Author: Margaret Lassiter

Astro Doings August 2017

Margaret Lassiter 1 Comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the relatively quiet months of June and July. August promises to be rather unsettled with three planets changing direction and two eclipses. Hold on to your hat! I’ll take these celestial events in order.

Thursday, August 3: Uranus: goes retrograde at 1:31 a.m at 290 Aries. Aries is ruled by Mars, the god of war and Aries, like all fire signs, is on a quest. In this case it’s for our higher selves. Uranus is the planet of the higher mind and can bring flashes of insight, inspiration and higher level thinking of all kinds. At the very end of Aries (each sign has 30 degrees in it), it is an inner (Uranus retrograde) time to war (Mars) against that which holds us back from our journey to our true selves (Aries).

Monday, August 7: Partial lunar eclipse at 150 Aquarius at 9:15 p.m. ET. Eclipses come in pairs, and while we will not be able to see this one, anyone with placements from 12 – 180 Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, or Aquarius may feel the impact of this eclipse more strongly than others. Lunar eclipses occur at a full moon and can bring the culmination of past activities, a sense of completion or desire to change on a deep soul level and a deepening of compassion. This eclipse is near the lunar South Node, or Dragon’s Tail, which provides an opportunity for a release of old energies and/or patterns. The lunar nodes are where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, the path that the Sun appears to follow over the course of a year. (Eclipses only occur when the Sun is next to one of the nodes.) This eclipse will last about five hours, so the sensitive energy vortex that opens at the time of the eclipse will remain so for about five months.

Saturday, August 12: Mercury goes retrograde at 9:01 p.m. at 120 Virgo. His retrograde motion goes along with the theme of inner reflection that Uranus, the higher octave of Mercury, began earlier in the month. Both planets of the mind are now turned inward. He’ll be retrograde for the rest of the month and will back into Leo before going direct at the beginning of September. While I know this everyone’s favorite retrograde (!), those whose Mercury is in the other mutable signs, Gemini, Pisces and Sagittarius, may feel this retrograde more strongly. Also Mercury will be opposed Neptune in her own sign, Pisces, inviting us to explore the realm of the heart, redemption and compassion, rather than relying totally on logic and linear thinking.

Monday, August 21: Total solar eclipse at 280 Leo at 2:30 p.m. This is the eclipse that will be visible in the US, as I’m sure you’ve all heard! It will last a little more than five hours. Once again we have a planet at the end of the sign, marking a potential ending of how we use the energy of the sign, in this case, Leo. At the time of the eclipse there will be five planets in fire signs: Sun, Moon, Mars in Leo, Uranus in Aries, and Saturn in Sagittarius, making a big triangle (a grand trine) in fire in the heavens. A trine is an easy flow of energy so we tend not to pay attention to it, but all that fire can be quite volatile, as well as inspirational. Fire is an interesting element. It can warm and provide light, and it can also destroy. Leo is the sign of the Divine Child in each of us, and I believe this eclipse can be used both ways: to burn away that which blocks our sense of our connection to the divine within and to the divine in each other and to illuminate the path toward our higher (or Christ) consciousness. The Sun is next to the lunar North Node, or Dragon’s Head, and promises an influx of new energy and inspiration.

And last, but certainly not least. . .

Friday, August 25: Saturn goes direct at 8:09 a.m. at 210 Sagittarius. The quest for Sagittarius is for Truth – truth about ourselves and each other. This change in direction may be more strongly felt by anyone with placements from 15 to 290 Gemini, Virgo, Pisces, and of course Sag. As Saturn ends his inner restructuring, his direct motion may help us all move forward more easily and straightforwardly in our quest for our own inner truth and in recognizing areas where we may still be deceiving ourselves. He is also in a challenging relationship (square) to Neptune, which may help soften the harshness of Saturn.

Have a wonderful August. While the energies may be a bit unsettled, they provide a great opportunity for inner work in our quest for our true selves, which we can then bring to the world.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings June – July 2017

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Hi Everyone

June and July promise to be pretty quiet so I’m doing Astro Doings for both of them. I’ll be back for all the activity of a very busy August, including the solar eclipse on the 21st that is in the news already, because it will be visible in the US.

Back to June: Pretty smooth. Jupiter goes direct on June 9th at 10:04 a.m. He’ll be at 130 Libra and will continue his direct motion for the rest of the year. Also on June 9th, we’ll have the Full Moon at 180 Sagittarius.

Neptune, the planet of fog, illusion, compassion and redemption, goes retrograde at 7:10 a.m. on June 16th. She’ll be at 140 Pisces – her own sign – so we have the opportunity to turn all of her attributes inward. While the potential is there to increase our compassion towards ourselves, it may also prove to be time when we don’t see ourselves too clearly! Those with planets or other points on your chart from 10 to 200 Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius or Virgo may feel this change of direction more forcefully.

The Summer Solstice, when the Sun enters Cancer, occurs on June 21st at 0:24 a.m. As you all know, it’s the longest day of the year. June’s New Moon occurs on June 23rd at 20 Cancer. In the second third of the month there will be a lot of planets in water signs: Sun, Moon, Mars and Neptune. Good thing Venus and Pluto are in earth signs to provide some boundaries, but emotions (water) may be running high. (This could also manifest as floods and/or a lot of rain.) Saturn and Uranus continue in an easy flow of energy in the fire signs, Sagittarius and Aries, respectively.

Everyone continues to do their thing in July – no changes of direction or other “doings.” Towards the last third of July, when the Sun and Mars enter Leo, (July 22 and 20th respectively) joining Saturn and Uranus in fire signs – there will be a lot of fire. Inspiration, volatility, brashness, and/or anger could be close to the surface.

July’s Full Moon occurs on the 9th. She’ll be at 170 Capricorn, conjunct (next to) Pluto, hopefully providing some practicality and/or stability.

Hope you all have a wonderful summer! And I’ll be back in August.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May 2017

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Hi Everyone

May promises to be rather quiet, especially compared to April.

Mercury goes direct on May 3rd at 12:33 p.m. He’ll be at 240 Aries at the time. He’ll enter slow-moving Taurus on May 16th, so our thinking may become more deliberate, less impulsive than it was in April.

The Full Moon occurs on May 10th at 200 Scorpio and the New Moon is on May 25th at 40 Gemini. The Sun enters Gemini on May 20th at 4:31 p.m. Gemini is the sign of the twins – and there are definitely two sides to the sign. It’s an air sign that tends to flit from one thing to another and is easily bored. Gemini wants to know a little bit about everything and is generally very restless.

As we go through May, the only planet in water is Neptune. So sensitivity may be a bit lacking. The planets in fire (Venus, Saturn, Uranus) will do very well with those in air (Sun, Mars, Jupiter), but they may have trouble settling down. This fire/air combination frequently looks like the Peter Pan complex – never wanting to grow up or bring their ideas to fruition because everything looks better in their heads. The planets in earth signs (Mercury, Pluto) may slow us down a little bit, but don’t work well with either fire (great way to put it out) or air. However, once these elements agree to work with each other, we could have the practicality of earth applied to the inspiration of fire and the ideas of air. Up to us on how we choose to use these energies both individually and collectively!

Have a great May!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings April 2017

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Hi Everyone

Feel like changing direction? Going inward for greater in-sight? Great! So do the planets this month. A total of four – yes four – of them change direction in April; three go retrograde and one goes direct.

A word about when a planet changes direction – no matter which way it occurs. It basically stops in some cases for a day or two; in others (like the slow moving outer planets) it can stay at the same degree for weeks or months. If you happen to have a planet or other sensitive point(s) on your chart within 5 degrees on either side of the degree the planet is at when it changes, this planet will be activated. It’s rather like a tuning fork, so the planet starts to vibrate and do all manner of things to get your attention. And if it’s in a challenging relationship with other planet(s), you could have a lot of energy coming at you all at once.

As you’ve heard me say before, retrograde motion is when the planet appears (key word) to be moving from west to east across the sky. We know it isn’t really, but from the earth’s perspective it looks that way. Practically, it means that we experience the energy of the planet more inwardly and/or the focus of the energy of the planet, colored by the sign it’s in, is inward. So it’s a great time for reflection, retrospection and internal change, especially if it’s one of the outer planets. It may feel like nothing’s moving and you’re stuck.

When a planet goes direct, it may feel like it’s gotten out of reverse, which it has in some respects. You may be able to express the energy of the planet more freely and more outwardly. And you may feel less stuck around the energies the planet represents.

So who’s doing what? In order. . .

Saturn: The planet of delay, fear, lack, lessons and yet the great teacher of the zodiac goes retrograde on April 6th at 1:06 a.m. He’ll be at 280 Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign. Attention those with planets in Gemini, Virgo or Pisces the other mutable signs – or Leo and Aries the other fire signs. The latter will be an easy flow of energy (trine); the former – more challenging, growth opportunities! Our inner critic may be hyperactive during this time, depending on how it impacts your chart.

Mercury: Everyone’s favorite! He goes retrograde on April 9th at 7:15 p.m.  He’ll be at 50 Taurus and he’ll slide back into Aries on April 20 at 1:37 p.m. He goes direct again on May 3rd. Good time for retreats, re-thinking, re-focusing, and re-pairing. Be sure to double check your taxes if you file after April 9th. There’s no problem doing that – just go over them carefully. Attention to the fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius and Scorpio) for growth opportunities in how you think and the other earth signs (Virgo and Capricorn) for an easy flow of practical, down-to-earth (literally) thinking and planning.

Venus: She is the one going direct. She changes on April 15th at 6:17 a.m.  She’ll be at 270 Pisces, a sign she really likes to be in. Again attention for adjustments required for the other mutable signs (Virgo, Gemini and Sagittarius) and easy, flowing (it’s water after all) to Cancer and Scorpio. (See March Astro Doings for more information about Venus.)

Pluto: The planet of deep-seated, slow moving, transformation goes retrograde on April 20th at 8:46 a.m. She’ll be at 190 Capricorn – she’s been there all month and will be there all of May as well. Cardinal signs this time are up for adjustments leading to internal growth (Aries, Libra and Cancer), plus the other earth signs to help ground the growing (Taurus, Virgo). On a personal level, this retrograde can be wonderful time to become aware of deep thought patterns and attitudes that have been long buried. This can be a time to bring them to light and heal them. Globally, I think we’ll continue to see a weakening in structures or systems that no longer serve us.

Phew! The Full Moon occurs on April 11 at 2:08 a.m. She’ll be at 210 Libra. The New Moon occurs on April 26th at 8:16 a.m. She’ll be at 60 Taurus. And finally the Sun enters Taurus on April 19th at 5:37 p.m. The Taurean energy may slow us down some – take time to smell the flowers! Also a more practical bent to our thinking perhaps! Or we may have a raging bull! Time will tell.

Have a great April!

Peace and abundant blessings

Margaret

 

Astro Doings March 2017

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Hi Everyone

March promises to be quieter than either February or April, so enjoy the lull!

The only “event” is Venus, planet of love, harmony, and peace, goes retrograde on March 4th at 4:08 a.m. She’ll be at 130 Aries. Aries is ruled by Mars, and Venus is not particularly happy in his sign, as you can imagine. She can soften some of Aries war-like energies, but she has trouble expressing her true nature in this sign. Couple that with “going backwards” (retrograde motion) and peace, harmony and understanding may be hard to find. Another way this retrograde can be used is to turn Venusian energy inward to develop more compassion for ourselves and an inner sense of peace. The Dalai Lama has said: “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” Frequently easier said than done. And I hope that you’ve seen Venus in the night sky recently. She has been truly breathtaking.

The astrological new year, the first day of spring, and the Vernal Equinox all occur on Monday, March 20th at 6:29 a.m. when the Sun enters Aries. At that point we will have four planets in this sign (Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Uranus). Aries can be impulsive, adventuresome, reckless, and straightforward (read blunt). It’s a fire sign so add enthusiastic, inspired and volatile to the list of attributes. The challenge is that Aries doesn’t like to finish what s/he starts, so we may have a lot of “ideas” but not much completion.

The Full Moon occurs on March 12th at 220 Virgo and the New Moon occurs on the 27th at 70 Aries.

Have a wonderful month! Happy Spring and Happy New Year!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings February 2017

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Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the relative quiet of January. In February we will have the first of four eclipses in 2017 and Jupiter goes retrograde. Let’s look at them in the order that they happen.

Jupiter, the planet of expansion, optimism, faith, and seeming good luck, starts his four-month retrograde motion on February 6th at 1:52 a.m. He’ll be at 230 Libra, the sign of relationship, balance and fairness, and he’s on the other side of the zodiac from Uranus, who is in Aries, the sign of spring, new beginnings and self (or Self depending on how you use the energies). This may be a time to look inwardly (retrograde) to balance (Libra) our thinking about relationship (Libra) and how we can express ourselves in that context (Aries). Libra is also about fairness and peace at any price. How do we assert and take care of ourselves (Aries) in balance with the needs of others (Libra)? These are questions that we can look at within ourselves during this retrograde period.

The first eclipse of 2017 is a lunar one, on February 10th at 7:33 p.m. The Moon will be at 220 Leo. Attention all those of you with planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio), who may have been feeling neglected over these past months with so little fixed energy. We’ve arrived! Fixed energy is feminine by nature, and sustains that which is initiated by cardinal signs. Fixed signs can also be very stubborn and get stuck in ruts (in their own thinking and/or feeling). Leo, fixed fire, is focused on the expression of the individual and Aquarius, fixed air, is focused on the group. In some ways, they are similar to the Aries/Libra axis, fire and air in opposition. This eclipse offers the potential to end our feelings of unworthiness (Leo) and instead use Leo’s creative energy for the benefit of humanity at large (Aquarius).

A solar eclipse ends the month (February 26th) at 9:56 a.m. The Sun will be at 80 Pisces. This is the last of the series of eclipses in mutable signs. Mutable energy, as I’ve written elsewhere, is changeable, multi-talented and unsettled. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, which is currently in her own sign. Pisces is a sign of divine homesickness, perceptive, psychic, dreamy and not always realistic. A solar eclipse represents a significant new beginning. It can be used to do a better job of translating our dreams into reality; it can also remind us that this is not all there is, especially for those with planets in Pisces, Virgo, Gemini and/or Sagittarius.

Hope you have a great February!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings January 2017

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Hi Everyone

Happy New Year!

2017 starts pretty quietly, astrologically. The first week, Mercury will still be retrograde, a wonderful time to re-think, re-group, re-evaluate. He goes direct on January 8th at 4:43 a.m. He’ll be at 290 Sagittarius and will move into Capricorn on the 12th. Mercury in Capricorn processes information more slowly and thoroughly than he does in fiery Sagittarius. After Mercury goes direct, as we say, all planets will be going direct, i.e. moving from east to west through the heavens (by our perception from earth). It may feel more “full steam ahead” than we’ve felt before when the outer planets were retrograde.

The outer planets are all still in either cardinal (Aries, Libra, Capricorn) or mutable (Pisces, Sagittarius). Both types of energy are very restless, somewhat pushy, easily bored and seemingly without direction. We’ve had this energy lineup for a while now, which sometimes can feel frenetic and lacking in direction. There is very little sustaining (fixed) energy to slow things down a little bit. Throughout January, Uranus (planet of the higher mind, rebellion, lightening bolts) will be on the other side of the zodiac from Jupiter (planet of expansion, larger than life, not always realistic). Uranus is in Aries and Jupiter is in Libra, calling us to balance our own interests and growth (Aries) with others (Libra). Libra is the sign of balance (they don’t have it, but they keep looking for it!) and of the “other.” Of course, the goal is to recognize that we are all one. Both Uranus and Jupiter are squaring (growth opportunity, incompatible elements) Pluto in Capricorn, which is an earth sign. It seems that Pluto has been in Capricorn forever, challenging all of our systems within ourselves and in our societies. So a further adjustment is possible between our optimism (Jupiter) and our higher mind (Uranus). Those with planets from 15 to 250 Aries, Libra, Capricorn and/or Cancer, may be more impacted by this planetary combination, called a t-square.

That’s really it for January. The Full Moon occurs on January 12th at 220 Cancer and the New Moon occurs on January 27th at 80 Aquarius. The Sun enters the sign of the Water Bearer (Aquarius) on January 19th at 4:24 p.m., adding a little stabilizing and/or stubborn (fixed) energy to the mix.

I wish you all peace and abundant blessings in this New Year!

Margaret

Astro Doings December 2016

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Hi Everyone

Hard to believe that we’re now in the last month of 2016. December continues the pattern we’ve seen of mostly cardinal (initiating but not finishing, male, restless) and mutable (also restless, multi-talented, flighty) energy. There is very little fixed or sustaining energy around, so things may continue to feel unsettled and/or restless, depending on how this impacts your chart.

Mercury goes retrograde on December 19th at 5:55 a.m. He’ll be at 150 Capricorn, right next to Pluto, the planet that rules the underground, power, secrets and deep-seated transformation. Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign that concerns structures and systems – both personal and collective. This can be a time of close examination of how we think and what old thought patterns need to be removed. At the end of December and into early January, just in time for the New Year, the Sun will be right next to Pluto. Mercury goes direct on January 8th.

Uranus, the planet of the higher mind, goes direct on December 29th at 4:29 a.m. He’ll be at 200 Aries, a cardinal, fire sign and square (growth opportunity) Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn. Earth is a great way to put fire out and too much fire renders earth unusable. However, when these two elements work together, they can accomplish anything – bringing inspiration (fire) onto the earth plane in practical (earth) applications. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and being “bigger than life,” is in Libra, which opposes Uranus and square Pluto/Mercury. He invites us to broaden our attitudes (Mercury) toward others (Libra) and bring our quest for ourselves (Aries) into balance with others, Pluto here means that we have the opportunity to transform our relationship to ourselves (Aries) and each other (Libra), recognizing in truth that we are all one.

December’s Full Moon occurs on December 13th at 7:05. She’ll be at 220 Gemini.

The Winter Solstice, when the Sun enters Capricorn, occurs on December 21st at 5:45 a.m. And from there, we celebrate the return of the Light – on all levels!

I hope you have a most joyous holiday season and abundant blessings in the New Year.

Peace,

Margaret

 

Astro Doings November 2016

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Hi Everyone

We have a little bit more fixed (sustaining, feminine, stubborn) energy in November with the Sun in Scorpio until the 21st and Mars moving into Aquarius on the 9th. Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto are all in cardinal signs (Libra, Aries and Capricorn respectively), as they have been for a while. Jupiter and Uranus oppose each other and Pluto squares both of them. Lots of opportunity for growth and change come from this energetic line-up.

Neptune is still hanging out at 90 Pisces, the sign she rules. She will basically stop moving on the 18th and change directions at 11:39 p.m. on the 19th. This may impact those with any planet or sensitive point, like the Ascendent, at 90, plus or minus 5 degrees, of Pisces, Sagittarius, Gemini or Virgo (all mutable signs). Pisces is a water sign, so issues around water may come into focus.

The Full Moon on November 14th at 8:52 a.m. will be at 220 Taurus. This will be the last Super Moon and she will be the closest she’s been to earth since 1948. So hope the night is clear so we can see her! Taurus is a fixed sign, so those with planets close to those degrees in Scorpio, Aquarius or Leo may be a bit more moody or loony that day!

The Sun moves into Sagittarius on the 21st at 4:23 p.m. It will be an easy flow of energy with Uranus (trine) and square (growth opportunity) Neptune. The Sun is joined by Saturn. Sagittarius is the Pathfinder, the explorer and the optimist, in its best expression. It is also the sign of faith.

Hope you have a lovely November and a happy Thanksgiving.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings October 2016

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Hi Everyone

October looks quieter than September in that there are no eclipses and no planets changing direction. However, again this month, planets are either in cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn) – energy that initiates, but has trouble finishing. Or they’re in the mutable signs (Gemini, Sagittarius. Virgo or Pisces). Mutable energy is very changeable, multi-talented but not necessarily committed to one direction. So, if you have a lot of fixed energy (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius) in your chart, this could feel rather unsettled or frenetic to you.

The Sun will enter Scorpio on the 22nd, which may help a little.

The Full Moon, on October 16 at 230 Aries, will be squared by Mars and Pluto, both in Capricorn, and Jupiter in Libra. Venus and Saturn in Sagittarius will trine it (since Sag is another fire sign). So there will be a lot of around this Super Moon. Tides, emotions and other things influenced by the Moon could be intense, including where Aries is in your chart. What may be more interesting here is that Mars (energy, warrior, male, the military) is next to Pluto (transformation, underground, power) in Capricorn (systems, status quo). And Venus (how we love and take in love) and Saturn (restriction, lack, delay, fear, authority figures) are also next to each other in Sagittarius, a fire sign, whose quest is for Truth, but can also express itself as “us versus them.”

Have a great October!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret