Astro Doings September – October 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe that the summer is coming to an end. Hope you’ve had a good one!

During October four planets change direction, either going from retrograde motion to direct motion or vice versa. While we recognize that planets to not move from west to east (retrograde motion), it appears that way from earth. When a planet is retrograde, we tend to experience the energy of the planet and the sign it’s in more inwardly. When planets change direction, they stop on a specific degree and may sit there for a while. This change of direction can be somewhat disconcerting, and when there’s a lot of change, it can be very unsettling.

September

September moves along fairly smoothy – at least in the beginning. Jupiter and Saturn continue to move along backwards (retrograde) in Aquarius, the sign of the rebel, the inventor and the revolutionary. They continue to be in a challenging relationship (square) with the ruler of Aquarius, Uranus, which is currently in the very slow-moving Taurus.

The Autumnal Equinox, when the Sun enters Libra, occurs on September 22nd at 3:21 p.m. EDT.  The Full Moon occurs two days before at 280 Pisces, and the New Moon occurs on Labor Day, September 6th, which is also the first day of Rosh Hashanah. She’ll be at 140 Virgo.

When the Sun enters Libra, Mars and Mercury will be there as well. Mars is not happy in the sign of balance and relationship – Libra is opposite the sign of the warrior (Aries) which Mars rules. While Libra seeks balance, it frequently feels like being on a teeter totter – one extreme and then its opposite. Libra always seeks fairness.

And the last of everyone’s favorite retrograde at least for 2021. . . Mercury stations retrograde on the 27th at 1:10 a.m. He’ll be at 250 Libra.

October

October will be hopping. Here’s the line-up.

  • October 6: Pluto ends his long retrograde period at 2:29 p.m. EDT and starts (very slowly) to go direct. He’ll be at 240 Capricorn (for the whole month). Hopefully some of the introspection that occurred during its retrograde period will start to become clearer with new ideas of how to move forward. I should add that Pluto continues to be next to Pluto in the US chart in the house of values and resources. Time for deep seated change and hopefully Pluto’s going direct will show us the way.
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  • October 10: Saturn stations direct at 10:17 p.m. EDT. He’ll be at 60 Aquarius, square Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius. Saturn will hopefully provide practicality to some of Aquarius’ innovative (hair-brained) ideas, or he may not move them forward at all.
  • October 18: Mercury ends his three-week retrograde period at 11:17 a.m. EDT. He’ll be at100 Libra, the sign of relationship – at least the idea of it. Libra is an air sign, so it’s about relationship in the head – not always understanding the more nitty-gritty of what makes a relationship work. However, Libra does seek balance in trying to understand the opposing point of view, but also seeks peace at any price.

The Sun enters watery Scorpio on the 23rd at 12:51 a.m. EDT. The New Moon occurs at 7:05 a.m. on the 6th, the same day that Pluto goes direct. The Moon will be at 130 Libra. The Full Moon occurs on October 20 at 10:57 a.m. EDT. She’ll be at 270 Aries.

Hope you have a wonderful early fall and that the changes in planetary directions aren’t too unsettling for you and our world.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings July-August 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

July

The first half of the month will be dominated by a fixed T-square with Mars and Venus opposing Saturn, which is squaring Uranus. (The Saturn/Uranus square, which began last month and will continue into 2022.) Mars and Venus are in Leo, Saturn is in Aquarius and Uranus is in Taurus. All four planets are in fixed signs. Fixed energy sustains, can be stubborn, and is feminine in nature. The interests of the individual, represented by Mars (planet of war) in Leo, must be balanced against Saturn in Aquarius (the sign of the collective). Saturn, of course, brings restrictions, delays, and fear. Leo is a fire sign and Aquarius is an air sign, so while they may not change their thinking on anything (sound familiar?), the elements work well together. Mars and Saturn must also deal with Venus in Leo, which represents a great need to be loved and to love, and is often the peacemaker. Enter Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, in Taurus, an earth sign and the most stubborn and slow moving of all the signs. Uranus breaks down old, outmoded ways of being and thinking and Taurus doesn’t want to change anything. One way of looking at this is to think of these four planets stuck in an elevator between floors. They each have different points of view (fire, earth and air) but have to figure out a way to work together so they can resolve the problem — not easy since they’re so stubborn. In mid-July Venus and Mars move out of orb (too far away) and the T-square returns to “just” being a square between Saturn and Uranus, which is rather like walking with your shoes tied together – Saturn representing the status quo and Uranus representing change and revolution. However, the Sun enters Leo on the 22nd and by the end of the month through mid-August will again create a fixed T-square with Saturn and Uranus.

The New Moon occurs on July 9th at 9:17. She’ll be at 180 Cancer. The Full Moon occurs on July 23 at 10 Aquarius. And Jupiter retrogrades back into Aquarius on the 28th.

August

The Saturn/Uranus square gets another “tweaking” shortly after the Sun moves out of orb for a T-square. On the 19th Uranus stations retrograde at 9:40 p.m. This means, that from our perspective, he moves from west to east, which is how Saturn is moving. So, maybe, at least they’re moving in the same direction now, instead of one planet going one way and the other going another way. Uranus will remain at 140 Taurus through September. Attention all who have planets or other points on your chart from 10-200 in fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius, Leo) or in the other air signs (Libra, Gemini). We tend to feel the impact of retrograde planets more inwardly. Uranus rules the higher mind and Taurus doesn’t like change. Perhaps this is a time for inner reflection on patterns that no longer serve you and calling on your higher mind to find creative and innovative suggestions for change.

When the Sun enters Virgo on the 22nd it will join Mercury and Mars, creating a stellium in Virgo. A stellium is three or more planets in the same sign. Virgo is another earth sign and is concerned with harvest – both of plants and of self. Virgo analyzes and categorizes. It can get lost in details and tends to analysis paralysis. But its attention to detail can be most helpful in any kind of planning.

The New Moon occurs on August 8th at 160 Leo. The Full Moon is on August 22 at 290 Aquarius.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May – June 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the quiet of March and April, as May and June promise to be very busy. We have four retrograde planets and two eclipses in the next two months. So here we go!

May

In the beginning of the month there’s going to be a lot of air energy – ideas, conversation, talk, talk, talk. Mercury and Venus go into Gemini early in the month are joined by the Sun on the 20th. Gemini is the sign of the writer, teacher and communicator. In general, they are fascinated by everything for about five minutes and then move onto something else. They want to sample as much of life as they can without delving into anything too deeply, because it would mean they would miss out on something else that might be equally or more interesting.

Saturn in Aquarius is in an easy flow of energy with Gemini, although Aquarius can be pretty stubborn in its revolutionary way of thinking. While Aquarius is about making significant, revolutionary change in systems, it can be very stubborn about making any personal change. Saturn stations retrograde at 130 Aquarius on May 23rd, which may mean any significant change may be slowed and/or some change is internal and won’t be expressed openly until the fall.

Jupiter starts May in Aquarius but leaves it on the 13th to move in Pisces. Pisces has the same type of changeable energy as Gemini (mutable), but its element is water. While Gemini wants to experience a little bit of everything, Pisces wants to find a way out of earth plane energy which it finds very difficult. To ancient astrologers Jupiter was the ruler of Pisces (and Saturn was the ruler of Aquarius). So both planets are comfortable in the signs they’re in. Jupiter can accentuate the faith side of Pisces and the quest for something higher. Saturn can give form to Aquarius’s ideas about needed changes to outmoded ideas and systems.

The first lunar eclipse of 2021 is a total eclipse and occurs on May 26th. This Super Moon will be at 50 Sagittarius. While most of the five-hour eclipse will occur below the horizon for the East Coast, if you get up really early you may be able to see the beginning of it. (For more information about the eclipses and where they are visible, I recommend https://www.timeanddate.com.) People with planets in early degrees of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and Pisces are most likely to be impacted by the energy of this eclipse. Lunar eclipses are about endings of patterns and about service. Sagittarius is about the quest for Truth and is generally optimistic in its outlook on life.

So if that wasn’t enough, May ends with everyone’s favorite retrograde! Yep, Mercury starts his three-week retrograde period on May 29th. He’ll be at 240 Gemini. Mercury rules Gemini. Be sure to choose your words carefully as miscommunications may abound. However, this is also a time to watch your inner dialog – how you talk to yourself about yourself and others. And of course, computers, travel, etc., etc.

June

As you know, eclipses come in pairs. The first “event” of June is an annular solar eclipse on June 10th. It will begin at 5:35 a.m. EDT and will last five hours. It will be partially visible on the East Coast. Again, check with timeanddate.com for more information. The Sun will be at 190 Gemini. Solar eclipses are about new beginnings, starting new patterns in this case of communicating, educating and experiencing. (Gemini). 

The week of June 20 will be a busy one! The Sun enters Cancer, the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere, on June 20 at 11:31 p.m. EDT. In case changing signs wasn’t enough, Jupiter stations retrograde also on June 20. He’ll be at 20 Pisces. He will back into Aquarius at the end of July and remain there until October. One use of this retrograde period in Pisces is to examine our inner faith – what do we believe in? What do we believe about ourselves? And when he moves into Aquarius, what patterns within us and our world would we like to change?

Then Mercury ends his retrograde motion on the 22nd. He’ll be at 160 Gemini. The Full Moon occurs on the 24th. And Neptune stations retrograde on the 25th. She’ll be at 230 Pisces. Like Jupiter’s retrograde in Pisces, this retrograde of Neptune can be used to explore the inner landscape of our faith. We can also explore ways we find it challenging to be on the earth and inner strengths we can use to meet those challenges.

Phew!

Hope you have a wonderful May and June! Happy flowers and growth!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

AstroDoings March-April 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

March and April are pretty quiet with no planets changing direction in March and only one in April. Phew!

March

The big doing in March, of course, is the Vernal Equinox when the Sun enters Aries, and we begin Spring and a new astrological year. This takes place on March 20 at 5:37 a.m. EDT. For the rest of the month, the planets continue their celestial dance. Jupiter and Saturn are in Aquarius, squaring (challenging relationship) Uranus in Taurus. Uranus and Pluto are the only two planets in earth. The Sun (until it moves into Aries) is in Pisces with Neptune, which may feel like a softening of the energies. Pisces tends to soften, create fog but also dissolve boundaries. Mercury joins them on the 15th. Mars enters Gemini on the 3rd and will square the planets in Pisces, especially at near the end of the month. He will have an easy flow of energy with Saturn, since they are both in air signs. With Mars in chatty Gemini, there will be four planets in air, which means there will be a lot of “communication,” or talking, some of which may be important. In any event there will be a lot of talking! Later in the month with the Sun and Moon in Pisces, people may be more thin-skinned.

The New Moon occurs on the 13th at 5:21 a.m. She’ll be at 230 Pisces. The Full Moon occurs on the 28th at 1:22 a.m. She’ll be at 80 Libra.

April

As we begin April, only the Sun and Venus will be in Aries. As the month progresses there will be four planets in Taurus, the slowest, most stubborn earth sign of the zodiac: Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus. Taurus is very interested in and protective of Mother Earth, which might bode well for new green energy initiatives. But it does mean that we can all get stuck in our thinking and ways of doing things. Fortunately, all this earth will be softened by Neptune’s continued transit through Pisces and Mars’ entry into Cancer on the 14th. Jupiter and Saturn continue their transit through Aquarius, the sign of the innovator and revolutionary. The good thing with all the earth signs is that the ideas will have practical implications and a realistic chance of being implemented!

Pluto stations retrograde (i.e., starts moving from west to east in the heavens as we perceive it) on the 27th at 4:04 p.m. EDT at 260 Capricorn. When a planet is retrograde, we tend to experience the energies more inwardly and is a time to reflect and repose. Since Pluto is (and has been) transiting the house of values and resources in the US (Sibley) chart, its retrograde period may provide an opportunity for us to re-assess our values and who we want to use our resources and talents. And since it’s Pluto, this review will be a deep one and may cause some deep-seated reassessments. A retrograde period of any planet is a good time for any activity with “re” in front of it – re-assess, re-vise, re-view, re-pair, and re-pose. It’s a balance for the action when planets are in direct motion.

The New Moon occurs on April 11th at 10:31 p.m. EDT. She’ll be at 220 Aries. The Full Moon occurs on the 26th at 11:32 p.m. She’ll be at 70 Scorpio.

Happy Spring – and enjoy the flowers!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings January-February 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year! I hope you were able to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn – the Great Conjunction. It was really quite amazing and marks the beginning of a shift in elements and types of energy that will get stronger in January and February.

We’ve worked with a lot of cardinal energy over the past year, primarily Capricorn. The cardinal signs are Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn. Cardinal energy initiates but doesn’t follow though before it runs off to start something else. It is male in its feel and bores very easily. In January and February, the planets are moving more and more into fixed signs, primarily Aquarius and Taurus. Aquarius is an air sign and Taurus is an earth sign. Of course, the other fixed signs, Leo and Scorpio, will be impacted by this shift as well. Fixed energy moves more slowly, sustains the impetus from cardinal signs, but can be quite stubborn. It is feminine in its feel.

Air is the element of ideas, conversation and relationship. It can have a flighty quality to it, although once Aquarius gets an idea in his/her idea, it’s challenging to get them to see a different point of view. It’s clear that earth (Taurus) will need to work with air (Aquarius) during this period, but I believe it could bring positive, visionary and yet practical results. Taurus is the sign most closely connected with Mother Earth, so we may see visionary ideas being implemented around climate change. Could be a challenge, but I believe the fixed quality of the energy will mean we’ll see new ideas through to their manifestation.  

January

The shift to fixed energy will be gradual but will take place this month. We start out with Sun, Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn. We end the month with Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn in Aquarius, Mars and Uranus in Taurus. Venus and Pluto are in Capricorn. (Pluto will be in Capricorn until 2024.) The fixed energy will slow the energetic pace down, while Aquarius (the visionary) and Taurus (practical, determined) figure out how to bring new ideas into manifestation.

Interesting that both Mars and Uranus are in Taurus – neither planet is happy in the most Earthbound, stubborn and slow moving of all the signs. Uranus rules Aquarius and lightning bolts, and Mars rules Aries, the god of war. Their placement is a reinforcement of the slowing and calming of energies generally. Speaking of Uranus, he stations direct (i.e., ends his retrograde period) on the 14th at 3:36 a.m. He’ll be a 60 Taurus. Until Mercury retrogrades at the end of the month there will be no retrograde planets, which may mean that, while somewhat slower, things will move forward more easily. The energy will be less inward.

January ends with the first Mercury retrograde of the year. The 3-week retrograde begins on the 30th at10:52 a.m. He’ll be at 260 Aquarius. (He enters Aquarius on January 8th.) You all know the drill about Mercury retrograde – a great time for repose and reflection. . .

The Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th at 3:40 p.m. The New Moon is on January 13th. She’ll be at 230 Capricorn. The Full Moon occurs on January 27th at 2:16 p.m. She’ll be a 90 Leo.

 February

In February, Venus joins the Aquarius club on the 1st. Mercury stations direct on the 20th at 110 Aquarius. For the rest of the month and until the end of April, there will be no planets in retrograde motion – everyone’s going east to west in the heavens by our perception. This can mean that expression of what was learned or understood during retrograde periods is easier.

So, here’s February’s line up: Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn in Aquarius, a fixed, air sign. Mars and Uranus in Taurus (fixed earth), Pluto in Capricorn (cardinal, earth). One lone planet in water – Neptune in Pisces until the Sun joins her on the 18th, and no major planets in fire.

The New Moon occurs on February 11th. She’ll be at 230 Aquarius. The Full Moon occurs on the 27th. She’ll be at 80 Virgo.

Here’s to a great New Year!

Peace and abundant blessings, Margaret

 

 

 

Astro Doings November – December 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hard to believe that this is the last Astro Doings for 2020! November is busy, but December is somewhat calmer. I do hope you’ve been enjoying watching the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter in the night sky in late October.

November

Three planets change directions this month, and Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto continue to stay close together in Capricorn for the whole month. At the end of the month they will be in a challenging relationship (square) with Mars. Capricorn is an earth sign and Aries, where Mars is, is a fire sign.

Mercury: The last retrograde for Mercury in 2020 ends on November 3rd at 12:50 p.m. EST. (Yes, that’s Election Day in the US.) He’ll be at 230 Libra, the sign of balance, relationship and fairness.

Mars. The planet of war, assertiveness, and initiative ends his retrograde motion on November 13th at 7:36 p.m. EST. He’ll be at 150 Aries. Mars is very strong in his own sign and may express itself as being impulsive and combative. Those with planets in Libra, Capricorn, Cancer and of course Aries, may be more impacted by this change of direction. In direct motion, Mars can be more impulsive, action-oriented and combative. However, he can also provide energy to move forward on projects that have been put aside when he was retrograde. At 150 Aries, Mars is exactly opposite Saturn, representing the executive, in the US (Sibly) chart. P.S. I also hope you’ve enjoyed seeing Mars in the night sky. He’s been quite impressive.

Neptune. The planet of fog, illusion, disillusion, compassion, and redemption ends her long retrograde period on the 28th at 7:36 p.m. EST. She’ll be at 180 Pisces. Some of the creative energy that has been gestating internally may be more easily expressed now. We may also become more aware of the fog! Those with planets in the other mutable signs, Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces, may feel this change of direction more than others. This leaves only one planet in retrograde motion – Uranus. Our innovative rebellion continues to be internal during this retrograde period. Great time to break down old patterns. Never fear, he’ll change direction in January.

Eclipses. There is a prenumbral lunar eclipse in November, and if it’s clear we may be able to see it. Eclipses are like energy vortices and are triggered by any planet transiting the degree of the eclipse. The vortex is “open” (sensitive) one month for every hour of eclipse duration.

This lunar eclipse will occur on November 30th at 80 Gemini, conjunct the Uranus in the US Chart. Lunar eclipses are about the endings of eras in how we’ve used the Gemini (or Sagittarius, Virgo or Pisces) energies in our charts. This eclipse will last about four hours. The focus of this eclipse is service, especially in the area of communication and relating. The companion solar eclipse occurs in December (see below).

The New Moon occurs on November 15th at 12:07 a.m. She’ll be at 230 Scorpio. The Sun enters Sagittarius on November 21st at 3:40 p.m.

December

Be sure to watch the heavens in mid-December as Jupiter and Saturn will be 10 apart. They haven’t been this close since 1623 and won’t be again until 2080. In mid-December they both move into Aquarius, the sign of the rebel, the innovator and humankind. It’s an air sign – the element of ideas and communication. There have been very few planets in air this year, so we may see newer (perhaps more radical) ideas about how to address the issues confronting us. Lots more Aquarian energy coming in January and February next year.

Eclipse. The companion eclipse to the lunar eclipse in November is a total solar eclipse. It occurs on December 14th and will last about 5.5 hours. It will not be visible in the US, however. The Sun will be at 230 Sagittarius, as will the Moon since a solar eclipse occurs on a New Moon. Solar eclipses are about new beginnings, and may impact those with planets in Sagittarius, Gemini, Pisces and Virgo more than others. Sagittarius is the sign of the quest for Truth but can also be outspoken and exclusionary. It can also be very lucky!

The Sun enters Capricorn, the Winter Solstice, on November 21st at 5:02 a.m. EST. The Sun will be next to Mercury in Capricorn, the sign of the status quo, structures, and also of the spiritual initiate.

We end 2020 with a Full Moon on December 29th at 10:28 p.m. EST. She’ll be at 80 Cancer near Venus, Jupiter and the Sun in the US chart. It will be interesting to see how the moody, nurturing lunar energy expresses itself at the end of this challenging year.

I hope you have a wonderful and safe end of 2020! On to 2021!

Peace and abundant blessings, Margaret

Astro Doings September – October 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

I hope you’ve been enjoying Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon in the night sky these last few days. Quite a display! September and October are quite busy with several planets changing direction in their celestial dance. It’s a pretty intense two months ahead.

September

Three planets change direction in September: Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

 Mars stations retrograde, i.e. stops and goes “backwards” from our perspective, on September 9th at 6:22 p.m. (All times are EDT.) He’ll be at 280 Aries and will square Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto. A square occurs when a planet is in a sign with the same quality, in this case cardinal, as other planets. Mars is in his own sign, Aries (fire) and Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto are in Capricorn (earth), but both Aries and Capricorn are cardinal signs. Cardinal signs initiate, but don’t always finish what they start. They provide impetus and are very male in their feel. Earth and fire don’t get along very well, although with effort the inspiration and enthusiasm of fire can be used to make practical, grounded (earth) changes. However, Mars in Aries can leap before he looks, can be somewhat accident prone for that reason, yet can also be filled with new ideas and a sense of adventure. Mars is the god of war, and while the planets impel, they don’t compel, his energy may support the divisive dialog and violence currently prevalent. I believe that Mars is going to be a significant planet in these two months before the US election. Mars in Aries is opposed (on the other side of the zodiac) to Saturn in Libra in the US Chart. Saturn in a country’s chart represents the executive and an opposition requires balance.

Jupiter stations direct on September 13th at 8:41 p.m. He’ll be at 170 Capricorn. He is square Saturn in the US chart and conjunct (next to) Pluto in the US chart in the house of resources and values. In October he’ll square Mars in Aries. Jupiter is the planet of expansion with new optimistic and sometimes grandiose ideas (not always well-thought out). Now that he’s moving “direct” these ideas may come more forcefully to the fore.

Saturn stations direct on September 29th at 1:11 a.m. He’ll be at 250 Capricorn. Saturn is in his own sign in Capricorn. His steady, slow, often fear-based, single-mindedness works easily with the status-quo-loving, planning, sure-footedness of Capricorn. He has been next to Pluto in the US chart for quite a while now, providing structure as we deeply examine our attitudes and values in general and our use of our resources, both monetary and natural.

September has only Mercury in an air sign until the Sun enters Libra on the 22nd at 9:31 a.m. (the Autumnal Equinox). Air is the element of ideas and communication. Interestingly with COVID and most of the outer planets in earth signs, communications have been challenged and new ideas and approaches seem to be slower in coming forward.

The Full Moon occurs on September 2nd and 1:22 a.m. She’ll be at 250 Aquarius. The New Moon occurs on September 17th at 4:00 a.m. She’ll be at 250 Virgo.

October

Two planets change direction in October, including the last Mercury retrograde for 2020. And a blue moon! But first. . .

Pluto, the planet of deep-seated change and transformation, power, and the dark underbelly of most everything, stations direct on October 4 at 9:32 a.m.  While most often referred to as “he,” Pluto’s energy is feminine, so “she” will be at 220 Capricorn. Now in direct motion, we may find our inner transformations from her retrograde period expressing more openly. She’s been in Capricorn for a long time, taking a deep look at the systems we’ve created, both personally and collectively, and how they reflect our values. With the planets in Capricorn being “challenged” by Mars in Aries, the debate on these issues has intensified. Ever the speed demon, Pluto will remain at 220 Capricorn through most of November.

Mercury, planet of communication, reflection, and travel, begins its last retrograde of 2020 on October 13th at 9:05 p.m. Key word here: LAST retrograde for 2020! He’ll be at 110 Scorpio (ruled by Pluto). Scorpio is a water sign focused on inner transformation and power. So, as you all know by now, Mercury retrograde periods are great times of repair, reflection and retreat and in Scorpio there is the potential for deep reflection and change. With Mars retrograde, you may feel more inner impetus to make personal change. It’s an interesting combination of planets in retrograde motion on an individual level. The big question – yes, Mercury will be retrograde on November 3. He stations direct at 12:50 p.m. EDT on November 3rd. As some may vote early or by mail-in ballot, we may be voting during a Mercury retrograde, which may add another dimension (confusion?) to this election. Time will tell on this one.

During October there will be five planets in earth and only the Sun in air, until it enters Scorpio on October 22 at 7:00 p.m. The first Full Moon occurs on October 2nd at 5:05 p.m. She’ll be at 100 Pisces, very close to Neptune. There is a second Full Moon in October – a blue moon. It occurs on Halloween at 10:49 a.m. She’ll be at 80 Taurus, next to Uranus! (And if there isn’t enough going on, we turn the clocks back at 2 a.m. on November 1.) The New Moon occurs on the 16th at 3:31 p.m. She’ll be at 230 Libra.

Have a wonderful fall!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings July – August 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

July and August promise to be a little bit quieter than May and June – good thing!

July

Saturn

The great teacher of the zodiac retrogrades backs into Capricorn on July 2, joining his good buddies Jupiter and Pluto, all at late degrees Capricorn. This is a very powerful combination of planets all in the same sign (called a stellium), and this stellium is sitting on top of Pluto in the second house of values and resources in the US (Sibley) natal chart. For those with planets in late degrees of any of the cardinal signs (Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra) this planetary line up could be challenging. Jupiter and Saturn together can feel like walking with your shoes tied together. Jupiter says, “go for it;” Saturn says, “better wait, better not.” And Pluto says, “what is your deepest fear about this or where is your power in this?”

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Eclipses normally come in pairs, but every once in a while, we get a third eclipse, a bonus as it were. There is a penumbral lunar eclipse on July 4-5 beginning at 11:07 p.m. on the 4th and ending at 1:54 a.m. on the 5th. It will last just under 3 hours and will be visible in the US, as a darkening of the moon. The moon will be at 130 Capricorn, exactly opposite the natal Sun in the US chart. It will also be in a challenging relationship (square) to Saturn, which represents the executive. (I incorrectly stated that the solar eclipse in June was next to the sun in the US chart. It was next to Venus, the planet of love.) On a personal level, again it is the cardinal signs that will feel the impact of this eclipse, especially placements from 10-160 of Cancer, Capricorn, Libra and Aries. Lunar eclipses are generally about endings of eras and service. The impact of the eclipse will last about 3 months.

Mercury

Celebrate! Mercury goes direct at 4:27 a.m. on July 12! He’ll be at 50 Cancer. He’ll do one more retrograde period in 2020, starting in October.

The New Moon occurs on July 20th at 1:33 p.m. She’ll be at 260 Cancer. The Sun enters Leo at 4:37 a.m. on July 22nd.

August

Uranus

Uranus begins his “backward,” retrograde motion on the 15th. He’ll be at 100 Taurus. He’ll remain retrograde until January 2021. Taurus is the most earthbound of all the signs, stubborn, slow moving, and Uranus’s lightning bolt breakdown of old patterns has a hard time in this sign. However, the good news is that Uranus will help break down old patterns of thinking and it can also provide innovative ways of helping Mother Earth, since Taurus is the sign that is most closely connected to her. When a planet is retrograde it frequently feels like an inner preparatory period, and then action/change occurs when the planet goes direct. Those with planets in the fixed signs, (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius) could be more impacted by this change of direction.

The month starts with a Full Moon on August 3 at 11:59 a.m. The Moon will be at 110 Aquarius. The New Moon occurs on August 18th at 10:12 p.m. She’ll be at 260 Cancer. And the Sun enters Virgo on August 22nd at 11:45 a.m.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your summer! Stay safe and healthy!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May – June 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone —

We have a couple of busy months ahead as the planets change direction and even a pair of eclipses!

May 2020

May is a month of threes. It begins with three planets in Taurus, ends with three planets in Gemini and three planets start moving backwards (retrograde – no, not Mercury). In the beginning the Sun, Mercury and Uranus are in Taurus and at the end the Sun, Mercury and Venus are in Gemini. We move from a predominance of earth’s practicality (Taurus) to more air’s ideas and exploration of the mental realm (Gemini). It may feel like the pace has picked up, since Taurus is the slowest moving sign of them all, and Gemini wants to explore all there is – for just a little bit – before it gets bored and moves on to something else.

A word about retrogrades. Astrology is geocentric so it appears to us that at times planets move from west to east rather than east to west. We know that the planets don’t actually change direction, but it appears that way. Planets in retrograde motion tend to express more inwardly. It’s a time of inner work and the changes during that period may manifest when the planet goes “direct,” or starts moving from east to west in our skies. Of course, the “inner” will depend not only on the energy of the planet but also the sign the planet is in, which works as a filter through which the planet’s energy must express. Sometimes the “filter” helps the planet express and sometimes it’s more challenging. And how it impacts you personally depends on how this retrograde interfaces with your natal chart. There are a lot of retrogrades in May and June.

Saturn is the first of the planets to station retrograde on May 11 at 12:09 a.m. He’ll be a 10 Aquarius where he’ll remain for the rest of the month. (He backs into Capricorn in July.) Aquarius is an air sign and deals in novel ideas, destruction of old ways of thinking. It has a harder time expressing in stern Saturn, but Saturn can provide practicality to some of Aquarius’ more innovative (hair-brained) ideas. Saturn represents authority figures of all kinds, especially males, so your inner critic, your father’s or boss’ voice, might be very loud during this retrograde, which ends in late September. However, this may also be a period where you think through a new idea before implementing it. It may also be a time where you look at the changes you’ve made during the recent pandemic to see which of them you want to maintain even as things return to “normal.”

Venus stations retrograde on May 13 at 2:45 a.m. She’ll be at 210 Gemini. This is a fairly short retrograde period. She’ll station direct in June. Venus is the planet of love, the planet of relationship and the planet of beauty. In retrograde motion, she turns all of these inward with the idea to see them in ourselves as well as others. This can also be used as part of the integration of changes made during the pandemic to be more loving toward ourselves and open to new ideas (Gemini). I hope you’ve been joying seeing bright Venus in the evening sky last month and her dance with the Pleiades.

Jupiter doesn’t want to be left out of the fun. He stations retrograde on May 14 at 10:32 a.m. He’ll be at 270 Capricorn, next to (conjunct) Pluto. This is a very powerful conjunction, that has been going on (and will continue to go on) for a while. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, good luck, and optimism in Saturn’s sign (Capricorn). It’s sort of like walking with your shoes tied together. As I’ve written previously Capricorn is the sign of the status quo and systems we’ve developed to maintain this status quo. Pluto calls into question all of it, by looking deeply into the truth behind these structures. In retrograde, again, this could be a time to look at internal structures, ways of being and thinking that no longer serve you with the optimism (Jupiter) that the changes you make will be for the best. This conjunction falls in the house of values and resources in the US chart, and is next to natal Pluto, calling us examine what we value and how we use our resources both natural and man-made. This conjunction has been going on for a while, indicating the need for deep consideration about these issues.

Also on May 13, lest you get bored, Mars, the planet of war, self-assertion and a “me first” attitude moves into watery Pisces at 12:17 a.m. Mars is not at all excited to be in Neptune’s sign – all that watery, emotional stuff – yuck! How is a warrior supposed to deal with that? However, this can be a time of heightened intuition, which is water’s realm, which can be used to guide our headstrong warrior.

Mercury moves into his own sign, Gemini, on May 11 at 11:39 a.m. For the next 17 days, ideas will fly and there will be lots of conversations (chatter?). On the 28th he moves into Cancer and things may slow down a little. For those of us having trouble stilling our mind – monkey mind – this could be a challenging period. In any event there will be a lot of talk about the new ideas being circulated.

The Sun moves into Gemini on May 20th at 9:49 a.m. and the New Moon occurs the next day at 20 Gemini. The Full Moon occurs on May 7 at 6:45 a.m. She’ll be at 170 Scorpio.

June

Thought May was busy? June is just as busy! Three planets change direction and we have two eclipses.

So, let’s start with the two eclipses, lunar and solar. Neither will be visible in the US but depending on where they occur in your chart, you may feel their impact to a greater or lesser degree (or not at all).

The prenumbral lunar eclipse occurs on June 5th from 1:45 p.m. to 5:04 p.m., a little over three hours. The Moon will be at 150 Sagittarius. So those with placements around 150 in Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and/or Pisces, the other mutable signs, may feel the impact of this eclipse more than others. A lunar eclipse deals with service to others and an ending of an era in the way you’ve been dealing with the energy of the impacted planet. The influence of this eclipse will last about three months.

Eclipses come in pairs – sometimes in threes, as this one does. The third eclipse (lunar) will occur in early July. The solar eclipse in June occurs on the Summer Solstice, June 21. The Sun will be at 00 Cancer. The eclipse will begin at 11:45 p.m. and will last about 6 hours. Solar eclipses occur at a New Moon, so the Moon will also be at 00 Cancer, and generally represent new beginnings. However, as we all know, new beginnings can be jolting at times. This eclipse occurs very close to the Sun in the US Chart (and Canada’s) so it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Attention all those with placements in early degrees of Cancer, Capricorn, Aries or Libra. The influence of this eclipse will last about six months.

OK, now planetary changes.

Everyone’s favorite retrograde – yep – Mercury’s second retrograde of 2020 begins two days before the solar eclipse (June 18) at 12:59 a.m. He’ll be at 140 Cancer. These retrogrades last about three weeks and are wonderful times to repair, regroup, retreat and do some inner reflecting. The energies of both May and June seem to be guiding us into a rather reflective period, both personally and globally.

Two days after the solar eclipse (June 23), Neptune stations retrograde (starts moving from west to east) at 12:31a.m. She’ll be at 200 Pisces. She’s been in Pisces for quite a while now – likes being there, she is said to rule that sign. This retrograde ends in late November. Neptune rules fog, illusion, compassion and redemption – quite a list! This retrograde can be used to deepen our relationship to all that is greater than ourselves. Neptune rules the sea and wants to merge with something greater than itself. The search for this “something” will move inward during this retrograde period, providing a different perspective. Of course, there also may be a lack of clarity, as Neptune also rules fog!

Venus ends her retrograde period on June 25th at 2:48 p.m. She’ll be at 50 Gemini with an easy flow of energy (trine) to Saturn in Aquarius.

I should also mention that Mars leaves Pisces (phew!) and enters his own sign, Aries on the 29th. He’ll be very glad to be in Aries, the sign of the warrior, impulsive, headstrong and sometimes reckless. He will be in a challenging relationship (square) to the Sun and the only planet in fire, which may mean he’ll work extra hard to be sure you notice him.

A busy two months in the heavens! Have a wonderful May and June!

Peace, Margaret

Astro Doings March – April 2020

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

I’m sure you’ve all noticed that the days are getting longer as we approach the Vernal Equinox in March. Yeah! In the next two months more planets will move into air signs, although there will still be a lot of earth. Overall, a fairly quiet two months.

March

While the elements of fire and air come into play in March, until the 21st there are still four planets in Capricorn: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto. The earth element will ground the energy and may also slow it down.

 March 9th: Yippee! Mercury goes direct on the 9th at 11:49 p.m. EDT. He’ll be at 280 Aquarius and will move into Pisces on the 17th. The Full Moon occurs one minute before Mercury stations direct. She’ll be at 80 Virgo.

March 19th:  The Sun enters Aries at 11:50 p.m. – the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring. Aries is a fire sign that is enthusiastic, likes to lead, but doesn’t always look before it leaps. It can warm, but it can also destroy. Like all cardinal signs, Aries initiates but doesn’t always follow through with what it starts. And like fire and air signs, it is male in its feel.

March 21st:  Saturn enters Aquarius. Before the discovery of Uranus in 1781, Saturn ruled Aquarius, the sign of the rebel, innovator, destroyer of outmoded ideas and systems. Saturn in this air sign may slow the rebel down a little bit or it may lend more practicality to Aquarius’ at times odd and/or innovative ideas. Saturn will retrograde into Capricorn in July.

March 24th:  The New Moon occurs at 5:28 a.m. at 40 Aries.

March 30th:  Mars moves into Aquarius and is conjunct (next to) Saturn. This may have the feel of walking with your shoes tied together. Mars, ruler of Aries, is the warrior planet that wants to charge forward and get moving. Saturn, the planet of restriction, lack and fear, tends to hold back. Mars says, “let’s do it!” Saturn says, “better not!”

April

In April one more planet will move into an air sign; Venus will be in Gemini. Air is the element of ideas, communication and mental activity. This is a change from what we’ve seen recently when there were very few planets in air signs. However, there will still be three planets in earth (Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto). By April 12th Neptune will be the only planet in a water sign — Pisces, her own sign, where she’s been for a long time.

April 3rd:  Venus moves into Gemini, which will be an easy flow of energy (trine) with Mars and Saturn in Aquarius. Gemini is curious about everything for a little bit and tends to bore very easily. It is, however, a sign of relationship and finds people endlessly although briefly fascinating in all their diversity.

April 7th:  The Full Moon occurs at 10: 35 p.m. She’ll be at 180 Libra, another air sign.

April 11th:  Mercury joins the Sun in Aries, bringing the possibility of enthusiastic but not always well thought out ideas. There may be a tendency to jump to conclusions or not think through all the ramifications of an idea. Aries also carries a warrior vibration, so warring ideas may be more evident.

April 19th:  Things could slow down as the Sun enters Taurus at 10:45 a.m. It will be next to (conjunct) Uranus, the planet of rebellion and the ruler of Aquarius. Taurus is the slowest moving sign of them all – fixed (stubborn) earth and Uranus, ruler of thunderbolts, is not well suited to Taurus’s slow-moving caution. Taurus can be very practical, thinks through ideas and doesn’t jump to conclusions (generally). However, once a Taurean has made up his/her mind, it is very difficult (mostly impossible) to get him/her to change it.

April 22nd:  The New Moon occurs at 3:36 p.m. She’ll be a 30 Taurus, the sign that is the most earthbound and concerned about our planet’s well-being. How perfect for Earth Day!

Happy Spring!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret