Astrology by Mary MacLean

This New Moon takes place in Virgo at 15 degrees.   If you have any planets at this placement, this New Moon will be important. This makes a wide trine to the transiting North node which eases things a bit but adds some mental gymnastics to your life.  Virgo is ruled by Mercury so communication becomes important with this NM.  The Cardinal T-square is still raging. Pluto is at 2 degrees and will be going direct on September 14, 2010.  This will be the last pass over the 2^nd and 3^rd degrees of Capricorn.  If any of your natal planets are at 2 or 3 degrees of any cardinal planet, this is the last hit. Pluto is intense. You will know when it hits as you can become obsessed with a situation.  Pluto will stay at early degrees of Capricorn for awhile as it moves very slowly.  It is only intense if it is exact on a planetary degree.  Saturn is at 4 degrees of Libra and heading up.  This is Saturn’s way out of the Cardinal T- square.  Saturn is moving forward and the outcome to some current situations will conclude before it reaches 10 degrees of Libra.  If situations don’t conclude, they will continue throughout the next Saturn cycle, and then a new Saturn cycle begins. Uranus is back in Pisces and about to conjunct with Jupiter at 28 degrees on September 17^th giving travel opportunities to some of us and, depending on the natal aspect, forming Uranus Jupiter situations.  Depending on where this lands in your natal chart will reveal some unexpected expansion opportunities.  Both of these planets are retrograde. Both will be in Pisces for some time but the intent and ramifications will become clearer as this retrograde progresses.  It is going to leave the orb of the Cardinal T- square during this month. This Cardinal T-square will come back but not in the same way, as you will see with the Full Moon.  Mars and Venus continue to dance in Libra and then move into Scorpio reaching another conjunction on October 3^rd and 4^th at 12 and 13 degrees of Scorpio.  Previous conjunction was in Libra….Cardinal and ambitious and action orientated.  This conjunction takes place in Scorpio, a more sensitive and emotional fixed sign.  This brings in endurance and stamina to any relationship issue.  Hopefully, it will be in the same direction.  Mercury is still retrograde and conjunct the New Moon…interesting!  The issues that you started during the month of August have now been put on the back burner until September for whatever reason.   An example is my “You Tube project”.  Mercury will be going direct on the 12^th of September picking up from issues that started on August 1, 2010.

 

.

Is time flying or am I on a fast jet?  The summer is over, I can’t believe it; My tomatoes are ripening; my squash is overtaking the refrigerator.  My daughter is going into her 7^th month of pregnancy.  I will be leaving for New York on September 18^th to meet with my East coast friends.  So I am again left in a situation where my FM will be going on as I am in N.Y.  I wanted to try and send you your NM and FM on “You Tube” but, alas, my ability to outrun the Mercury retrograde did not work.  So, this month you will receive the New Moon and the Full Moon together in text.  I know that a few of you want to continue with the printed version and that is fine.  Just let me know your preference.  I wonder if this is the prelude to doing this forecast on a monthly basis.  Life has a way of leading you in a certain direction if you pay attention.  Take a minute to think about how your life has changed since the Eclipse at the end of June and the beginning of July.  Sit back, close your eyes and connect with the Eclipse.  The FM coming up at the end of September is a square to that FM Eclipse at the end of June at 4 degrees of Capricorn.  This is a turning point to that Eclipse and can bring a welcome conclusion to the Eclipse challenge but for some of us the challenge will just continue until the next FM Eclipse.

 

Full Moon at 0 degrees of Aries on September 23, 2010

 

This Full Moon at 0 degrees of Aries is conjunct Uranus and Jupiter in opposition to the Sun and Saturn and in Square to Pluto and the North Node.  Yes, it still rages.  The Cardinal T - square is alive and kicking.  The difference is slight as the FM is at 0 degrees of Aries instead of Jupiter and Uranus.  This is important for many reasons. Jupiter and Uranus have moved into a more sensitive area and retreated to Pisces where they are conjunct.  You may find that your sensitivity to certain situations has become more personal. Wherever this conjunction lands in your chart is the area of concern.  For me, it is in the 6^th house of everyday work and health.  You can see how this has impacted my work, also some health issues need to be dealt with more directly.  Next, the FM is in Aries, a Cardinal sign, demanding that you do something with this energy.  Again, the house placement is the area to watch for these FM decisions.  On another front this FM is the turning point to the FM Eclipse that took place on June 26^th at 4 degrees of Capricorn.  Can you think back to June 26^th and recollect the issues that were outstanding?  This FM is a turning point to the issues of that FME.  For some of us this will be a conclusion to those issues but, for others, this is just another step closer to our goals that will manifest at the next FME December 21^st, 2010.  During September Saturn moves from 4 degrees of Libra to 7 degrees of Libra.  If any of these degrees are natal planets, Saturn will be in conjunction.  That means the planet of redefining is actually doing its job in your chart.  Saturn tells you what you can and cannot do.  This then becomes a challenge and you are the winner.

Chiron and Neptune will be conjunct at the Full Moon and, again, you will be dealing with an emotionally difficult period.  Remember the Chiron objective; go deep into the pain to reveal the truth for you today and then let Neptune give you the wisdom to release the pain.  This is a strong FM because it requires decisions.

 

This is the detail for the next NM and FM.

 

TRANSITING SUN TRINE TRANSITING PLUTO

Exact Aug. 26, 2010

Issues of power. Personal power/magnetism. Determination. Decision. Revealing the inner self. Body communication. Biological forces. Sexual acceptance. Sharing and trust. Financial power used without resistance.

 

TRANSITING SUN TRINE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Sept. 1, 2010

The need to join with others to accomplish a goal. Teamwork. Easy and natural adjustments made by a group, family or association to changed circumstances. Issues of group leadership are handled without major crises or bad feelings.

 

TRANSITING SUN CONJUNCTION TRANSITING MERCURY

Exact Sept. 3, 2010

Mental strength. Intense thought. Consciousness of personal intent. Stimulus to communicate in speech or writing. Effectiveness in coordinating one’s various activities. Mobility — travel. Ability to meet up to situational demands.

 

TRANSITING VENUS TRINE TRANSITING NEPTUNE

Exact Sept. 4, 2010

Sensitivity and taste in love and art. Enjoyment of a fantasy. Accurate aesthetic judgments. Desire for distant things.

 

 

 

TRANSITING MERCURY TRINE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Sept. 6, 2010, Exact Sep 18 2010

The urge to contact or communicate with others. The sharing of like ideas and interests. Travel or mobility with others.

 

 

TRANSITING MARS TRINE TRANSITING NEPTUNE

Exact Sept. 9, 2010

The willingness to take action based on faith. The power of belief. Ideological success. The intellectual search for origins. The desire for adventure and for risk. Sensitive application of force and energy. Display of powerful emotions.

 

 

TRANSITING VENUS SEXTILE TRANSITING PLUTO

Exact Sept. 12, 2010

The merging of one’s survival needs with those of a group. Sharing and trusting. Intense interactions with others.

 

 

TRANSITING JUPITER CONJUNCTION TRANSITING URANUS

Exact Sept. 18, 2010

You may currently feel as if life is like a roller coaster ride full of surprising twists and turns that offer both fear and excitement. This is a time when you are willing to try new things. In fact you may feel that you have no choice. Something is compelling you to take risks that you never thought you would. And let no one stand in the way of your new-found push for freedom. You want to be left to your own devices even though they may seem odd to those who have known and loved you. They would be wise not to stand in your way. However, you would also be wise to show some restraint when appropriate. A complete disregard of rules and regulations can prove dangerous in some situations. Opportunities for travel, study, technical, esoteric and scientific pursuits may arise.

 

TRANSITING MARS SEXTILE TRANSITING PLUTO

Exact Sept. 18, 2010

The urge to change things, to eliminate and purify. Efforts to unite, to transform, to share power and territory. Intense cleaning and purification. Sexual interests. Convincing, or being convinced of something. High energy output.

 

 

 

TRANSITING VENUS SEXTILE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Sept. 20, 2010

Appreciation of others. Willingness to join or unite with others. The furthering of friendship or love bonds.

 

TRANSITING SUN OPPOSITION TRANSITING JUPITER

Exact Sept. 21, 2010

The urge to grow in ways or areas that may present problems. Efforts to do too much. The urge to travel. Growth/stress. Overconfidence. Over-optimism. Overload. Awareness of moral or legal issues. Awareness of differences in opinion.

 

TRANSITING SUN OPPOSITION TRANSITING URANUS

Exact Sept. 21, 2010

Exposure to, or confrontation with, ideas and information which challenge the status quo. Surprises and reversals. Misapplication of technical data. A nervous restlessness. Efforts to understand change and unconventional behavior.

 

TRANSITING MARS SEXTILE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Sept. 25, 2010

Active participation. Cooperative efforts. Joining with others for constructive purposes. Group energy and activity. Associations for the purpose of recreation or construction. Cooperative efforts under stressful conditions.

 

TRANSITING SUN SQUARE TRANSITING PLUTO

Exact Sept. 25, 2010

Strong biological drives. Issues of power which may be uncomfortable. Competition. Unconscious behavior which reveals underlying motivations. Body language. Sexual attractions and tension. Jealousy. The necessity to share and trust.

 

TRANSITING SATURN SQUARE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Sept. 27, 2010

You are forced to let go of things in your life that may have helped you in the past, but have now outlived their usefulness. In other words you are faced with choices about eliminating obstacles on your life’s path in order that you may better fulfill your purpose in the future. You may find this frightening, but situations arise now that force you to face your fears. This transit is part of the assimilation and elimination process required to help us further our purpose in this world.

