Jupiter

Astro Doings January – February 2025

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I hope you had wonderful holidays and that 2025 brings many blessings to you.

January and February bring some change in direction for a couple of planets and by the end of February there will be no planets in retrograde motion!

January

We begin the month with the Sun, Mercury and Uranus in earth signs – practical, deliberate, not rushing into anything. We have Venus, Saturn and Neptune in water – a lot of emotion and three planets are in Pisces, the sign of faith, addiction, illusion and disillusion. I should mention that Pisces is the sign of Venus’ “exaltation.” Sounds neat, eh? Well, Venus is the planet of love and in Pisces she has an opportunity to express her love beyond one-on-one relationships. At the beginning of the month we also have Mars in Leo opposed Pluto in Aquarius. Both planets are in fixed (read stubborn) signs, so the New New Year could start off with power struggles, the same as we saw at the end of December.  Mars will retrograde back into Cancer on the 7th, and while it will still be opposed Pluto, it won’t be as strong.

Finally we get some air in here on the 19th when the Sun enters Aquarius, joining Jupiter in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius. Mercury goes into Aquarius on the 27th and we have a new moon in Aquarius on the 29th. She’ll be a 90. Aquarius is the sign of the innovator, rebel and visionary. It can also be said of Aquarians that they can be quite aloof, cold and disinterested. But air is the element of ideas, and Pluto promises the beginning of new ideas, as well as breakdown of old, deeply held ideas, and Jupiter in ever-curious Gemini will keep the conversation going.

Uranus goes direct at 11:22 a.m. on the 30th. He’ll be at 230 Taurus. Uranus is the planet of the higher mind and is also the ruler of Aquarius. We can hope that any new ideas that arise during this period will be beneficial to mankind and Mother Earth and that they will be practical (Taurus).

The Full Moon occurs on the 13th at 240 Cancer.

February

Jupiter and Mars change direction in February and by the end of the month there will be no planets in retrograde motion. So charge ahead with all the understanding and insights gathered during retrograde periods! It won’t last long. Two planets station retrograde in early March. . . . Otherwise February is pretty quiet.

On the 4th Jupiter changes directions at 110 Gemini, moving in the same direction as the Sun, Mercury and Venus in air signs. And on the 23rd Mars changes directions at 170 Cancer, going direct with the Sun, Saturn and Neptune in water signs.

Water and air generally make fog, but water can soften the seeming hardness of the airy realm of ideas.  It can also confuse the issue. We’ll have to see how this plays out. The US is a Sun-sign Cancer country with several placements in the sign in the area of foreign policy and foreign investments. It will be interesting to see how these planetary placements influence activities in these areas. Remember, the stars impel, they don’t compel.

The Full Moon occurs on the 12th at 8:53 a.m. She’ll be at 240 Leo. The New Moon occurs on the 27th at 3:46 a.m. She’ll be at 90 Pisces.

Hope you have a wonderful start to 2025.

Peace and abundant blessings, Margaret

Astro Doings September – October 2024

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you all had a good July and August. September and October have a lot of water and air energy with little fire and earth.  If you think about these pairs together you can see that they don’t get along very well. If you mix water and air, you get fog, or you get the battle between thought (air) and emotion (water).  And fire (enthusiasm, inspiration) and earth (practical, slow moving) are very effective ways to reduce the potential impact of the other.  Each month has an eclipse – the last pair of 2024, but their impact may last into 2025. Let’s look at each month in more detail.

September

The month starts with four planets moving in retrograde motion: Saturn, Uranus, who stations retrograde on the 1st, Neptune and Pluto. Uranus and Pluto are in earth signs (Taurus and Capricorn respectively), and Saturn and Neptune are in watery Pisces. Earth and water do well together: water softens earth and earth gives water some needed boundaries. When planets are retrograde, we tend to feel their energy more inwardly. So far, so good. On the 4th Mars joins the water brigade, entering Cancer with an easy flow of energy to Saturn and Neptune in Pisces. Mars, the warrior, is uncomfortable in the watery, moody, emotional sign Cancer, ruled by the Moon. His fiery nature become much more subdued or, on the flip side, he could tend toward emotional outbursts.

If we were excited last month about a full blue moon, which was a super moon, how about a super moon eclipse? (A super moon, as it is called, is when the moon is closest to the earth and so appears larger in our skies.) On the 17th there is a partial lunar eclipse at 250 Pisces. We will be able to see it in the US. It starts at 8:40 p.m., and the best view will be at 10:45 p.m. It ends just after midnight, lasting about 4 hours, which means the potential impact of the eclipse will last about 4 months. A lunar eclipse is generally about being of service and also ending attitudes, beliefs, or emotional states that no longer serve us. Those with planets or other points in their charts at late degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius may feel the impact of this energy more strongly than others. For those with placements in the other water signs, Cancer and Scorpio, this may be an easier release of feelings (emotions) which no longer serve our spiritual growth. The New Moon occurs on the 2nd at 110 Virgo.

The Autumnal Equinox, when the Sun enters Libra, occurs on the 22nd at 8:44 a.m. Libra is an air sign and is the only sign whose symbol is an inanimate object – the scales. Libra seeks balance. (It rarely has it – it’s more like a teeter-totter.) It also seeks fairness. It can seek fairness (or balance) by taking the opposite position from yours – to create balance, you see.

Also on the 22nd, Venus enters Scorpio, adding a little more water to the mix. We now have 4 planets in water. Glug, glug or emotions will be running the show.

October

October starts with a solar eclipse on the 2nd. Both Sun and Moon will be at 100 Libra.  We will not be able to see this annular solar eclipse in the US.  It will last about 5 hours, which means its impact will last about 5 months. Those with Libra, Aries, Cancer or Capricorn placements in their charts (from about 7-130) may be more impacted by this eclipse. A solar eclipse can signify new beginnings and/or new ways of being and thinking with a new influx of energy.  Remember that Libra is about relationship and balance, but it is an air sign, so it thinks about these things. Libra isn’t always good at either when it comes to the practical side of relationships or balance.

Interestingly this eclipse is very near Saturn (the executive) in the US Sibley chart and could still be in “effect” at the time of the election in November. It also widely squares (a challenging relationship) the Sun in Cancer in the US chart.  And water and air generally don’t mix well.

On the 9th, Jupiter changes directions and starts his retrograde period. He’ll be at 210 Gemini. Jupiter is considered to be the planet of “good luck,” faith and expansion – fine if it’s not my waistline! His retrograde motion may delay or hinder his normal optimism. It may also be a time when we examine more closely what we believe.

On the 11th, Pluto ends his retrograde motion, but will remain at 290 Capricorn through the end of the month, sitting on top of Pluto in the US chart in our house of values (and money). Pluto rules deep-seated change, and Capricorn is the sign that rules systems, corporations, and the status quo. It is also a deeply spiritual sign, with its symbol (the goat) climbing steadily up the mountain of spiritual growth.

On the 17th Venus moves into Sagittarius and will be the only planet in fire. So there may not be much enthusiasm or inspiration. Being the only planet in fire, Venus has no one to “play” with in the heavens, and she likes to make connections.

The Sun moves into Scorpio on the 22nd at 6:15 p.m. – more water!! The Full Moon occurs on the 17th at 240 Aries.

I hope you have a great start to your fall!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings July – August 2024

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you’re having a good summer so far. July and August look pretty quiet with the planets moving as they have been, dancing to the music of the heavens.

Saturn and Pluto continue their retrograde motion without changing signs. Saturn remains in Pisces, and Pluto is in early degrees Aquarius.

Neptune stations retrograde on July 2 at 6:40 a.m. at 290. She’ll remain in Pisces until 2025.

Mercury moves into Virgo at the end of July, Venus into Leo in mid-July and Mars into Gemini towards the end, joining Jupiter in that sign.

Mercury goes retrograde on August 5th. He’ll be at 40 Virgo. He stations direct on August 28th at 210 Leo. Venus moves into Virgo in early August and edges into Libra at the end of the month.

New Moons: July 5th; August 4th

Full Moons: July 21st; August 19th

Hope you have a wonderful summer!

Peace and abundant blessings!

Margaret

Astro Doings January – February 2024

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Happy New Year!

It’s hard to believe that we’re starting another year, but I wish you all the best in 2024. I think the biggest energetic change in the early part of 2024 is the return of the element of air into the planetary mix.  In January and February the element will be represented by Aquarius – the rebel, who hates the status quo. Air is the element of ideas, communication and relationship.

January

The New Year begins with the end of Mercury’s retrograde motion. He’ll station direct on New Year’s Day at 10:08 p.m. He’ll be at 220 Sagittarius – an optimistic, fire sign full of new ideas, but not necessarily a lot of follow through.

During the month there will be up to 5 planets in Capricorn (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Pluto). Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of restriction, delay and lack, but also the planet of spiritual growth. I’ve talked a lot about Capricorn in 2023 – the sign of the status quo, systems and institutions.

However, the Sun enters Aquarius on the 20th, bringing innovation, rebellion and finally some air into the mix. And a few hours later, Pluto enters Aquarius. This is big deal as the planet of transformation and deep-seated understanding leaves Capricorn (an earth sign) and begins to transform the realm of communication and ideas.  And a week later, on the 27th at 2:35 a.m., the ruler of Aquarius, Uranus, stations direct. He’ll be at 190 Taurus, an earth sign that is considered to be one of the most stubborn signs of the zodiac, but also one very involved in the well-being of Mother Earth. Uranus in Taurus will be in a challenging relationship to the planets in Aquarius, both are fixed (read stubborn) signs, but Uranus in Taurus will provide a practical lens to some of the more hairbrained ideas that Aquarius might come up with. Aquarius wants change – no matter what, but not personal change. Don’t ask an Aquarian to change the way s/he does thing! Aquarius’s vision for change is on a global scale for humanity at large.

The first New Moon of the year occurs on the 11th at 6:57 a.m. She’ll be at 200 Capricorn. The Full Moon occurs on the 25th at 12:54 p.m. she’ll be at 50 Leo.

February

There will be 4 planets in Aquarius during the month – Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars.  It’s important to remember that Aquarius can be rather aloof. It is also a fixed sign. When it gets an idea it can be a challenge to get an Aquarian to see another point of view.  And while their vision is of humanity as a whole, they can find people rather annoying, especially if their views do not agree.

The other interesting thing about this short month is that there are no retrograde planets. So this can be a time of expressing that which was learned during the long retrograde periods of 2023. Time will tell. . . . . It is also a leap year.

So, Mercury then Mars and then Venus enter Aquarius and are next to Pluto in very early degrees.  Oh, yes, the whole bunch will be in a challenging relationship (square) to Jupiter in Taurus, a very practical, slow-moving earth sign. Again, the opportunity to bring a practical lens (Taurus) to Aquarius’ innovative ideas of how to improve things.

The Sun enters Pisces on the 18th at 11:13 p.m.  I talked a lot about Pisces last year as Neptune transits the sign (and will continue to do so in 2024). The New Moon occurs on the 9th at 5:59 p.m. She’ll be at 200 Aquarius. The Full Moon occurs on the 24th at 7:30 a.m. She’ll be at 50 Virgo.

I hope you have a wonderful start to the New Year!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings November – December 2023

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe that this is the last Astro Doings for 2023. Seems like I was writing the first one just yesterday! We have some planets changing direction during November and December but still end up with three planets in retrograde motion by the end of 2023.

November

This month begins with 4 planets in retrograde (i.e. moving from west to east by our perception.) They are Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and they’ve been retrograde for several months. There are three planets in water (Mars, Saturn and Neptune) and three planets in earth (Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto). There is only on planet in an air sign – Venus in Libra.

In addition, Sun/Mars in Scorpio oppose Jupiter/Uranus in Taurus. Both Taurus and Scorpio are fixed signs, meaning their energy can feel stubborn, slow-moving but sustaining. Opinions at this time can be deeply entrenched and compromise is hard to find with opposing fixed signs. Scorpio sees deeply and understands and uses power. Taurus finds change almost impossible, although it can be more easily focused on Mother Earth and earthly concerns. The energy during this time may seem stalled. When the Sun, Mercury and Mars enter Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign, towards the last third of the month, the relationship with Jupiter and Uranus will change. Now, Sun, Mercury and Mars are in an incompatible sign (fire) with Jupiter and Uranus (earth). In addition the quality of Sagittarius (mutable, changeable, restless) does not easily get along with the fixed (stubborn, sustaining) energy of Taurus.  And there is only one planet in air (the sign of ideas, relationships), and that’s Venus in Libra. So we’re not likely to see any new ideas or any ideas about relating to one another.

Saturn is the first planet to change directions. He’ll station direct on November 4 at 3:03 a.m. EDT. He’s at 00 Pisces. When a planet changes directions it tends to stop and pulse energy on the degree (and sign) that it’s in. Saturn is also at what we call a critical degree of a sign. In this case it’s at the beginning of Pisces, a watery sign – intuitive, psychic, often overwhelmed by this plane – and it is considered the sign of faith. Pisces people have a very difficult time with this plane. Saturn here may provide structure to our faith or inhibit it in some way.

Otherwise, November is pretty quiet. The Sun enters Sagittarius on the 22nd at 9:03 a.m. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion, optimism and general good fortune. Sagittarians tend to look before they leap and speak before they think. Overall they are seeking truth in all its forms. The US chart (Sibley) has Sagittarius rising and these characteristics of the American psyche may be more evident with the Sun in Sag.

The New Moon occurs on November 13th at 4:27 a.m. She’ll be at 200 Scorpio. The Full Moon occurs on November 27th 4:16 a.m. She’ll be at 40 Sagittarius.

December

December is a little bit more active with three planets changing direction. And more planets are in water and earth, which are compatible elements. There will be no planets in air in December, as Venus enters Scorpio early in the month.

The first direction change is Neptune on December 6 at 8:20 a.m. EST. She’ll be at 240 Pisces. She’s been retrograde for 5 months and in Pisces since 2012. Perhaps with this change of direction, our faith will be stronger and our fog clearer!

The second is everyone’s favorite – Mercury. This is the last Mercury retrograde of the year – yipppeee! He’ll station retrograde on December 13th at 2:09 a.m., and he’ll be at 80 Capricorn. He’ll back into Sagittarius on the 23rd.  And yes, we’ll begin 2024 with Mercury retrograde.

And last, but certainly not least, Jupiter stations direct on the 30th at 9:40 p.m. He’ll be at 50 Taurus.

The Winter Solstice, when the Sun enters Capricorn, occurs on December 21st at 10:27 p.m. At that point we’ll have 5 planets in earth – Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto – a time for practical solutions and perhaps a focus on our beloved planet! There will be 3 planets in water: Venus, Saturn and Neptune.

The New Moon occurs on December 12. She’ll be at 200 Sagittarius. The Full Moon occurs on December 26th at 7:32 p.m. She’ll be at 40 Cancer.

I hope you have wonderful holidays and the very best in the New Year! I’ll see you in January.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings September- October 2023

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you had a wonderful summer! September and October are going to be busy with planets changing direction, lots of retrograde planets and eclipses.

September

September begins as August ended with six retrograde planets:  Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Five planets are in earth signs until the Equinox and all the qualities are represented (cardinal, fixed and mutable). The Sun and Mercury are in Virgo; Jupiter and Uranus are in Taurus; and Pluto in Capricorn. That’s a lot of earth energy – grounded, practical, slow-moving, and/or determined. We have two planets in water: Saturn and Neptune are in Pisces, the sign of faith, fog, illusion, and escapism. Mars is the only planet in an air sign (Libra), the element of ideas and the sign of relationship. Venus is the only planet in a fire sign (Leo), the element of passion, grandeur, and a sense of unworthiness.

September 3-4

Venus is the first planet to end her retrograde motion on the 3rd at 9:20 p.m. EDT. She’ll be at 120 Leo. On the 4th Jupiter, the planet of expansion and good fortune, stations retrograde at 10:10 a.m. He’ll be at 150 Taurus, next to Uranus. Neither of these planets are comfortable in slow-moving earthbound Taurus, but she is the sign most closely associated with Mother Earth, property, and possessions. Uranus invites us to change our outmoded thinking and attitudes. In retrograde motion, Jupiter may slow down our tendency to leap before we look and our “good fortune” may seem slower to arrive during this period. When a planet changes direction, it sits on the degree of the sign it is in when the direction change occurs. Outer planets tend to sit on that degree for a long time; inner planets start moving again more quickly. When this change of direction is near a placement in your natal chart, it can bring intense energy there.

September 15

Mercury ends his retrograde motion at 4:21 p.m. He’ll be at 80 Virgo. Mercury is comfortable in Virgo, as he likes to categorize and analyze and be very busy thinking about things.  But then, of course, there’s analysis paralysis!

September 23

The Sun enters Libra at 2:50 a.m. This is the Autumnal Equinox. He joins Mars in Libra, the air sign of balance and relationship. Libra tends to want peace at any price and generally has extremes of energy – moving rapidly or not at all.  It is ruled by Venus, the planet of love. Mars is not happy in this sign of balance as he wants to charge ahead into battle. Mars often doesn’t take into consideration the opinions of others, which Libra always wants to balance.

But it can be a good thing for the God of War to be in the sign ruled by the planet associated with Love (Venus) – a different kind of balance.  

The New Moon occurs on September 14th. She’ll be at 210 Virgo. The Full Moon occurs on the 27th. She’ll be at 60 Aries.

October

October features the last two eclipses of the year and five planets in water towards the end of the month (Sun, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune). Water is the element of emotions and sensitivity – and also floods and rain or lack of water. It will be a switch from all the earth in September, but water softens earth, so perhaps entrenched ideas and patterns may soften. Or we’ll have a lot of rain and be over emotional!  It can go either (or both) ways. . ..

October 10

Pluto ends her retrograde motion at 9:10 p.m. She’ll be at 270 Capricorn. She’s been retrograde since May. (A note about pronouns when referring to Pluto. The planet was named for the god of the underworld, but its energy is feminine. So I’ve chosen to use she and her when referred to Pluto.) When an outer planet changes direction it can signal a time when the lessons learned during the retrograde (introspective) period are more visible and insights are acted upon.

October 14

There will be an annular solar eclipse, which is often referred to as the Ring of Fire. It will be visible from Oregon to Texas in its totality in the US.  Other parts of the US will be able to see part of the eclipse. It will last about five hours, and the Sun will be at 210 Libra. This eclipse occurs rather close to Saturn in the US chart, which is at 140 Libra, representing the executive and to some degree our position in the world. This eclipse is about service and payback, especially in the area of relationships of all kinds – to each other and to the planet.

October 28

This is a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible mostly in Europe and Africa, but some parts of the eastern US will be able to view part of it before the Moon drops below the horizon. It will last about four hours. The moon will be at 50 Taurus. Lunar eclipses generally signal the beginning of an ending of a pattern and occur on a full moon. (Solar eclipses occur at a new moon.) The Moon is said to be exalted in Taurus, meaning that here she is closely involved with the world of form and Mother Earth. The Moon also represents our emotional nature, and Taurus tends to hang on to everything and anything longer than is necessary or healthy. This eclipse may represent a time to let go of what is no longer serving all of us in the way we feel (key word) about things and each other. The Moon will be opposed to Mercury and Mars in Scorpio – think teeter totter/balance. Emotions will also be running very deep and sometimes secretively.

The Sun enters Scorpio on October 23rd at 3:04 p.m.

Happy Fall, everyone!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings March-April, 2022

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

March brings the first day of Spring and more planets in air signs, but otherwise is rather quiet. April brings showers with more planets in water and the first eclipse of 2022.

March

On the 6th both Venus and Mars enter Aquarius, joining Mercury and Saturn. Aquarius is an air sign, full of revolutionary ideas and no patience for outmoded thinking or structures. It can be very stubborn, as its energy tends to sustain rather than initiate. These planets are in a challenging relationship (square) to the ruler of Aquarius (Uranus), who is in Taurus, an earth sign. The good news here is that some of Aquarius’s innovative ideas will hopefully be more earth-based and practical. 

Mercury moves into Pisces from March 9- 26, joining Jupiter and Neptune in this changeable water sign that rules faith, illusion, fog and redemption. Jupiter is the “ancient” ruler of Pisces and Neptune is the “modern” ruler of the sign, making them both very strong in this sign. Optimism (Jupiter) and dreams (Neptune) can join with concrete thinking (Mercury) while they are transiting this sign.

The first day of Spring occurs on March 20th at 11:33 a.m. EDT. This, of course, is when the Sun enters Aries and is the astrological new year. Mercury joins the Sun in Aries on the 27th. The New Moon occurs on March 2nd at 12:35 p.m. She’ll be at 120 Pisces. The Full Moon occurs on March 18th at 3:18 a.m. She’ll be at 270 Virgo.

April

Both Venus and Mars enter Pisces during April, joining Jupiter and Neptune. Venus enters Pisces on the 5th and Mars on the 14th. That’s four planets in water – and all in the same water sign. The good news is that Mercury enters the earth sign, Taurus, on the 10th and the Sun enters the same sign on the 19th joining Uranus in this most earthbound of all the signs. Earth gives water boundaries and water softens earth. Both are feminine in their elemental feel. Taurus is the most stubborn of all the signs, which may help to focus dreamy Pisces.

In addition to Mercury and Uranus in earth signs, Pluto begins his 5-month retrograde period on the 29th. He’ll be at 280 Capricorn, an earth sign that is related to structures, systems and the status quo. When one of the outer planets basically stops and then changes direction, it can be a significant shift in how their energy is experienced. Those with planets in late degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn may feel this change of direction more acutely. Pluto, the ruler of the Roman underground, rules deep-seated transformation and the destroyer of old forms. These forms may be personal or collective. Pluto has been in Capricorn since 2009, pointing out structures that no longer serve us.

I should also note that the US is experiencing its first Pluto return and when Pluto stations retrograde, he will be at the exact same degrees he is in the US (Sibly) chart. When a planet returns to its natal degrees all the issues that were present at the birth come to the fore again. This transit has been going on for a while and will continue until Uranus enters Aquarius for good in 2024. It has contributed to significant unrest and issues that were present at the nation’s founding that have not yet been resolved, such as race, isolationism, sharp polarization and radical attitudes, to name just a few. This change of direction may mark an intensification around these issues, and a time of introspection for each of us on our attitudes, thoughts, feelings around them, as well as a focus on personal transformation.

The first eclipse of 2022 is a partial solar eclipse that occurs on April 30th. Both Sun and Moon will be at 100 Taurus. It will not be visible in the US and will last about four hours. A solar eclipse generally indicates new beginnings and those with planets in Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio may feel the impact of this new beginning more strongly.

Happy Spring!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings January-February 2022

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Happy New Year! This year begins with a predominance of earth energy, especially Capricorn, through the next two months. Jupiter and Neptune are the only two planets in water, both in Pisces. As January progress, Mars, which is currently the only planet in fire, will move into Capricorn as well, so there will be no planets in a fire sign. Fire initiates, inspires and warms. . .

January

As the month begins, there are four planets in Capricorn: Sun, Mercury, Venus and Pluto. Three planets change direction during January, including everyone’s favorite – Mercury.

Mercury: The planet of the concrete mind, every-day thinking, communication of all types, travel and computers begins January in Capricorn but quickly moves into Aquarius on January 2nd. Mercury likes to be in Aquarius, the sign of the inventor, new ideas and ways of looking at the world. He is said to be exalted in Aquarius, which means the potential for the highest expression of the planet. He stations retrograde (i.e., begins his three-week retrograde motion) on the 14th at 6:41 a.m. and he backs into Capricorn on the 25th at 10:05 p.m. He remains in Capricorn for the rest of January and the first half of February.

Uranus: Uranus ends his long retrograde period on the 18th at 10:27 a.m. He’ll be at 100 Taurus, an earth sign, so an easy flow of energy with all the planets in Capricorn. Uranus is the planet of rebellion, destroyer of outdated forms and structures, both personal and collectively. He’ll remain at 100 Taurus for the rest of the month. Those with planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio) may feel this change of direction more acutely. Many ideas, plans, innovations that have seemed to be on the back burner may come to fruition or the steps to their realization clearer as Uranus continues its direct motion, (i.e. moving forward).

Venus:  Venus, the planet of beauty, love, and harmony, ends her retrograde period on the 29th at 3:46 p.m. She’ll be at 110 Capricorn. Hopefully our ability to express our affection and support for one another will be easier as Venus starts to move forward. She is brilliant in the night sky right now, so be sure to enjoy her. She’ll fade behind the sun’s glare in early January and then become the morning star in the middle of the month. Venus is not particularly happy in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. Expressions of love and affection may be more subdued during her time in this sign.

Mars enters Capricorn on the 24th and Mercury on the 25th, so we’ll have four planets in Capricorn and one planet in Taurus – a total of 5 planets in earth. Hopefully this earth focus will translate into climate change initiatives and a greater appreciation for our beloved planet. It can also indicate that our thinking/solutions to issues will be practical and implementable. However, Taurus is the most stubborn sign of the zodiac, so we may also be slow to change our minds/opinions about things. Capricorn represents the status quo and a reluctance to change how things are done.

The Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th at 9:39 p.m. The Full Moon occurs on the 17th 6:48 p.m. She’ll be at 270 Cancer. The New Moon occurs on January 2nd at 1:33 p.m. She’ll be at 120 Capricorn.

February

February is much quieter than January – phew!

Mercury ends its retrograde period on the 3rd at11:13 p.m. He’ll be at 240 Capricorn, right next to (conjunct) Pluto. In the beginning of the month the Sun will be conjunct Saturn, so rebellion and innovation may be delayed (Saturn) in their expression, both personally and collectively. Mercury will join the Aquarian party on the 14th, so we’ll have a total of three planets in this air sign. This Aquarian energy will be in a challenging relationship with the ruler of the sign, Uranus, which is in Taurus. This means that whatever new ideas come forth must meet the test of practicality and, hopefully, beneficence for Mother Earth. I should also add that both Aquarius and Taurus are fixed (stubborn) signs, so positions may be deeply entrenched and change slow to come about – again both collectively and personally, for those with planets in fixed signs – Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, and Scorpio.  

The New Moon occurs on the 1st at 120 Aquarius. It’s also the Lunar New Year – the year of the Tiger. The Full Moon occurs on the 16th with the Moon at 270 Leo.

The Sun enters Pisces on the 18th at 11:43 a.m. and joins Jupiter and Neptune in this watery sign of faith, illusion, fog, and redemption. How’s that for a set of qualities? Pisces is very strong with both of her rulers, current (Neptune) and past (Jupiter) in the sign. Her strength at this time may soften entrenched attitudes of the earth signs, just as water softens earth.

I wish you all a happy, healthy New Year filled with abundant blessings!

Peace,

Margaret

AstroDoings November – December 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

It’s hard to believe that this is the last AstroDoings for 2021. Where has the time gone? This year ends with two eclipses, one in November and one in December, plus some direction changes.

November

November begins with three planets in water: Sun, Mars, and Neptune. Mercury joins them on the 5th. Three planets are in Scorpio, and Neptune continues her transit of Pisces. Also on the 5th, Venus enters Capricorn, joining Pluto in that sign and Uranus in another earth sign, Taurus. Mars in Scorpio is opposed (on the other side of the heavens) to Uranus, and Saturn in Aquarius squares both planets, creating a fixed (read stubborn) t-square. When planets are in opposite signs, they can operate like a teeter-totter – first one, then the other. With this t-square opinions about anything and everything may be very strongly held without much room for compromise. This tension begins to ease toward the end of the month and into December as Mars, the fastest moving of the three planets, moves away. Those with planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio) may feel the impact of this t-square more strongly.

Partial Lunar Eclipse. There is a partial lunar eclipse on the 19th. The moon will be at 270 Taurus, and the eclipse will last about six hours. It will be visible on the east coast if you want to get up really early in the morning. The maximum eclipse will be at 4:02 a.m. This eclipse will be in an easy flow of energy with Pluto and a challenging contact with Jupiter in Aquarius. This lunar eclipse is about service and ending of old attitudes. In Taurus we can hope that one of the areas is Mother Earth and that some of the innovations (Jupiter in Aquarius) will be realized.

The Sun enters Sagittarius, an optimistic fire sign, ruled by Jupiter, on the 21st at 9:34 p.m. Mercury joins the Sun in Sagittarius on the 24th. The New Moon occurs on the 4th at 5:15 p.m. She’ll be at 120 Scorpio.

December

The last month of 2021 starts off with a bang. Neptune, the planet of fog, illusion, addiction and spirituality, ends its retrograde period on December 1 at 8:22 a.m. EST. She’ll be at 200 Pisces, a water sign, where she will remain for the rest of the month and halfway into January. Those with placements around 15-150 Pisces, Gemini, Virgo or Sagittarius or the other water signs (Cancer, Scorpio) may feel the impact of this shift in direction more strongly. It may be a time to bring our dreams, that have been gestating during Neptune’s retrograde period, to fruition. Or our spiritual progress (or lack thereof) may be more apparent as the planet changes direction.

Total Solar Eclipse. Book your ticket to Antarctica if you want to see this total solar eclipse – or you could just watch it on the internet! The Sun will be at 120 Sagittarius, in a challenging relationship to Neptune’s change of direction a few days before. This eclipse will last about 4 hours and can represent the beginning of a period of payback, selfless service and clarifying the connection between the spiritual and the material. It is also very near the Ascendant of the US chart (Sibley) and may indicate a new way of how we present ourselves in the world. Mars joins the Sagittarius parade on the 13th. 

Mercury, the planet of how we think and process information, moves into Capricorn on the same day. At this time there will be three planets in Capricorn, a Saturn-ruled earth sign that deals primarily with the status quo in the material plane. It is also the sign of the spiritual initiate, slowly climbing the mountain of spiritual understanding. In addition to Mercury and Venus, Pluto continues to move through the sign very slowly. Venus begins her retrograde motion on the 19th at 5:36 a.m. EST.  An important time to focus on loving ourselves, as our appreciation of beauty, loveliness and sensuousness turns inward. Time for great chocolate and long bubble baths.

The Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st at 10:59 a.m. – the Winter Solstice. At this point there are 4 planets in Capricorn: Sun, Mercury, Venus and Pluto. The Full Moon occurs on the 18th at 11:36 p.m. She’ll be at 270 Gemini.  Jupiter enters Pisces, a sign he ruled until the discovery of Neptune, on the 28th.  This leaves one planet in fire (Mars in Sagittarius) and one planet in air (Saturn in Aquarius).  Fire and air are male elements and tend to initiate movement – air with ideas, fire with enthusiasm. Water and earth are female elements that tend to hold onto ideas until they are deemed practical (earth) and emotionally (water) for the best. This may not appear to be a time of innovation or new ways of doing things.

I hope you have a wonderful end of 2021 and joyous holidays.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

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