Jupiter

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 May 2015

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Happy May Day! May promises to be a little quieter than March or April. However, it begins with an intense Full Moon and the second Mercury retrograde for this year starts this month. Let’s take them in order.

Full Moon: Sunday, May 3rd

This Full Moon occurs at 11:42 pm EDT at 130 Scorpio. Full Moons occur when the Sun and Moon are on opposites sides of the zodiac from one another – called, fittingly, an opposition. Oppositions generally present us with something (or someone) that is present within us, but that we don’t want to recognize or “own.” Taurus, where the Sun is, is an earth sign that processes information through the five senses and is said to be the most stubborn sign of the zodiac. It has a tendency to be complacent, and seeks stability and comfort. Ruled by Venus, Taureans respond to beauty, most especially of Mother Earth, and like things that are pleasing to the senses. (Think chocolate, bubble bath, massages. . . ) Scorpio, on the other hand, is a water sign and focuses on a deep, intense understanding of what is around him/her, transformation, and the uncanny ability to see below the surface of everything – including you, which can be rather unnerving. It is a sign of power and when the Moon is in Scorpio, emotions and feelings tend to be very intense and deep. We will also tend to hold on to these emotions/feelings longer than is perhaps good for us or helpful.

What makes this Full Moon so powerful is this opposition is squared (read: growth opportunity, shift in perspective) by Jupiter who’s running around in Leo. This is a called a t-square, because it makes a big T in the chart. Leo is a fire sign and is questing for the divine child within by going through a deep-seated sense of unworthiness. Leo, Taurus and Scorpio are all fixed signs. Fixed signs have the reputation of being stubborn – stuck in wherever they are. However, their spiritual task is focus and persistence. Fixed energy is what holds an idea (cardinal energy) long enough to manifest. Without it, nothing would take form. The “solution” to this T-square lies with the fourth fixed sign, Aquarius, the sign of the recognition that we are all equal and that we need to work together. Aquarius, in its highest expression, reminds us of who we really are. There is a second T-Square operating as well. Mercury will be opposed Saturn (in Sagittarius) and square Neptune (in Pisces). This T-Square provides additional impetus to augment our understanding and compassion of ourselves and each other. The “solution” to this T-Square lies in the sign of integration and harvest of self, Virgo.

New Moon: Monday, May 18th          

The Taurus New Moon occurs at midnight at 260. This new beginning occurs hours before Mercury stations retrograde, and once again it is near the end of the sign. Taurus is the sign of the builder and in its highest expression – detachment. Coupled with Mercury stationing retrograde (see below) this is a time to look at what we’re attached to – especially thoughts and behavior patterns – that have come to the end of their usefulness to us.

 Mercury Retrograde: Monday, May 18th

When he changes direction at 1:26 p.m. EDT, Mercury will be at 130 Gemini and will retrograde until June 11 when he will be at 40 Gemini. Because of its retrograde motion, Mercury will be in the sign it rules until July 8, an extremely long transit. I believe that this retrograde period and the three squares that Mercury will make to Neptune (May 9, May 28 and June 23) provide an opportunity for us to re-group, re-think and re-order our priorities, old thought patterns, and to integrate some of the powerful astrological energies that we’ve experienced in March and April. Between the retrograde motion of Mercury and the fixed energy of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter, we’ll have a chance to slow down a little bit and make substantive changes in how we view our world and how we operate in it.

 Sun Enters Gemini: Thursday, May 21 at 4:45 a.m.

The Sun joins the Gemini team with Mercury and Mars. Communication will be emphasized, but things can feel a little scattered as well.

Have a wonderful May!

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 →

Astro Doings July 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

July gets off to a great start with Mercury ending its retrograde on the 1st at 8:50 a.m.  He’ll be at 240 Gemini.  As I said in my June Astro Doings, one of the reasons this retrograde was so powerful was that Mercury is in his own sign.  Planets can express their energy much more easily when they’re in a sign with similar energy.  (We call that the sign the planet “rules.”)  So we’re all likely to feel a rush of clarity and things will move forward more smoothly.  Good news, eh?

Mercury is not the only planet changing directions in July.  The week of July 20 will be a busy one with both Saturn and Uranus changing directions. These two planets represent opposing modes of operation. Saturn is the planet of restriction, lack, delay, old age, ego, and fear.  He brings us lessons to help us grow. He also represents structure, the status quo, corporations, etc.  Uranus is the destroyer of form, promoter of abrupt change (not always wisely), and inspiration from the higher mind, “ah-ha” moments and lightening bolts.  To continue their contrariness, Saturn is ending his retrograde motion that started in March and Uranus is beginning his retrograde motion that will continue until December 21 (the Winter Solstice).  Saturn goes direct on July 20 at 4:36 p.m. at 160 Scorpio and Uranus goes retrograde on July 21st at 10:53 p.m. at 160 Aries.  With both Saturn and Mercury going direct this month, I believe that energies that have felt “bottled up” during their retrogrades will begin to be released and those “internal” issues that we were all working on during the Saturn, especially, retrograde will be resolved. Continue reading →

Astro Doings May 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Phew!  Well, April was certainly intense!  Many people whom I’ve talked to and done readings for this spring have not felt the rush of energy that generally comes in the spring – myself included.  I would describe everything as feeling very inward still. I believe it is due to the Cardinal Grand Cross in April, which will continue through May, and the fact that Mars has been retrograde since March 1.  When a planet’s motion is retrograde, we tend to experience its energy more inwardly.  Mars is the planet of getting things moving, war, initiating new projects; he rules Aries, a fire sign. So if you’ve been feeling like your get-up-and-go got up and went, you’re not alone. I believe this will ease a little bit towards when Mars goes direct.  (See below.)

May promises to be a little quieter in that there are no eclipses.  However the Cardinal Grand Cross will still be there:  Pluto in Capricorn square Uranus in Aries (with Venus most of the month), square Mars in Libra, opposed Jupiter in Cancer.  (See April Astro Doings for a full description of this intense configuration.)  Again those with planets in middle degrees (8-20) of cardinal signs may feel this Grand Cross more intensely than others. Continue reading →

Astro Doings April 2014

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

The theme of deep-seated change gets an extra boost of intensity in April with two eclipses and Pluto changing directions.  Let’s take them in the order they will occur.

Pluto: stations retrograde on April 14th at 7:44 p.m., just hours before a total lunar eclipse (see below).  When a planet changes direction its energy intensifies because it is basically standing still on the degree of the sign where it is – in this case 130Capricorn.  Thirteen degrees happens to be what we call a “critical degree” for cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn).  It’s a point that is very sensitive for that particular sign. Those with planets in mid degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and of course Capricorn may feel this change of direction more strongly.  The other earth signs (Taurus and Virgo) will experience this more easily.  Retrograde motion means that we tend to experience the energy of the planet – in this case transformation, power and power struggles, unearthing that which is hidden, compulsions – more inwardly.  It’s a very powerful time to totally leave behind that which no longer serves and/or gets in our way. Continue reading →