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Astro Doings April 2017

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

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

Astro Doings September 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you had a wonderful summer! September promises to be quite intense, especially for the mutable signs (Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, Pisces). And there are no planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio) until the end of the month, so it may feel that nothing is settled or finished. Fixed energy gives us the tenacity to finish what we start. Mutable energy is constantly shifting and adapting.

September begins with Mercury retrograde and a solar eclipse. Mercury goes retrograde on August 30 at 9:04 a.m. at 290 Virgo. It’s the last one in 2016!  Because of this retrograde motion, he will be in Virgo until October 7th. Virgo is the sign of discernment, discrimination and organization (among many other things). Mercury likes being in Virgo where he works to categorize life and put it in little boxes. Just don’t get lost in the analysis (paralysis)! He also trines (easy flow of energy) Pluto (power, underground, transformation) in Capricorn (status quo, big business, systems). In addition he opposes (other side of the heavens) Neptune (fog, compassion, redemption, divine homesickness) in Pisces. This can be a positive thing, as earth (Virgo) gives boundaries to watery Pisces and Pisces softens Virgo’s perfectionism. Both signs are feminine – sustaining, supportive, nurturing and both are about change.

The solar eclipse occurs at 90 Virgo on September 1st at 5:03 a.m. (We will not be able to see it in the US.) This is an annular eclipse where a ring of the Sun’s light is visible around the darkness of the Moon’s shadow. It will last about six hours so this energy vortex will be open for at least six months. Those with planets, lunar nodes or angles from 6-120 of any of the mutable signs will be most likely to feel the energy of this potent new beginning. This eclipse will be squared (growth opportunity) by Saturn (restriction, lack, lessons, Dweller on the Threshold) in Sagittarius (quest for Truth) and opposed by Neptune in Pisces. These two planets ask us to elevate our mundane perceptions (Saturn) to live our spiritual truths (Neptune) and create heaven here on earth. This eclipse in Virgo adds additional support to this effort as Virgo represents the harvest of our Selves, integrated spiritual beings, expressing ourselves from our highest understanding.

As you know, eclipses come in pairs. The lunar eclipse occurs on the Harvest Moon on September 16th at 3:05 p.m. The moon will be at 240 Pisces. What are you harvesting? What do you want to let go of? How do you want to serve? Are you ready to move forward in unity with all that is? This eclipse is squared by Mars in Sagittarius, whose highest expression is the spiritual warrior with plenty of courage to seek the Path to Truth, which is the quest of Sagittarius.

The Autumnal Equinox is on the 22nd when the Sun moves into Libra at 10:22 a.m. Libra is the sign of balance and reconciliation of opposites. Libra focuses on the other, but its task is to balance itself with the other.

And Mercury goes direct on the 22nd at 1:31 a.m. He’ll be at 140 Virgo. Phew! If that’s not enough, Pluto, the planet of deep-seated transformation, what lies beneath the surface, power struggles, and manipulation, goes direct on September 26th at 10:50 a.m. She’ll be at 14 degrees Capricorn. The inner work done during her long retrograde may now be more evident to you — and to others. Power struggles on the world scene could be more obvious.

The month ends with a new moon in Libra, signaling the potential for new beginnings of balance, beauty and measured growth!

Have a great September!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings June 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

The planet that stands out for me in June is Neptune. Attention all Pisceans – this is your ruling planet and she will be at 120 Pisces the entire month. Why? She goes retrograde on June 13th at 4:43 p.m. EDT and basically stops there. She will also be part of a big T (called a t-square, also called a growth opportunity) with Jupiter on the other side of the heavens in Virgo (earth), with Saturn squaring both of them in Sagittarius (fire). Early in the month, the Sun in Gemini (air) will change this T to an X by opposing Saturn and closing the figure. The New Moon on June 3rd will add a little more energy to this X in the heavens (called a Grand Cross). This may result in a feeling of restlessness, an inability to settle down, and needing to choose (but unable to do so) between many different possibilities. Emotions may be very close to the surface and anyone impacted by Neptune may feel somewhat in a fog. It can also be a time of increased compassion. By the way, Saturn (and this big X) is currently sitting on the Ascendant (how we present ourselves) of the US Sibly chart. I’ll leave it to you to figure out what that means!

At the very end of June – the 29th to be exact, Mars, the planet of war and warriors (spiritual and otherwise) goes direct after his retrograde that began in April. He’ll be at 230 Scorpio. Mars is male, initiating energy so things may seem to move forward a little more easily. Scorpio is a water sign and is about what ripples beneath the surface, especially power. Scorps can never been fooled and they have unfailingly accurate insight into others, which can be rather unnerving.

The Summer Solstice, when the Sun enters Cancer, occurs on June 20th at 6:34 p.m. Earlier that morning, we have June’s Full Moon at 290 Sagittarius. Since this occurs at the very end of the Gemini/Sagittarius continuum, it suggests that we have an opportunity to re-visit our ways of thinking about things (Gemini) and to incorporate higher truths (Sagittarius) into our everyday lives.

This is the 65th Astro Doings post, and I’ve decided to take the summer off. Astro Doings, or some form of it, will be back in the fall.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Happy May Day! As I looked at the astrological calendar for May, I was struck by the fact that most planets are in either fire or earth signs. Looking at this from a strictly practical perspective, fire and earth don’t get along very well. Earth is a good way to put fire out and fire can render earth dry and infertile. However, another way to look at this is practical (earth) inspiration (fire). It is the ability to take our dreams (fire) and realize them in a practical and useful (earth) way. Earth helps us look at the details (Virgo) and plan (Capricorn) how we will implement our insights into spiritual truth (Sagittarius) and into ourselves (Aries). We have a lot of Taurus energy this month, which slows us down enough to look before we leap.

Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius (and Pisces), ends its long retrograde sojourn on May 9 at 8:16 a.m. He’ll be at 130 degrees Virgo, the sign of harvest and integration. He is on the other side of the zodiac from Neptune in Pisces, and can provide boundaries and balance for our quest to merge with something greater than ourselves (Pisces). It can bring practicality (Virgo) to our dreams (Neptune).

Mercury also stations direct this month – on May 22nd to be exact at 9:20 a.m. He’ll remain in methodical Taurus for the rest of the month. Speed demon Mercury doesn’t particularly like being in slow-moving, deliberate Taurus. However, we can focus on “thinking things through” and on recognizing that thoughts are truly things. Along with Mercury, the New Moon occurs in Taurus on May 6th at 3:29 p.m.

The Sun moves into Gemini on May 20 at10:37 a.m. Gemini looks at both sides of any (and all) continuums and loves to explore the realm of ideas – for a few minutes, anyway, until he moves on to something else. The Full Moon is the next day, providing some balance to Gemini’s flitting energy, by focusing us more on higher truths (Sagittarius).

And don’t forget to watch Mercury pass over the face of the Sun on May 9th starting a little before 7 a.m. EDT (if I’ve done the time conversion correctly). Weather permitting, we should be able to see it in eastern North America. (The last time this happened was in 2006). If you decide to watch it other than online, be sure to protect your eyes from the Sun’s rays. I’m sure there will be more information about this astronomical event as we get closer.

Have a wonderful month!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret