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Gemini New Moon

Gemini New Moon 22 Gemini 44′

June 14 5.44am (AEST), 7.44am (NZ), 3.44am (WA, SE Asia), and June 13 in the US and UK…or thereabouts…

In my lunch break from the day job today I went looking for inspiration – something to write about the upcoming Gemini New Moon.

What did I write for last year’s Gemini New Moon? The answer was nothing.

The Gemini New Moon in 2016? Nope. Nothing there either. Mind you, this time two years ago I was in a whole world of stress-induced pain – but we’re not going there.

The thing is, Gemini season is one I have problems with – there seems to be too much noise, too much conversation, too many people wanting to “talk about it.” As someone with no planets in air signs, when there’s this much noise around my head feels as though it can explode – there aren’t enough compartments in my brain to keep it all in. I love catching up, but for some reason, at this time of the year, I tend to search for more quiet. As for “talking about it?” No, thank you very much.

I have to be in Sydney for work and family reasons next week and I’m dreading it – not just because I especially love my little piece of Queensland paradise in the winter, but also because I have to be social and I’m just not feeling it. Of course, I’ll be fine once I’m there and in the middle of the (overdue) catch-ups – it’s just the thought of it I’m having problems with.

Gemini is fourth house for me and at this time of the year I want to hibernate a tad – okay, possibly more than a tad. That’s not to say that I don’t pay homage to my inner Gemini at this time of the year – I absolutely do but in my way.

My journal is currently full of reminders, thought prompters, story ideas, post subjects, tv shows that I’ve been recommended, books I should read, music I need to find time to listen to. I’m playing podcasts while I’m tapping away in the day job and every one of them is giving me another snippet of curiosity to follow. There is so much information around, and something interesting around every corner. And I’m following it all – without leaving my space…how very Gemini in the 4thhouse of me.

We all have Gemini somewhere in our chart and that’s the part of life that at this New Moon is calling for you to follow your curiosity. It’s also about looking at that part of your chart and asking yourself how you can do it better or differently.

This isn’t just about your message or communication, but the effectiveness of that. You might be listening, but is it just words you’re listening to? What about non-verbal communication – are you listening to that too? The spaces in the words, the gaps in the conversation, the silences – are you listening to that? While I’m on the subject when was the last time you turned everything off? Stood in the line for the bus without looking at your phone? Took in a scene – no, really took it in – without taking a photo for Instagram and moving on? Yeah, me neither.

Try it and see (no pun intended) what you’re missing.

Communication is about more than you being heard – it’s also about giving others a fair hearing, about understanding that others learn and comprehend in a different way to you, that you might need to adjust your method of communication and the words you use in order to properly understand what others are trying to say. It’s about asking the questions you need to ask and admitting that (heaven forbid) you might not actually know it all and there is more to learn from people that you might have closed yourself off from.

This New Moon, the Gemini New Moon, will bring a new approach, new information, and possibly a new perspective to an existing situation that has been, well, going around in circles or blocking you from seeing what you need to see. Your challenge is to perceive that.

It’s a bit like taking a selfie and having a good hard look at yourself and the message you’re sending yourself.

You might want to ask yourself questions like:

  • How can you nurture your ideas and dreams?
  • Are you being heard?
  • What is it you’re not seeing or understanding?
  • Are you actively listening to and learning from others?
  • What is it that’s blocking your ability to express yourself right now?
 What are you prepared to do about it?
  • Do you have a chip on your shoulder that you’re projecting outwards?
  • What ideas, perceptions or viewpoints are you resisting that need to be explored?
  • Are there new skills or concepts that you can study? What’s stopping you?
  • Is there a part of you that believes that you’re not smart enough? What fears are driving this? What small steps can you take now to begin to overcome this?

The answers to these questions won’t be gained from noise – especially not from the white noise that invades our heads. This sort of understanding comes from stillness and listening, really listening to the absence of noise, to what your heart is telling you.

Give it a try, and make your wishes and intentions. Write them down. What are you waiting for?

Doing it for yourself…

If you’ve been reading along, you should know how to find where the New Moon is happening in your chart. If you’re new to this site (welcome), duck across and check out this post before you go any further.

The position you’re looking for is 22 Gemini 44’…or thereabouts.

Now, let’s set our intentions. Think about the area of life you’re focusing on and set small achievable targets that will inspire you. Make sure that you do at least one thing towards this goal this month. If you’re unsure where to start, check out this post.

  • How do the concerns of this house make you feel?
  • How would you like to feel about them?
  • What positive steps can you take over the next four weeks to minimise the gap between how you feel about this are and how you’d like to feel?

*****Write it down!!!!!!!!!!******

If you don’t have any idea about your birth time, or can’t be faffed working it out, you can follow the solar guide below. Of course, if you do know where Gemini is in your chart, you won’t need this:

  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Gemini, This New Moon will be in your 1st house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Cancer, This New Moon will be in your 12th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Leo, This New Moon will be in your 11th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Virgo, This New Moon will be in your 10th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Libra, This New Moon will be in your 9th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Scorpio, This New Moon will be in your 8th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Sagittarius, This New Moon will be in your 7th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Capricorn, This New Moon will be in your 6th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aquarius, This New Moon will be in your 5th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Pisces, This New Moon will be in your 4th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aries, This New Moon will be in your 3rd house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Taurus, This New Moon will be in your 2nd house.

Remember…

Often times absolutely nothing will happen…or seem to happen…even if you are receiving a direct contact. When it comes to the moon, the effects are usually quite subtle.

If you haven’t been doing so, why not try journaling your lunar journey – you’ll be surprised how, in hindsight, more has been going on than you might have thought.

 

 

 

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Full Moon in Sagittarius

zodiac symbol Sagittarius

zodiac symbol Sagittarius

Full Moon in Sagittarius

I’ve been away from this blog for the past few months. The last post I published was in the middle of March, but I wrote that back in February. It’s been that long since I noticed a New Moon, a Full Moon, a planetary change. I didn’t even have anything to say about Uranus moving into Taurus. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, just that I didn’t feel I had anything to contribute – or the energy to contribute it.

In that time I’ve been concentrating on my day job and also have been writing my latest novel. I also had three fabulous weeks in France during April and May. If you’re interested in where we travelled to, I’m blogging it over on my author site.

Before I left I did, however, submit copy for this year’s Wellbeing Astrology. I’ll tell you more about that closer to the publication date later this year. All I’ll say about it now is that it was a fabulously fun article to write.

So why haven’t I created any new astro content? I’ve been this busy before – I’m usually this busy. I’ve usually got at least one novel on the go as well as my day job – but this is the longest I’ve gone without writing any astro.

The thing is, this recent holiday is the first one since 2008 where I left my laptop (deliberately) at home. I truly think I was tired. I sort of still am, but at least I’m feeling inspired again. I’ve come home with loads of stories I want to write.

Plus, this morning I went to my monthly astro club here on the Sunshine Coast and my curiosity was stimulated. We talked about concepts that I want to learn more about – and when I want to learn more about something, I write about it. That means I now have ideas for new astro posts.

On the drive home I had the realisation that I’ve been so hung up on working harder and worrying about how I’m going to earn the money we need to support our life while still writing what I want to write, that not only have I lost misplaced my faith, I’ve lost sight of my “why”.

Sure I want to eventually –preferably sooner rather than later – earn a good (fulltime) living from writing, but it’s more than that. For me, it’s about freedom – in particular, the freedom to experience and to expand my boundaries through experience. It’s about creating a body of work that I’m proud of and that I learn from.

That’s what this Full Moon in Sagittarius is about for me – a reminder to take a step out of the detail to see the possibility of the whole. To look away from the how to see the why.

Sagittarius rules my 10thhouse so it makes sense that these issues are coming up for me now. But every single one of us has a little bit of Sagittarius in us. It’s that part of life that is now crying out to experience something new and different – something that will expand your current reality. It’s your annual reminder to approach that part of your life with an open mind and a sense of adventure – and in the process create your personal freedom…whatever that happens to mean to you.

At this Full Moon, Sagittarius (the Moon) is associated with truth, faith, optimism and belief – what we know in our heart. On the other side of the chart, Gemini (the Sun) is associated with information and data – what we know in our head. What truth do we know but haven’t yet acknowledged? There’s no hiding from it under this Full Moon.

Wherever this Full Moon falls is where you need to use this faith to go further, travel wider – perhaps learn something new from someone (or somewhere) interesting.

Above all, it’s about enjoying the ride.

