lunar eclipse

Astro Doings September-October 2025

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hard to believe that the summer is almost over and that fall is here – well, almost. September is a busy month with two eclipses and planets changing sign. October is a little quieter.

September

The month begins with Saturn backing into watery Pisces from fiery Aries. Questions of faith (Pisces) may arise at this time for those with placements in late degrees of dreamy Pisces. Saturn has been here before, so any unresolved issues may come to the fore during his last pass-through Pisces. And as a reminder, Saturn’s practical status quo energy is not well suited to escapist Pisces, which has a lot of trouble dealing with this plane and will try to escape into a more pleasant (by its perception) place.

On the 6th the planet of rebellion, higher level thinking of all kinds, Uranus, stations retrograde in Gemini. Gemini rules communication of all kinds, so with this change in direction, communication may be disrupted or unclear.  When a planet is retrograde we tend to experience its energies more inwardly. You may find you journal more, as a way of inner communication, or that the nature of your journaling changes. This is just one example of how this retrograde might feel to you.

On the 7th we have the last lunar eclipse of the year. The Full Moon will be at 150 Pisces. It is the longest total lunar eclipse in several years, lasting over 5 hours, which means its impact will last about 5 months. Unfortunately we will not be able to see it in the US, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the energy of it. It is a Dragon’s Head eclipse, which often offers new opportunities and acts as an amplifier. (The Dragon’s Head indicates that the eclipse occurs in the same sign as the lunar nodes – in this case Pisces.). The inrush of energy can be somewhat disruptive, especially if you have placements near 150 in Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius or the other water signs, Cancer or Scorpio.

Just before the Autumnal Equinox (first day of Fall) Mercury enters Libra (on the 18th). Libra is a cardinal air sign, that seeks balance, frequently swinging from one extreme to another. It is said that Libra’s speeds are “like hell” and “not at all.” Lazy Libra frequently lives up to its reputation, but again it seeks equal balance in all things. It is also the sign of relationship – our first attempt at it anyway, so Libra seeks balance with the “other.” But Libra is about romantic relationship and does not do the “nitsy-gritsy” of relationship, unless other signs are involved. 

Also before the Equinox on the 22nd, we have the last solar eclipse of the year. Eclipses, as you know, come in pairs. The Sun will be at 290 Virgo. This is a Dragon’s Tail eclipse, which generally denotes a time to balance the ledger, and a time of selfless service. (A Dragon’s Tail eclipse occurs when the eclipse is in the opposing sign of the lunar nodes.) The ruling planet of this eclipse is Mercury, the planet of communication of all types. It is a partial solar eclipse, which again will not be visible in the US, but can be felt, and will last about 3 hours. Any placements that you have at the end of any earth sign (Capricorn, Taurus) or other mutable signs (Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius) may be impacted by this eclipse for the next 3 months. I would refer you to Celeste Teal’s excellent book on eclipses for additional information and insights.

The Sun enters Libra at 2:19 p.m. on the 22nd.

October

October is much quieter than September. We get a breather. . .

On the 13th two things happen: Venus moves into her own sign, Libra, and at that point there will be no planets in earth signs. This may impact many things including focusing on Mother Earth and/or developing practical solutions to issues. There is a lot of air and some water, so a lot of ideas and emotions flying around, but no groundings.

The second thing that happens on the 13th is that Pluto stations direct (basically stops) at 10 Aquarius, ending his retrograde motion. Attention to all those with placements at early degrees of any of the air signs (Libra, Gemini) or any of the fixed (aka stubborn) signs (Leo, Taurus, Scorpio) as this change of direction may impact you. Pluto is the ruler of the underworld and Aquarius is the sign of the rebel. So what part of your rebel is seeking to be expressed at this time? Pluto doesn’t move very fast. She’ll be a 10 through November.

On the 22nd, Neptune retrogrades into Pisces, the sign she rules and joins Saturn in the sign of faith and illusion.  The Sun enters Scorpio also on the 22nd, adding more water to the mix. Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and the Sun are in water signs. That’s a lot of water – emotions may be running high this month.

The Full Moon occurs on the 6th. She’ll be at 140 Aries. The New Moon occurs on the 21st. She’ll be at 280 Libra.

Have a wonderful early fall!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings March-April 2025

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you are having a good winter so far. This spring promises to be an active one, at least astrologically speaking.

March

Hang onto your hat! March is going to be very busy with planets changing direction and sign and two eclipses. So let’s take them in order.

1st: Venus begins her retrograde motion at 7:36 p.m. at 100 Aries. Any time a planet changes direction it sits on the degree it was on when the change began before it starts the new motion. Sort of like a fan that changes direction. So Venus will be at 100 Aries for about a week. When a planet is retrograde, we tend to experience the energy more inwardly. Venus doesn’t like to be in Aries – it’s Mars’s sign, but maybe we can put more energy (Aries) into loving ourselves and each other (Venus retrograde).

14th: Total Lunar eclipse: 230 Virgo. This eclipse will be visible in the US – if the sky is clear and if you’re a night owl! It begins just before midnight and ends at 6 a.m. This eclipse is about service and letting go of old patterns. For those with planets or other points in the charts at late degrees Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius and of course Virgo may feel the impact of this eclipse more fully.

15th: Mercury begins his first retrograde period of 2025 at 2:46 a.m. He’ll be at 90 Aries and will back into Pisces at the very end of the month. Just a reminder that a Mercury retrograde is a great time to repair anything and also to retreat and regroup, but be sure to read any contracts very, very carefully before you sign.

20th: Vernal Equinox, the Sun enters Aries. The Sun will join Mercury, Venus and Chiron in Mars’s sign. Aries initiates, but doesn’t always finish and generally has lots of enthusiasm. But like all cardinal signs (Libra, Cancer and Capricorn are the others) its energy is like a flash in the pan and it’s gone. All fire signs are on a quest of some kind and Aries’ quest is for Self.  Like Jason and the Argonauts, the myth most closely associated with Aries, Aries likes to “travel” with a band of like-minded people.

29th: Partial Solar eclipse: 90 Aries. It will be visible in the Northeast and will last four hours. Solar eclipses are about powerful new beginnings. Those with placements in early degrees Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn may be more aware of this energy. It could also bring a powerful burst of new energy to everyone.

30th:  Neptune enters Aries. There’s a lot of Aries energy this March! Now the planet of illusion, spirituality, addiction, escapism has joined the Aries club, leaving the sign she rules (Pisces) where she’s been since 2011. (She’ll head back into Pisces in October and return to Aries in January 2026.) When one of the outer planets changes signs, this is a big deal and a big shift in energy. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and what implications it has.

April

Phew! Made it through March!! April is quieter.

7th: Mercury ends his retrograde period. He’ll be at 260 Pisces and he’ll move back into Aries on the 16th.  Interesting to note that Mercury will be next to Saturn, Venus and trine Mars when he changes direction. A lot of water which has to do with emotion. . .

12th: Venus ends her retrograde period also. She’ll be at 240 Pisces and won’t enter Aries until the 30th.

18th: Mars enters Leo at 12:21 a.m. Leo is a fire sign and will be trine Neptune in Aries and opposed Pluto in Aquarius.  There’s a lot of water (emotion) and fire (enthusiasm, volatile) energy this month and not a lot of air (ideas).  Of course, water and fire don’t get along very well and frequently cancel each other out.

19th: Sun enters Taurus at 3:56 p.m. The only other planet in earth is Uranus (also in Taurus).  Not a lot of practicality or grounded energy, but maybe Taurus will slow down the frenetic pace of March with some practical solutions and an increased concern for Mother Earth!

Hope you have a wonderful early spring!

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 March – April 2024

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

March and April bring the first eclipses of 2024, which will be visible across much of the US.  You can find out about the astronomy of these eclipses online. I’ll comment on the astrology of them.

March

March begins with three planets in the air sign, Aquarius: Venus, Mars and Pluto. By the end of the month there will be only one planet in air (Pluto). Air is the element of communication, ideas and relationships. By the end of the month there will be four planets in watery Pisces: Venus, Mars, Saturn and Neptune. Water is the element of emotions and intuition. Fortunately Jupiter and Uranus are in Taurus, an earth sign, which may provide some boundaries to watery Pisces. All planets are in direct motion in March – no retrogrades. A sort of what you see is what you get feel.

The Vernal Equinox occurs on the 19th at 11:06 p.m. when the Sun enters Aries. Aries is a fire sign that likes to initiate but doesn’t always finish what it starts. This also marks the astrological new year.

The New Moon occurs on the 10th at 5:00 a.m. She’ll be at 200 Pisces. The first eclipse of the year occurs on March 23rd at 3:00 a.m. The Moon will be at 50 Libra. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are opposed each other (a Full Moon).  This penumbral lunar eclipse will last about 4 hours and will be visible in the US, but it may be rather hard to see. This eclipse is focused on service and, on a personal level, can provide an opportunity to release old patterns. Those with placements at early degrees in Libra, Aries, Cancer or Capricorn may feel the impact of this energy more than others. For other air signs, it will be an easier flow of energy and opportunity for change.

April

April begins not only with April Fool’s Day but also the beginning of a three-week Mercury retrograde. Everyone’s favorite, right? But it can be a time for reflection and retooling. This may be a bit more challenging since Aries energy (and the energy of spring in general) wants to move forward, but the retrograde (moving backwards) tends to slow things down. Mercury will be at 270 Aries – perhaps a time to tune into our inner warrior. Mercury ends his retrograde period on April 25th at 8:54 a.m. He’ll be at 150 Aries.

The total Solar eclipse occurs on April 8th, when the Sun and Moon are at the same degree – 190 Aries. It will last about 5 hours, which means that this will be a sensitive point for 5 months – if it impacts your chart. Again, those with placements near 19 degrees in Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn may feel the impact of this energy more than others. This eclipse brings a lot of new energy with it, which can be disconcerting if you’re not ready for it. The Full Moon occurs on April 23rd at 40 Scorpio.

There is a lot of energy that impacts Aries this year – the solar eclipse and a Mercury retrograde. There can be a lot of initiatives with no follow-through; there can also be war, since Mars (the god of war) rules Aries. We may feel more impulsive, reckless and war-like. In its highest expression Aries is the quest for our spiritual selves, and we may put more energy into that quest than we have in the past. But it may feel a little bumpy this April. Saturn and Uranus are in the most slow moving of all the signs, Taurus, which may impact the Aries energy, adding to the more muted feel of Aries this year, but also bringing some practicality and deliberation to our Aries activities!

Have a wonderful Spring!

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 May – June 2023

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the hybrid solar eclipse. It was spectacular online! May has the second eclipse of the pair – a lunar eclipse.  (They always come in twos, and sometimes in threes!) There’s a lot of fixed energy in May – read sustaining and/or stubborn, so things may seems slow to move forward.

May

Pluto is not so sure about this change of signs from Capricorn to Aquarius that happened in March. So, on May 1at 1:09 p.m. EDT, the planet starts its 5-month retrograde period. It will be at 00 Aquarius and will remain there for the whole month. Aquarius is an air sign, an innovator, destroyer of outmoded forms and stubborn—or sustaining—to put a more positive spin on things.

On the 14th at 11:17 p.m. Mercury ends his retrograde period at 50 Taurus, squaring Pluto. Taurus is an earth sign – and one of the most stubborn of the zodiac. Taurus is very practical with a “show-me” attitude, and Aquarius is the sign of the innovator, the rebel. So you can see how they might not get along too well! Then on the 17th Jupiter joins the party, entering Taurus, right on top of Mercury.  Don’t forget that Uranus is also in Taurus, so that’s three planets in the same sign. We call that a stellium – lots of stubborn, practical energy, but no one wants to change their mind!

Then on the 20th at 11:31 a.m., Mars enters Leo, another fixed sign. This time the element is fire, and it’s on the opposite side of the heavens from Uranus. Think teeter-totter. Balance? And everyone is ganging up on all that staid Taurean energy. Fire wants to get things moving – is enthusiastic and sometimes reckless – and earth is a great way to put fire out.

Meanwhile, on May 5th there will be a lunar eclipse at 140 Scorpio. Might just as well have all the fixed signs at the party! Scorpio is on the other side of the zodiac from Taurus and is a water sign. The water may soften Taurus some, and earth does provide boundaries for emotional water. The eclipse will last about four hours and is not visible in the US. (We have to wait until next April for a full solar eclipse to cross the US and Canada.)  If it impacts your chart, the impact will last approximately four months. This eclipse is about service and giving up old patterns that no longer serve us. 

The New Moon occurs on May 19th at 280 Taurus. The Sun enters Gemini (phew, not a fixed sign!) on May 21st at 3:09 a.m. Gemini is an air sign of changeable quality (mutable). Gemini likes to explore everything for about five minutes. It is the sign of the writer and the teacher.

June

Venus has been feeling left out of the fixed sign party, so she enters Leo on the 5th and is opposed Pluto, squares Jupiter and is next to Mars. Venus and Mars in the same sign can feel like walking with your shoes tied together, or it can feel like balance between masculine and feminine energies. 

On June 11th Pluto decides it’s had enough of this Aquarian stuff and backs into Capricorn, which is much more familiar. It won’t return to Aquarius until January 2024. Capricorn is an earth sign, rules the status quo and major structures. Pluto’s long transit in Capricorn, from 2008 when it first entered the sign to now, has contributed to major changes (or identifying the need for change) in many major institutions and systems. I believe Pluto’s return to Capricorn may finish any changes that weren’t made earlier and/or identify additional changes. These may look like more upheaval.

Saturn stations retrograde (moves from west to east in the sky from our perspective) on June 17 at 1:27 p.m. He’ll be at 70 Pisces. Pisces is a water sign that has a very difficult time managing on this plane. Saturn rules structure – he is the ruler of Capricorn – so it’s a challenge for him to be in the watery realm of Pisces. This may be a time to examine what we truly believe and ramp up our meditation practice. It’s an inner time for sure.

The Full Moon occurs on the 3rd at 130 Sagittarius. The New Moon occurs on the 18th at 260 Gemini.

And the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer, occurs on the 21st when the Sun enters Cancer, another water sign.

Enjoy the spring and beginning of summer!

Abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings November – December 2022

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

I can hardly believe that I’m writing the last Astro Doings for 2022. Where has the year gone?

November

November has some challenging planetary placements, most notably a powerful t-square that involves between five and six planets. It also has a total lunar eclipse, on November 8, the date of the US mid-term elections. This is the first time in our history that this has happened.

T-square:  A t-square consists of an opposition and a square in the shape of a T. Hence the name. On one end are the Sun, Mercury and Venus in Scorpio and in opposition (on the other side of the heavens) is Uranus in Taurus and squaring everyone is Saturn in Aquarius. You’ll note that all the signs involved are fixed, which can mean stubborn, entrenched and/or sustaining. At least there is some compatibility in the quality of the signs, but not so much in the elements. Earth (Taurus) and water (Scorpio) work well despite their opposing approaches to things. Air (Aquarius) not so much….. Scorpio gets an addition boost of water with Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces, which they both rule. (Jupiter is the “ancient” ruler of Pisces.) So there is a boat load (ha,ha) of emotional, watery, sensitive, and entrenched energy in this line up. Those with placements in mid-degrees of any of the fixed signs, including Leo, may be more sensitive to this configuration. The T-square dissolves around the 23rd when the Sun, Mercury and Venus move into Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign. Saturn continues to square Uranus however.

Total Lunar Eclipse:  To add to the T-square festivities, on November 8th the Moon will be next to Uranus in Taurus, opposed the Sun, Mercury, and Venus. This eclipse is visible in the US if you’re willing to get up around 3-4 in the morning on the East coast (and assuming the skies are clear). This eclipse occurs on the Moon’s south node, which means that has a lot to do with payback and selfless service. It will last for about 6 hours which means planets around 160 will remain sensitive to any transit over them during the next 6 months.

On November 22nd the Sun moves into Sagittarius and Jupiter ends his retrograde motion in Pisces. He’ll be at 280 and will stay there for the rest of the month. The New Moon occurs the next day and Jupiter changes directions (goes direct) at 6:02 p.m. He’ll be at 280 Pisces.

December

Two planets change direction during December: Neptune and Mercury, and while the month starts with some energy in fire signs, it ends with most planets in earth and only two in air signs.

Neptune: ends its retrograde period on December 3rd at 7:15 p.m. ET. She’ll be at 220 Pisces. after Jupiter moves into Aries on the 21st she’ll be the only planet in a water sign.

Winter Solstice: occurs when the Sun enters Capricorn, a cardinal earth sign, which will occur on December 21st at 4:48 p.m. ET. He’ll be joined by Mercury, Venus, and Pluto in the same sign. Capricorn has to do with the status quo, practicality, and large institutions. Capricorn is considered by some to be the sign of the spiritual initiate, like the sure-footed goat, climbing the mountain of spiritual understanding. Mars and Saturn (the ruler of Capricorn) are in air signs (Gemini and Aquarius, respectively).

Mercury: begins his last retrograde period of 2022 on December 29 at 4:32 a.m. ET. He’ll be at 240 Capricorn. He’ll end his retrograde period in January.

The Full Moon occurs on December 7th at 160 Gemini. The New Moon occurs on the 23rd at 10 Capricorn.

I hope you have wonderful holidays and all the best in the coming year.

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret

Astro Doings May – June 2022

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

May promises to be a busy month with several planets in Aries and a lunar eclipse, which will be visible in the US, if it’s clear. June is a little quieter with three planets changing direction – and of course, the Summer Solstice!

May

Venus is the first planet to enter Aries on May 3rd, followed by Jupiter on the 11th and finally Mars on the 25th. Mars is very strong in his own sign, although Venus is not happy in Mars’ sign and Jupiter is leaving a sign it rules (Pisces). This is a lot of fire energy – enthusiasm, acting without forethought, starting but not finishing, hubris and recklessness. However, it’s also a sign of new beginnings, ideas and initiatives. Like the ram, which is the symbol of Aries, it can feel like you’re butting your head against a wall. The good news is that we have three planets (Sun, Uranus and Pluto) in earth, which can temper Aries’ enthusiasm and lend practical energy to Aries new ideas and projects. The Sun moves into Gemini on the 20th. Gemini is an air sign, focused on communication and learning a little bit about everything. Fire and air work very nicely together – but may not accomplish much of a practical nature.

Mercury begins its second retrograde of the year on May10th at 7:47 a.m. This is the same day that Jupiter enters Aries. Mercury will be at 40 Gemini and on May 24th will “back” into Taurus. These retrogrades last about three weeks and are great times to regroup, rethink, retreat and repair.

Eclipses come in pairs. This total lunar eclipse, which is the pair to the solar eclipse we had at the end of April, occurs on May 16th. The Moon will be at 250 Scorpio. This eclipse will be visible in the US and will begin on the 15th around 9:30 p.m. EDT. Its totality will occur around midnight and the whole eclipse will last about five hours. You can find more information about the eclipse here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2022-may-16. A lunar eclipse is about endings of patterns and generally have to do with service and giving back for what we’ve received. Those with planets in late degrees (from 22-280) Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius or Leo or the other water signs, Cancer and Pisces, may feel the impact of this eclipse more strongly. Its impact may last up to five months or so after the eclipse.

The New Moon occurs on May 30. She’ll be at 80 Gemini.

June

This month Mercury, Saturn and Neptune all change directions. And of course, summer officially begins (Summer Solstice). When a planet changes directions, especially one of the outer planets, it stops and sits a bit before it starts moving in the new direction. The degree and sign where it stops may impact your chart more or less strongly, and outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) take longer to get moving in the new direction than inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars).

So, Mercury is the first. It goes direct on June 3rd at 4:00 a.m. He’ll be at 260 Taurus and will move into Gemini on the 14th.

Saturn begins his 4-month retrograde period on June 4th at 5:47 p.m. He’ll be at 250 Aquarius.

And last, but not least, Neptune begins her 5-month retrograde period on June 25th. She’ll be at 250 Pisces. The New Moon occurs on the same day.

When a planet is retrograde, it appears from the earth’s perspective that it is moving from west to east. We know that isn’t what it’s doing but that’s how it appears. The planets’ energies seem to be more inward in their feel and sometimes things are delayed. Saturn represents authority figures, men in particular, and when retrograde your inner critic may seem especially loud. A Neptune retrograde can turn our faith more inward, help deepen meditation practice and/or increase the inner fog!

The Summer Solstice is June 21st when the Sun enters Cancer – sometimes called the longest day of the year. Cancer is a water sign, frequently a homebody and lover of good food. It joins Neptune as the planet in only water in the current line-up. The Full Moon occurs on the 14th at 7:52 a.m. She’ll be at 230 Sagittarius.

Enjoy May and June!

Peace and abundant blessings,

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 May – June 2021

Margaret Lassiter Leave a comment

Hi Everyone

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

May

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

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

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

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

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

June

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

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

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

Phew!

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

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret