Aries

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 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

Astro Doings April 2016

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

What strikes me about the planetary doings in April is that by the end of the month there will be five planets in retrograde motion: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto. Three of them (Mercury, Mars and Pluto) change direction during the month. While we generally experience the energies of planets in retrograde motion more inwardly and this can be true if we choose to use them this way, we may also experience this as feeling somewhat stuck or without a lot of forward motion, both personally and globally. And three of them (Sun, Mercury and Venus) will be in Taurus, the slowest moving sign of the zodiac, at the end of the month – just for emphasis!

We begin the month with a powerful New Moon at 180 Aries on April 7th at 7:24 a.m. EDT. New moons are always about new beginnings and Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, reiterating the “new beginning” theme. Uranus, planet of higher level thinking, rebellion and revolution, is conjunct (next to) this New Moon, adding the potential for innovative new ways of doing things to the Sun/Moon “conversation” about needing to start anew. It is also being squared by powerful Pluto in Capricorn, reminding us that this “new beginning” needs to focus on structures that no longer work, on planning, on discipline and on dedication.

Mars is currently in Sagittarius with Saturn. Mars is the warrior; Saturn is the disciplinarian/father and both planets are male in their energetic feel. Sagittarius is the sign of the pathfinder, so this can be a time to find our inner path and have the courage (Mars) and discipline/dedication (Saturn) to follow it. Mars stations retrograde on April 17 at 8:14 a.m. and will remain in retrograde motion until the end of June.

And the next day, April 18, Pluto stations retrograde at 3:23 a.m. at 170 Capricorn. Here we have another opportunity to look at personal structures and attitudes that no longer serve us. I believe that we will also continue to see societal structures that no longer work be part of the evening news.

And last, but certainly not least, Mercury goes retrograde on April 28th at 1:20 p.m. He’ll be at 230 Taurus. He’ll go direct three weeks later, May 23rd.

A rather introspective month, I think, considering it’s spring and a time when things begin to blossom and flower. It may be that this time is given us to slow our frenetic pace down, and focus on what is truly important to us, to truly fulfill all our potential for our highest and best.

Have a wonderful April!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

 

 

Astro Doings December 2015

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

The last month of 2015 – how did we get here so quickly? – promises a continuation of the seemingly directionless and unsettled energy we have been in since October. We start with three planets (Mars, Uranus and Pluto) in cardinal (initiating) signs. Mercury joins Pluto in Capricorn on December 9th to make it four and the Sun joins them both on December 21st. Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and the Sun (until the 21st) are in changeable, restless, multi-talented mutable energy. It is a wonderful time to explore, albeit perhaps superficially, different ideas, ways of thinking and being.

I didn’t forget Venus. She spends most of the month in Scorpio, a fixed sign – i.e., sustaining energy, can be stubborn and unwilling to change. Scorpio brings with it a deep understanding of others with a capacity to heal or to use it for power over another. Venus is the planet of love, so we have here the energetic opportunity to deeply (Scorpio) understand one another with love (Venus). Those with planets at any degree of Taurus, Leo or Aquarius may be more aware of this energy – also those with planets in the other water signs, Cancer and Pisces.

The powerful square between Saturn in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces continues for the entire month. Saturn can represent limitation, lack, delay, discipline, tenacity and/or wisdom. Sagittarius is a fire sign that deals with our developing understanding of truth, our belief systems and our “group” or tribe. This combination can strengthen our resolve and discipline (Saturn) to continue on our spiritual path (Sagittarius). Neptune, the higher octave of Venus, is very strong in her own watery realm of Pisces, which desires to merge with something greater and is aware that there is more to each of us than what we can perceive with our five senses. One of the most positive ways to view this square is to recognize that it can provide structure (Saturn) to our dreams (Neptune); it can provide dedication (Saturn) to our quest for Truth (Sagittarius) and for atonement (Pisces); and it can increase our compassion (Neptune) for ourselves and others. The trick here is to not let the fear that the fiery quest of Sagittarius will boil away the water of Pisces’s sensitivity; or conversely that the sense of being overwhelmed (Neptune in Pisces) and/or the stern discipline of Saturn will inhibit the innate optimism of Sagittarius’ quest for Truth. Those with planets in the other mutable signs (Gemini and Virgo) will be the most aware of these energies.

Lest the cardinal signs feel left out, beginning on December 20th through the end of the month, there is a powerful t-square configuration involving Uranus in Aries, Mars in Libra and Mercury plus Pluto in Capricorn. Uranus and Mars are on opposite sides of the zodiac from one another – the warrior (Mars) and the rebel (Uranus). Lots of innovative (Uranus) ideas for change to benefit the individual (Aries) and the energy (Mars) to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of others (Libra). Both Uranus and Mars are in a challenging relationship with Mercury (how we think and communicate) and Pluto (transformation, decay, underground) in Capricorn. I believe this t-square will continue to present opportunities for all of us to see, both individually and collectively, where structures, i.e. thought patterns, belief systems and “world views” need to be changed.

And, Uranus changes directions on Christmas Day at 10:53 p.m. ET. He’ll be at 160 Aries. What this means is that basically the planet stops and pulses energy before it starts moving again in the other direction. In this case, Uranus is ending its long retrograde motion (since July), so the rebel, innovator, humanitarian in all of us can now express more freely and our quest for who we are in truth (Aries) can move forward more easily. I’d watch for more innovative ideas, some perhaps a little “out there,” especially from those with planets in Aries, Libra, Capricorn, and Cancer from 10 – 260 and from the other fire signs, Leo and Sagittarius.

And December’s full moon also occurs on Christmas Day. She’ll be at 30 Cancer balancing home, hearth, nurturing (Cancer) with society, structure, systems (Capricorn).

Speaking of Capricorn, the Winter Solstice is December 21st when the Sun enters this sign at 11:49 p.m. ET. As you all know, this is a festival in many traditions of the return of the light, as the days slowly begin to get longer. And may our light continue brighten as the days lengthen!

I hope you all have a most joyous holiday season!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings November 2015

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

November promises to be much like the end of October with not a lot (and toward the end of the month, no) fixed, sustaining energy. We will continue to have mostly cardinal energy, which initiates, starts, and flits from one thing to another. It rarely finishes what it starts – that requires fixed or sustaining energy. The cardinal signs are Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn. We also have some mutable energy, which also flits and changes what has been started. It’s very changeable and multi-talented energy. The mutable signs are Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo and Pisces.

We’ve all experienced this combination of energies. Think about mornings when you look in your closet and can’t figure out what to wear. You think about this outfit – and maybe even try it on – but it’s not right. So you try another and another – cardinal energy. By now you’re late and probably have a pile of clothes on the floor. So you finally decide on an outfit, but all day long you’re not satisfied with it. You think about different ways to change it (mutable energy), how to fix it and/or what you would do next time. Sound familiar? So for the rest of this year we’ll be experiencing this kind of energy, not being able to settle down, sort of twitchy.

Those of us with a lot of cardinal and/or mutable energy may feel especially restless, unable to focus or find a clear direction. Think of it as a time of experimentation without attachment to the outcome – like trying on clothes. This is not a bad thing – it’s just what is.

The Sun moves into Sagittarius (mutable energy, fire element) on November 22nd at 10:26 a.m. The Scorpio (water, fixed) New Moon occurs on November 11th at 12:47 p.m. and the Sagittarius/Gemini Full Moon occurs on November 25th. Toward the end of November we have a lot of fire and air energy. These two elements do very nicely together, but the combination can be somewhat of the Peter Pan complex of not wanting to grow up. I’m sure you know people (or may be one of them) who have wonderful, visionary ideas about things but yet never seem to be able to bring them to fruition – that’s one way fire and air can work together. At the end of November the Sun, Mercury, Saturn (all in Sagittarius) and Uranus (Aries)are in fire signs. Venus and Mars are in Libra (air

Lest the earth and water signs feel left out, Jupiter and Pluto are in earth signs, Virgo and Capricorn respectively. And there is one planet in water – Neptune is still in her own sign, Pisces. While she is very strong there, Neptune doesn’t have anyone to play with. Neptune and Pisces are both about compassion, redemption, and forgiveness, all of which seem to be in quite short supply in our world currently. Neptune does end her inward retrograde motion on November 18th at 11:32 a.m. she’ll be at 70 Pisces and will stay at 70 through the rest of 2015. Those with planets or other significant points on the chart at 1-140 Pisces, Virgo, Gemini, or Sagittarius (the mutable signs) or the other water signs, Scorpio and Cancer, may feel this change of direction more acutely. For the other mutable signs this will be another “growth opportunity” relationship; for the other water signs it will be an easy flow of energy that we have to pay attention to in order to full benefit from it.

