Snowy the white nosed reindeer and a few other bits and pieces about Christmas.

So, just after 10pm tonight (Sydney time) we have the Sun move into Capricorn and the summer solstice for those of us here in the southern hemisphere, and of course the winter solstice for those of you in the north.

I haven’t blogged much about Capricorn over the years, but here’s a link to an old post.

Notice I haven’t said anything about the world ending? In fact, someone asked me the other day why I didn’t blog anything about the Newtown shootings or why I “look for the sunshine through the shit” transits.

The answer is simple. There’s enough bad news out there- and enough sources for you to get bad news from. It’s not that I ignore it, or that I don’t dwell on the horror the same as we all do, it’s that life can be crap and I’m a Pisces and very Jupiterian and Neptunian, so when you read me that’s pretty well what you’re reading. If you’re interested in the really horrible news, there’s plenty of other places to get it from- and plenty of other much more amazing writers than I. I generally feel as if I can’t do it proper justice.

Which leads me to another point- I rarely look at the astrology in hindsight of a particular world or national event (although sometimes I look at in in advance if I can be faffed). Again it’s not that I don’t think the astrology of these events is important- on the contrary, we learn a lot through hindsight astrology. I’m a first house girl, so mainly interested in what’s happening to me. That’s why this week I’ll be posting something on Uranus/Moon transits- because one of my close friends has Uranus/Moon conjunction coming up- and as one who’s been there…recently…as I said- it’s all about me.

I don’t do mundane or world event astrology- again there are plenty of amazing astrologers who do.

It’s also how I do my readings. I don’t actively look for difficult transits, I look for opportunities and themes. I look for proactive ways of intentionally dealing with the things that you can deal with. I look for ways to understand why you react as you do. You may not be able to control what’s happening, but self-knowledge can sometimes help you deal with it a little better.

When I do a reading for a client I always give both sides of the transit- the actual impact will be somewhere within a range.

Often that is dependent on what your relationship is with that planet natally. I know that I will have a tougher time of a Saturn transit than someone who deals with Saturn contacts in their everyday life. In the same vein, I will have a slightly easier time of Uranus transits because I deal with Uranus every day.

For this reason, I would urge people to read descriptions of the transits with their own chart in view and with an idea of the big picture or theme of all the transits and progressions that are taking place. If you have a lot going on, it might be worth doing the colour coding thing I describe below.

When I look at my own chart- something I don’t do that often, I look for themes rather than specific transits.

Essentially each year I look at:

• What the progressed* Moon is doing- what sign and house is it in. I also look at what “terms”** it’s in- this will give me an idea of the flavour of it and a clear idea of where my emotional energy is centred. As an example, my Progressed Moon is currently at 4 Sagittarius in the 9^th house. The first 12 degrees of Sag are in the terms of Jupiter. No wonder I’m hankering after overseas travel and a publishing contract.
• I look at whether any personal planet will be changing signs or houses by progression
• I look at the themes of the Solar Return- and any other major returns during the year.
• I look at any major transits being made by the big 4- Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn. One year I went as far as colour coding a calendar just to see where the overlaps were. I can’t be faffed doing it again, but that year it really illustrated what was going on. By memory I had Pluto still hanging around squaring my Moon, a heap of Uranus conjunctions and Saturn oppositions, plus the mid life Neptune square and Uranus opposition… That was an interesting year.

* Progressions, or secondary progressions are a traditional method of predition- and one that I find accurately sums up the central themes of the time.

**Each of the traditional planets has a little chunk of power in each sign, so any planet falling within those degrees may be said to be “in the terms of that planet” eg the Moon at 4 Sagittarius is said to be in the terms of Jupiter. There are slight differences between the “terms” used by Ptolemy (the Ptolemaic terms) and those used by the Egyptians. I tend to use the Egyptian terms. This is a traditional technique, so it you are interested, google it.

Byron Bay Lighthouse

What I’m about to say might get me struck off the astrological register- if indeed there is an astrological register that I am currently on (which I very much doubt).

Sometimes shit just happens.

Yep, it does.

Take the other day for example- I reversed into the garbage bin- one of those tall green weekly collection ones. Thankfully because we had been away there wasn’t a lot to spew out over the road for me to pick up. In any case, it was the fault of the garbage truck company because they usually come at 5 flipping am, and here it was 11am and no garbage truck.

So, I reversed into the bin, had to pick it all up, had to explain to husband who had seen it all happen that no there was no damage to my car- the scratch on that fender had been there for like ages.

An Astro friend asked me what transits I was having. Excuse me, but hello? I reversed into a garbage bin. Shit happens. My transit email for the day advised me to make sure that perceived problems and limitations were real (yep, the garbage bin was there) and if so, what could be done to change it (ummmm move the bin or be careful where I was driving?).

I’m often asked things like:

• So should I take notice of the little guys?
• What’s more important? Progressions or major transits?

The answer is not that clear cut.

Today I have transiting Venus square Pluto. Oh, that’s gotta be a scary one, I hear you say. Why? It’s only going to last a couple of days and then it will be gone. A couple of bad hair days and a few days where I need to make sure that I don’t believe false promises and send my account details to that lovely man in Africa who just needs some help in claiming his inheritance.

Sure this is all very tongue in cheek, but usually personal planet transits (ie transits of the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus…I’ll deal with Mars shortly) to points and planets in your birthchart will usually only bring a few good or bad hair days, maybe a great opportunity to talk to your boss about whatever issue you need to bring up, or the need to check your appointment book closely. In general, any bad stuff that happens can fall into the shit happens category.

When I say usually and in general, I mean unless that personal planet transit happens to hit the same spot that a larger, longer, big banger is making to your chart. Then that personal transit can trigger something else. Mars transits have the potential to fall into both the shit happens camp and the shit hits the fan category.

Here’s an example. Back in April 2008, Uranus was conjunct my natal Sun. This is classed by us astrologers as a major transit- as is any transit involving Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto to any of the smaller guys. Especially if by conjunction, square, opposition or inconjunct (yep, I’ve just lately started noticing this one turns up on the biggies)

From memory this was the 1^st or 2^nd pass. Things had been jumpy, but nothing earth shattering had happened. On the day in question the following transits were impacting my chart:

• Venus was sitting at 0 Aries, so conjunct natal Saturn
• Neptune was squaring itself & had been (& would be) on & off for a while
• Uranus conjunct my Sun was opposite natal Pluto which is exactly inconjunct natal Venus (this is important)
• Saturn was pretty close to opposing natal Mercury
• Jupiter was applying to oppose itself
• The Sun was conjunct natal Venus…and so was the Moon.
• There was also some stuff happening with progressions & solar arcs, but that would be too much information.

I was in Hong Kong for work the first time, and had predicted an exciting and really cool trip. And it was (except for an incident between my finger and a fire door), until I came home.

I arrived home the day the Sun and Moon were both conjunct Venus ie a New Moon. Surely a nice thing? Nope, I was jetlagged, under-slept, received unexpected news that broke my heart and kicked the bottom out of my world…and came home to find that my kitchen renovations had started and there was a gaping hole where my kitchen used to be- to match the gaping hole where the guts and trust that had been torn out used to be. I honestly don’t think I had cried as hard in years- which of course swelled my nose and eyes up in a rather unattractive manner & ruined the Sun conjunct Venus you will shine transit.

A New Moon on Venus should have been nice, but instead will go down in history as one of the worst days of my life, so far. Why? The New Moon activated that natal Venus/Pluto inconjunction which set off all of the aspects Uranus had been cultivating- without warning, like fireworks. The resultant square also activated the Jupiter opposition- so the loss of hope was sudden and decisive.

And here’s the other thing- there was nothing that I could have done, no pre-emptive actions that I could have taken, that would have made what happened any less painful than it was. Knowing that I had those transits coming up, I had been alert, but in no way would I have predicted what went down. Have I changed anything? Not really. I forgave, and I would trust again- that is part of who I am- although I am a tad more watchful. The structures and feelings that collapsed that day, pushed me out of a zone I had been comfortable in for too long. So the parts of me that needed to learn reliance and individuation, were changed forever- which was the point of that Uranus-Sun conjunction.

The message? Most personal transits will be, dare I say it, transitory, but take notice of anything that activates a major transit or a progression. These triggers can’t be under-estimated.

The Moon and Mars are often culprits when it comes to lighting of fuses, so keep an extra close eye on these in combination with a major transit. Mars transits often signal endings, and in this case, he was pretty close to a square with where all the action was happening.

And todays’ Venus/Pluto square? My little example above constitutes the types of things that you probably shouldn’t say (and will later regret) under this transit, but you know what? Shit happens.

Having said that, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the opposition games between transiting Mars and natal Mercury over the next day or so…

Photo Credit: wragg for istock

My new employer is a right bitch to work with (hence the title).

She’s demanding, controlling and between you and me, has some serious iss-ues. And you should see the KPIs (Key performance Indicators) and objectives that she has set me- performance review time will be interesting and should see me arguing for a space at the pointy end of the bell curve.

At least she has put me on notice well in advance that bonuses (in the form of travel and Italian shoes) will not be paid unless certain targets are exceeded. Given that those targets include finishing the manuscript that time forgot and pitching ideas for feature articles to editors who have never heard of me as well as all the health and fitness related goals listed in the extensive SLA (Service Level Agreement) I have signed off on, I will be a busy girl.

She has also asked me to start doing astrology readings again. So, I am…doing readings again, that is. Oh, I forgot to mention…that bitch of a boss? It’s me .

What can you expect from an astrology reading?

It is probably best to start with what you shouldn’t expect:

• I don’t do your “numbers”
• I don’t do tarot cards
• I don’t do palm reading
• I can’t talk to your dead uncle
• I have no idea who your guides are

There are some brilliant people in the market who do that sort of thing. If you are in Australia, a starting point for these services might be:

• Spellbox in Melbourne (my absolute favourite place)
• New Moon in Sydney, in the Hills district
• The Reading Room in Brisbane

Also, I won’t tell you things like “on the 18^th of April you will be lunching in a Greek Taverna in Santorini and meet a tall, dark & handsome stranger with whom you will fall madly in love and live happily ever after.”

What an astrology reading can do is help you understand yourself better- and that is a huge advantage in dealing with all of the crap that life throws at us from every angle.

Unfortunately most clients wait until they are in the middle of a crisis before reaching out for a consult. Knowing more about yourself won’t avoid that crisis, but it may assist you in your responses and understanding of it. Likewise, I won’t tell you what to do (I may suggest things that you shouldn’t do), but I will provide you with the tools to help you make those decisions for yourself.

In a general birth chart reading (for first time clients) we look at:

• the potentials and challenges presented in your birth-chart
• what makes you feel safe, secure and nurtured
• how you communicate, deal with change and manage stress
• how you love
• how you work
• where your talents lie
• what turns you on and off or scares you silly
• potential health issues

Essentially, astrology helps you make sense of life- it doesn’t give you something to blame and it doesn’t provide you with excuses, but it can and does help you see all the possibilities available to you. It is up to you and your free will to do the rest and make what you will of that potential and work with the challenges…or not.

I have a real passion for workplace and career astrology, and a birth chart reading helps you manage relationships at work, your stress levels, decision-making and helps you choose the job that is right for you.

We also look at the themes that will be coming through for you over the next 12 months and talk about what that might mean.

A general birth chart reading will last for 60 minutes. Feel free to let me know when you book if there is any particular areas of concern which you would like to talk about in more detail. Bring an open mind to the session.

Also available are year ahead readings. These are shorter sessions for repeat clients focusing purely on what themes are coming up over the next 12 months.

You may be interested in a relationship reading. These are also usually around 60 minutes, however focus purely on the relationship needs of each person in the relationship, and any potential points of joy or challenge. These sessions are more expensive as the pre-work is substantially greater.

Other stuff?

I also do horary chart readings. This is a traditional technique for single questions that can be scarily accurate. Responses are 500 words back to your email. Please please please don’t ask the question unless you want to hear the answer.

Types of questions? Anything really, but most common are:

• Will I get the job?
• Should I take the job?
• Should I stay (in this job, relationship, whatever)
• Does he love me?
• Should I buy the house?

Similar to horary is electional or pick a date charts. Ideal for deciding when to book that wedding, start that business, make that move. Again, responses are 500 words back to your email. Remember, no date or moment is absolutely perfect, but we can choose the best from what is available. This process involves me looking at your chart/s, the nature and objectives of the event and then choosing the most appropriate time from that information.

What do I need from you?

When you book your reading, I will need you to send me through your time, date and place of birth. The time of birth can make a huge difference in how and when certain events may occur, so as accurate as possible please.

The cost?

I am a professional, like any other practitioner, so charge by the hour. Please please please don’t ask me for a freebie, to me it is the same as your boss asking you to work for nothing or your hairdresser not charging you.

Expect to pay $100 for a 60 minute birth chart reading and $150 for a relationship session.

Given that I am just starting back, all birth chart readings booked during February 2012 will be just $80.

Horary questions are $100

Pick a Date charts can be complicated and time thieves, so please email me for a quote.

How to book?

Just send me an email. I am available Monday- Saturday for readings via the phone (in Australia) and skype (for overseas clients). For clients in Australia, appointments are available 9-5 Monday to Friday and 10-4 on a Saturday. For clients overseas, we will find a time that suits us both.

How to pay?

I take paypal (to jotracey@bigpond.net.au) or direct deposit to my bank account. For overseas clients, paypal only is accepted.

© Andrymorphy | Dreamstime.com

I am naively optimistic (some may say delusional), but this doesn’t stop me from:

• Checking under the top of drink caps to check if I could be a winner
• Wondering about the pot of gold at the end of each rainbow
• Assuming that every cloud has a silver lining
• Still being amazed that bad things continue to happen to good people
• Assuming that people mean the things they say

To perpetuate this optimism (some may say delusions):

• I don’t watch movies or TV shows or read books where anything happens to the kid or the dog
• Same regarding anything with a known unhappy ending
• Likewise books or movies with inspirational messages- they always make me cry & I spend a lot of time trying to avoid just that.

I also steadfastly refuse to believe that there are intrinsically “bad” planets or intrinsically “bad” transits. Shit happens, but sometimes under a so called good transit by a so called benefic planet. One of the most difficult 2 weeks in recent years was when Jupiter crossed my Midheaven. Conversely, the first few months when Pluto moved to square my natal Moon 4 years ago was emotionally one of the most exciting times…although granted, the brown stuff did hit the fan soon after…

The only exception I make to this rule is regarding Saturn. As far as I am concerned nothing good ever happens under a Saturn transit (see my post on Saturn & I Irreconcilable Differences). Many astrologers call Saturn transits “skinny transits”…I don’t even get those good bits. When Saturn was opposing my Pisces Sun & Moon in recent years, I have been fatter than ever before. (I hold out more hope for an upcoming opposition to Venus).

Despite their pain, Saturn transits are for me relatively straight forward to predict- they will always involve a mountain that I otherwise would have no interest in climbing, they will always involve a lesson of some description, they will always be a reminder of the structures that I don’t have right & they will always involve a general melancholy or depressive & negative viewpoint. When Saturn comes calling I stop looking under drink bottle caps.  

Given that Saturn is in my 1^st house, Saturn transits are usually accompanied by a joint, tooth or bone problem of varying pain & associated expense- all designed to remind me that I should have:

• Remembered to floss more often
• Kept all those chiropractor appointments
• Not tried running on the crap ankle
• Not used boxing as an alternative to anger management
• Looked after my weight & boundaries

But not everyone has problems with Saturn. My theory is that I do have these issues because Saturn is unaspected (I only use same signs) in my chart & in the sign of his fall. In this regard, transits to & by Saturn throw a Saturn flavour on my chart which is missing natally. I have similar problems when the Moon is in Saturns’ sign (Capricorn or Aquarius). In contrast, Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, The Sun & the Moon are all connected to each other natally, so part of their energy is in virtually every part of life for me.

So, just because I have problems with Saturn, should I assume that others have the same issues?

Call me Pollyanna, but one person’s Plutonic journey into hell may present an opportunity for complete transformation to someone else. One may suffer a physical loss, while the other may have a spiritual rebirth.

Likewise Uranian transits can be exciting and restless like falling in love. But they can also be frightening and unsettling and upset the very core of your existence.

Take my Jupiter Midheaven transit- I had to be presented with a crisis and a loss in order to see an opportunity…and I had to see that opportunity in order to understand what I needed at that point in time.

Ultimately what we do with transits is done out of free will & will be a reflection on the potential of our whole chart- & can therefore not ever be looked at in isolation as being good, bad or otherwise.

So, when I post about transits of particular planets, should I dwell on the more potentially challenging possibilities of that transit (as some may say, tell it like it is) or the potential growth that may come from that transit? I think both, but in reading comments on other sites, maybe I have a responsibility (another Saturn word) to warn a little more- the whole forewarned is forearmed theory. Which then raises a whole new set of questions- what do you do with that information?

When I look at the transits about to hit my chart, I look at the possibilities & the dates & generally do nothing. For no reason than despite being a control freak, I do work best & respond best under chaos & tend to unconsciously cultivate that. I thrive on resolution even when that resolution means major change- simply because something is happening. What if being forewarned & forearmed meant that the safe harbour was chosen rather than pushing the boat out in a storm towards something that could be really great? What if it means you ignore the potential cool stuff?

Me? I am convinced one day that I will find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow…possibly after climbing a Saturn mountain to get there. For me, that is telling it like it is.

Since December I have been posting (irregularly) a series of Jupiter Transit articles. Now that I am done, here are all the links to the series in one place:

Dare to Dream- Jupiter Transits

Is Bigger Better? Jupiter & 1^st House Transits

This is What I Want What I Really Really Want- Jupiter & 2^nd House Transits

Speechless? – Jupiter & 3^rd House Transits

Door handles & Homes Sweet Home- Jupiter & 4^th House Transits

Love etc- Jupiter & 5^th House Transits

In Sickness & in Health- Jupiter & 6^th House Transits

For Better & For Worse- Jupiter & 7^th House Transits

For Richer or For Poorer- Jupiter & 8^th House Transits

Flying High- Jupiter & 9^th House Transits

Jupiter & 10^th House Transits- no catchy title, what was I thinking?

Hey Now- This is What Dreams Are Made of- Jupiter & 11^th House Transits

Watch Me Come Undone- Jupiter & 12^th House Transits

As a reminder, while Jupiter is in Pisces:

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Pisces- this will be in your 1^st house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aries- this will be in your 12^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Taurus- this will be in your 11^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Gemini- this will be in your 10^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Cancer- this will be in your 9^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Leo- this will be in your 8^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Virgo- this will be in your 7^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Libra- this will be in your 6^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Scorpio- this will be in your 5^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Sagittarius- this will be in your 4^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Capricorn- this will be in your 3^rd house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aquarius- this will be in your 2^nd house

While Jupiter is in Aries:

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aries- this will be in your 1^st house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Taurus- this will be in your 12^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Gemini- this will be in your 11^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Cancer- this will be in your 10^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Leo- this will be in your 9^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Virgo- this will be in your 8^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Libra- this will be in your 7^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Scorpio- this will be in your 6^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Sagittarius- this will be in your 5^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Capricorn- this will be in your 4^th house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aquarius- this will be in your 3^rd house

If your Sun or Ascendant is in Pisces- this will be in your 2^nd house

 And Finally

As with all transits, check out where your natal Jupiter is and what houses he rules.

If the transit is happening in your 1^st house, look also to the 7^th, 10^th & 4^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 2^nd house, look also to the 8^th, 11^th & 5^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 3^rd house, look also to the 9^th, 12^th & 6^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 4^th house, look also to the 10^th, 1^st & 7^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 5^th house, look also to the 11^th, 2^nd & 8^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 6^th house, look also to the 12^th, 3^rd & 9^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 7^th house, look also to the 1^st, 4^th & 10^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 8^th house, look also to the 2^nd, 5^th & 11^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 9^th house, look also to the 3^rd, 6^th & 12^th for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 10^th house, look also to the 4^th, 7^th & 1^st for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 11^th house, look also to the 5^th, 8^th & 2^nd for impacts

If the transit is happening in your 12^th house, look also to the 6^th, 9^th & 3rd for impacts