Doing it for yourself

Ok, by now you should know the drill, but if not, check out this post.

I’ve popped a solar guide below to keep things simple, but if you know where 8 Sagittarius 10’ falls in your chart, check that out.

As for what you can expect? By now you should also know what the general themes of each house are about, but if not – or if you’re new to this site (and welcome – it’s lovely to see you here) – you can always check out this post.

  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Sagittarius, this Full Moon falls in your 1st house- look also to the 7th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Capricorn, this Full Moon falls in your 12th house- look also to the 6th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aquarius, this Full Moon falls in your 11th house- look also to the 5th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Pisces, this Full Moon falls in your 10th house- look also to the 4th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aries, this Full Moon falls in your 9th house- look also to the 3rd house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Taurus, this Full Moon falls in your 8th house- look also to the 2nd house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Gemini, this Full Moon falls in your 7th house- look also to the 1st house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Cancer, this Full Moon falls in your 6th house- look also to the 12th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Leo, this Full Moon falls in your 5th house- look also to the 11th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Virgo, this Full Moon falls in your 4th house- look also to the 10th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Libra, this Full Moon falls in your 3rd house- look also to the 9th house for balance.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Scorpio this Full Moon falls in your 2nd house- look also to the 8th house for balance.

Full Moon in Sagittarius May 30 12.20am (AEST). That means May 29 pretty much anywhere else in the world…other than New Zealand, of course…

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Pisces New Moon

New Moon  26 Pisces 53′, 18 March 2018 12.11am (Brisbane)

 

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

As I do each month at the New Moon I revisit my journal from the previous year. This time last year a dream was about to come true – one that had been born out of the chaos of the previous year – including the previous year’s eclipse.

I wrote how that family of eclipses had been associated with separations and endings, but from that pain came new situations with positive outcomes. Last year’s post is here.

The eclipse didn’t make any of what happened happen, but it created an environment within which we could choose to make the decisions and take the actions that we took – none of which were easy. It was real, scary, painful, and ultimately supremely positive.

If you follow my Instagram, you’d have gathered that I love my new life. It’s not perfect – nor would you ever expect it to be – but aside from missing friends and family, I pinch myself daily. At times, even twelve months on, it really does feel as though we’re living in a dream.

For the past few years, it’s felt very much as though chaos has been pushing me forward. We made the decisions we did because we saw an opportunity to not only protect the lifestyle and assets we’d worked so hard for but also to improve the quality of it. With just one income coming in we literally couldn’t have afforded to continue living in Sydney without going backwards. Through the hardship of that reality, a dream was born.

Per aspera ad astra – through difficulties (hardship) you will get to the stars.

 

That’s no longer how it is. We still only have the one income, but our life is much simpler – and the quality of it is exponentially higher.

My creativity now is coming from a completely different place. It’s coming from a more spiritual, more emotional place. It’s coming less from the chaos of experience, and more from my imagination and a place of pure fantasy. I’m seeing the possibility of story everywhere.

At times though, it still feels as though I’m on holiday – or should be – even though I’m spending the same number of hours as I did back in Sydney in my day job. I’m finding though, that I have to work harder to create the boundaries in order to find meaning, definition and direction for my creative work – my dreams.

That’s one of the great contradictions with Pisces – we find it difficult to operate within boundaries so seek to escape them in order to recognise the possibility of our dreams, yet without those same boundaries, everything within us is a swirling mass of disorder.

My friend Clementine Atkins described it well in a post a couple of years ago:

Within its boundless state, we have chaos, panic, fear.  Nothing is clear or precise – all is just a merging of images, dreams, ideals, memories, experiences, yearnings.  It is from this swirling mass that Pisces needs to find meaning, definition and direction.  It was also from a swirling mass of everything and nothing that the big bang was meant to have happened and we had the beginning of a new universe.

Without boundaries, I’m finding myself more fearful, and more anxious. I’m standing still and I’m putting on weight. I’m writing, but I’m not actively marketing, actively networking, actively doing anything to sell more books. In a way I’m scared that the dream I’m chasing to be a full-time author won’t come true – and then what? By not doing the things that I know I need to do in order to create success, I don’t need to discover if I can be successful. It probably makes no sense to you, but to me it does.

Weirdly I was more courageous when everything was unsafe and unsettled. I’m inspired, but I’m not inspired. I suspect that in order to make sense of all that I need to go further into myself – and this New Moon is the right time for that.

The Pisces New Moon is spiritual, creative and immensely emotive. It’s the point where the other world meets the real world – where that which is hidden becomes exposed.

It’s that point where boundaries are beautifully blurred between what you know and what you know.

If you have a creative project you have been delaying on, or making excuses for, now is the time to listen to what you know in your heart, what you know intuitively. Leave the head stuff for later – much later.

With this much energy, there is no ignoring the fact that one part of your life requires a dream, is asking for inspiration, needs to, well, trust.

I was listening to an episode of Desert Island Discs (a BBC podcast) the other day with George Michael. In it, he said (something like) as much as he’d subconsciously tried to sabotage himself he never doubted his talent. That it was something that would get him to where he needed to be – no matter what was going on inside and around him. His MC was in Pisces.

Wherever Pisces is in your chart is where this blurring will be in your life. It’s also where you need to trust yourself. Escape from your every day into it, take sanctuary in it, go with it. Let your imagination roam free. Float into the beyond. Follow your dream – even if it means coming face to face with your biggest fears in the process.

Doing it for yourself…

If you’ve been reading along, you should know how to find where the New Moon is happening in your chart. If you’re new to this site (welcome), duck across and check out this post before you go any further.

The position you’re looking for is 26 Pisces 53’…or thereabouts. This is wher you need both inspiration and trust.

Now, let’s set our intentions. Think about the area of life you’re focusing on and set small achievable targets that will inspire you. Make sure that you do at least one thing towards this goal this month. If you’re unsure where to start, check out this post.

  • How do the concerns of this house make you feel?
  • How would you like to feel about them?
  • What positive steps can you take over the next four weeks to minimise the gap between how you feel about this are and how you’d like to feel?

*****Write it down!!!!!!!!!!******

Make like Pisces and surrender to the dream – even if it does seem impossible. What can you do over the next 28 days to change this situation? Are there any quick wins to be had? Pay extra attention to your nightly dreams, and if you need to, find some quiet space to meditate.

For me?

This New Moon and eclipse falls conjunct my Moon and therefore hooks into the grand water trine in my chart.

If you don’t have any idea about your birth time, or can’t be faffed working it out, you can follow the solar guide below. Of course, if you do know where Pisces is in your chart, you won’t need this:

  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Pisces, This New Moon will be in your 1st house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aries, This New Moon will be in your 12th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Taurus, This New Moon will be in your 11th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Gemini, This New Moon will be in your 10th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Cancer, This New Moon will be in your 9th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Leo, This New Moon will be in your 8th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Virgo, This New Moon will be in your 7th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Libra, This New Moon will be in your 6th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Scorpio, This New Moon will be in your 5th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Sagittarius, This New Moon will be in your 4th house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Capricorn, This New Moon will be in your 3rd house.
  • If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aquarius, This New Moon will be in your 2nd house.

Remember…

Often times absolutely nothing will happen…or seem to happen…even if you are receiving a direct contact. When it comes to the moon, the effects are usually quite subtle.

If you haven’t been doing so, why not try journaling your lunar journey- you’ll be surprised how, in hindsight, more has been going on than you might have thought.

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Happy Birthday to me…

Warning – long and technical post ahead…

It’s my birthday tomorrow, and a birthday means that it’s time to look back at last years Solar Return, and look forward to the next one.

The Solar Return (SR) Ascendant tells a lot about your approach to life in that year- and mine was very definitely an Aries year – full of new starts and projects.

Last year was a profected 3rd house Venus year (for more on this concept, check out this post) and Venus years tend to be a lot more about pleasure and appreciation. It was a third house year in that I was actively (Aries) exploring my new neighbourhood (3rd house) and making new connections (3rd) house).

Mars, the ruler of my solar return chart was in Taurus, and while I wouldn’t say that I was inactive as such, I certainly didn’t have the getup and go that I would have liked. In a way that was fine – after the previous year and the energy involved with moving in the first quarter of 2017, I definitely needed some time to relax and physically take it a little easier.

With Uranus on the ASC my entire world was changed last year with the move. Pluto was conjunct the MC and I kicked a massive career goal when I spoke at last years RWA Conference. Other than this, on the whole, last year, with the SR Sun in the 12th house, it felt very much a year of background work, preparing the pastures, sowing the seeds…so to speak.

Now, onto this year. First up, you’ll notice that I use a whole house chart. I’m finding that this system really works for me – especially when looking at solar returns but feel free to use the house system you’re used to.

First Impressions…

For the first time ever I’m using a location other than my natal location for the chart. As for whether you should use birthplace or current location? Most astrologers you ask will have an opinion. I tend to think both are valid and have cast both. Not that it matters a huge amount in my case – it changes the degree of the Ascendant marginally.

Cancer has been brought to the Ascendant. 

The other things I’ve noticed first up is that this chart is very top-heavy. This year will be very much about “me out there”. In particular, the 9th and 10th houses are emphasised.

On that subject, the MC point itself is in the last degree of Aries and conjunct Uranus. There will be changes in the areas of career or public profile this year. With Mars trine this point, those changes – whether they be good or bad – will happen easily.

Given that my SR MC is natally in my 2nd house, there will be changes to finances as well. Wth Uranus involved it is likely those changes will be sudden.

What sign is the Ascendant in?

 

This year my SR Ascendant is 14 Cancer.

It’s a year where my heart will be even more prominently on my sleeve and where I will be even more emotionally sensitive than usual. Family will be on my mind, as will issues of security – and protection and maintenance of that security.

Check out the ruler of the Ascendant

The Moon is the ruler of my Ascendant this year.

  • At 9 Capricorn the Moon is in the sign of her detriment ie not comfortable.
  • The solar return Moon is conjunct Saturn, so reputation and ambition is something that is important this year. This is echoed by the dominance of the 10th house in my SR chart and the presence of Uranus at that point. It’s likely that there’ll be a change in this area.
  • The Moon in Capricorn in the SR chart can also mean a focus on work – a theme also carried by the Moon-Saturn conjunction.
  • Moon-Saturn can be a difficult and lonely aspect – but that could also be due to work and family responsibilities.
  • The Moon in angular houses sends to react more emotionally and impulsively to outside influences. With my Moon in the 1st house natally, that’s pretty much situation normal for me anyway.
  • The Moon in the 7th in the SR chart also indicates that relationships will very much be of concern, focus and interest this year. This is where my heart is invested – and also the area of life where I’ll be most concerned with matters of security.

What House is the SR Sun in?


This is the area of life that is most in focus for the next 12 months. Mine is in the 9th along with Neptune.

the 9th is associated with expansion and exploration beyond boundaries, travel and publication – and I have plenty of those things planned.

The 9th is also a house of learning and belief. This year will be about believing in myself and pushing my faith beyond the fear. It’s a time of proving that I can do what I say that I can. It’s also about recognising the opportunities the Universe provides and trusting them.

What part of life is being brought to the Ascendant?

Cancer is natally in my 5th house, so this brings 5th house themes to the solar return chart. It’s not just about play, children and creativity, it’s also about self-expression and emotional security…and the risks associated with this.

What aspects are made by the Sun?

The Sun is sextile Pluto (exact), conjunct Neptune (wide) and trine Jupiter.

Although security is a feature and both the Cancer Ascendant and Saturn-Moon can bring with them a fearful attitude, the Sun in the 9th trine Jupiter in the 5th speaks of a more optimistic and hopeful year. The 9th house is associated with Jupiter and Sagittarius and a generally more positive outlook.

This will be a year where I can seek out new places, experiences, and connections. It’s not so much that it will be an easy year, but relatively speaking there should be positive outcomes.

The SR Sun is also sextile Pluto – and this year it’s exact. Thi is a year where I can transform myself – in a positive way – and achieve goals that will help me live with more freedom in the future. As with all things Pluto, there will be work involved – and internal, confronting work requiring inner strength – but the outcome of this is one of renewal.

Where is the SR Moon?

This year it’s in Capricorn. I looked at the condition of that above.

Are there any planets on the angles of the SR chart?

Yes – Uranus…on the MC. There are changes coming regarding career.

Next Steps

Much as you would a normal chart, are the planets scattered or concentrated in one hemisphere of the chart.

This is very much a bowl-shaped chart with an emphasis on the 9th, 10th and 7th houses. The right-hand side of the chart is more “us” than “me”, and the top of the chart is about being “out there”.  I suspect this year will be more about connections and being out and about in the world than it has been in previous years.

Much as you would a natal chart check out the position and condition of planets ruling your money house or relationship houses.

Even though this is essentially a transit chart, it is still interesting to see. The Sun rules the 2nd and is in the 9th house and is trine Jupiter and sextile Pluto. There are opportunities for positive financial outcomes.

Saturn rules the 8th house and is in the 7th. We’re still on one income and security is important – as is fiscal restraint. This is playing on my mind and I am, perhaps, worrying more about it than the astrology tells me that I should.

In the same vein, check out the ruler of the Midheaven.

Mars is the ruler of the MC. It’s in the 6th house in Sagittarius trine the MC and (exactly) trine Uranus. Mars adds energy to the changes and the nature of the trine is that it will happen relatively easily – although work and routine (6th house effort) will be required.

I also need to put effort into health and fitness this year (6th house). That will be necessary to sustain my work and see me through the busy times.

Are any planets or points in the natal chart brought to angles in the SR Chart?

Not within a few degrees.

Are any planets or points in the degree of the nodes?

No.

Are any planets or points in the critical degrees of a sign? Ie 0 or 29?

Yes- the MC.

A Different Sort of Time Lord- Annual Profections & the Solar Return

(For a recap, check out the link to last years post.)

So this year, on my (gulp) 51st birthday, I have moved into a 4th house or Gemini profected year. This means that Mercury, as the ruler of Gemini, is my “Time Lord” for the year. This planet will be sensitive to giving and receiving transits and progressions over the coming 12 months. The concerns of this planet will be important this year.

Time Lord: Mercury

Profected House: 4th, reinforcing the themes of family and security that come from the SR Cancer Ascendant

Houses ruled by the Time Lord in the natal chart: 4th and 7th

House Time Lord occupies in the natal chart: 1st

  • Condition of the Time Lord in the natal chart:  Mercury in Pisces – in the 1st house, aspecting Mars. Mercury natally, is not in great shape.
  • Examine the condition of the Time Lord in the Solar Return Chart: Mercury is in Aries conjunct Venus in the 10th house.  Overall, he’s in reasonable shape – conjunct Venus and, being in the 10th, accidentally dignified.
  • Which house in the natal chart does 7 Aries (the position of the Time Lord in the SR chart) fall? This is the natal 2nd
  • Does the position of the Time Lord in the SR chart form an aspect to the natal position of the Time Lord? By sign is enough. No.

Look at the strength of the Time Lord in the SR chart. The better the condition, the more ability the planet has to act on your side in the coming year – even if it is a malefic like Saturn.

  • Is it in a sign where it has dignity through rulership or exaltation (see the table in last years post). No.
  • Does it have accidental dignity ie does it have more strength by being close to the angles or the cusps of the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th houses? Yes, in the 10th
  • Is it retrograde? No
  • Is it combust ie does it fall within 8.5 degrees of the Sun? There is no greater affliction as the planet is said to be blinded & unable to see clearly. No.
  • Is it cazimi ie with 17’ from being exactly conjunct the Sun? This is, in contrast, as really good thing as the planet is considered to be in the heart of the king. Note, to be either combust or cazimi, it must be in the same sign as the Sun. No.
  • Is the Time Lord aspected by either of the malefics (Mars or Saturn) or the benefics (Venus or Jupiter)? By sign is enough. Conjunct Venus.
  • Aspects to the Nodes. Any time the SR Time Lord conjoins the natal nodal axis is a big year. Not this year.

What else?

Check out any repetition of themes. For me, there are many 9th and 10th house themes. This year is about putting myself out there and believing in my talents.

Finally….

Remember, the Solar Return builds on the previous years solar returns and can only deliver to the promise of the natal chart. The interpretation of a SR chart must be done with knowledge of the condition of the planets and how they operate for you natally.

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Astroweather: March 1 2018

Ok, to kick March off (how are we in March already?) we have a trifecta of aspects. I’ll deal with each of them one-by-one and let you join the dots. The forecast is pretty much for possible storms, but fining up later.

Mercury square Mars

Ok, this one comes with a storm warning. Do you know those days where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and are irritable with everyone? Yeah, I’m looking at you. What about it? Seriously? You want to have a go? Who said you have to be right all the time?

Those days.

The best way to get through this?

  • Count to 10 before speaking
  • Don’t read everything as a challenge
  • Don’t react to everything as a challenge
  • Count to 10 before posting on Facebook
  • Don’t look for a battle where none exists
  • Count to 10 again

It’s a quick transit and before you know it the sun will be peeking through those clouds and you can think more clearly again.

Mercury sextile Pluto

I’m not the puzzle sort of type. Jigsaws bore me (although I can appreciate the picture they make at the end) and things like sudoku have my brain screaming ‘enough already.’ I’m the one who tends to trust what she’s told and won’t muse about what does and doesn’t add up.

I am, however, intrigued by mystery.

What does any of this have to do with today’s astro weather? Quite simply, Mercury sextile Pluto can provide an environment for going deeper today and solving puzzles – not necessarily the sudoku type (besides, someone else has probably already completed that in the in-flight magazine) – but of the ‘I wonder why’ variety.

Given that Mercury is in Pisces, you won’t necessarily solve the previously unsolveable by asking probing questions, but you will solve it by also feeling below the surface for the answers.

Venus trine Jupiter

Venus and Jupiter were known by traditional astrologers as the lesser and greater benefics. Yeah, don’t worry so much about the correct technical term- the benefic part is what’s important and relevant here. Essentially this means that by nature, they’re both good guys.

Sure, good guys can behave badly from time to time, but Venus in Pisces is feeling about as pretty as she’s ever likely to be.

So, when Venus and Jupiter meet up, can we expect sweetness, grace, light, rainbows and unicorns? Probably not unicorns. All other things being equal though if you’ve been having bad days – or good days – today could be better…relatively speaking. If you’re lucky enough to be on holiday, it’s a great day to do faff all – and to do it very well indeed.

The thing is when Venus and Jupiter get together – although briefly – there’s usually fun to be had…if you’re in the mood to have some.

 

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Astroweather: February 27 2018

Venus sextile Pluto

Venus in Pisces knows all about feelings. She mightn’t be able to talk about them, but she just knows…you know? The problem with Pisces, though, is that her boundaries are so…non-existent that it mightn’t occur to her that everyone else doesn’t have the sensitivity she has or feels the way she does. Enter Pluto. Pluto adds intensity, depth, fate and meaning. So if you wanted to not only understand your own emotions but also how they impact others, today there are opportunities to do so. Your task is to recognise them as such.

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Astroweather: February 26 2018

Sun sextile Saturn

Alright, I’ll keep this short today.

Sun – Saturn sextiles are opportunities to get things done – yes, even when the Sun is in Pisces.

Think discipline, concentration, head down bum up, attention to detail. All those things that are normally the furthest from your mind when the Sun is in Pisces…but it can be done.

Forget about rest, relaxation, self-indulgence and instant gratification. Not today.

Got it? Well, what are you still doing here then?

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Astroweather: 25 February 2018

Question: What’s more Mercury in Pisces than Mercury in Pisces?

Answer: When Mercury in Pisces is conjunct Neptune in Pisces

And what do you do when Mercury is conjunct Neptune?

Daydream, of course. Let your imagination soar, imagine the possibilities, follow where inspiration and fantasy leads…

What not to do? Beat yourself up too much because self-discipline and attention to detail could be about as low as it can go.

The thing about this aspect is that it’s over quickly, so while the potential for short-term inspiration is high, the potential for long-term damage is relatively low. That is, of course, as long as you realise that fantasyland is a lovely place to visit, but not so good as a permanent resident.

Not that there’s much danger of that with today’s other star aspect – Venus square Mars. Although both Venus and Mars are in Jupiter ruled signs at present (Pisces and Sagittarius respectively), their motivations are different. Venus is following a dream and Mars is about gaining experience through pushing boundaries.

The thing is when two people want different things, sometimes there needs to be a meeting point of compassion and compromise. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get what you want, but you might get what you need.

Sometimes getting what you want takes a bit of work. Sometimes it requires you to overcome fears. If it’s something that you really want, you make the effort required to get the rewards.

Today could bring tensions and frustrations- especially if egos are involved.

With Venus and Mars we can’t ignore relationships – and today, if there are underlying issues, they could just come to the surface. This is, however, a short lived transit, so bear that in mind before burning any bridges.

When Venus and Mars come together, there’s always the potential for a sexual relationship, although when the square is involved, anything new started now is likely to be based on physical attraction.

I’ll leave that one with you.