Hope you have a wonderful November and a gratitude-filled Thanksgiving holiday.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings September 2015

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you all enjoyed your summer. It’s hard to believe that the Autumnal Equinox is upon us (the 23rd at 4:21 a.m.). Things really start to hop the second week in September. Fasten your seat belts.

Direction Changes

Three planets change direction in September, which means that they basically stand still for several days, at the same degree of the zodiac. How this impacts your chart depends on whether or not they “touch” another planet or significant point (like the Ascendant) in your chart. If you’re not sure, you know who to call!

Venus ends her retrograde motion on the 6th at 4:29 a.m. She’ll be at 140 Leo and will tap planets from 4 – 240 of the other fixed signs (Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus) or the other fire signs (Sagittarius and Aries). She is trine (easy flow) Uranus at the moment. Venus is the planet of love, values, charm and beauty.

Mercury starts his last retrograde of 2015 on the 17th at 2:10 p.m. He’ll be at 150 Libra. Attention those with planets from 5 – 250 in Aries, Cancer or Capricorn, or the other air signs, Aquarius and Gemini. Since everyone wants to know when this favorite retrograde will end, he goes direct on October 9th. Remember, this is a great time to re-think, re-group, re-treat and re-pair.

Pluto ends his five month retrograde on the 25th at 2:55 a.m. He’ll be at 120 Capricorn. Pluto is not known for his speed, but then neither is deep-seated transformation and investigation into everything we’d like to keep hidden from others and ourselves. In retrograde motion Pluto tends to operate more internally, so the changes that have been percolating during this period will now tend to surface, especially for those with planets from 7 to 170 Cancer, Aries, and Libra (cardinal signs) or Taurus and Virgo (earth signs).

And if that’s not enough . . .

Eclipses

The last pair of eclipses of 2015 occur this month, book-ending the Equinox.

Solar: We start with a solar eclipse on the 13th at 200 Virgo. It occurs at 2:41 a.m. and will last a little over 4 hours. Think of an eclipse as an energy vortex that remains open for one month for every hour it lasts. I prefer to use very tight orbs for eclipses, so attention those with planets from 17 to 230 of the mutable signs (Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius and Virgo). Solar eclipses have a lot to do with beginning new patterns.

Lunar: This lunar eclipse occurs on the 27th at 10:50 p.m. with the Moon at 40 Aries. This is a total eclipse of the moon, lasting about 5 hours, and will be visible in the US – so positive thoughts for a clear night! I should also add that this is another Super Moon, where the Moon is closest to the Earth. Lunar eclipses are about ending old patterns and about service. Attention those with planets from 1-70 Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn.

If you would like more information about how these celestial doings impact you personally, please contact me.

Happy Fall!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings July & August 2015

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

This marks the 55th post for AstroDoings. That’s over 4.5 years of monthly blogs, and I’ve decided to take a break. So this post will include information on planetary doings for July and August. We’ll see what the fall brings.

Lunations

July begins and ends with a Full Moon. Yep, “once in a blue moon. . . “ Not sure where that expression originated because having two full moons in one month is not all that rare, and the moon will not be blue!

July 1: Full Moon at 90 degrees Capricorn at 10:20 pm ET

At a full moon, the Sun and Moon are on the opposite side of the zodiac, in this case the Sun is in Cancer and the Moon is in Capricorn. This axis is all about balancing the feminine (Cancer, ruled by the Moon) and masculine (Capricorn, ruled by Saturn). Cancer is about nurturing, food, home and security. Capricorn is about structure, plans, integrity and maturity. In its highest expression, Capricorn has the discipline to achieve its goals. Pluto is conjunct (next to) the Moon adding depth (and potential deception) to this full moon. It also brings with it a lot of power – power to face our fears and our shadow. Mars is in this mix as well, adding hopefully, courage and passion to the make any major changes needed at this time.

July 15: New Moon at 230 Cancer at 9:24 pm ET

This is the time to focus on what we all need to feel secure, centered and “at home.” For each of us the requirements will be different, but we need to ask ourselves: What do we need to feel safe? To be nurtured? To grow? Mars and Mercury are also in Cancer to add new thinking (Mercury) and energy (Mars) as we answer these important questions. Cancer is a very personal sign, but if we are not feeling “at home” we are less able to fulfill our function (dharma).July 22: Sun enters Leo at 11:31 pm ET

The focus is on personal creativity and expressing who we are. Leo loves to shine – it’s ruled by the Sun after all. In its highest expression, Leo is on quest to discover the divine within and in others. So let your light shine brightly.

July 31: Full Moon at 70 Aquarius at 6:43 am ET

With this Full Moon we have the opportunity to balance our own creative expression (Sun, Leo) with what is beneficial to the group (Aquarius).

August 14: New Moon at 210 Leo at 10:53 am ET

New moons are focus on new beginnings. So this is a time to shine your light more brightly, to discover another talent that you haven’t fully explored and to genuinely relish who you are. Leo is the sign of the child. Think of young children you know who are just so full of themselves – and emulate them!

August 23: Sun enters Virgo at 6:38 am ET

Now we shift gears from fire and air to earth and water. Virgo ‘s focus is on integration, health, and healing (for ourselves and Mother Earth). Virgo is practical, pragmatic and focused on details necessary to complete any project. While Leo dreams big, Virgo remembers the forks and napkins. We are entering the time of harvest – of our own growth since last year. The Sun has some mighty help in our efforts toward greater health and integration on all levels (see below).

August 29: Full Moon at 60 Pisces at 2:35 pm ET

Pisces can soften the earth of Virgo, provide a broader perspective – or provide fog. Neptune, ruler of Pisces, is conjunct the Moon; Jupiter, ancient ruler of Pisces is conjunct the Sun in Virgo. This is an opportunity to balance the numinous (Pisces) with the everyday practical (Virgo). How do we integrate our spirituality (Pisces) into our everyday life (Virgo) is the question that this Full Moon can help us answer.

Other Planetary Doings

July 25th: Venus stations retrograde at 00 Virgo at 5:29 am ET

It’s almost as if Venus got into Virgo, a sign that she doesn’t particularly care to be in, and said: “I don’t think so!” And back into Leo she goes until September. Any retrograde planet expresses itself more inwardly and Venus is the planet of love. Venus loves beauty, harmony, and balance. This retrograde presents an opportunity to integrate (Virgo) these qualities and to truly love ourselves as we are (Leo).

July 26th: Uranus stations retrograde at 200 Aries at 6:38 am ET

The planet of rebellion, destroyer of old forms (particularly ways of thinking) has been in Aries, the warrior for a while now. This retrograde that lasts until Christmas is a time for us to integrate new patterns of expressing our warrior side. However, since the energy will be focused inward, we may feel some frustration in expressing it. Because of this retrograde, Uranus will be at 200 Aries the whole month of July and August. Attention anyone with planets from 15-250 of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Capricorn or Libra). This long retrograde at the same degree will give you an opportunity to really deal with the issues presented by the planets in your chart at those degrees and in those signs.

At the end of July there will be 5 planets in retrograde motion. So even though it’s summer, the energy – to me at least – feels not as forceful or easily expressed. I believe this is a time of deep inner work so that we can all better live our truth.

August 2nd: Saturn stations direct at 280 Scorpio at 1:53 am ET

Saturn, the great teacher, has been retrograding through Pluto’s sign since March. As Saturn starts moving forward (direct) we can begin to express what we’ve learned about power and healing (Scorpio). Like Uranus, Saturn will stay at 280 the entire months of July (retrograde) and August (direct). Attention all those with planets at 20 – 300 of the other fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, and Taurus). This station of Saturn presents a unique opportunity for restructuring and change.

August 11: Jupiter enters Virgo at 7:13 am ET

Jupiter changes its expansive and optimistic focus from personal creativity and expression to the areas integration, health and healing. He encourages us to value simplicity, discernment and humility and embrace that less can truly be more.

I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings February 2015

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

February promises to be somewhat quieter than January or March, so enjoy!

The February Full Moon occurs on the 3rd at 6:09 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 140 degrees Leo. Full moons can be times of increased awareness and looking across the Leo/Aquarius continuum, how do we balance our individual (Leo) needs with the collective (Uranus) needs? How are we using our individual creative (Leo) power for the benefit of humanity (Aquarius)? Continue reading →