 

TRANSITING SUN SQUARE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Sept. 30, 2010

The necessity to cooperate with others. Obligatory teamwork. Forced adjustments to situations. Schedule pressure. Dealings with families or groups which are closely bonded. Questions of leadership and authority. Uncomfortable feelings.

 

TRANSITING SUN CONJUNCTION TRANSITING SATURN

Exact Sept. 30, 2010

Control over one’s life. Rationality. Steady accomplishment. Success in overcoming obstacles. Good relations with authorities. Endurance. Patience. Concentration and mental focus. Success in dealing with limitations. Sound judgments.

 

 

TRANSITING MERCURY OPPOSITION TRANSITING JUPITER

Exact Oct. 1, 2010

Mentally pushing the limits — over assimilation. Interest in learning and travel. Overconfident judgments. Opinions.

 

TRANSITING MERCURY OPPOSITION TRANSITING URANUS

Exact Oct. 2, 2010

Mental tension. Fixation on one point of view — rigidity of mind. Radical views challenged. Interrupted communications.

 

TRANSITING VENUS CONJUNCTION TRANSITING MARS

Exact Oct. 3, 2010

Healthy passions. Physical attraction. Strenuous enjoyment. Joint enthusiasm. Romance. Creating art or decoration.

 

TRANSITING MERCURY SQUARE TRANSITING PLUTO

Exact Oct. 5, 2010

Mental intensity. Troubled mind. Passive-aggressive argument. Persuasive speech. Craftiness. Strategy. Paranoia?!

 

TRANSITING MERCURY SQUARE TRANSITING NORTH NODE

Exact Oct. 7, 2010

The necessity to make contacts. Inconvenient communications. The need to share interests

 

 

 

 

May I introduce a very interesting lady.  She is quite knowledgable about Astrology and has written an article for your pleasure.

Venus Retrograde

 

I want to thank Mary Maclean for giving me this opportunity to write about the upcoming Venus retrograde in the sign of Aries.  Her confidence in me and my abilities, along with my love and passion for astrology are the motivating factors behind this article, for I certainly wouldn’t have taken it upon myself if she hadn’t asked me to. 

This Venus retrograde really resonates with me, maybe because I have both my Sun and Mars in early degrees Aries.  Therefore, I thoroughly understand its energy and hope to shed some light for all you about its meaning and lessons that will hopefully impart on us when this cycle is complete.  To get the most of this Venus retrograde in Aries, we need to understand two things.  First, we need to understand the energy of Aries and Mars, along with Libra and Venus to see how this energy will manifest.

Let’s talk about Aries.  Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and the natural ruler of the 1^st house. Make no mistake about it, Aries love’s to be first!!!  After all, it’s our birth right.  Sounds a little selfish, doesn’t it!!!  Well, that too I’m afraid is an Aries trait.  It may not be one of our “best” qualities, but hey…someone’s got to be first.  Actually, there are no good or bad qualities…it’s just a matter of perspective and knowing when and how to express the energies inherent in any sign at the appropriate times.  Aries is ruled by the plant Mars and describes how we go about getting what we want!!! Aries can be a little bossy, impatient, impulsive, and aggressive. In Greek mythology, Mars was the God of wars…he’s the knight and shining armor who is courageous, bold, and direct!!! He will go to battle fearlessly and hates to lose…in fact, he loves a challenge!!!  Depending on where, when, and how this energy is expressed can it be seen as either positive or negative.  The trick with any sign is finding middle ground…it’s not healthy to live on either side of the spectrum.   What I mean by spectrum can easily be understood by looking at any sign 180 degrees away, an opposition to.  In this case the sign Libra is the polar opposite of Aries.  Libra is everything Aries is not.  Libra loves to lure and charm the opposite sex…they know just the right thing to say.   In fact, they have a knack for chirping birds out of trees into the palms of their hands.  So diplomatic too!!!  Their mission in life, love and peace at all cost!!!   For them, decision making is probably their hardest tasks and are often seen as sitting on the fence, unable to choose or decide between one thing or another.  Unfortunately, what often happens is that other people decide for them, so they inadvertently give away their power to others, along with lost opportunities they later regret.  I have a friend who is Libra rising with Venus in Aries in the 7^th house.  He is more concerned about the welfare of others then with himself and has totally sacrificed his own needs, wants, and desires for the sake of his relationship…thinking this will make him happy.  He keeps trying to get his needs met by projecting Venus and all its principles on to his partner, while unconsciously disowning what would actually bring him happiness… focusing more on him and being true to his self.  If we live too far on either side of the spectrum, we lose perspective and tend to express some of the not so great qualities inherent to that sign.  How interesting it is to me that Venus is set to retrograde in its opposite sign of Aries on March 6, 2009!!!  Perhaps both signs and planets have a little to teach the other about getting their needs met while still considering others.   

Libra, the natural ruler of the 7^th house, has a whole lot to do with love and relationships. It represents “others” in the birth chart; such as your spouse, partnerships that are legally binding, your best friend, people who represent you; like attorneys, and people you seek advice from.  What most people don’t know is that the 7^th house also represents our shadow…parts of ourselves that remain unconscious, disowned and hidden. It’s where we encounter ourselves through others.  We don’t recognize this energy or its characteristics as being part of ourselves which is why we tend to project it unconsciously on to others.  As the old saying goes, opposites attract…now you know why.  What we are initially attracted to, we eventually repel.  We are attracted to the sign on our 7^th house cusp so that we can heal and become whole through our relationships with others.  

We all know that Venus rules love, relationships, partnerships, legal and binding contracts, values, possessions, self-worth, money, earnings, investments, beauty, art, marriage, divorce, friendships, open enemies, and big ticket luxury items.  With Venus in the sign of impulsive Aries…you may find yourself making impulsive, spontaneous purchases or decisions with far reaching consequences you may later come to regret…like when Venus goes direct!!!  With Venus going retrograde soon, we need to force ourselves to stop, think, and mull things over, before acting just yet. This is not the time to get engaged, marry, or have plastic surgery.  Nor is it the time to sign legal and biding contracts!!!  Do not buy luxury items either…you’ll spend more money than you can really afford.  Make no decisions when it comes to love and romance…do not start or end a relationship while Venus retrogrades…you’ll have seconds thoughts.  Although, I have heard that fated events happen when Venus appears motionless in the sky just days before its reversal and again when she’s just about to go direct.  Perhaps some of us single people will meet someone new, like the love of our lives!!!  Just one word of caution…don’t rush or force things to happen.  The person you meet may be in another relationship which they will need to end first, so be patient.  That’s easier said than done for some of us, especially those with Aries strong in our charts.  In fact, we should all use this Venus retrograde to go back and straighten out any relationships in pearl, and re-evaluate our own needs, wants, and desires, and how we can go about fulfilling them in healthy ways.   It’s not always our relationship to others that needs attention…sometimes it’s our relationship to money; how we acquire it, manage it, and spend it.  Let’s not forget about our morals and values either, these are all up for review now. 

Venus retrograde brings up the past, and since this is a 1^st & 7^th house issue…it may very well bring back a relationship from your past into the present.  Apparently, we all have some unfinished business to attend to before we are able to move freely into the future.  The last time Venus went retrograde was July of 07, in the sign of Virgo and Leo…those were some trying times for everyone!  Many people got divorced and severed relationships without healing or closure.  Venus retrograde, along with the full moon on March 10 at 20 degrees Virgo, says maybe it’s time to bury the hatch, let bygones be bygones, and forgive those who have caused us the most pain and suffering.  It’s not an easy thing to do, that’s for sure, but maybe with Venus in the sign of Aries we can take the first step, be bold and courageous, and be first to say I’m sorry.  It’s time to end the cold war amongst our enemies and time for a little peace and harmony in our relationships.  Lead by example and extend your love to others…even those you love to hate.  Venus retrogrades all the way back into the constellation of Pisces at 29 degrees, the last degree of the last sign of the zodiac…the end of all things.  Again, we need to end something before we can move forward with the new…it isn’t over until the fat lady sings!!!  For those who are still clinging to a relationship that has served its time might see it end now.  Venus in Pisces can be a delusional, unrealistic, and seeing through rose colored glasses.  We go to great lengths to avoid pain and fail to see the writing on the wall. We may even resort to manipulative behaviors to get what we want.  It’s time to take responsibility for our own happiness and quit blaming others for our misery.  My first impression of Venus retrograde in Aries is “conflict resolution through direct confrontation.”  Venus in Pisces along with the sign Libra, avoids direct confrontations whenever possible.  With Venus in Aries avoidance behavior just isn’t going to fly anymore.  Mars will force a confrontation with Venus if necessary…it may be you or someone else who initiates the confrontation, but rest assured, yours and others feelings will be brought to the surface where it can be examined and reviewed.  Maybe you have been stepping on other peoples toes and pushing your weight around with no thought or consideration for others.  Venus is all about cooperation, peace, harmony, balance and diplomacy…and with her appearance in the Aries, she’s not going to tolerate such behavior for long.  She will start considering her own needs and start putting herself first which might trigger a confrontation with her lover, Mars, who is use to being in charge and calling the shots!!!  Mars, you need to give up some control and think about how your actions impact your important relationships. Venus, you need to stop letting everyone walk all over you and take advantage of your good nature.  This is a love affair that needs negotiating and cooperation if differences are to be dissolved and transcended in order to heal and move us forward into the future.

 Catherine Schultz 03/02/2009